Argus Observer

VALE — Ralph Poole, a partner in the local company Poole Oil, said he hopes that his firm will secure funding from the third round of the ConnectOregon program. Full Story »

FRUITLAND — Preliminary site work recently started on a five-acre piece of land between Fruitland and New Plymouth to make way for a farm equipment assembly plant. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are turning away from the world, showing a tendency toward isolationism in foreign affairs that has risen to the highest level in four decades, a poll out Thursday found. Full Story »

PORTLAND (AP) — Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski is urging regional leaders to press on with a multibillion-dollar project to replace the Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal watchdog agency is asking the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to reconsider a plan to move its research fleet from Seattle to Oregon, saying the proposed site for the new fleet base is in a flood-prone area. Full Story »

OAKRIDGE (AP) — When Michelle Ledbetter describes the opening of a coin-operated laundry as the best thing that’s ever happened to the Cascade Range town Oakridge, it’s not hyperbole. When the oldest of your three children just had her second birthday, laundry matters. Full Story »

WASHINGTON — Can more U.S. troops in Afghanistan really convert Afghans into an effective fighting force? Will allies answer the call to do more? Is Pakistan truly prepared to take on the extremists who pose the greatest threat? Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AP) — Making a case for a second term as head of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke said Thursday that he has the tools and the political backbone necessary to reel in massive economic support once the recovery is firmly rooted. While widely crediting with helping keep the Great Recession from becoming a second Great Depression, Bernanke faces enormous anger from both Congress and the ... Full Story »

NEW YORK(AP) — Further evidence that the economic recovery will be a slow and bumpy one emerged Thursday with reports that service sector activity and retail sales unexpectedly shrank in November as consumers held back on purchases. Full Story »

VALE — A project in Malheur County to develop, produce and sell electricity from geothermal energy is moving ahead now after a conditional use permit from the Malheur County Planning Commission for the construction was issued. Full Story »

ONTARIO — Ontario School District Superintendent Linda Florence said she has been reading up about ways to improve graduation rates and reduce dropout rates in school districts lately. Full Story »

Ontario — The Civil War. Just about every state in the nation has its inter-state rival game. Games like the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn, the Apple Cup between Washington and Washington State and, of course, the Bedlam Series between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Full Story »

Ontario — Protecting education, defending Eastern Oregon’s unique natural resource-based economy and searching for future opportunities are three key themes for Oregon Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, as he enters the election mode for 2010. Full Story »

BOISE (AP) — The infectious bacterial disease brucellosis has been found in a beef cow in eastern Idaho, and state agriculture officials are scrambling to see if the infection is isolated or if it has spread to other herds. Full Story »

SALEM (AP) — Schools, universities, prisons, state police and courts could all be cut if voters reject a pair of tax measures aimed at raising $733 million from big companies and wealthy Oregonians, lawmakers said Monday. Full Story »

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Opponents of Oregon’s $733 million tax hike package are using comments by President Barack Obama in a TV ad that began airing Tuesday as tax supporters argue that his words are being misused. Full Story »

Monsanto, agencies sign cleanup pact for ID mines BOISE (AP) — Federal and state agencies, an Indian tribe and the maker of Roundup weedkiller have agreed to develop comprehensive plans to clean up pollution at three defunct phosphate mines, officials said Tuesday. The pact, which was announced by the Environmental Protection Agency, requires Monsanto Co. to investigate pollution from its mines ... Full Story »

ONTARIO — Barron Prentice admits the work on North Oregon Street turned out to be a lengthy process. Full Story »

ONTARIO — An Ontario man initially wanted in connection with an armed robbery was arrested in relation to a number of crimes that occurred in the Ontario area, including two burglaries at the Ontario Golf Club last week. Full Story »

BOISE — Turn out the lights that illuminate the Idaho Capitol dome at night. Cut inmates’ prison sentences if they behave. Eliminate all jobs of elected officials’ spokeswomen and men. Full Story »

ROSEBURG (AP) — Dan Forbess starts his day teaching industrial arts at Oakland High School. After classes on Tuesday and again Thursday, he turns to his duties at the district office. On Mondays and Wednesdays, though, he drives to Drain after class to work at the North Douglas School District. Full Story »

PAYETTE — Two people died Saturday morning when their vehicle was struck broadside by a semi-truck on U.S. Highway 95. Full Story »

ONTARIO — People from around the valley awoke early and descended on area stores the day after Thanksgiving as part of “Black Friday,” filling up parking lots around the big box stores, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Home Depot and rushing through downtown stores as well. Full Story »

Vale — Eastern Oregon’s size and remote nature make the job of apprehending criminals involved in the cattle industry more difficult for area law enforcement agencies, Malheur County Sheriff Andy Bentz said Friday. Full Story »

VALE — Ensuring rural areas like Malheur County stay in the state and national limelight is one key reason County Judge Dan Joyce said he filed for reelection. Full Story »