Oregon already is a leader in state income taxes, but now consider how much higher it will be if the 2001 Bush Tax Cuts will expire.
By Oregon Tax News,
Americans for Tax Reform did a calculation of what each state’s top income tax rate would be if the Bush [...]
Oregon Women’s Survey Results,
Take the December Survey Here, Questions on Tiger Woods, Holiday Stress & Oregon idiot of the month
This Weeks question is on proper allowance for a 10-year old. The question was posed to Oregon women, “How much do you consider is appropriate for a monthly allowance [...]
Oregon Faith Report Survey Result
(Take New December Survey Here. Questions on Twilight Movie, Favorite Holiday Movies, more)
TV news is going through a shake-up. This week 35-year ABC news veteran Charles Gibson will be stepping down as evening news anchor and be replaced with Diane Sawyer. This may be [...]
By Department of Fish and Wildlife,
SALEM, Ore. — The technical committee advising Columbia River fishery managers has released its forecast for the 2010 spring Chinook run. If the fish show up as projected, the forecast of 470,000 spring chinook would be the largest return to [...]
Below is a news release from a security firm that is helping churches use high-tech devices to end Nativity theft.
Three wise churches use free GPS and video surveillance from BrickHouse Security to protect nativity scenes from pilfering; churches and synagogues across the U.S. are invited to [...]
Holiday plants are more than they seem
Judy Scott,
Oregon State University Extension Service
CORVALLIS, Ore.— Decorating with poinsettia plants or giving a Christmas cactus to a friend are holiday traditions for many, but not everyone is aware that there’s more to these popular indoor [...]
By Oregon BIZ Watch,
There are four Measure 66 & Measure 67 ads on the TV airwaves and internet universe. Measure 66 and Measure 67 are the Oregon measures that raise business and income tax rates as part of the 2009-2010 budget approved by the Oregon Legislature.
This Anti-Measure 66-67 deals with [...]
Forest Policy Briefs
by Rex Storm, Forest Policy Manger
Associated Oregon Loggers
Forest Service Threatens Contempt of Congress: Oregon’s US Forest Service says it cannot complete a land exchange required by a federal Wilderness law passed in April. The law requires that by October 2010 the [...]
Abstinence-only Sex Education Programs coming to an end for Central Oregon Middle Schools.
By Oregon Faith Report,
Central Oregon middle schools are in the process of changing their sex education curriculum from an abstinence-only program to an abstinence-based program, which is now required by the state. [...]
Inc. Magazine has announced their top entrepreneurs of the decade (2000-2009). Here is the list:
1. Steve Jobs of Apple
2. Jeff Bezos Amazon
3. Jack Ma, Alibaba.com
4. Martha Stewart
5. Jack Mackey, Whole Foods
6. Leslie Blodgett, Bare Essentials
[...]
By American Farm Bureau Federation,
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 8, 2009 – Lower courts failed to adequately consider the mountains of evidence that prove biotech alfalfa is safe, and thus those courts abandoned a well-established legal principle when they banned the planting of the crop. That is [...]
Nashville–DEC 10, 2009 -In the New York Times bestselling book Black Belt Patriotism: Chuck Norris filters America’s outsized national issues through the Founding Fathers’ eyes and the guiding principles that established our nation. The citizen activist also gives the paperback version 64 pages of additional insight. [...]
Transcript of President Obama’s speech at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo on Wednesday, as released by the White House:
Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, distinguished members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, citizens of America, and citizens of the world:
I receive this honor with deep gratitude [...]
November Sales See Month-to-Month Growth, Offering Retailers Encouragement for Holiday Season
–Sales Drop 0.8% from Last November, Reinforcing NRF’s Holiday Forecast–
National Retailers Federation: Washington, December 11, 2009 — As shoppers – and retailers – set their sights on the holiday season, low prices and pent-up demand [...]
