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News

Politics Obama: America at a 'crossroads' in fight against terrorism
Declaring America at a "crossroads" in the fight against terrorism, President Barack Obama on Thursday revealed clearer guidelines for the use of deadly drone strikes, including more control by the U.S. military, while leaving key details of the controversial program secret.

Entertainment

Offbeat

Offbeat NJ: Caramel-colored rubbing alcohol sold as scotch (New) NJ: Caramel-colored rubbing alcohol sold as scotch
At one bar, a mixture that included rubbing alcohol and caramel coloring was sold as scotch. In another, premium liquor bottles were refilled with water — and apparently not even clean water at that.

Your Photos

YouNews Horsethief Lake View of Mt Hood Horsethief Lake View of Mt Hood
I shot this 05/20/2013 from Horsethief Butte next to Horsethief Lake east of The Dalles on the Washington side about sunset. Horsethief Butte is a popular hiking and rock climbing location not that far from Portland/vancouver.

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Around the World

National & World Jurors deadlock on Jodi Arias penalty; retrial set (New) Jurors deadlock on Jodi Arias penalty; retrial set
Jurors who spent five months determining Jodi Arias' fate couldn't decide whether she should get life in prison or die for murdering her boyfriend, sending prosecutors back to the drawing board to rehash the shocking case of sex, lies and violence to another 12 people.
National & World Kids, teachers from devastated Okla. school reunite
Students from a suburban Oklahoma City elementary school destroyed by this week's tornado reunited with their teachers Thursday and collected whatever could be salvaged from the ruins.
National & World 'I'm not racist': Common claim after racial slurs
Using scientific studies that measure how quickly people associate words like "black" with "criminal" or "Asian-American" with "foreign," these researchers conclude that many people — of all backgrounds, not just white people — are unaware of their own racial biases.

Sports

Sports Former Ducks: Barner inks with Panthers (Video)
Carolina announced Thursday it has signed fifth-round draft pick A.J. Klein from Iowa State and sixth-round selection Kenjon Barner from Oregon, assuring all of their draft picks will be at training camp on time.

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Your Life, Your Style

Politics House votes to let Ore. community colleges compete (New) House votes to let Ore. community colleges compete
The Oregon Legislature on Thursday sent Gov. John Kitzhaber a bill that would repeal a prohibition on public community colleges creating programs that compete with offerings of for-profit career colleges.
Weather Blog Intense thunderstorm upstages cruise ship entertainment Intense thunderstorm upstages cruise ship entertainment (Photo Gallery)
It's not often entertainment on board a cruise ship can be upstaged but on this particular night, Mother Nature gave it a shot.

Make that, several shots...

I took this video as the Disney Fantasy sailed into the Gulf of Mexico on May 1 just hours after it left a very hot and muggy Cozumel, Mexico.

(How hot? I went back and checked when I got home and it was 86 degrees with a 73 degree dew point that evening. Or as this Seattleite said: About 3 degrees cooler than molten lava. Though I'm sure many of the Florida residents on the ship probably thought it was a bit chilly.)

Extras

Weather Blog Brrr! Portland coldest major city in the nation Wednesday Brrr! Portland coldest major city in the nation Wednesday
Does it feel a bit like January out there Wednesday? Your skin did not deceive you.

A cold system from the Gulf of Alaska had settled into the Pacific Northwest, bringing not only a steady winter-like rain but has kept temperatures stuck in the 40s(!) through much of the day.

In fact, at 1 p.m., Portland was hovering at 46 degrees -- about the average high for mid-January.

The Rose City would finish the day with a high of 50 degrees --- the second coldest May day on record -- for any date! It shattered the daily record for coldest high temperature on May 22 which had been a "balmy" 55.

It was so chilly in the Northwest that Portland was given the "honor" as the coldest major city in the United States! (Even colder than Seattle (52) and Anchorage (54), although if you add in smaller cities, tied with Spokane, Washington, also at 50.)
Weather Blog How tornado victims got 36 minutes of precious warning time How tornado victims got 36 minutes of precious warning time (Photo Gallery)
Thirty-six minutes.

