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You won’t find it in your local newspaper or anywhere on the internet, but reliable sources tell me the Zion Train is coming our way here in the Archdiocese of Portland Oregon on Saturday, June 7th, 2008. That is, Zion United Church of Christ in Gresham is offering its worship space to misguided Catholics assisting them in committing the canon crime of self-ordination in direct opposition to Catholic faith and tradition.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Not every neighborhood in this city is one of those Northwest destinations where passion for espresso, the environment and plenty of exercise define the cultural common ground. A few places are still described as frontiers, where pioneers move because prices are relatively reasonable, the location is convenient and, they say, they “want the diversity.” Yet one person’s frontier, it turns out, is often another’s front porch. It has been true across the country: gentrification, which increases housing prices and tension, sometimes has racial overtones and can seem like a dirty word. Now Portland is encouraging black and...

Councilman Sam Adams easily won the Portland mayoral race, making this city the largest in the U.S. to ever elect an openly gay mayor. Adams avoided a November runoff, with 58 percent of the votes after more than 80 percent of the ballots were counted Tuesday night. Businessman Sho Dozono had 34 percent and almost a dozen minor candidates split the rest. Adams, 44, said his main goals are improving the economy, reducing the dropout rate in schools and preparing for an influx of people to the region

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Fourth Avenue ambles for 30 blocks past high-rise office towers, regional banks, upscale retailers and such urban landmarks as the county courthouse and City Hall. Fourth also rolls through one of Portland's most prominent symbols of diversity: Chinatown. An ornamental red and gold gateway inscribed with dragons and Chinese characters greets visitors and evokes ties to the Pacific Rim. Red and gold street lamps, a gift from Taiwan, line the street near restaurants that specialize in dim sum. This is not the street that Latino activist Marta Guembes wanted to rename in honor of Cesar E. Chavez,...

Though many people consider Portland, Ore., a model of 21st-century urban planning, the region's integrated land-use and transportation plans have greatly reduced the area's livability. To halt urban sprawl and reduce people's dependence on the automobile, Portland's plans use an urban-growth boundary to greatly increase the area's population density, spend most of the region's transportation funds on various rail transit projects, and promote construction of scores of high-density, mixed-use developments, says Randal O'Toole, a senior fellow with the Cato Institute. When judged by the results rather than the intentions, the costs of Portland's planning far outweigh the benefits, explains O'Toole:...

Though many people consider Portland, Oregon, a model of 21st-century urban planning, the region’s integrated land-use and transportation plans have greatly reduced the area’s livability. To halt urban sprawl and reduce people’s dependence on the automobile, Portland’s plans use an urban-growth boundary to greatly increase the area’s population density, spend most of the region’s transportation funds on various rail transit projects, and promote construction of scores of high-density, mixed-use developments. When judged by the results rather than the intentions, the costs of Portland’s planning far outweigh the benefits. Planners made housing unaffordable to force more people to live in multifamily...

Sunday, June 24, 2007 It will make your blood boil. Read the search-warrant affidavit that federal law-enforcement officials presented to U.S. Magistrate John Jelderks before the Fresh Del Monte raid. Your blood will boil. Not for one reason, and clearly not for the reason of the raid itself or the likely deportation of the illegal workers. But for many reasons. Fresh Del Monte is shaping up to be a case study of our broken system. Our border- and workplace enforcement has done manifold damage -- to the rule of law, to U.S. citizens and, yes, to illegal workers themselves. The...

Thursday, June 14, 2007 "I am angered by this morning's arrest by federal officers of approximately 150 Portland residents who were working at a local produce company." Oh, poor Tom Potter. Portland's mayor is angry. Federal law enforcement officials were out doing their jobs -- actually rounding up people who were working here illegally and using Social Security numbers belonging to others, actually arresting people who allegedly helped Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. hire the illegal workers, and otherwise enforcing U.S. immigration laws -- and Mayor Potter is angry. Too bad. You might think Potter has enough to do these...

