KATU.com

Breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, traffic, video and community news from the Portland and SW Washington area.

Local & Regional Mom of slain man believes he was killed over custody battle (Video)

By Erica Nochlin KATU News and KATU.com Staff Published: Jan 28, 2012 at 12:16 AM PST

Ryan Johnson, 22, was gunned down outside an Aloha grocery store Thursday afternoon. Police say the gunman was 52-year-old Jeffrey Brian Johnson.

Local & Regional Iraq War veteran accused of posing as Eugene police officer

By NIGEL DUARA, Associated Press Published: Jan 28, 2012 at 12:28 AM PST

Police in Oregon's second-largest city say the man with the badge was Daniel S. Alloway, and investigators are now trying to piece together at least a year of his alleged exploits.

Local & Regional Mom says 11-year-old boy with gun on MAX harassed her (Video)

By Emily Sinovic KATU News and KATU.com Staff Published: Jan 27, 2012 at 5:10 PM PST Last Updated: Jan 28, 2012 at 12:19 AM PST

Police arrested the boy and KATU News learned Friday afternoon that he is a brother of Portland murder victim Yashanee Vaughn.

Local & Regional Local fugitive to be featured on America's Most Wanted

By KATU.com Staff Published: Jan 27, 2012 at 3:49 PM PST

A man who impersonated a police officer, kidnapped two women and attempted to rape them remains at large nearly two years later and will now be featured on America's Most Wanted.

News

Local & Regional Mom of slain man believes he was killed over custody battle (Video)
Ryan Johnson, 22, was gunned down outside an Aloha grocery store Thursday afternoon. Police say the gunman was 52-year-old Jeffrey Brian Johnson.
Local & Regional Iraq War veteran accused of posing as Eugene police officer
Police in Oregon's second-largest city say the man with the badge was Daniel S. Alloway, and investigators are now trying to piece together at least a year of his alleged exploits.
Local & Regional Mom says 11-year-old boy with gun on MAX harassed her (Video)
Police arrested the boy and KATU News learned Friday afternoon that he is a brother of Portland murder victim Yashanee Vaughn.
Local & Regional Local fugitive to be featured on America's Most Wanted
A man who impersonated a police officer, kidnapped two women and attempted to rape them remains at large nearly two years later and will now be featured on America's Most Wanted.
Local & Regional 'Barefoot Bandit' gets 6 1/2-year federal prison sentence
Colton Harris-Moore, aka the "Barefoot Bandit," was sentenced Friday to 6 1/2 years in federal prison for a multi-state crime spree that began in Western Washington and ended two years later with his capture in the Bahamas.
Home Everyday Heroes: Books Make It Better (Video)
We want to introduce you to Jen Barth – a local mother who discovered the power of children's books – and how she hopes to turn a family project into a nationwide effort.
Local & Regional Longview mulls pet limit ordinance (Video)
The City of Longview is considering putting a cap on how many animals people can have in their homes and the proposed rules have some people upset. But animal control officers say they are being overwhelmed with animal welfare cases involving large numbers of pets.
Local & Regional 63-year-old pedestrian struck and killed in Wood Village
A 63-year-old man was struck and killed Thursday evening while he was walking along a road.
Local & Regional The surprising connection between Wilsonville, Ireland and horses
To most, Wilsonville is a sleepy, bedroom community of Portland. Ireland is a country famous for a potato famine, leprechauns and its lush green terrain. Horses? Well, they're horses.
Politics Voters' Guide for 1st Congressional District
On this page KATU.com has compiled interviews, stories and the KATU debate in the race for the 1st Congressional District seat vacated by David Wu.

More News

Stay Connected

Email newsletter

Live: KATU TV | ABC shows |

Guilty Pleasures

Entertainment News

Entertainment Photos: Star sightings (Photo Gallery)

Published: Jan 27, 2012 at 2:55 PM PST

Entertainment Actress Nixon's claim to be gay by choice riles activists

By LISA LEFF Associated Press Published: Jan 27, 2012 at 12:29 PM PST Last Updated: Jan 27, 2012 at 2:13 PM PST

Cynthia Nixon learned the hard way this week that when it comes to gay civil rights, the personal is always political. Very political.

Entertainment Friend says on 911 call Demi Moore was convulsing (Video)

By RAQUEL MARIA DILLON Associated Press Published: Jan 27, 2012 at 6:52 AM PST Last Updated: Jan 27, 2012 at 12:18 PM PST

Demi Moore smoked something before she was rushed to the hospital on Monday night and was "semi-conscious, barely," according to a caller on a 911 recording released Friday by Los Angeles fire officials.

