I’m participating in a Q & A session tomorrow night after the Portland premiere screening of 9500 LIBERTY, a documentary about the birth and death of a radical immigration law in Prince William County, Virginia. Here’s the capsule review: A community sparks a national debate when it allows police officers to arrest anyone they think […]
Stefan Kamph
Posted inDrunk
Word Games and the Homebrew Debacle
Patrick Long You should read this week’s article about the OLCC discovering it had to enforce a long-neglected law that prohibits homebrewers from serving their brew outside their homes. The law went overlooked until May, when the OLCC asked the state department of justice (DOJ) to clarify the statute in question, which says that homebrewers […]
Posted inNews
Inside Starbase Portland
A School Program Sponsored by the Department of Defense Raises the Hackles of Local Activists
A school program sponsored by the US Department of Defense raises the hackles of local activists.
Posted inNews
Beerly Legal
Serving Homebrew in Public Is Illegal. Who Knew?
The OLCC suddenly cracks down on a 22-year-old homebrewing contest.
Posted inDrunk
Should We Abolish the OLCC?
In this week’s Mercury (hitting the streets this afternoon) I write about the conflicted role of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) as both the distributor of alcohol and the regulator of its consumption. The agency itself is a leftover from the repeal of Prohibition, when a few states were worried about a rapid spread […]
Posted inNews
Clear Water
Streaming live video by Ustream PBS Newshour (@NewsHour) is reporting that there “does not appear to be oil flowing into the Gulf of Mexico.” There’s still something flowing on the top right camera as of 5:25 pm. A better picture, certainly, than these. Update 7/13 9:23 am: I think ol’ PBS spoke too soon. Look […]
Posted inNews
Fun with Failed Ballot Initiatives!
Jon Sperry We told you about the petitions that made it into the Secretary of State’s office by Friday, July 2—in time to qualify for the November ballot, if they have enough valid signatures. But what about the ones that didn’t make it? Here are a few of the standout petitions that were just too […]
Posted inNews
Good Afternoon, News!!
Well, hello there. Thanks for stopping by. Did you see that crazy World Cup final in which it seemed like NOBODY would EVER score? Thankfully, someone did. Here’s my favorite tweet: …and the Irish radio announcer was pretty great too. “He’s given out more cards than on holiday… They’re-a possessin’ the ball real well.” The […]
Posted inNews
Man Files Complaint about Signature-Gathering Tactics
Democracy Resources President Ted Blaszak Portland resident Everett Jaros says he was approached six times by people seeking signatures for two petitions related to wildlife habitat restoration and a new casino. The petition efforts needed to submit over 100,000 valid signatures to the Secretary of State by Friday, July 2 in order to put measures […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning, News!!
BP Gusher Update! A new collection cap “may be ready” by Saturday, and a new collection vessel capable of sucking “up to 25,000 barrels a day” of oil “may be ready” by Sunday. AAARGHH!!! Meanwhile, the US Navy decides to help out (whew, what a relief! They have all kids of equipment and manpower!) by […]
Posted inNews
Measuring Up
A Cheat Sheet for This Year’s Ballot Measures
The petitions are in! Here’s a peek at the crop of ballot measures you could be voting on in November.
Posted inNews
In the Shadows
Rogue Recycler
An eyesore in posh Northwest Portland turns out to be the headquarters of a rogue recycler.