THE ICE AGE
At a time when the city is cutting budgets and dozens of recreational programs, a proposal for an ice skating rink in Pioneer Square has taken form. At an estimated cost of 12 million dollars, proponents have pitched the idea of a 60 by 120-foot rink to be plopped down in Pioneer Square. The rink could be installed as soon as November 2003.

In spite of wide-ranging cutbacks to basic city services and slashing of hours at public libraries due to continued budget shortfalls, city officials have expressed no hesitations towards the proposed rink. Instead, they have expressed the belief that the rink--roughly the size of New York's gilded Rockefeller Center--will become an icon of Portland.

While half of the funding would come from corporate and individual donors, it is believed that the remaining six million will be paid by taxpayers. The committee pushing for the rink, the Portland Development Commission and city officials estimate that the rink will earn a paltry $60,000 in profits each season. PHIL BUSSE

PRYING EYES
An unlikely coalition between the American Civil Liberties Union and a number of conservative think tanks has arisen in opposition to the proposed Terrorism Information Prevention System. Operation TIPS, as it is known, would provide a toll-free number to report suspicious activity observed by people whose work provides access to private residences--like mail carriers and utility workers. Reports would be compiled in a database administered by the Department of Justice for use in future investigations.

Opponents claim the program violates citizens' privacy, and that letter carriers and utility workers would become pawns for unwarranted searches by law enforcement. Although still in its conceptual stages, a trial run is set for 10 cities next month. Bethanne Steel, a local spokesperson for the FBI, said she had no information that Portland was included as a test case. PGE media-relations specialist Scott Simms said that although the utility is not participating directly in the program, it has implemented a number of other security measures, some of which overlap. BILL LASCHER