Twinkies may be on the chopping block this coming election. On Tuesday, August 30, Oregon State Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG) members petitioned to cut as much as $30 billion from federal government subsidies that lower prices on unhealthy food. Stationed outside of Lloyd Farmers' Market, the group compared a pile of unhealthy foods—Sno Balls, potato chips, chocolate syrup—to fruits and vegetables. The group's national "Price Is Wrong" campaign aims to eliminate government subsidies to major agribusiness. "People get that this food is unhealthy, but they don't understand that it's their tax dollars going toward these subsidies," said OSPIRG's David Gamburd.

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Another year, another TriMet fare increase. For TriMet's fourth fare increase since 2006, the cost of an all-zone fare is jumping a nickel, while the cost of a monthly pass will increase by $4 starting September 1. Unlike previous years though, the fare increase is not combined with service cuts. Instead, TriMet is enhancing service to 10 bus lines and the MAX Blue Line and is also cracking down on fare jumpers, issuing more fines and fewer warnings to people caught on the system without tickets.

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Perennial anti-tax ballot measure backer Bill Sizemore had a bellyful of complaints when he was released 18 days into his 30-day jail sentence for tax evasion last week. Sizemore called KATU news to say that the carb-heavy food served to inmates was "cruel and unusual punishment." But Marion County jail staff told the news channel a stranger story: Sizemore clearly had a hankering for sugar, because he bought the jail vending machine out of packaged blueberry cheese danishes.