Faith and Family Film Review: Invictus
By Catholic Office of Film and Broadcasting
Invictus—Uplifting sports drama, based on actual events, about South African President Nelson Mandela’s (Morgan Freeman) campaign to unite his country behind the national rugby team (led by Matt Damon), once a widely hated [...]
HealthDay News — Downing a cup or two of coffee after a few belts of liquor won’t sober you up enough to get you safely behind the wheel of a car, new research concludes. Alcohol may lessen the effects of caffeine, but caffeine doesn’t mitigate the [...]
By Oregon Department of Forestry
This fall, local crews will go to work reducing the wildfire hazard on more than 200 acres of forest in Josephine County, thanks to a federal Recovery Act grant received by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). Grayback Forestry of Merlin [...]
Water for Life Files Lawsuit Challenging Secret Water Right Negotiations
By Helen Moore,
Water for Life,
(Salem, OR) - Water for Life and a half-dozen individual irrigators have filed suit against the Oregon Water Resources Department and its Director for denying public access to the Tribal [...]
By Tim Duy,
Oregon Economic Forum
The LCBI declined just 0.4% in the third quarter of 2009, a significant improvement in the pace of decline that signals a greatly diminished level of economic stress in the region. Highlights of the LCBI include:
• Labor markets were mixed. [...]
By JOHN FORTMEYER, CNNW publisher
Christian News Northwest, Subscriptions
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington’s voters have had their say, but the passage of Referendum 71 — which expands the rights of registered domestic same-sex partners, may only be the prelude to continued controversy. The statewide vote [...]
I live in a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury several years ago. During the long months of recovery, I lived in various assisted living facilities. As difficult as that was for me, it has given me great insight into the needs of [...]
Several polls capture the widespread public dissatisfaction with the economy, consumer prices and Wall Street bankers and brokers.
- Wall Street Anger: 2/3rds of consumers say they have an unfavorable view of financial executives.
- Shopping Pull-Back: 95.1% of shoppers say that they are waiting as long [...]
The Saint Child ministry is being highlighted because a charity concert is being held this Saturday at Valley Catholic High School - details here.
Testimony from Saint Child,
Hillsboro, Oregon
A Second Chance Hi, my name is Ali, I’m 20 years old and 9 months pregnant [...]
From Congressman Greg Walden
and Congressman Kurt Schrader
WASHINGTON D.C. — A bipartisan group of lawmakers from Oregon, Washington, and South Dakota today introduced legislation to give federal forest managers and scientists the tools they need to do necessary work on choked and beetle-infested forests [...]
After five years of waiting, the town of Reedsport will be soon be building their first wave energy bouy with ten more in the works. The project will cost up to $4 million and help employ 30 workers by 2010. A single bouy [...]
By Oregon Faith Report,
Members of the Slavic community, including Ukrainian immigrants and followers of the Slavic Baptist church, have been drawn into a Salem child abuse case that has left their community confused and unsure about how their culture and religion inter-connect with state child protection laws.
The case in question [...]
On December 8th, U.S. Senator Tom Coburn and Senator John McCain released their Stimulus Checkup Report. The report lists 100 projects as part of the $700 billion stimulus program targeted as waste. Four Oregon projects made the list are listed below;
[...]
By Erika Weisensee
Milwaukie Mom,
Giving family gifts—joint gifts for multiple members of one family—is a great way to cut down on the number of gifts you have to buy. If you are like me, you know families whose children are getting older and are harder to [...]
By Daniel Burke
Religion News Service,
After years of warnings from Anglican leaders, Saturday’s (Dec. 5) election of a lesbian bishop poses a stark question for the Episcopal Church: Does it want to continue to be a full member in the global Anglican Communion, or go its [...]
José Pinomesa, Chairman
Oregon Independent Auto Dealers Association
I am sure you have heard about Craigslist.com and you may have visited it many times but are you safe buying a vehicle that you found advertised there? This is often the question asked by many and [...]
