IRA GLASS MOVES

Following pressure from Portland bloggers and gay rights activists—and NPR host Ira Glass' own wishes—Oregon Public Broadcasting moved an October 7 appearance of the This American Life star out of the New Hope Community Church in Clackamas last week. New Hope was a major donor during 2004's Measure 36 campaign, and is currently engaged in the campaign to send two new laws—one outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation, and the other allowing domestic partnerships—to the ballot, prompting concerns that the venue was non-inclusive and inappropriate ["Welcome to PDX, Ira Glass," News, Aug 30].

Glass will now appear at the Oregon Convention Center. AMY J. RUIZ

PARK EXCLUSIONS RISE

Portland's rent-a-cop firm, Portland Patrol, Inc. (PPI), issued a record number of park exclusions—which prohibit people from entering the city's parks for between 30 to 180 days—in July. Meanwhile, PPI has issued 1,444 park exclusions since last November, according to activist newspaper Street Roots, which obtained the numbers from the city last week. The firm's private officers, who are contracted with the city through the Portland Business Alliance, issued 261 exclusions in July—11 more than May's previous high. "The rise of park exclusions by the PPI in downtown parks is jaw-dropping for anyone who cares about civil liberties in our city," says Israel Bayer at Street Roots.

"Dan cares deeply about civil liberties," responds Matt Grumm of Parks Commissioner Dan Saltzman's office—which oversees the arrangement. MATT DAVIS

STEN FOR CLINTON

Less than a week before Barack Obama's scheduled appearance in Portland, the campaign to elect Hillary Clinton announced that it was forming an Oregon steering committee, including Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten.

That pits Sten against developer Homer Williams (among others), who's signed onto the John Edwards campaign. Williams is a longtime Sten supporter and has partnered with the city on affordable housing units. SCOTT MOORE