Hey Freepers, (Caution: Not for the faint of heart) I thought you might like to know about Sunday’s anti-immigration rally in downtown Portland. Here’s a lengthy-but-true debriefing: About 12 of us showed up for the anti-illegal immigration rally at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland this afternoon. We were greeted by about 30 of the Portland Anarchist Welcoming Committee (PAWC) and were not at all disappointed with their hospitality. We were very impressed with their open mindedness and passion for their cause. We experienced their usual, screaming-in-your-face maneuvers. Eventually we were able to get some help from the Portland Police (PoPo),...

Clinton defends her Iraq stance in Portland, drawing cheers, boos Campaign - The senator says U.S. troops can come home as Iraq stabilizes, providing its own security Sunday, January 29, 2006JEFF MAPES The Oregonian Judging by Hillary Rodham Clinton's fundraising stop in Portland, it won't be a boring campaign if she runs for president in 2008. The New York senator vigorously defended her middle-of-the-road position on the war in Iraq to the cheers of hundreds of admirers -- and the jeers of several anti-war protesters who infiltrated her appearance and repeatedly interrupted her speech late Friday at the Portland Hilton.Ever...

Portland, Ore. -- The leader of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland says the church will follow its own law on ownership of its property. This, despite a recent ruling by a federal bankruptcy judge who says property belonging to parishes throughout Western Oregon could be subject to sale, to satisfy claims against the Archdiocese by victims of alleged priest sex abuse. Archbishop John Vlazny told the Catholic Sentinel that he considers church buildings and land the property of individual parishes, NOT the archdiocese. The Portland archdiocese was the first Catholic diocese in the nation to declare bankruptcy when it...

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A bankruptcy judge ruled Friday that the Archdiocese of Portland, not its parishes, owns church assets, dealing a major blow to its efforts to protect church property from lawsuits filed by alleged victims of priest sex abuse. The Portland archdiocese became the first in the nation to declare bankruptcy when it filed for protection from creditors in July 2004, just before the scheduled start of jury trials for victims seeking more than $155 million in damages. Since then, the archdiocese has been trying to protect church buildings throughout Western Oregon from being included in settlements with...

PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 30 — A bankruptcy judge ruled Friday that the Archdiocese of Portland, not its parishes, owns church assets, dealing a major blow to its efforts to protect church property from lawsuits filed by alleged victims of priest sex abuse. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Perris, in a pair of opinions, ruled that church property and real estate is under the control of the archdiocese, not its individual parishes, as attorneys for the archdiocese had argued. She rejected the archdiocese's claim that applying federal law instead of church law could violate its First Amendment right to religious freedom by...

According to National Planning Scenarios complied by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, an improvised nuclear bomb going off in an American city is not a farfetched idea. In fact, it's the number one risk to the nation. Nuclear physicists using a Defense Department computer program to calculate the consequences of a nuclear attack on downtown Portland found that casualties would be surprisingly high. While few people think Portland could be a terrorist target, experts say think again, including the head of Oregon Emergency Management. Director Ken Murphy says, "We don't ever want to think we're not a target because...

Eleven years ago, the city of Portland extended health benefits to gay and unmarried domestic partners. An Oregon appeals court decision seven years ago required state and local governments to offer spousal benefits to same-sex domestic partners of employees. Now, Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams wants city contractors to extend benefits to their employees' domestic partners, too. The City Council is expected to approve the plan next month. Portland would be the first city in Oregon and would join at least 11 other states, counties and cities in the nation to require equal benefits for contractors' employees. "It pales in...

PORTLAND, Ore. Dec 5, 2005 — The Archdiocese of Portland, the first in the country to file for bankruptcy because of abuse settlements, is at the heart of a debate that could affect future claims by alleged victims of priest sex abuse. Attorneys are fighting over who, exactly, owns the churches and the property they're standing on. A hearing was scheduled for Tuesday on whether the individual parishes and Catholic schools own their assets, as the archdiocese argues, or whether those assets belong to the archdiocese itself, as the plaintiffs say. The case before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Perris could...

Anti-abortion protester Marion Hite is so enduring —and now so loving in his recriminations — that even abortion-clinic workers have come to his defense. The 99-year-old Portland man — a former cowboy, shepherd and logger — has sat in front of Portland’s Lovejoy Surgicenter Mondays through Saturdays for 30 years. He turns 100 in December. “They’re killing babies in there,” says Hite, under a blanket in a weathered lawn chair, holding a sign that reads “Stop Murder. Stop Abortion. Save the children. Please give him or her to us.” One day several years ago, when a woman took offense and...