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A Smoky Mountain forest’s woodland herb population has shown that climate may play a role in how forest understories recover from logging, according to Purdue University research. Despite heavy logging in portions of the forest nearly 80 years ago, [...]
Oregon Women’s Report Reader Survey
A recent Oregon Women’s Report survey shows that the majority of women feel inner-office dating could be allowed in some cases. However, it is apparent there are many factors that would need to be considered in making the decision.
When asked, “if you were a [...]
Oregon Faith Report Reader Survey
1. A new U. S. Justice Department policy emphasizes a focus on drug traffickers and illegal growers rather than prosecution of medical marijuana users. Do you agree or disagree with the policy?
Additional Reader Comments:
-Medical Marijuana should [...]
Below is a transcript from a Georgene Rice KPDQ-FM interview with Mark Fuhrman, a retired LAPD Homicide Detective and author of the recent book, “The Murder Business: How the Media Turns Crime into Entertainment and Subverts Justice”.
Georgene: In the book you examine some of [...]
AFRC News,
American Forest Research Council
In a brief filed on October 30, attorneys representing defendant-intervenor Silver Creek Timber
Company asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals not to pay the exorbitant attorneys fees
demanded by EarthJustice under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) for [...]
By Patrick Emerson
Oregon Economics Blog
I was working at the OSU Portland Center offices yesterday and decided to lunch at the nearby Kenny & Zukes. When my credit card receipt came I encountered something new: a handy-dandy guide to help [...]
By Olivia Rossie, RN, MSN, ACSM
Your Personal Trainer:
Historically, the terms feast and festival were used interchangeably. Feast was defined as a festival—something that gives unusual or abundant pleasure, a time of celebration. Its meaning has evolved to describe an elaborate meal often accompanied by [...]
Farmland Restoration
By Stewart Truelsen,
American Farm Bureau Federation
Who hasn’t driven by a suburban shopping mall with empty stores or through a big city with abandoned warehouses, boarded-up factories and vacant office space? Lately, a lot of foreclosed homes and half-finished condo developments also have [...]
By Kylene Fickenscher
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
The founders of Dynamic Drain Solutions, Uro Concepts and Big ‘I’ Group understand the challenges of educating the market on innovative products that utilize a unique concept design. More importantly, however, each of these entrepreneurs has developed valuable products that [...]
Faith and Family Film Review: Up in the Air
By Catholic Office of Film and Broadcasting
Up in the Air—Polished but morally ambivalent comic drama about an emotionally isolated, though contented, single businessman (George Clooney) who spends his life in chain hotels and airports as he [...]
Faith and Family Film Review: The Road
By the Catholic Office for Broadcasting and Film
The Road—This moving but relentlessly grim drama, set in the wake of an unspecified apocalypse, follows the desperate journey of a father (Viggo Mortensen, mesmerizing) and son (fine newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee) [...]
By Oregon Employment Department,
Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 11.3 percent in October from the revised September figure of 11.3 percent. This was the lowest rate since the 10.7 percent rate in February, and was below the high of 12.2 percent in May. Oregon’s unemployment rate was [...]
Information provided by USDA Economic Research Service
Above: Equals annual average price for crops.
Highlights
Net cash income is expected to fall about 28 percent, to a level just below its previous 10-year average. Net value added, at $108.4 billion, is expected to fall from a record $135.7 [...]
The woman behind Pride and Prejudice and Emma may have died of tuberculosis rather than Addison’s disease, as has long been believed, says one British scholar.
HealthDay News– Since Jane Austen’s death in 1817 at the age of 41, many historians and other experts have believed [...]
Black Friday & Cyber Monday: Some Quick Facts
• Black Friday spending rose 0.5%, ($54 million), to $10.7 billion, this year from last year.
• Online sales up 17% (Thurs. to Sun.) over the same period last year.
• Cyber Monday up 11%, more than they did a year [...]