That might not seem very long -- roughly about the time it takes to wade through your hourly drama if you blaze through commercials. But compared to a few decades ago, 36 minutes of time might have saved countless lives during the devastating tornado that struck Moore, Oklahoma on Monday.

Years ago, the residents of Moore would have likely had no idea the tornado was coming until the twister was sighted, giving people barely a few minutes' notice. But thanks to advancements in technology, tornadoes rarely sneak up on anyone anymore.

In fact, forecasters as early as Wednesday began sounding the alarm for a potential severe weather breakout on Sunday and Monday. And, on Friday, the forecasts became more specific. On Monday, a Tornado Watch, which indicates conditions are right for tornadic development, was issued at 1:10 p.m. for much of Oklahoma, including the greater Oklahoma City area.

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Technology

Technology Google to add Galapagos Islands to Street View
Mountain View, Calif.,-based Google sent hikers to the Galapagos with Street View gear called "trekkers," 42-pound computer backpacks with large, soccer ball-like cameras mounted on a tower.
Technology With high-tech guns, users could disable remotely
A high-tech startup is wading into the gun control debate with a wireless controller that would allow gun owners to know when their weapon is being moved - and disable it remotely.

Politics

Politics Oregon House votes to extend foreclosure mediation
The Oregon House has voted to extend a requirement that some mortgage lenders meet with struggling borrowers and a professional mediator before initiating foreclosure proceedings.
Politics Day after fluoride defeat, future of battle unclear (Video)
But both sides were short on specifics Wednesday, the day after Portlanders decisively defeated a proposal to add fluoride to the water. But the logical step is for each side to cast a wider net.
Politics 2 Ore. timber counties reject public safety levies
Voters in two Oregon timber counties with the lowest property taxes in the state — Curry and Josephine — turned down tax increases Tuesday that would have funded law enforcement, but a jail levy passed in a third, Lane County.
Politics Anthony Weiner launches bid to become NYC mayor
The ex-congressman whose career imploded in a rash of raunchy tweets two years ago said in a YouTube video announcement late Tuesday that he's in the New York City mayoral race. He'd said last month he was considering it.
Politics Portland rejects fluoride but both sides may meet again (Video)
Fluoride advocates admitted defeat Tuesday night after unofficial election results showed Portlanders strongly against adding fluoride to the city’s drinking water. But there were indications new battle lines may be drawn in the future.

Business

Business 87-year-old woman loses to Trump in civil case
Jurors sided with the real estate mogul-turned-TV showman in a weeklong civil trial focused on Jacqueline Goldberg's claim that Trump cheated her in a condo bait-and-switch scheme in a Chicago skyscraper he built.
Business US new home sales up 2.3 percent in April
U.S. sales of new homes rose in April and nearly matched the fastest pace in five years, driving the median price to a record high. The gains suggest the housing recovery is strengthening.
Business House backs variable rate student loans
The U.S. House says student loans' interest rates should be pegged to the financial markets. Senate democrats say there is no support for the bill in the Senate.
Business Birth control coverage up for federal appeal
In the most prominent challenge of its kind, Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. is asking a federal appeals court Thursday for an exemption from part of the federal health care law that requires it to offer employees health coverage that includes access to the morning-after pill.

Entertainment News

Entertainment Emails show AEG lawyer called Jackson a 'freak'
A lawyer for the parent company of AEG Live LLC called Michael Jackson a freak on the day the singer signed a multimillion contract for a series of ill-fated comeback concerts, emails displayed for a jury on Wednesday showed.
Entertainment Review: 'We Steal Secrets' juicy look at WikiLeaks
Unfolding like an espionage thriller but with a methodical journalistic skill at organizing a mountain of facts, the film raises stimulating questions about transparency and freedom of information in a world in which governments and corporations have plenty to hide. It should be a magnet for op-ed coverage.
Entertainment Jennifer Lopez to open cellphone stores
Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez on Wednesday announced she's opening a chain of 15 cellphone stores and a website under the Viva Movil brand. The aim is to sell Verizon phones and services to Latinos.