ATLANTA -- U.S. and world health organizations are trying to gauge the severity of the swine flu outbreak to determine how quickly to produce vaccine, officials said. Health officials say they must balance quickly stopping the global spread of the swine flu -- or A/H1N1 -- with taking on some serious risks by moving too fast, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Even an all-out push to develop a vaccine wouldn't produce the first doses until September, ... [full story]

FORT WORTH, Tex. -- Fort Worth, Texas, has closed its 144 schools until at least May 8 against a backdrop off 109 confirmed U.S. cases of swine flu. Health officials confirmed a Fort Worth student had contracted swine flu, the Fort Worth Star Telegram reported Thursday. County health officials advised the 80,000-student district to close after another four probable cases were found among students. Parents were advised to keep children living in the district away from ... [full story]

GENEVA, Switzerland -- Countries are ignoring advice by the World Health Organization in Geneva to mitigate the spread swine flu rather than focus on containment, a survey suggests. The WHO said containment "is no longer a feasible option" on Monday, and did not recommend closing borders or restricting travel. Experts on the global movement of flu say the WHO, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and President Barack Obama are correct in not closing the border between ... [full story]

Pandemic Flu Alert Level Raised to Phase 5; World Health Organization Director-General says: "Certain Actions Should now be Undertaken with Increased Urgency, and at an Accelerated Pace" Oregon’s first probable case of swine flu was identified late Wednesday following testing by the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory.   “The probable case ... [full story]

Mortgage rates were little changed this week, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate remaining at 5.23 percent. According to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey, the average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.41 discount and origination points. The average 15-year fixed rate mortgage dipped to 4.73 percent, while the average jumbo 30-year fixed rate rebounded to 6.65 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages were broadly lower, with the average 1-year ARM sinking to 5.12 percent while the ... [full story]

In support of Wildfire Awareness Week, May 3-9, Oregon State Fire Marshal Randy Simpson encourages home and building owners to protect themselves and their property from the risk of wildfires through safe debris removal, fire prevention, and structural risk reduction. "Make sure you do all you can to make your home and property a survivable space from wildfire," advises Simpson. "Oregon has experienced significant damage from past wildfires caused by escaped debris burns and that's why ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- Republican leaders say they're planning a new effort to revive the party's image and rebuild after the loss of Sen. Arlen Specter to the Democratic Party. The new initiative, to be called the National Council for a New America, will involve an outreach by GOP officials including John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, former national GOP chairman, CNN reported. Others on the "panel of experts" will include former Florida ... [full story]

ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish warplanes attacked alleged Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq, Turkey's military said Thursday. Air Force jets bombed targets in the Iraqi border regions of Zap and Avasin-Basyan Wednesday night and early Thursday, the military said. The attack was "effective" and all planes returned to their bases safely, the military said. The military gave no estimate of Kurdish rebel casualties. The operation came hours after 10 Turkish soldiers were killed in two separate attacks blamed on ... [full story]

LONDON -- The pullout of Britain's military contingent in Iraq is imminent as troops await the final order to withdraw, officials said in London Thursday. The withdrawal, expected to be completed by the end of July, comes after six years of fighting and 179 British troop deaths, officials told the KUNA news agency. A memorial service for the British war dead was conducted earlier Thursday at Basra airbase. The United States will take over Basra defense once ... [full story]

KESWICK, Ontario -- A small Canadian town in southern Ontario is divided over charges against an Asian immigrant youth who responded to a bully's punch with one of his own. The confrontation occurred April 21 in Keswick, 40 miles north of Toronto, between two 15-year-old boys during a game in the high school gymnasium. Neither boy can be identified, The Globe and Mail said. One student who immigrated to Canada from South Korea in 2004 told police ... [full story]