God may save the queen, but director Stephen Frears went a long way toward restoring her reputation with his drama "The Queen" (Buena Vista, 4 stars). And he had a great deal of help from the laser-accurate and Oscar-winning portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II by Helen Mirren. "The Queen" is a smartly speculative account of the week in 1997 in which Princess Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed were killed in an ugly crash in ... [full story]

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Danish smokers held a smoke-in -- or a smoke-out -- outside Parliament to protest the country's new anti-smoking law. The legislation, which takes effect in August, bans smoking from restaurants and other business establishments larger than 40 yards square. About 10,000 people -- including restaurant and bar owners as well as smokers -- gathered Thursday outside Christiansborg Palace. The protest began Wednesday with hundreds of people bused in from elsewhere in the ... [full story]

A 74-year old Brookings man died after his SUV left Highway 38 near Scottsburg, went down a 180-foot embankment and landed partially submerged in the Umpqua River, authorities reported. A fisherman called 911 and the US Coast Guard about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday after he discovered the 2004 Ford Explorer about six feet from the riverbank, Oregon State Police (OSP) said.    Piper's SUV was found upside down, partially submerged in the Umpqua River off Highway 38 ... [full story]

WASHINGTON - Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., has temporarily left the House Intelligence Committee, after an FBI raid on his family's business. FBI agents took documents in the raid, Renzi said in a statement issued late Thursday night, and reported by The Arizona Republic. "I view these actions as the first step in bringing out the truth," Renzi said. "Until this matter is resolved, I will take a leave of absence from the House Intelligence Committee. ... [full story]

Alexander Johnson, a former officer with the Memphis Police Department, pleaded guilty today to a one-count felony violation for conspiring to deprive individuals of their civil rights. “The integrity of law enforcement officers, the vast majority of whom serve with great distinction, is essential to the administration of justice,” said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “Where that integrity is compromised through a willful abuse of authority, the Justice Department ... [full story]

OCHOCO DISTRICT: Bald and golden eagles, a variety of hawks and falcons, and waterfowl are present along the Post-Paulina Highway east of Prineville.  If observers extend their drive and include the Puett Road loop through the Paulina Ranger Station they have an opportunity of seeing wintering deer, pronghorn, elk, and coyotes. This route is suitable for passenger cars. LOWER DESCHUTES WILDLIFE AREA: Visitors to this area can see California bighorn sheep on a regular basis ... [full story]

Hunters in the Hoold Unit will have better access to the mid elevations due to the lack of snow in those areas.GENERAL:  Spring has arrived and recreationalists should be prepared for variable weather conditions.  Snow accumulations are disappearing; however some persistent drifts remain above 4000 feet.  Off road motorized travel should not be attempted without proper equipment and checking with local BLM and Forest Service officials regarding motorized access regulations.  PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR WMA:  The north ... [full story]

ANTELOPE FLAT RESERVOIR: Angling for 14-18 inch carryover rainbow trout should be fair to good. Check with Ochoco National Forest 541-416-6500 for current conditions. CLEAR LAKE: Located about 20 miles west of Maupin. Access may be difficult due to snow. CRESCENT LAKE: Kokanee angling was slow over the past week. April is typically a good month to target brown trout, lake trout and kokanee.  Trolling shoreline areas in 15 feet of water with a variety ... [full story]

It wasn't my first thought on hearing of the massacre at Virginia Tech. Initially, there was just shock and outrage, followed by the self-examination all of us do after a tragedy, as we ask ourselves if we might have done more to prevent such a senseless loss of life.The thought that came to me was not whether stronger gun laws might have deterred the shooter. It wasn't about better ways to alert students through e-mail ... [full story]

Ousted Republican Senator will head up a new program called "America's Enemies" In one of those "how can you miss them if they don't go away" stories, Senator Rick Santorum's resounding defeat in November's election has not sent him scurrying back home to Pennsylvania; Instead, Santorum will be staying in the nation's capital to head up a new program at the Ethics and Public Policy Center called "America's Enemies."   Santorum was also added to the ... [full story]