Circus on the Streets is a new program by Portlander Sarah Stein set in the colorful Lower East Side of New York City in the 1920’s and 30’s. These are colorful and memorable stories which Sarah wrote about her family’s life during [...]
By Karla Kay Edwards
Cascade Policy Institute
Oregon is a leader in the “buy local food” movement, and buying fresh produce from local farmers’ markets and community supported agriculture (CSA) could become an even stronger trend in our state. People not only want to know [...]
Life of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen to be celebrated 30 years later with memorial Mass
PEORIA, Ill., Emmy Award winning TV personality Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen will be remembered in a memorial Mass on the 30th anniversary of his death, December 9, 2009. Sheen is being called [...]
Shawn Findley of Salem came home one night to find many of Christmas lawn decorations stolen. Because the same thing happened last year, he was prepared with video surveillance which showed two teen boys raiding his lawn about 9:30pm. Unfortunately, the video was not clear enough to make out more [...]
By Tim Duy,
Oregon Economic Forum
The University of Oregon Index of Economic Indicators rose 0.6 percent in October to 85.0 from a revised September figure of 84.5. The behavior of the UO Index suggests that the recession has ended in Oregon; the measure of recession [...]
The Bend Bulletin ran an article this week taking in various opinions on what is the most environmentally best Christmas tree a family should buy. Nationally, during the popular NY Rockefeller Christmas Tree lighting ceremony they are asking people to Text for a Tree [...]
From Multnomah University News
Dr. Willard M. Aldrich passed away due to natural causes on November 27, 2009. He was 100 years old, and served as President Emeritus at Multnomah University.
Dr. Aldrich founded Multnomah School of the Bible with Dr. B.B. Sutcliffe and Dr. John Mitchell in [...]
By Christina Rainey,
Oregon mom
I never imagined my life as a mom to be anything like it is. I especially never dreamed that my 14 month old baby, Lauren, who only speaks gibberish would be running my life. It seems that just yesterday we brought her [...]
Oregon Joins Select Group of States in Calling for Reform of Federal Toxic Substances Control Act
BY Oregon Department of Environmental Quality,
Federal legislation may be introduced soon; EPA administrator also supports reform
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Director Dick Pedersen today signed a statement of principles [...]
9th Circuit: Independent Contractor Can Assert Disability Claim Under Rehabilitation Act
Stoel Rives LLP, Attorneys at Law
by Dennis Westlind
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled recently that an independent contractor may assert a disability claim against an employer under the Rehabilitation Act. [...]
The Blind Side movie is making powerful impact on audience and actress Sandra Bullock
By Beaver Believer,
The miracle movie of the year is the film The Blind Side — a true life underdog story filled with heroic and spiritual themes. The story itself is a miracle. [...]
By Oregon Dept. of Agricultre,
Prices and lifestyle alter what Americans eat
Americans are eating a little less beef and pork, but more poultry. They like their cheese, but drink less fluid milk. Yogurt consumption is up, ice cream consumption is down. And, perhaps surprisingly, total [...]
By Erika Weisensee
Milwaukie Mom,
For many people, the term “acupuncture” brings to mind images of needles. Those who haven’t tried this ancient form of healing wonder why someone would choose a treatment that requires being poked with needles. Does acupuncture hurt? How does it work and [...]
New Laws Add to Employer’s Challenges in the New Year
By Dunn, Carney, Allen, Higgins & Tongue
In January 2010, Oregon employers will be taking on several new challenges thanks to a host of new or expanded laws enacted by the Oregon Legislature. Dunn Carney’s Employment [...]
By Rick sohn
Umpqua Coquille LLC
Housing construction is still down near World War II levels, but unsold home inventories decreased a full percentage to 6.5% as mortgage rates dropped below 5%. Lumber prices are up. See the 3-year price tracking and discussion of lumber, logs, housing [...]
