Eugene, Lane County | featured news

PORTLAND — The authorities have released the names of a Korean couple who were among nine people killed in a bus crash on Interstate 84 in Eastern Oregon. Oregon State Police Lt. Gregg Hastings identified the pair Wednesday as 67-year-old Oun Hong Jung and his 63-year-old wife, Joong Wha Kim.

A former Eugene man is suing the Methodist Church for $4.5 million over allegations he was abused as a youth by a Eugene pastor who later died from AIDS.

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COOS BAY — A U.S. Coast Guard crew used a helicopter to rescue three fishermen this morning after a 39-foot crab boat ran aground off Cape Arago near Coos Bay.

PORTLAND — Oregon State Troopers stepped up enforcement efforts this New Year’s Eve. Troopers say that effort resulted in 39 arrests for driving under the influence between Dec. 31 and 6 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Twenty-six of those arrests were after 12 midnight.

SEATTLE — Seattle Seahawks fans who want to see their team play in Washington, D.C., next weekend need to be ready to pay for the privilege.

Lane County Sheriff Tom Turner has scheduled a meeting for Jan. 17 in Eugene to meet with the public to discuss public safety issues. The meeting will run from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hilyard Community Center, 2580 Hilyard St.

PORTLAND — The AAA auto club reports the average price of a gallon of gasoline Oregon is $3.37. That’s 6 cents lower than a month ago and 2 cents lower than a year ago. Some metro prices from Wednesday’s AAA survey: Portland $3.35, Salem $3.38, Eugene-Springfield $3.42, Medford-Ashland $3.42.

BOISE — Five inmates at the Idaho State Correctional Institution south of Boise are suing a handful of major beer and wine companies, contending that alcohol led to their crimes and that they should have been warned that the beverages can be addictive.

Temperatures in the freezing range triggered the winter debut of the Egan Warming Center New Year’s Eve and New Year’s night. The centers, in six Eugene-Springfield churches, offer space to homeless people when program officials are confident overnight temperatures will fall below 30 degrees.