Is that a 60-pound pipe, or are you just happy to see me?

[January 31st, 2007] A new requirement that Franklin High students wear school ID badges has angered some to the point of likening it to "the labeling of Jews in Nazi Germany ." After fliers making that comparison surfaced last week at the Southeast Portland school, principal Charles Hopson emailed teachers that he thought the comparison was "an all-time low." Hopson's email says the new policy starting Thursday, Feb. 1, will help staff identify people who aren't supposed to be at Franklin. A second student flier tells students to "embrace your lanyard." "If you don't like your picture, take a better one next year," the second flier says. "Here's an idea, don't come to registration hung over or stoned!"

Roey Thorpe, former executive director of Basic Rights Oregon, is moving on...again. Seven months after leaving BRO to work in New York City for the national Freedom to Marry organization, Thorpe is leaving for a new job with a West Coast-based organization in the queer rights movement that works for more issues than just gay marriage. And no, she's not returning to BRO, which is still looking to replace Thorpe.

Good thing there weren't any shoppers at the Macy's building on Dec. 29. According to notes from a subsequent contractor-safety meeting, a 63-pound piece of pipe (like the one in this photo) shot through two walls. "No one was injured, though they could have been killed, " wrote sheet-metal contractor Tony Barsotti, whose company was involved. He blamed the blast (which was confirmed by a city official) on "noncompliant" testing that let the pipe be filled erroneously with highly compressed air instead of water. Barsotti's report doesn't name the contractor responsible, but permits show the contractor for the job is JRT Mechanical, a Washington company. Critics argue JRT shouldn't be allowed to work in Oregon because of previous violations (see "Plugging Leaks," Jan. 10, 2007). JRT didn't return Murmurs' call.

Back to the future in the Oregon Senate, where two bills flash back to major flashpoints from 2005. Senate Bill 443 would allow public ownership of Portland General Electric or any other investor-owed utility in Oregon. While no utility is currently for sale, bill sponsor Sen. Ryan Deckert (D-Beaverton) calls the measure "emergency preparedness for ratepayers" since investor interest in utilities makes another transaction likely. Senate Bill 381, sponsored by Sen. Vicki Walker (D-Eugene), would require members of the council that oversees state pension funds to live in Oregon. Duh, you might say, except that former Oregon Investment Council member Jerry Bidwell lived in Washington, and ex-Chairman Gerard Drummond spent much of the year at his California home, while maintaining a Canby residence.

Portland State University's Center for Student Health and Counseling has stopped dispensing most medications, including its two most popular prescriptions—antidepressants and birth-control pills. The decision, first reported by The Daily Vanguard student paper, follows the discovery that the center's use of registered nurses to dispense doctor-approved prescriptions to students may violate state Board of Pharmacy rules. The center's docs are filling higher-priority prescriptions such as antibiotics and asthma medications. But students needing other meds are being redirected to local pharmacies, where prices in some cases are higher. Interim center director Mary Beth Collins says PSU reps will meet Feb. 8 with the state to hammer out a solution.

It ain't $11.4 million, but it's an improvement. Although again falling far short of its annual fundraising projection of $11.4 million, the Oregon Cultural Trust did boost its donations 22 percent last year (see "Repairing Trust," WW, Aug. 8, 2006). The $2.8 million total includes just over $100K coming from 76 businesses, and the remainder from 5,400 art-loving Oregonians.