More Entertainment News

Offbeat

Offbeat N.J. camel predicts Giants will win the Super Bowl

By WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press Published: Jan 27, 2012 at 7:33 AM PST Last Updated: Jan 27, 2012 at 10:54 AM PST

People use all sorts of ways to try to predict the winner of the Super Bowl. But the closest thing to a sure thing may come from a camel in New Jersey.

Offbeat Potty-room pilfering: Automatic flushers stolen in Ohio

By Associated Press Published: Jan 26, 2012 at 12:54 PM PST

A restroom rip-off in central Ohio has automatic flushers disappearing from the bathrooms at restaurants and other businesses.

Offbeat Artist plans to bury Boeing 727 jetliner in Calif. desert

By Associated Press Published: Jan 26, 2012 at 7:48 AM PST Last Updated: Jan 26, 2012 at 12:07 PM PST

A Swiss artist plans to bury an intact Boeing 727 jetliner in California's Mojave Desert and build a tourist tunnel to give visitors a chance to view the underground project.

More Offbeat

KATU TV

Watch ABC shows online

Local & Regional

Local & Regional WA lawmakers consider ways to curb child sex-trafficking

By JONATHAN KAMINSKY, Associated Press Published: Jan 27, 2012 at 10:43 PM PST

Washington state lawmakers on Friday heard impassioned pleas to pass a bill clamping down on classified-advertising companies that don't demand ID before allowing sex-related ads to be posted online.

Politics Wash. marijuana initiative certified, sent to Legislature
An initiative that would decriminalize use and possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults was sent to the Legislature on Friday after the Secretary of State’s office certified it has more than enough signatures.
Local & Regional Victim and shooting suspect's daughter involved in custody dispute (Video)
The man accused of shooting and killing 22-year-old Ryan Lee Johnson appeared in court on Friday afternoon and pleaded not guilty. Ryan Johnson was in a custody dispute over a young child with the suspect's daughter.
Local & Regional Portland's aerial tram turns 5 (Photo Gallery)
Portland's aerial tram that carries passengers to and from Oregon Health & Science University and the South Waterfront is marking its fifth anniversary.
Local & Regional 'I was told by a city engineer that it wasn't a dangerous corner' (Video)
It's a tricky spot in northeast Portland - an 'S' curve along Prescott Street, right at 37th.

More Local & Regional

Community News

Around the World

Politics Romney, Gingrich focus on Hispanic voters in Fla. (Video)

By BRIAN BAKST, STEVE PEOPLES, Associated Press Published: Jan 28, 2012 at 1:39 AM PST

Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney urged conservatives to back off aggressive anti-immigration policies as the Republican presidential candidates vied for Hispanic votes Friday, a day marked by heightened tensions entering the final weekend before Florida's primary.

National & World 50 more killed in Syria as gov't crackdown escalates
Video posted online by activists showed the bodies of five small children, five women of varying ages and a man, all bloodied and piled on beds in what appeared to be an apartment after a building was hit in the Karm el-Zaytoun neighborhood of the city.
National & World Costa: $14,460 per person for ruined Italy cruise
Costa Crociere SpA offered uninjured passengers euro11,000 ($14,460) apiece Friday to compensate them for lost baggage and the psychological trauma they suffered after their cruise ship ran aground and capsized off Tuscany.
Business Report: US economic growth surges in last 2011 quarter
Americans spent more on cars and trucks, and companies built up their stockpiles. But growth in the October-December quarter - and all of last year - was held back by the biggest annual government spending cuts in four decades.
National & World At least 11 hurt at Ohio casino construction site (Video)
A section of floor collapsed Friday at the construction site of the city's new casino, sending workers tumbling down with it and causing minor injuries for at least 11 people, authorities said.

More Around the World

Sports

Sports Aldridge leads Blazers past Suns 109-71

By The Associated Press Published: Jan 27, 2012 at 9:51 PM PST Last Updated: Jan 27, 2012 at 11:08 PM PST

LaMarcus Aldridge had 23 points and seven rebounds and the Portland Trail Blazers blew out the Phoenix Suns 109-71 Friday night for their sixth straight win at home.