Below is a transcript from a Georgene Rice KPDQ-FM interview with David Berlinski, a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture and the author of several controversial essays and books, including his latest, “The Deniable Darwin”.
Georgene: Would Darwin be surprised at [...]
By Cathy Rae Smith
Founder of Culture Magazine
Okay, though I would like to think of myself as having ample character, there are just those unexpected challenges life presents that can only be explained as character building. My recent such challenge has been this mysterious allergic [...]
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
[...]
It Could Happen: Oregon’s Attorney General Announces Environmental Crimes Enforcement Unit
By Christopher Rycewicz, Brian T. Sniffen
Miller Nash LLP,
Oregon and Washington Law Firm
After less than one year on the job, Oregon Attorney General John Kroger appears close to fulfilling one of his [...]
Oregon Faith Report Reader Survey
1. Do you think a Governor or U.S. Senator who has been caught in adultery should be forced to resign in most circumstances?
Here are the results;
Yes 50%
No 35.7%
Undecided 14.3%
Additional reader comments included,
- Yes, and the President
- He should be voted [...]
A sluggish economic climate, low wholesale prices and less consumer demand all spell trouble for Christmas tree farms across Oregon. In 2008, 7.34 million trees were sold in Oregon, propelling a $110 billion industry and the No. 1 producer of Christmas trees in [...]
Oregon Women’s Report Reader Survey,
1. A Portland school is fining parents who are late in picking up their children. After a 10 minute grace time, parents are fined $5 for every 10 minutes they are late. Do you agree/disagree?
Even though the numbers of those who agreed [...]
By Wells Fargo Bank,
Faced with an uncertain economy, some business owners are re-evaluating their use of technology. The latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, surveyed October 5-9, shows over half of respondents (58 percent) reporting that they have delayed technology purchases due to the economy, [...]
by Matthew E. Berger
Religion News Service
WASHINGTON (RNS) Hate crime incidents targeting people based on their religion were at their highest frequency last year since 2001, according to a new report. The report, compiled by the Anti-Defamation League from FBI data, found 1,519 religious hate crimes in 2008, accounting for [...]
By Oregonians for Food and Shelter
There will be some new faces in Salem when the February “special session” convenes. Senator Margaret Carter resigned to take a newly created post as Deputy Director at the Department of Human Services. She has been replaced by former Representative [...]
By Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife,
TILLAMOOK, Ore. – Hungry people along Oregon’s north coast will eat a little better this holiday season, thanks to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and a coalition of volunteers who delivered more than 500 pounds of salmon [...]
HealthDay News — As many as one in four U.S. teenage girls have had a sexually transmitted disease (STD), many infected soon after their first sexual encounter, a new government report shows. “The high burden of STDs among teen girls reminds us that we can’t ignore [...]
Faith and Family Film Review: Old Dogs
By Catholic Office of Film and Broadcasting
Old Dogs— Passable comedy in which a sports marketing executive (Robin Williams) learns, seven years after the fact, that his quickly annulled second marriage produced fraternal twins (Conner Rayburn and Ella Bleu [...]
Treasurer Westlund seeks more transparency for investors about climate risks to companies
By Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund,
SALEM – In life and investing, there’s a truism that “What you don’t know can hurt you.” Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund is asking the Securities and Exchange Commission [...]
Faith and Family Film Review:The Princess and the Frog
By Catholic Office of Film and Broadcasting
The Princess and the Frog— Enchanting animated musical, set in 1920s New Orleans, in which a voodoo sorcerer (voice of Keith David) casts a spell that complicates the lives of [...]
A pest never before found in the United States has been detected in California’s Napa Valley.
By Kurt Kipp, Daily Digger
Oregon Association of Nurseries,
The European grapevine moth, Lobestria botrana, which feeds primarily on the flowers and fruits of grape plants (Vitis spp.) and spruge [...]
