The federal government is about to launch an audit of the troubled Cover Oregon website.

A man is facing federal charges after being accused of displaying bizarre behavior that prompted an emergency landing at Portland International Airport.

A former Hillsboro police officer will spend ten years behind bars for engaging in a shootout with officers and threatening his wife.

A 15-year-old New Mexico teen accused of killing his 12-year-old playmate was indicted Thursday on a murder charge.

Authorities in Los Angeles say it's "miraculous" that a blind man escaped uninjured after falling onto the tracks at a subway station as a train was arriving.

...Wind Advisory in effect until 7:00 p.m. PST this evening...

The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a wind
advisory...Which is in effect until 7 pm pst this evening.

* Timing: winds will increase early this morning and continue
  through early this evening and then diminish by late evening.

* Winds: 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph.

* Impacts: strong winds will make travel difficult for high
  profile vehicles on area roadways. Loose objects can be picked
  up by the winds and thrown long distances. Trees with weak root
  systems can be blown down.

HWY 372 road to Mt. Bachelor:  Packed Snow, Carry Chains

US 97 between Pinebrook and the 3rd Street/Business 97 exit; bridge construction in the median and shoulders. (7am-4pm)

Full road closure with detours Reed Mkt Rd from Fargo Lane to Daly Estates Dr./Camelot Pl.

Flaggers, utility work SW Bend.  Quail Pine Loop to Heron Way, Powers Road, Porcupine Dr.  Brookswood Blvd.  8am-6pm (2/26-3/14)
 

Mr. Market was in an oh um mood yesterday as the S&P 500 and NASDAQ ended near the flat line.  The markets shrugged off less than stellar jobs and non-manufacturing sector production numbers and seemed to blame them on poor winter weather. (Seeking Alpha)

The number of US companies planning layoffs in February declined 24% from a year earlier to 41,835.  The financial sector made up almost 25% of the months layoffs. (Challenger, Gray & Christmas)

Costco profits fell 15% to $463 million for the latest quarter. Sales increased 6%.  Discounting during the holiday season hurt profit margins and foreign exchange rates from international operations also stunted the bottom-line. (Reuters)

Retailers that don’t figure out how to compete in the world of online shopping may go the way of the dodo bird.  Staples is closing 225 stores as more and more office supplies are being purchased online.  The move will save the company $500 million by 2016.  Which stores will be closed is unknown. (Bloomberg)

Ford, the only domestic auto manufacture not to be bailed out by the federal government and tax payers, saw sales in China climb 73% during the first two months of the year.  The Ford Focus is the bestselling car in China. (CNBC)
 

(Portland, OR)  --  The Portland Trail Blazers are winners of six of their last seven games after defeating the Atlanta Hawks, 102-78.  The Blazers used a stiff defense to hold the Hawks to 34-percent shooting.  Mo Williams came off the bench to score 15 points to lead six players who hit double figures for Portland.  Nicolas Batum [[ bah-TOOM ]] had 14 points and 18 rebounds for the Blazers, who will visit the Dallas Mavericks tomorrow night.