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WINNERS
1. Two victories for trial lawyers. Last
week, the state Supreme Court threw out the limit on non-economic
damages, and Circuit Judge Janice Wilson ruled that forcing
plaintiffs to give a chunk of their punitive-damage awards
to the state is unconstitutional.
2. Bashful billionaire Paul Allen failed
in his recent attempt to acquire the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins.
But a reliable source tells WW that Allen is close
to buying the St. Louis Blues hockey team--and keeping them
in St. Louis, where Allen has built a cable-TV empire.
3. In the wake of the murders in Forest Park, Portland's
attention has been focused on the problem of homeless
women. Last week, the City Council voted to spend $125,000
to run a 30-bed women's shelter for the next 11 months.
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LOSERS
1. With his "no" vote, state Sen. John Lim killed
the bill that would have tightened loopholes in gun-show
purchases, tarnishing his otherwise-honorable reputation.
Lim reportedly gave the gun bill a thumbs-down because the
Legislature wouldn't pass several bills he sponsored.
2. The Bonneville Power Administration, which
last month agreed to provide electricity to aluminum smelters
at what may be a substantially subsidized cost, is now a
defendant. Lawsuits were filed against the federal agency
in federal court, and last week the Oregon Public Utilities
Commission said that it would seek to join the fight, arguing
that the deal with the smelters is likely to raise the rates
of residential customers.
3. Barring a last-minute miracle, the state K-12
education budget for the next biennium will be $4.81 billion.
That means Portland Public Schools will have to cut
about $14 million from the budget approved in May.
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