Dueling crime measures differ on drug treatment

A pair of crime measures on the November ballot offer Oregon voters a choice between mandatory sentencing or increased sentences and expanded drug treatment programs _ but not both.

One, Measure 61, is an initiative sponsored by former state lawmaker Kevin Mannix that would send first-time offenders to prison for up to a mandatory three years.

The other, Measure 57, is a referral from the Legislature that would increase prison terms for repeat offenders convicted of nonviolent property or drug crimes while expanding treatment and prevention programs.

In the event that both measures pass, as polls suggest, Measure 57 contains a clause stipulating …

New family of swans like 'a revival' after massacre

Swans have returned to one of the Cheddar Valley locations wherea massacre of the protected birds took place earlier this year.

The new family, consisting of an adult male, or cob, and female(pen) with seven cygnets, was spotted in the Blackford area by RobinBurnell, who lives in West Stoughton.

Mr Burnell said: "I was so surprised and happy to see the newfamily. It is like a revival, a recovery.

"And it is the first time I have seen seven cygnets - I've oftenseen fours, fives and sixes, but never as many as seven."

More than 40 mute swans were shot on the Somerset Levels, nearWedmore, Blackford and Godney, in February and, in spite of …

Economic Growth Slows to 0.7 Pct. Pace

WASHINGTON - The economy limped ahead at just a 0.7 percent pace in the first quarter, the slowest in more than four years, as some businesses clamped down on spending given uncertainties about the severity of the housing slump.

The Commerce Department's new reading on gross domestic product for the January-to-March period, released Thursday, was a slight upgrade from the 0.6 percent growth rate estimated a month ago. But it still fell short of economists' forecasts for a …

Stocks set for lower open as economic data pour in

Stocks were set to open moderately lower on Friday, with investors reluctant to get too enthusiastic about economic data.

Stock futures pared their losses after the Labor Department said consumer prices in April were flat, as economists predicted. Excluding declining energy and food prices, core consumer prices edged up 0.3 percent, a bit higher than forecast.

Investors were also relieved by reports that New York-area manufacturing activity and industrial production contracted less than economists expected. They also shrank significantly less than they did earlier in the year, fitting in with the trend seen in most data since early March: that the economy …

Haslem's season may be over, Heat turn to Dampier

MIAMI (AP) — There's a photo in the hallway that links Miami's home court and the Heat locker room, a huge image of Udonis Haslem leaping past Erick Dampier during the 2006 NBA finals.

Haslem won't be making a move like that again for the next few months — and the Heat have turned to Dampier to fill his void.

Haslem's season may be over after surgery Tuesday to repair a torn Lisfranc ligament in his left foot, an injury that typically needs at least four months to heal. Almost simultaneous to Haslem's surgery, Dampier was passing his Heat physical, which allowed him to practice with his new club for the first time Tuesday afternoon.

"I just look at it as an opportunity …

Extraordinary Jobs in Media

Extraordinary Jobs in Media, Alecia T. Devantier and Carol A. Turkington 2007. New York, NY: Ferguson 158 pages, $35.00, Hardback

Intended Audience(s): A, B, H

Major Headings from the Table of Contents:

Are You Cut Out for a Career in Media; How to Use This Book; Job Profiles; Appendix A: Associations, Organizations, and Web Sites; Appendix B: Online Career Resources; Read More About It

How Is the Book Most Useful for Its Intended Audience?

Consideration and exploration of unique and nontraditional jobs.

The Top Five Things You Learned from Reading this Book:

Nontraditional jobs that can be made into a career

Related skills of …

Defending champs Boca Juniors held to 1-1 draw by Maracaibo in Libertadores opener

Defending champions Boca Juniors were held to a 1-1 draw away at Venezuela's Maracaibo on Wednesday in the opening match of Copa Libertadores Group 3.

In other matches Wednesday, Argentina's Arsenal recorded a 1-0 home win over Paraguay's Libertad while their Group 8 rivals LDU Quito of Ecuador and Brazil's Fluminense played out a 0-0 draw. America of Mexico got an injury-time goal to beat Chile's Universidad Catolica 2-1.

Maracaibo midfielder Miguel Mea Vitali looked to have scored an extraordinary winner when his 35-meter free kick found the back of the net in the 81st minute, thrilling the 42,000 home fans.

But the advantage only last two …