LATE BRIEFING

OREGON

Pacts could end feuding over river

The governors of California and Oregon joined the U.S. secretary of the Interior in Salem to sign two agreements that could officially end decades of feuding over the Klamath River.

The Klamath, a major salmon river, was dammed for hydropower nearly a century ago, and its waters were diverted for irrigation.

Signed by 30 tribal, conservation and agricultural groups, the agreements call for the removal by 2020 of four hydroelectric dams that have blocked salmon migration on the river, which flows from southern Oregon through Northern California to the Pacific Ocean.

The plan needs congressional approval, funding and an Interior Department finding that dam removal is in the public interest.

-- bettina boxall WASHINGTON STATE

Remark about senator clarified

An organizer of a “tea party” gathering acknowledged that she called for the hanging of Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). But Dianne Capps of Clarkston said her remark was taken out of context and that she meant Murray should be voted out of office.

Capps’ comment Saturday at the Lewis & Clark Tea Party Patriots meeting in Asotin was captured by KLEW-TV of Lewiston, Idaho. Capps told the crowd that Murray should share the fate of the character Jake in “Lonesome Dove.”

“What happened to Jake when he ran with the wrong crowd?” she asked. “He got hung. And that’s what I want to do with Patty Murray.”

-- associated press AUSTRALIA

Deadline set for Japanese whaling

Australia’s prime minister set a November deadline for Japan to stop its whaling program that kills hundreds of whales a year in Antarctic waters, or face legal action.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Australia would prefer to use diplomatic means to persuade Japan to end its hunt. Australia, a staunch anti-whaling nation, has threatened international legal action against Japan before but has not followed up.

-- associated press PHILIPPINES

Troops arrest kidnap suspect

Philippine troops arrested a suspected Muslim militant accused in the kidnappings of three Americans, two of whom were later killed, nine years ago, the military said.

Jumadali Arad was captured in Manila. He had been in hiding since 2001, when the Abu Sayyaf abducted three Americans and 17 Filipinos from a resort.

Missionary Gracia Burnham survived, but her husband, Martin, died in the military rescue in 2002. The third American, Guillermo Sobero of Corona, Calif., was beheaded by the militants.

-- associated press WASHINGTON, D.C.

Mission in Iraq to get new name

The U.S. military mission in Iraq will be getting a new name. As of Sept. 1, Operation Iraqi Freedom becomes Operation New Dawn.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in a memo that the name change -- which will follow the scheduled withdrawal of U.S. combat troops -- will signal that American forces have a new mission and recognize “our evolving relationship” with Iraq’s government.

-- associated press