Water rates will rise
COOS BAY - Summer usually brings sunshine and more visitors to the South Coast. It also means greater water demands for the Coos Bay-North Bend Water Board's treatment plant.

Bill signing delay angers GOP
SALEM - Republicans are accusing Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski of using a delaying tactic to try to keep Oregon voters from having their say on income tax hikes just passed by the Legislature.

 Doors swing open at new Super 8
COOS BAY - The first Super 8 motel on the Oregon Coast is in business.

 Skate at your own risk
COOS BAY - On his first day back at the Mingus Skateboard Park since smacking his head on concrete, Gregory Barber wanted to take things easy.

Searchers find Coos Bay man safe in Blue Ridge area
A Coos Bay man who wandered lost for a night and day in the Blue Ridge area east of Coos Bay is now safe and receiving care at Bay Area Hospital.

 Walmart hires 70 for remodeling project
COOS BAY - The Walmart in Coos Bay isn't expanding, but a redesign could have shoppers thinking there's more space in the superstore, officials said.

Stimulus money slows traffic on highways
Oh, so you've noticed there are few more cars, trucks, pickups, RVS and motorcycles on the highways these days. OK, a lot more.

Obama to Putin: Cold War is over
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said former Russian President Vladimir Putin and his hand-picked successor should expect an in-person reminder the Cold War is over when the U.S. leader makes his first trip to a Moscow summit.

Cleric: British Embassy staff face trial
A top Iranian cleric said today that some of the detained Iranian staffers of the British Embassy in Tehran will be put on trial, and he accused Britain of a role in instigating widespread protests that erupted over the country’s disputed presidential election.

Senate health care: pay your own health insurance or pay a fine
WASHINGTON (AP) — First you paid to insure your car. Soon you may have to add health insurance premiums to that stack of monthly bills as well.

Jackson memorial to be Tuesday in L.A.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The question of when and where a public memorial service will be held for Michael Jackson has finally been answered. But how city officials will handle the likelihood of a massive crowd remains to be settled.

Palin resigning as Alaska governor
WASILLA, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said Friday she is resigning from office at the end of the month, raising speculation that she would focus on a run for the White House in the 2012 race.

Rabbit-obsessed woman back in jail
PORTLAND (AP) — An Oregon woman obsessed with bunnies has been ordered back behind bars after police found her in a hotel room with more than a dozen rabbits.

Marines start talking to tribal chiefs
NAWA, Afghanistan  — U.S. Marines moved into villages in Taliban strongholds in southern Afghanistan today, meeting little resistance as they tried to win over local chiefs on the second day of the biggest military operation here since the fall of the Taliban government in 2001.

Police: Teens mishear sex screams, beat man
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A 16-year-old girl thought she heard her mother being assaulted by her boyfriend and rounded up some friends who beat him up, only to learn later that the couple actually were having sex, the woman and police said.

Ranchers supply beef for Baker lunch programs
BAKER CITY (AP) — Three cows or three chicken nuggets? For Mike Corley, the choice was easy.

Lumber mill calling 70 workers back
BEND (AP) — Interfor Pacific is ramping up production at its Gilchrist lumber mill and calling about 70 employees back to work.

IOUs spell uncertainty for California small businesses
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Business consultant Katrina Kennedy has taken her young son out of preschool and put a family vacation on hold. Dairyman Mike O’Kelly is wondering whether he is going to have to let employees go.