A chemical scare at the Multnomah Building in southeast Portland sent police and a hazardous materials team scrambling to the scene late Friday morning. Apparently, an employee in the taxation and assessment office on the first floor opened an envelope and found powder inside, according to Mike Beard with Multnomah County Chair Diane Linn’s office. Everyone in the building was encouraged to stay inside, and those who decide to leave will not be let back in, officials said.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Something is brewing in Portland, and it isn’t coffee. The storm gathers at a distance from the coffeehouses and art galleries and wine bars that give the place such urban appeal. It is separate and apart from the upper-crust stores that sprout in proudly preserved neighborhoods, where every business seems to display a poster promoting this cause or that — an environmental rally today, a meeting to expand bicycle lanes tomorrow. This metropolis that is so often listed among America’s most livable cities is living the economic crisis of our times. For three consecutive years, median income...

Akim Jabbie still seems shaken when he talks about the phone call he received a few days after his 33-year-old son, Mohamed Jabbie, was shot to death at his Clackamas County apartment on Sept. 24, 2004. According to Akim Jabbie, a friend in Portland's black community called to say that everyone knew who killed his son. "He said it was Michael Washington," Jabbie said. Jabbie was not surprised to hear the name. His son had been assaulted by Washington on July 4, 2004. The day before Mohamed Jabbie was killed, he had testified against Washington before a Multnomah County grand...

A joint venture pays $77.5 million for the high-rise Portland Center Apartments and will sell units as early as next spring A team of Portland developers plans to announce today that it has bought the high-rise Portland Center Apartments for $77.5 million in a deal that will convert the three massive towers into condominiums. The purchase of 537 units is believed to be the largest condominium conversion in the Portland area, which has seen a flurry of apartment buildings converted to for-sale units in recent years. It also marks one of the highest Portland-area prices ever paid for an apartment...

Salem, Oregon - Last night Governor Kulongoski received a request from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help provide temporary housing for victims of hurricane Katrina who currently are without food, water and shelter. Under the Governor's direction, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) immediately began coordinating with the Oregon Red Cross to accommodate approximately 1,000 refugees from Gulf Coast states. The refugees are expected to arrive in the Portland area sometime in the next 24 to 48 hours. "In the days since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, Oregonians from every corner of the state have reached...

Former Vice President Al Gore will give a speech in Portland on Tuesday on global warming. Scott Ballo, a Democratic political consultant helping with the event, said the 6:30 p.m. speech at the Oregon Convention Center will be free and open to the public. Ballo said Gore called Portland businessman Terry Bean, a major donor to Democratic causes, and enlisted his aid in setting up a venue for the speech. Gore has given several speeches charging that the Bush administration should act more forcefully to reduce greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming.

A respected African American businessman and civil rights advocate from Portland faces attempted murder and kidnapping charges in The Dalles, according to the Wasco County Circuit Court. Robert Larry, 45, is accused of attacking a female acquaintance, said Wasco County District Attorney Eric Nisley. Robert Larry Larry was the longtime owner of the King Liquor Store on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Portland and an officer with the Portland branch of the NAACP. His liquor store was closed last spring over allegations he owned the Oregon Liquor Control $38,578 in liquor receipts. He was arrested two weeks ago...

In 1994, then-Archbishop of Portland William Levada offered a simple answer for why the archdiocese shouldn't have been ordered to pay the costs of raising a child fathered by a church worker at a Portland, Ore., parish. In her relationship with Arturo Uribe, then a seminarian and now a Whittier priest, the child's mother had engaged "in unprotected intercourse … when [she] should have known that could result in pregnancy," the church maintained in its answer to the lawsuit. The legal proceeding got little attention at the time. And the fact that the church — which considers birth control a...

Mayor Tom Potter reponds to Pentagon plan to reduce strength of Portland Air National Guard Press release from the Office of Mayor Tom Potter "I am saddened for the 452 civilians who will lose their jobs with this decision, and concerned about the safety of our community. "I am going to work with our delegation in Washington, D.C. to reverse this decision. It makes little sense to send family wage jobs packing to other states just as Portland's economy is finally moving in a positive direction. "At the same time, I don't want to see our area's ability to respond...

