Veterans provide help to others
COOS BAY — Two hundred families have a Thanksgiving meal today.

 Many thanks for the gift of hearing
Tonni Willis will have a crowd at her house this Thanksgiving, and this year, she will hear every bit of what is going on.

Reports show unemployment claims at recessionary levels
WASHINGTON — The government released a quartet of reports Wednesday that paint a bleak picture of the nation’s economy: Jobless claims remain at recessionary levels, Americans cut back on their spending by the largest amount since the 2001 terrorist attacks, orders to U.S. factories plummeted and homes sales fell to the lowest level in nearly 18 years.

New home sales drop 40 percent
WASHINGTON — Sales of new homes fell in October to the lowest point in nearly 18 years while the median price of a new home dropped to the lowest level since 2004.

 Former Fed chair makes cut for econ board
CHICAGO — President-elect Barack Obama pledged on Wednesday to have an economic plan ready for action on the nation’s financial crisis on his first day in office. “Help is on the way,” he declared.

Group will review pitches for stadium
PORTLAND(AP) — The city of Portland has formed a task force to evaluate proposals to remodel PGE Park and build a new baseball stadium.

Yakima jail escapee caught in Spokane
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Authorities who thought Eddie Ray Hall of Spokane was headed toward home after he escaped from jail in Yakima were correct.

Obama to name board of economic experts at pre-Thanksgiving Chicago news conference
CHICAGO (AP) — President-elect Barack Obama is naming a board of economic experts outside government to advise him on ways to create jobs and bring stability to the ailing financial system.

Official says ’Pirate mother ship’ sunk by Indian navy near Somalia was Thai fishing trawler
NEW DELHI (AP) — The pirate “mother ship” sunk last week by the Indian navy was actually a Thai fishing trawler seized hours earlier by pirates, a maritime agency said Wednesday. The Indian navy defended its actions, saying it fired in self-defense.

Japan zoo mistakenly set up 2 female polar bears
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese zookeepers have wondered for a while why two polar bears that they had hoped would mate have shown little interest in each other.

Olympia moves to add $20 car tab fee
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Olympia City Council took the first step toward adding a $20 car tab fee to vehicle license renewals.

Climate crisis energizes radicals
LOUISA, Va. — Under arrest, Paxus Calta raised two fingers from his shackled hand to flash a peace sign. Fellow environmental activists cheered as police escorted him to the van that would take him to jail.

State sees longer lines at employment department
SALEM (AP) — Unemployment in Oregon has gotten so bad that the state Employment Department has put more people on the job handling claims.

Reno cops arrest suspect in student death
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Reno police say they have arrested a suspect in the January kidnapping and killing of a 19-year-old college student who was abducted as she slept on a friend’s couch.

Accused church burner is ready for his trial
SALEM — After spending more than two years in the state mental hospital, a man accused of setting fires inside a crowded Salem church is ready to face charges of arson, assault and attempted murder.

Researchers believe Marines are entombed on Tarawa
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man’s quest to find hundreds of U.S. Marines buried anonymously after one of World War II’s bloodiest battles could lead to the largest identification of American war dead in history.

Obama promotes fiscal restraint as counterpoint to spending plans
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Barack Obama wants to project fiscal restraint even as his economic team assembles a massive recovery package that could cost several hundred billion dollars.

Treasury Secretary Paulson pulling out more tricks to try bolster nation’s financial sector
 

 Thailand's PM rejects army chief's call for elections
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Thailand’s prime minister refused to step down Wednesday despite the army chief’s call for new elections after protesters shut down Bangkok’s primary airport.

 FDA finds tainted U.S. formula
Traces of the industrial chemical melamine have been detected in samples of top-selling U.S. infant formula, but federal regulators insist the products are safe.

Iraqi lawmaker: Shiite, Kurdish blocs to meet key Sunni demand on US security pact
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s ruling Shiite and Kurdish blocs have made a key concession to a large group of Sunni Arab legislators in hopes of securing a big majority in a parliamentary vote on a U.S.-Iraqi security pact, a senior Shiite lawmaker and a close aide to the prime minister said Wednesday.

TV personality Brooke Burke crowned ’Dancing with the Stars’ queen
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brooke Burke waltzed away with the mirror ball trophy on the “Dancing with the Stars” finale.

Feds warn of attacks on NYC subways
WASHINGTON — Federal authorities are warning law enforcement personnel of a possible terror plot against the New York City subway system during the holiday season.

 Cancer survivor welcomes life's adventures
NORTH BEND - Jean Hammer takes pleasure in the simple things in life. Strolling around Empire Lakes. Knitting a prayer shawl for Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Or going on an adventure with her husband of 42 years, Randy.

 Generosity overwhelms burned-out family
NORTH BEND

Poison Turkey?
It was a Thanksgiving in the early 1970s. I was an early teen who loved getting together with family. I looked forward to the times that my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents got together every year.

Readers share Thanksgiving disasters
Some are funny. Some are a little bit creepy. Others are sure to make you groan. True stories. In all, we had 30-plus entries in the Thanksgiving Day food disaster contest.

Shoppers: Toy safety warnings
WASHINGTON — If the toy fits inside the tube from a toilet roll, it’s too small for tiny tots, consumer advocates warned this week.

United Way reaches $62,000
United Way of Southwestern Oregon is more than 25 percent of the way toward this year’s fundraising goal.