KGW NewsChannel 8 Portland

   PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The remains of a 16-year-old Oregon girl reported missing in 1983 have been identified, reopening an investigation into any link to convicted serial killer Gary Ridgway, known as the "Green River killer."    The Washington County sheriff's office in Hillsboro announced Tuesday that the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office had identified the remains of Angela Marie ... Full Story »

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) — The Clatsop County board of commissioners will allow a group of history-minded volunteers to remove and restore the historic cannon in front of the courthouse. The Japanese-made cannon is a war trophy from World War II and has stood outside the courthouse since the 1940s. But time, the elements and vandals have tarnished the landmark. The project will also include proper ... Full Story »

GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. – The latest climbing tragedy on Mt. Hood has rekindled debate over the use of beacons as a safety measure. After three climbers died in December 2006 while trying to climb Mt. Hood, Rep. John Lim introduced legislation that would have required climbers to carry beacons above 10,000 feet on Mt. Hood during winter climbs. The measure was strongly opposed by those in the ... Full Story »

“The names are different, but the agony is the same.” Those are the words of Frank James, whose brother Kelly died climbing on Mt. Hood three years ago this month. In December 2006, the tragedy unfolding on Oregon’s highest peak captured the attention of the nation. For Frank James and the other families of the three climbers who perished that month, it was personal. Three years later, the loss ... Full Story »

GRESHAM, Ore. -- Gresham police think they have cracked a counterfeit cash operation involving fake $100 bills that were passed at local businesses. Investigators said they found evidence inside a Gresham home that someone was transforming $5 bills into $100 bills through a process called “washing” and then re-printing them. “A search of the residence located what appeared to be forged $100 ... Full Story »

SEATTLE (AP) -- A jury has found Naveed Haq guilty of murder in his second trial for the 2006 shooting spree at a Seattle Jewish center. Haq was found guilty on all eight counts against him. The 34-year-old will spend the rest of his life in prison. Haq's first trial ended last year with jurors deadlocked on whether the Pasco man was legally insane during the shooting spree on July 28, 2006. The ... Full Story »

BANDON, Ore. – No one reported feeling it, but a seismograph did record an earthquake off the coast of Southern Oregon Monday afternoon. The National Earthquake Information Center reported that the earthquake hit just after 3'30 p.m. and registered at 4.6. It was 210 miles northwest of Bandon, Ore. or 307 miles southwest of Portland. There were no reports of damage on land. Full Story »

VANCOUVER – A large house fire forced authorities to close a busy roadway near Highway 99 for two hours during the morning commute Tuesday in Clark County. The vacant home on NE 78th Street was engulfed in flames when Clark County Fire District 6 crews arrived just before 5 a.m. NE 78th St. was closed between Hwy. 99 and 29th Ave. Tuesday morning but as of 7'30 a.m., it had been re-opened ... Full Story »

ONTARIO, Ore. -- Traffic on Interstate 84 was backed up near Ontario after one person was killed in a crash. Oregon State Police said it happened near an off-ramp where truck drivers Milton Belton, 49, and Miguel Victorio-Alvarez, 45, were putting on tire chains in heavy snowfall Tuesday morning. Investigators said a third truck driver passed the two parked semi-trucks and hit the two men who ... Full Story »

   CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- A Benton County man has pleaded not guilty to accusations he kidnapped a Good Samaritan.    Police say David Wilson of Waldport was driving home on Highway 34 last week when he saw a pickup off the road. Smoke billowed from the engine and the driver, Christopher Hewitt, appeared unconscious.    When Hewitt woke up, Wilson informed him that help was on the way. Hewitt ... Full Story »

   GASTON, Ore. (AP) -- State police say a 62-year-old man died Monday night when his pickup traveled off Highway 47 south of Gaston and went down about 250 feet.    Troopers say it appears neither speed nor alcohol contributed to the crash that killed Alfred Spry of Gaston. The road was wet and Spry was not using safety restraints.    Troopers from the McMinnville office are continuing the ... Full Story »

KALAMA, Wash. (AP) — Schools are closed Tuesday in Kalama, and a boil order is in effect for about 2,500 residents while health officials check to make sure the water is safe to drink. A ruptured water main drained the city reservoir Monday. The Daily News of Longview reports repair crews had most of the water service restored by Monday night. The city reservoir drained after a water main ... Full Story »