How quickly they neglect. That's our reaction to the news that Portland, Oregon, has decided to withdraw from the FBI's counterterrorism task force over fears that the civil or constitutional rights of its citizens might be violated. Mayor Tom Potter made that call last week, in one more sign that memories are fraying as September 11 grows more distant. Mr. Potter tried to put a happy face on his decision in a press conference Friday, saying the city is "changing" its ties with the FBI, not "severing" them, and that Oregonians will still be "safe." But what about the rest...

Mayor Tom Potter, who marched in uniform as Portland police chief in the city's gay rights parade, has high-stepped into another controversial battle to back gay rights. Potter turned down a request to provide a letter supporting the Mrs. Oregon America pageant because its contestants must be married to a man. The rules also require contestants to be natural born females. In a statement, Potter said city policy requires it not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. The pageant's rule "fails to recognize the other loving relationships in our community," his statement said. Libby Crawford, the pageant's executive...

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Pearl District in the heart of this perpetually self-improving city seems to have everything in new urban design and comfort, from the Whole Foods store where fresh-buffed bell peppers are displayed like runway models to the converted lofts that face sidewalk gardens. Everything except children. Crime is down. New homes and businesses are sprouting everywhere. But in what may be Portland's trendiest and fastest-growing neighborhood, the number of school-age children grew by only three between the census counts in 1990 and 2000, according to demographers at Portland State University. "The neighborhood would love to have more...

A proposal by the mayor could make Portland the first city to pull out of the anti-terror group Mayor Tom Potter will go public today with a plan that could get Portland out of a controversial anti-terrorism task force by putting the onus for keeping the city involved on the federal government. Potter and Commissioner Randy Leonard have been shopping a plan around City Hall in which Portland police officers would stay in the Joint Terrorism Task Force only if federal investigators agree to open their files to city leaders. Potter has the votes to demand that the FBI give...

After unseasonably sunny and nice weather for 20 days of the past 25, typical Northwest late winter/early spring conditions returned with a vengeance in time for this weekend. The forecast called for as much as 1.25" of rain, but the clouds held back their deluge from 12:30 when the W. Oregon PW's met in Portland's Pioneer Square, until all was over and done at 3:40. In between, we let the left-wing loony folk who run rampant in the streets of Liberalville know that they would not go unconfronted when spouting their hateful nonsense. Our small, spirited group met peacefully on...

Freezing Rain Coats Area Roads Air Masses Battling Over Valley PORTLAND -- It’s the battle of the air masses over the Willamette Valley Saturday. At 9 a.m., light rain was falling, freezing as it hit roads, power lines and plants. Snow was starting to come down east of the Cascades. KOIN News 6 meteorologist Mark Ronchetti said cold east winds are mixing with a wet warm front. The warm system slowly chipping away at the cold front will eventually win, and the freezing rain will turn to rain. The temperature is expected to sit just below the freezing mark until...

We are living through a dangerous time. The war on terror is against adherents to a radical human religion bearing little likeness to the Muslim faith, and committed to our eradication. Within this generation, those trained in Wahhabi jihadism will earn graduate degrees in physical sciences enabling them to plan and execute repeated cataclysmic attacks. These people envision individual beheadings replaced by scientists contemplating a map of New York. However, they need benign and/or supportive environments to organize damage on that scale. In Portland Oregon the proposed withdrawal from the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (Oregonian 12/21/04) would proclaim the...

by Samuel J. Gerdano, Esq Other Articles by Samuel J. Gerdano, Esq Diocesan Bankruptcies: A Feast for Lawyers 12/04/04 Bankruptcy filings by various Catholic dioceses are now the rage. The Archdiocese of Portland (Oregon), faced with $155 million in tort claims — after paying some $53 million to settle 100 cases — filed for court protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on July 6. This was soon followed by a similar bankruptcy by the Tucson Diocese on September 20. The Diocese of Davenport, Iowa averted a bankruptcy only after paying $9 million in late October to settle some 37...

Comcast Cable in Portland Oregon Blacked out Coverage of ABC Nightline Appearance of Widow. Viewers tuned in to see not static, but a blank black screen. Channels affected were Channel 4 & 5 on Comcast's (Tualatin Valley, Portland Suburbs) Analog Cable System (Basic Cable to services the poor disenfranchised).

