Last week, the International Astronomical Union downgraded tiny Pluto to the vaguely humiliating status of "dwarf planet." Immediately, an all-consuming question seized us: What will happen to Scorpios, the star sign most influenced by the erstwhile ninth voting member of the solar system? We asked Maria Uva, an astrologer at Inner Peace Connection—and received grim tidings. "There will be a greater turn to the negative," Uva warns, "such as promiscuous sex or drug abuse. Stay in the light and keep a perspective." Beyond predicting a lost weekend for Portland Scorpios (who are free to give us a shout at 243-2122 if they are, you know, bored or anything), local astrologers foresee relatively few changes for their industry, which seldom bows to so-called "science," anyway.

Jefferson High School teachers received a confusing missive last week from their new principal, Leon Dudley. With just a few days' notice, the teachers were told that staff development work would begin Thursday, Aug. 24, even though their contract specified Tuesday, Aug. 29, as their first day back at school. The letter did not make clear that the three extra work days were voluntary, so teachers were sent a second notice explaining that they were not obligated to work on those days. Dudley arrives in Portland from Dallas amid questions about his relationships with teachers at his previous schools. (See also Mailbox, page 4.)

Lane County Circuit Court Judge Lyle Velure scheduled a settlement hearing in the bankruptcy proceedings against the Archdiocese of Portland, according to sources close to the case. Velure announced the Sept. 11 hearing in an email sent to lawyers in the case, reportedly with a gag order attached. Apparently, the news was too exciting to keep under wraps. More than two years since the case began—spurred by about 125 priest sex abuse claims—there have been no measurable steps toward a solution. Velure's move could signal that a resolution for some of the cases may be in the offing.

Other cheery first-day-of-school news: Last spring, while working on behalf of the Portland Schools Foundation, leading Democratic pollster Lisa Grove blasted Portland Public Schools' plan to shutter several elementaries, including Grove's neighborhood school, tiny but ultra-high-performing Hollyrood. Now, Murmurs hears Grove has moved to Lake Oswego. Grove—who, we are strangely compelled to note, makes her living asking strangers personal questions—says, "I'm not going to comment on personal life decisions involving my husband, 5-year-old son and dog."

Following the Aug. 21 death of Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Clifford Freeman, the rush is on to fill the vacancy in the November election. Candidates include former assistant district attorney James McIntyre; Mary Overgaard, the co-chair of the Oregon Gay and Lesbian Law Association; and Ulanda L. Watkins, a criminal defense attorney. The deadline was 5 pm Tuesday.

Last year, Gil Jimenez, who runs Arizona's Department of Commerce, was named a finalist for the then-vacant job of director of the Portland Development Commission. Weird thing was, Jimenez completely denied his candidacy for the lucrative, powerful post when contacted by The Oregonian. Now Jimenez, whose bid for the PDC job was backed by local power brokers like El Hispanic News publisher Clara Padilla Andrews and Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce director Gail Castillo, is in the running for PDC's vacant economic development director position. When contacted, his spokesman David Drennon again denied Jimenez wants a Portland job.

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Former Portland Elections officer Susan Francois became Sister Susan Francois last week at St. Mary-on-the-Lake in Bellevue, Wash. She's slated to enter the Congregation Novitiate in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., on Sept. 8 for a two-year period of study and prayer. In a recent blog entry at actjustly.blogspot.com, Francois reflects on how much she's changed in the past 10 years. "I wasn't a practicing Catholic—now I'm a Catholic Sister... I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life—now I'm just not sure where my life journey with the big guy will lead me. But I'm still me."