WASHINGTON - NASA's Mars rover Opportunity is scheduled to begin a descent down a rock-paved slope into the Red Planet's massive Victoria Crater. This latest trek carries real risk for the long-lived robotic explorer, but NASA and the Mars Rover science team expect it to provide valuable science.Opportunity already has been exploring layered rocks in cliffs around Victoria Crater. The team has planned the descent carefully to enable an eventual exit, but Opportunity could become ... [full story]

The City of Bend Art, Beautification and Culture Commission is seeking nominations for individuals, organizations and businesses who made significant contributions to the celebration, promotion, beautification or preservation of the City’s arts, culture, natural environment or public spaces in 2006. Award consideration will include residential, commercial and governmental beautification projects, multicultural and historical cultural events and programs, visual, performing and literary art programs and products. This is the first year the annual Beautification award has ... [full story]

Much of North Amer­i­ca would be un­der­wa­ter were it not for heat that makes rock buoy­ant, new re­search in­di­cates. Sci­en­tists list­ed var­i­ous parts of the con­ti­nent that stay afloat thanks to heat with­in Earth’s rocky crust, and how far those re­gions would sink be­neath sea lev­el if they lacked that heat-in­duced lift.On the coast, New York City would sit 1,427 feet (435 me­ters) be­low the At­lan­tic; New Or­leans 2,416 feet (736 me­ters) un­der­wa­ter and Los ... [full story]

The Pine Marten Express lift will begin turning at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning. This marks the beginning of summer operations at Mt. Bachelor.  All activities will move back to the West Village Base Area this year.  A return to the west side of the mountain means a return of evening dining at Scapolo’s, located in the mid-mountain Pine Marten Lodge, including the weekend Sunset Dinners and Labor Day weekend Twilight Dinners. Mt. Bachelor will ... [full story]

A woman stands in the voting booth on 'Election Day 2008.' She prepares to use an electronic voting device that says on its screen: 'Vote here for president; touch to start.' She thinks: 'I wish someone else would come along.' Editorial cartoon by Marshall Ramsey. [full story]

Forecasters are predicting continued clear skies and warm weather for much of the Pacific Northwest—just the thing for this year’s Fourth of July observances.  But however the weather turns out, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) warn that careless handling of fireworks and outdoor grills can ruin parties and picnics – and entire summers.  More than 23,000 fires are attributed to fireworks every year, and according to FEMA Administrator ... [full story]

U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., is represented as a pinata labeled: 'Support for immigration bill.' He is getting whacked by bats that say: 'Talk radio, conservatives, liberals.' Caption says: 'Pin-lott-a.' Editorial cartoon by Marshall Ramsey. [full story]

Financial Advice For College Students College students are the largest identifiable segment of first-time customers for credit card issuers.  Competition for the college market is fierce and is only expected to intensify.  In fact, credit card companies will be on campuses rolling out their credit card offers and free t-shirts before classes even begin.  These offers work well-according to a recent survey by the Jump$tart Coalition, 45 percent of college students are currently in credit ... [full story]

U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., is represented as a rat wearing scuba gear. He is swimming away from a sunken ship labeled: 'Iraq.' He thinks: 'I hope it's not to late to jump ship.' Editorial cartoon by Bruce Beattie. [full story]

Justice Department Urges Public Not to Respond to Email WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice has recently become aware of fraudulent spam e-mail messages claiming to be from DOJ.  Based upon complaints from the public, it is believed that the fraudulent messages are addressed “Dear Citizen.”  The messages are believed to assert that the recipients or their businesses have been the subject of complaints filed with DOJ and also forwarded to the Internal Revenue Service.   ... [full story]