SALEM – Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski ordered all state flags at public institutions to fly at half-staff through this weekend in honor of Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who died this week. The order continues through sunset Sunday.

Kulongoski joined a long parade of praise Wednesday for Kennedy, whose Senate tenure lasted nearly five decades before he died Tuesday night from brain cancer. That praise included a similar proclamation from President Barack Obama.

Kulongoski called Kennedy “one of our nation’s greatest and most honorable leaders”?in a brief written statement Wednesday.

– Eric Florip