Surf's up!
Thursday, Aug. 28, 9:35 a.m., By Jolene Guzman, staff writer

Former Marine squad leader found not guilty in killing
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — Jurors wept and embraced former Marine Jose Luis Nazario Jr. after acquitting him of voluntary manslaughter in the killings of unarmed Iraqi detainees during a fierce 2004 battle.

Investigator: oxygen bottle caused hole
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Air safety investigators confirmed Friday that an exploding oxygen cylinder ripped a gaping hole in a Qantas jet’s fuselage midflight last month, but said they were no closer to solving the mystery of why the tank failed.

David Duchovny in rehab for sex addiction
LOS ANGELES (AP) — David Duchovny, who plays a sex-obsessed character on Showtime’s “Californication,” has entered a rehabilitation facility for sex addiction.

Disposable diaper saves toddler
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — A disposable diaper has saved the life of an 18-month-old boy, breaking his fall from a third-floor apartment window, officials said Thursday.

Drunk driving deaths are on the decline
WASHINGTON (AP) — Drunken-driving deaths fell in 32 states in 2007, the government reported Thursday, but alcohol-related fatalities increased among motorcycle riders in half the states.

 Into the eye of the storm
IN THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM GUSTAV — You can feel it when this plane gets close to its destination. It dips, bumps and skips. The chatter on the radio turns from banter to business: barometric pressure, temperature, wind speed.

 Teen Idol winnows finalists to four - not three
COOS BAY — People at the Bay Area Teen Idol semifinals thought they knew what would happen.

LNG project gets favorable report
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has concluded the liquefied natural gas terminal on Coos Bay’s North Spit would have “limited” negative environmental impacts, but they can be substantially reduced.

Obama takes convention buzz to battle states
DENVER — Fresh off his historic nominating convention, Democrat Barack Obama embarked on a crucial stage of his campaign for the White House today as Republican John McCain sought to upstage his rival with the announcement of his running mate.

U.S. disputes civilian death toll in airstrike
WASHINGTON  — After reviewing a disputed airstrike on a village in Afghanistan, U.S. officials have concluded that the civilian death toll was far lower than claimed by the Afghan government and the U.N., three U.S. defense officials said Thursday.

 16 injuries, one narrow escape in San Diego walkway collapse
SAN DIEGO — Morris Choo’s losing lottery ticket may have been the luckiest of his life.

Smith, Merkley differ on natural gas terminal
ASTORIA (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith says Oregon should wait for a federal decision on a liquefied natural gas terminal but his Democratic challenger says the state should not be a site no matter the ruling.

Hollering Place plans inspire diverging opinions
COOS BAY — Should the city-owned Hollering Place become a moneymaker, or should it highlight the Empire area’s history and beauty?

 What is it?
CHARLESTON — It started as a 3-inch hole in the asphalt.

 Little-known Alaska gov is McCain VP pick
JUNEAU, Alaska  — In just two short years, Sarah Palin moved from suburban hockey mom and small-town mayor to vice presidential contender.

Economist: State in for shallow recession
SALEM — Oregon is in for a long, “shallow” recession but recovery should begin by the second half of 2009 and accelerate in early 2010, State Economist Tom Potiowsky said Thursday.

Guidelines issued following concerns over synthetic turf
SALEM (AP) — The Oregon Public Health Division has issued interim recommendations for school districts and other owners and operators of playing fields made from synthetic turf containing lead.

Questions remain following SkyWest announcement
A day after revealing that SkyWest Airlines would replace Horizon Air for northbound service, Southwest Oregon Regional Airport officials now shift their focus to fundraising.