Sports A Viking returns home: PSU's Lanz is back on the court (Video)
Sports 'Don't steal, wash your hands, make your bed, the Ducks suck' (Video)
After sweeping the LA schools for the first time in six seasons, the Beavers head into the 336th Civil War with lots of confidence.
Sports 336th Civil War: Ducks seek fifth straight victory (Video)
Having won four games in a row, the Oregon Ducks (15-5, 6-2) host Oregon State (13-7, 3-5) in the 336th Civil War.
Sports Beaver Baseball: Ranked 19th in coaches poll
The Oregon State baseball team is ranked 19th in the initial USA Today/ESPN Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll which was released on Thursday.

More Sports

Your Life, Your Style

Politics Jobs are Job One for upcoming legislative session, parties say (Video)

By Steve Benham KATU.com Staff Published: Jan 28, 2012 at 1:09 AM PST Last Updated: Jan 28, 2012 at 4:04 AM PST

State Reps. Julie Parrish, R-Tualatin/West Linn, and Tina Kotek, D-North/NE Portland will be joining KATU News anchor Steve Dunn on this Sunday's "Your Voice, Your Vote."

Local & Regional 'When I'm dancing, that's actually when I feel better' (Photo Gallery)

By Shannon L. Cheesman, KATU.com Producer/Reporter Published: Jan 25, 2012 at 8:17 PM PST Last Updated: Jan 26, 2012 at 12:18 PM PST

Peripheral neuropathy isn't completely debilitating but it does make day-to-day life more difficult, especially for a guy who teaches kids how to breakdance.

Life & Style Small quake rattles Mount St. Helens area

By Associated Press Published: Jan 25, 2012 at 12:55 PM PST

A magnitude 3.4 earthquake occurred at 2:51 a.m. Wednesday about 10 miles north of Mount St. Helens.

Politics Lawmakers remain confident of timber counties fix

By JEFF BARNARD, AP Environmental Writer Published: Jan 26, 2012 at 9:02 PM PST

Members of Oregon's congressional delegation recognize they face an uphill battle on legislation to forge short- and long-term solutions to the fiscal problems facing timber counties.

More Your Life, Your Style

Extras

KATU Blogs How cold was it last week? 'Old Man Winter' put in an appearance

By Scott Sistek Published: Jan 25, 2012 at 8:18 PM PST

There were dozens to hundreds of amazing photos from the ice and snow storms last week, but this one really caught my attention. Mary Popovich took this picture looking out her living room window in Bellingham on Jan. 18. "As I was walking by I stopped and notice this profile on the fence post," she said. "I think it's really odd that the snow created such a profile."

Local & Regional Charity to shut down after leader exposed as a war hero fake (Video)

By Dan Tilkin KATU News and KATU.com Staff Published: Jan 25, 2012 at 6:31 PM PST

Many people thought 49-year-old Lehn Joseph Bundrick, the president of The Long Trail Home, was a war hero.

More Extras

More News

Technology

Technology Report: Facebook IPO filing could come next week
Facebook could file regulatory papers as early as Wednesday for its highly anticipated initial public offering of stock, according to a newspaper report.
Technology Twitter may censor tweets in individual countries
Twitter has refined its technology so it can censor messages on a country-by-country basis. The additional flexibility announced Thursday is likely to raise fears that Twitter's commitment to free speech may be weakening.
Local & Regional City calls Portland emergency notification test a 'failure'
Most local residents hoping to get a phone call or text message Thursday morning during a city-wide test of an emergency notification system got nothing, a spokesman for the department conducting the test said.
Technology iPhone, iPad app rewards being a couch potato
Want to earn stuff by watching TV? An app for that is set to debut Wednesday.
Technology Apple passes Exxon as most valuable company
Apple has again surpassed Exxon as the most valuable U.S. company after a huge fiscal first quarter.

More Technology

Politics

Politics Wash. Senate committee approves same-sex marriage bill
A measure to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state moved one step closer to passage on Thursday as a Senate committee voted to approve it.
Politics Portland mayoral candidates spell out their visions for city (Video)
Three candidates for Portland mayor say they have big plans if they're elected, some of which could help you with your daily commute.
Politics Oregon GOP pushes limits on medical malpractice liability
Republicans in the Oregon Senate say they'll fight Gov. John Kitzhaber's proposed overhaul of the Oregon Health Plan unless it includes limits on medical malpractice claims.
Politics Kitzhaber: Regional effort may aid timber counties
Some jails and other local government work could be regionalized to help rural counties struggling with the expiration of federal timber payments, Gov. John Kitzhaber said Tuesday.
Politics Seeking questions for upcoming legislative session
With Oregon's month-long legislative session just around the corner, "Your Voice, Your Vote" is looking for questions from viewers that can be addressed on the show this Sunday.