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) — Klamath County prosecutors plan to fight an inmate's attempt to use recently approved legislation to shave time off his prison sentence. Gary Pittsley could get out six months early under House Bill 3508, which makes some prisoners eligible for a reduction in their sentences. Lawmakers approved the measure in June to save money on prison costs. Pittsley was sentenced ... Full Story »

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — A Benton County man has pleaded not guilty to accusations he kidnapped a Good Samaritan. Police say David Wilson of Waldport was driving home on Highway 34 last week when he saw a pickup off the road. Smoke billowed from the engine and the driver, Christopher Hewitt, appeared unconscious. When Hewitt woke up, Wilson informed him that help was on the way. Hewitt reportedly ... Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AP) — A 29-year-old Fort Hood soldier has died in a non-combat-related incident in Iraq. A Defense Department statement issued Monday says Pvt. Jhanner A. Tello of Los Angeles died Dec. 10 in Baghdad, Iraq of injuries suffered in the incident. The Pentagon statement offered no other details, and a message left with a Fort Hood spokesman wasn't returned late Monday. However, the ... Full Story »

Climber Luke Gullberg was found dead on Mt. Hood on Saturday, December 12th after he and two friends failed to return to Timberline as planned the day before.  The search continues for his fellow climbers, Katie Nolan and Anthony Vietti.  The "related" content at right, is an archive of video from the start of the search effort, including excerpts from daily press conferences. Full Story »

PORTLAND -- Heavy rainfall was expected to continue for several days in Portland, taking the region back to what's actually the more common weather scenario for this time of year. "It is wet out there this morning, there is no way around that one," KGW Meteorologist Nick Allard said Tuesday morning.  "Rainfall totals should be fairly impressive Tuesday and really over the next couple of days ... Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AP) — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says world policymakers do not have to choose between a clean environment and economic growth. Schwarzengger said "we've proved that over and over again in California." Interviewed by ABC's "Good Morning America" from the Copenhagen conference, he said he thinks world leaders may be risking setback by pushing so aggressively for an ... Full Story »

PORTLAND, Ore. -- View Luke Gullberg's MySpace page at http'//www.myspace.com/climb4life and one knows his idea of heaven. He recorded it on a Mount Rainier climbing trip in 2007. Listen to his narration and it becomes clear how much he loved climbing. In fact, he describes himself with three words in his "About Me" section' "God, then climbing." "This is our view from ... Full Story »

SEATTLE (AP) — The University of Washington and the U.S. Geological Survey are looking for homeowners willing to help them measure earthquakes in urban areas around Seattle. Twenty special seismographs will be placed immediately and as many 500 will be operating within the next few years. A similar program is already working in San Francisco. The Seattle program was announced Monday at a meeting ... Full Story »

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — One of the parties to negotiations to remove dams from the Klamath River in Southern Oregon and Northern California is pulling out before the final agreement. The Northcoast Environmental Center in Arcata, Calif., announced Monday it cannot accept several provisions of the deal that is expected to be signed next month. Klamath Campaign coordinator Jay Wright says the ... Full Story »

GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. -- The climbers at the center of a massive search and rescue operation were not the only ones to try to climb Mt. Hood on Friday. Guy Skeele set out from Timberline Lodge at 3 a.m. Friday for his first-ever attempt to climb Mt. Hood. Skeele went with Dan Trout, who’d climbed Oregon’s highest peak 16 times before. Skeele said conditions on the mountain were nearly perfect ... Full Story »

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland Fire and Rescue crews were helping to shore up a building that collapsed in Northeast Portland Monday. Part of the commercial property on NE 21st and Interstate 84 slide down the hill towards the MAX tracks. There were no reports of anyone hurt. Fire officials said the pipes likely froze during our cold snap and broke after the warmup, causing them to run for days. The ... Full Story »

PORTLAND -- The U.S. Postal Service was trying to make mailing during the holidays as stress-free as possible as the busiest mailing day of the year hit on Monday. USPS spokesman Ron Anderson said the Postal Service has added weekday collection runs starting at noon during the holiday mailing season and is suggesting customers deposit mail in blue collection boxes or at their Post Office before ... Full Story »

   MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) -- Search and rescue crews from Whitman County, Wash. and Latah County, Idaho are searching for a bird hunter who went missing after a snowstorm who has local ties.    Glenn Voshell, 45, was reported missing Saturday night after he didn't return from an upland bird hunting day trip.    Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers says Voshell knew the region well and had often gone ... Full Story »