News Digest:

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 10:11 AM PDT

OREGON — Ore. Senate candidate: no regrets about Iraq

resolution

PORTLAND (AP) — Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley says he has no regrets about voting for a 2003 Oregon House resolution on Iraq that has become an issue in his campaign to unseat Republican Senator Gordon Smith.

The resolution voiced support for U.S. troops, but also expressed support for ‘‘the victorious removal of Saddam Hussein.’’

If elected, Merkley says he would advocate for pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq.

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Oregon police say 3 teens busted for nocturnal ninja crimes

ROGUE RIVER (AP) — The three teenagers in hooded black outfits were scampering over rooftops, climbing trees ‘‘just like a squirrel,’’ and breaking into houses and cars, police said.

Last week, after months of investigation, police arrested three teens, two 15 and one 16, and seized stolen jewelry, burglary tools, a map of the city and several black ninja suits with hoods and climbing spikes.

THE WEST

Highway reopens through site of stubborn SoCal wildfire

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — A highway that runs through wilderness scorched by a vast wildfire was reopened Monday, as firefighters aided by higher humidity and cooler weather beat back the diminishing blaze.

The fire has burned more than 240,000 acres — 375 square miles — since July 4 in rural, mountainous stretches of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

WASHINGTON

Blood banks working to boost Latino donations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Blood banks look at the nation’s Hispanic population boom and see an unexpected potential to save thousands of lives: the possibility of more so-called universal blood donors.

It turns out Latinos are more likely than the average American to have Type O blood, the type blood banks value most because it can be used by so many patients.

That potential so far is mostly untapped. Now blood banks are beginning major efforts to boost Latino donations.