More Politics

Business

Business Economy grew modest 2.8 pct in 4th qtr, best in 2011
The U.S. economy grew at a 2.8 percent annual rate in the final three months of last year, the fastest growth in 2011.
Business Ford posts big profits but misses Wall Street
An accounting change boosted Ford's fourth-quarter net income, but without the gain the company fell short of Wall Street's expectations.
Business Private sector unions add members in 2011
Union membership grew slightly last year, giving union leaders hope that a period of steep declines has finally bottomed out.
Business Nintendo chief promises to do Wii U launch right
Nintendo's chief is determined to get right the launch of its next game machine, Wii U, set for this year's holiday shopping season, and acknowledged Friday some mistakes with selling its 3DS handheld.
Business Davos chief offers to meet with Occupy protesters
The head of the World Economic Forum on Friday invited members of the "Occupy" movement to meet him in person, to discuss their concerns about the exclusive gathering of global business and government leaders.

More Business

Entertainment News

Entertainment Jesse Jackson enters fray over Grammy cuts
Jesse Jackson is entering the fray over The Recording Academy's cuts to its Grammy categories: He's asking to meet with the president of the organization and has raised the possibility of protests.
Entertainment Robert Hegyes, played Epstein on 'Kotter,' dies
Robert Hegyes, the actor best known for playing Jewish Puerto Rican student Juan Epstein on the 1970s TV show "Welcome Back Kotter" has died. He was 60.
Entertainment Sajak: Vanna and I drank between 'Wheel' tapings
The "Wheel of Fortune" wasn't the only thing spinning for Pat Sajak and Vanna White back in the day.
Entertainment Claire Danes lauded, roasted as Hasty Pudding Woman of Year (Photo Gallery)
Golden Globe winner Claire Danes picked up a pudding pot from Harvard's Hasty Pudding Theatricals.
Entertainment Dust off the gloves: Snow White rivalry heats up
Hollywood's Snow White rivalry is heating up. Movie studio Relativity Media on Thursday pushed back the release of "Mirror Mirror," by two weeks That cuts the time between it and Universal Picture's "Snow White and the Huntsman," to nine weeks instead of 11.

More Entertainment News

Photo Galleries

Entertainment Photos: Star sightings (Photo Gallery)

Published: at

Local & Regional Portland's aerial tram turns 5 (Photo Gallery)

By KATU.com Staff Published: Jan 27, 2012 at 1:49 PM PST

Portland's aerial tram that carries passengers to and from Oregon Health & Science University and the South Waterfront is marking its fifth anniversary.

Featured Sponsor

Get professional advice & info
from our Featured Health Partners

Most Popular

Local & Regional Victim identified in deadly Aloha shooting (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By KATU.com Staff Published: Jan 26, 2012 at 3:47 PM PST Last Updated: Jan 27, 2012 at 12:14 PM PST

A man was shot and killed outside the Bales Thriftway grocery store in Aloha on Thursday afternoon. The suspect in the shooting was arrested a short time later.

Offbeat Photos: Geeky tattoos (Photo Gallery)

Published: Jan 24, 2012 at 3:34 PM PST Last Updated: Jan 25, 2012 at 11:32 AM PST

Local & Regional Victim and shooting suspect's daughter involved in custody dispute (Video)

By Dan Tilkin, KATU News and KATU.com Staff Published: Jan 27, 2012 at 3:53 PM PST Last Updated: Jan 27, 2012 at 5:08 PM PST

The man accused of shooting and killing 22-year-old Ryan Lee Johnson appeared in court on Friday afternoon and pleaded not guilty. Ryan Johnson was in a custody dispute over a young child with the suspect's daughter.

Local & Regional 11-year-old boy arrested after flashing loaded gun on MAX (Video)

By KATU.com Staff Published: Jan 26, 2012 at 11:12 PM PST Last Updated: Jan 27, 2012 at 8:18 AM PST

An 11-year-old boy was arrested after flashing a loaded handgun at a woman on a MAX train Thursday night. Another youth had a BB gun in his backpack was also taken into custody.

Local & Regional Man found dead, investigators call death 'suspicious' (Video)

By KATU.com Staff Published: Jan 27, 2012 at 7:56 AM PST Last Updated: Jan 27, 2012 at 4:58 PM PST

Officers found the dead man after responding to a call for a welfare check on a possible stranded motorist in a vehicle on the side road at about 1:15 a.m.