Archdiocese of Portland in full compliance with Charter for Protection of Children
By Portland Archdiocese,
The Archdiocese of Portland was found to be in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People for 2009. A letter of compliance was sent to Archbishop [...]
Holiday shoppers will get an early start this year whether they are ready or not. Retail giants have embarked on an advertising spending spree in an attempt to lure bargain shoppers to their stores earlier this year, signaling the economy may be on the rebound.
Target, Wal-Mart, [...]
C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll
Press Release
ANN ARBOR, Mich,—When your daughter goes online, how likely is it she’s being stalked by a stranger or bullied by a classmate? When your son surfs the Web, what are the chances he’s viewing pornography or gambling? [...]
Oregon Faith Report asked readers, “Who do you think could use some extra thankfulness from fellow Oregonians this Thanksgiving?” Survey results showed almost half felt the greatest recipients should be soldiers. No one placed a vote for volunteers, but in many cases volunteers are among all [...]
by Jessica Nelson
Oregon Employment Department
The number of working poor in the United States increased slightly between 2006 and 2007. The working poor are individuals who were in the labor force for at least 27 weeks during the year, but still had incomes below the official poverty [...]
National Association of Wheat Growers and other agricultural organizations are urging consumers to add farmers and American agriculture to the lists of things they are thankful for when tallying up their blessings over turkey and pie. The national celebration of plenty is also a reminder [...]
HealthDay News — The holiday season means you’ll be faced with a seemingly endless buffet of food temptation. While some people simply give in and eat too much, others deny themselves any holiday treats.But there are ways to navigate between overindulgence and deprivation, according to Julie [...]
By Bill Conerly, Businomics, Conerly Consulting,
This recession has shaken people up, but what will be the lasting effects on consumer behavior? That’s one of the key questions as we look forward at the nature of the recovery. I’ve been arguing for a “return to normalcy,” in which people [...]
By Wayne Loder, The Compassionate Friends
With the holidays upon us, families that have suffered the tragic loss of a child are often trying to figure out how they can simply survive the season. Unfortunately, those very people who most care about them, relatives and close friends, [...]
By American Farm Bureau Federation,
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 12, 2009 – Menu items for a classic Thanksgiving dinner including turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the basic trimmings dropped 4 percent in price this year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. AFBF’s 24th annual [...]
By Olivia Rossi, RN, MSN, ACSM
Your Personal Trainer
There’s an ache in the air of autumn. It’s called nostalgia. Nostalgia means “to return home,” home to memories, to the old days, to the longings of times past, some happy, some sad but all about life. For [...]
Oregonian, Emily Somers created and directed this fantastic breast cancer awareness fundraiser video called the Pink Glove Dance. Medline features these pink gloves so that health care providers can show their support and Medline itself donates portions of each box sold to breast cancer awareness. The video is an additional [...]
Miller Nash LLP
Oregon and Washington Law Firm
Measure 49 was passed into law almost two years ago. The litigation resulting from Measure 49 has been minor compared to that which resulted from Measure 37, although several potentially significant cases are still pending. The Department of [...]
The latest consumer products that are being caught up in the regulatory spotlight are flat screen TVs, rum, and raw oysters.
Flat screen TVs
In California, the California Energy Commission (CEC) is considering new efficiency standards for television screens smaller than 58 inches. If adopted, TVs sold [...]
Georgene Rice of KPDQ-FM interview with the Oregon Moms in Touch State Coordinator, Karen Ables, and Prison Facilitator, Valerie Eaton
Background: The Moms in Touch organization celebrated its 25th Anniversary this year at over 1000 sites worldwide, including 19 host sites in Oregon. The theme of [...]
Washington Domestic Partnership Law Impacts Employee Benefits and Family Leave
by Dennis Westlind
Stoel Rives LLP, Attorneys at Law
Washington voters recently approved Referendum 71, giving registered domestic partners all of the rights and responsibilities of married couples under Washington state law. Prior domestic partnership [...]
