Quake rumbles near Washington coast
SEATTLE (AP) - The University of Washington seismology lab coordinator says a 3.7 earthquake that shook awake some Whidbey Island residents is a reminder that a much bigger quake from the same zone is likely in the future.

Medical examiner: Girl was malnourished
OREGON CITY (AP) - A 15-month-old girl whose parents' church shuns doctors in favor of faith healing appeared to be malnourished after her death from pneumonia, a deputy medical examiner testified Tuesday in the manslaughter trial of her parents.

State gets $7.3 million in stimulus funds for coastal habitat work
GRANTS PASS (AP) - The U.S. Commerce secretary announced $7.3 million in stimulus money for Oregon to remove a dam in the Rogue River, restore salmon habitat in the Willamette River, and clean up old fishing gear in the ocean.

Baker City to honor Klunder
BAKER CITY (AP) - A 1954 Baker High School graduate killed while protesting the construction of a segregated school in Cleveland 45 years ago will be honored Friday in a ceremony at the Baker County Courthouse.

Protection sought for giant earthworm
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Fans of the giant Palouse earthworm are once again seeking federal protection for the rare, sweet-smelling species that spits at predators.

Rim Drive opens at Crater Lake
KLAMATH FALLS  (AP) - In a sure sign that summer's here, the entire 33-mile Rim Drive around Crater Lake is now open.

Driver sentenced to 20 years in death of 4
EUGENE  (AP) - A Eugene man who pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in a Jan. 21 drunken driving crash that killed four people has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. In court Tuesday, 25-year-old Matthew Ellmers  said he did not recall driving his Isuzu SUV through a red light at an estimated 92 mph, smashing into the side of a vehicle carrying five people.

Man gets eight years for attack in church
EUGENE (AP) - A man who raped a 62-year-old woman inside a Cottage Grove church has been sentenced to eight years and four months in prison.

Ex-editor sentenced for sex abuse
SALEM (AP) - A former newspaper editor has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for sexually abusing a teenager girl he met while teaching at a private school in Salem almost a decade ago.

Central Point bat tests positive for rabies
CENTRAL POINT (AP) - Health officials say a bat found in Central Point last week has tested positive for rabies.

Tax hikes could face ballot test
SALEM - Oregon voters might be willing to support the state Legislature's income tax increases if opponents succeed in forcing a statewide vote on them, Gov. Ted Kulongoski said Tuesday.

Assessor seeks audit for his office
Coos County's assessor is requesting a comprehensive audit of his office's property assessment records.

Python strangles toddler
OXFORD, Fla. (AP) - Authorities in central Florida say a toddler has apparently been strangled by a python.

Judge overturns Bush logging rule
GRANTS PASS - A federal judge has struck down the Bush administration's change to a rule designed to protect the northern spotted owl from logging in national forests.

Man alleges attack is a hate crime
COOS BAY - Sergio-Diego Overstreet, 21, thought he was going to be introduced to someone in Coos Bay's Mingus Park. Instead, several men beat him.

France vigilant after al-Qaida warning
PARIS (AP) - French officials were on guard today after an al-Qaida affiliate threatened vengeance for President Nicolas Sarkozy's criticism of the face-covering veils worn by some Muslim women.

Democrat Franken wins protracted Minn. Senate race
ST. PAUL, Minn.  - Al Franken refused his rival's calls for an election night concession last November, choosing instead to begin vote counting and courtroom haggling that stretched almost eight months and ultimately landed him a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Jackson's will to be filed in court today
LOS ANGELES  - Heavy construction equipment and workers passed through the wrought-iron gates of Neverland Ranch, fueling speculation that it could soon be hosting a funeral or a permanent memorial to Michael Jackson.

California, other states face tough budget choices
SACRAMENTO Calif.  - Legislators in more than a half-dozen states, their revenues evaporating in the recession, frantically worked to stave off government shutdowns and devastating service cuts. California failed to meet a midnight deadline and now may need to issue IOUs instead of paying bills.

Ahmadineiad cancels meeting; Africans frustrated with Iran election
SIRTE, Libya (AP) - Iran's president canceled a last-minute call to attend an African Union summit in Libya today amid a stir among African delegates, who complained the contentious Iranian leader would divert the conference's attention from Africa's pressing problems.

Iraqi Cabinet approves BP's offer on Rumaila
BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq's government today approved a BP-led consortium's offer to develop a giant oil field in the south, moving forward with the only deal struck during a much-hyped but ultimately disappointing international oil auction.

 Slug by slug, weed by weed
Katie Whitty can't get enough of Millicoma Intermediate School.

Black box of Yemeni jet found in ocean
PARIS (AP) - France's transport minister says one of the black boxes of the Yemeni jetliner that crashed in the Indian Ocean has been found.

North Korean ship changes its course
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - A North Korean ship under scrutiny for more than a week by the U.S. Navy has changed course and was heading back the way it came, U.S. officials said, as Pyongyang warned today it will take military action if anyone attempts to search its vessels.

Coup leader: Zelaya won't return to office
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) - Honduras' interim leader warned that the only way his predecessor will return to office is through a foreign invasion - though a potential showdown was postponed today when the ousted president delayed plans to return.