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The new Seneca biomass plant in Eugene will get millions in state tax breaks while the state releases prison inmates and stuffs kids in overcrowded classrooms for lack of tax revenue. Ostensibly the tax breaks are for “green” power, but the Oregonian reports today that the Seneca biomass plant will “release more carbon dioxide and lung-damaging particulates than a comparable coal-fired power plant.” Continue reading
The Eugene Citizens Review Board voted unanimously tonight that a police officer used excessive force in Tasering a Chinese student last year. Continue reading
Wondering what to get for that special someone who has everything? The Bonhams auction house in Los Angeles plans to sell off an Oregon thunderegg that’s four feet across and one of the largest in the world at at an auction on Dec. 6. Continue reading
Two weeks ago, EW wrote about the potential of guerrilla gardening in Eugene as a way for citizens to rise up and overthrow the urban blight left downtown by failed city redevelopment projects. This week the San Francisco Bay Guardian writes about how guerrilla gardening has taken off in San Francisco with backing even from public works bureaucrats and the mayor. Continue reading
Eugene Police Chief Pete Kerns today officially absolved fellow officers of any wrongdoing in tasering protester Ian Van Ornum last May. The EPD’s decision to not hold themselves accountable was widely expected. At a 3 pm press conference, Kerns largely repeated police justifications for the Tasering made by former Chief Robert Lehner three days after the incident. Continue reading
The Iraq war has reached new levels of absurd corruption. The New York Times reports that the U.S. funded Iraqi government spent $85 million on plastic-coated cardboard divining rods to Ouija bombs and guns at checkpoints: Continue reading
UO football coach Chip Kelly announced today that he may allow a player who punched an opponent and threw an embarrassing violent fit on national TV to play for the UO after all. Continue reading
LEED certification for supposed leading work on green buildings, a focus of the city of Eugene, is facing criticism. Las Vegas Weekly reports on LEED Gold certification by the private U.S. Green Building Council for two new Las Vegas Casinos. The paper writes: “Giant buildings that welcome and encourage the extravagant, wasteful behavior of thousands of guests at the same time hardly seem like a recipe for saving Mother Earth.” Continue reading
Here’s a gory example of what can happen with texting while driving: Wow. Who could be so irresponsible, so unsafe, such a danger to society? Continue reading
Is the state freedom of information law free? No, the Oregon Attorney General’s office charges $25 a pop for the public’s document and has refused to put a free download online. UO Economics Professor Bill Harbaugh—a longtime critic of UO athletic and administrative spending and affirmative action—didn’t like that. So he scanned the whole AG manual on the law and put it on his blog. Continue reading