PORTLAND, Ore. - Several Vietnam veterans are calling for an assistant district attorney to resign after questions were raised about his statement in a recent ad criticizing Democrat John Kerry’s military service. Alfred French of the Clackamas County district attorney’s office appears in the ad sponsored by the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. In the spot, French says: “I served with John Kerry. ... He is lying about his record.” A group of Vietnam veterans who protested outside the county courthouse Monday said French implied he had firsthand knowledge of Kerry’s war actions when in fact he had heard...

Slow day for campaigning with Charley dominating the headlines today. Lack of wind prevented Kerry from windsurfing on the Columbia River, so we lost a great opportunity there.   Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry waves to a supporter as he walks the streets of Portland, Oregon on August 13, 2004. Kerry said on Friday President George W. Bush's handling of Iraq and the war on terror had contributed to Middle East instability and helped drive up oil prices for the U.S. consumer. Kerry, who will face Bush in the November 2 White House election, also pounced on a new report...

Howdy. Senator Kerry, as your tour over "Flyover Country" rolls on, it must be really hard on your stomachs. You and the missus like the finest cuisine and now have to look like you are eating like the locals. All the little people are so impressed! I know you must have been embarassed by the revelation that you ate on the bus at stop and threw the local food in the garbage. Gosh, maybe that's what you and the missus had a spat over recently: stayed in separate rooms. She might have even said "shove it". We all saw that...

Archbishop testifies on bankruptcy; disbarred lawyer nabbed in scam 08/11/2004 Ed Langlois Portland Archbishop John Vlazny testified Aug. 6 before a federal bankruptcy court, saying it was ultimately his decision, not the Vatican’s, to file for the first-ever Chapter 11 reorganization of a Catholic diocese. The same day, a federal grand jury in Portland indicted a con artist of inventing sex-abuse charges in an effort to bilk the archdiocese of more than $1 million. During the four-hour bankruptcy hearing, attorneys for those who have claims against the archdiocese sought possible Vatican liability. The archbishop, while allowing that he must comply...

On the way home tuned into PBS radio and listened to President Bush talking to people of Oregon during a presidential rally today. What an inspiring broadcast. When I tuned in President Bush was interviewing guests on the entrepreneurial spirit in America. Owner after owner talked about how they started their business and how it grew to employ people and create jobs. President Bush hi-lited key issues such as portable health coverage, flex working hours and tax incentives to encourage job growth. He also reminded the audience that his opponents solution was to tax the "rich". This of course means...

President Bush won the Battle of Portland according to the pundents!! He was on fire and the rally was the greatest!! This election and all of the momentum is building for W! The highlight of the rally was when a woman stood up during the question and answer period and said she knew GW during his so called AWOL period in Alabama. She was being interviewed by a number of jounalists after the event. I was able to shake his and Laura's hands at the end and asked him a question in the audiance. This was the only time I...

President Bush & First Lady Laura were in Santa Monica, Calif last night for a Fund raiser with Arnold and they were also on the Larry King Live show for a one hour interview, Today President Bush campaigned in Beaverton & Portland Oregon for a Rally and a Town Hall meeting ENJOY YOUR VISIT TO SANITY ISLAND!

Bush Townhall Part1Bush Townhall Part2 If asked: Login: jfk@koin.com Password:kerrysucks

I had the great honor of being one of 1500 people who have volunteered for President Bush to attend a rally here in Portland. I was maning the microphone during the Q&A with Bush, well the guy nexted to me served in Vietnam (6 Tours) he stood up and told bush what a fraud kerry is and that a guy with 2 scratches dosent deserve 2 purple hearts, of course the place went nuts. Then a lady stood up and she said she served in the Texas Air National guard during well Bush was in the air national guard, and...

President George Bush is having a Small Business Roundtable tomorrow and they gave me tickets to the stage. Look for the Freeper nailing PravdABDNC! Pray for W and Our Troops

Last night on August 9, 2004 Jim Robinson paid a visit to Portland, OR and we had a grand ol' time at John Barleycorn's PubHere are some pictures for your enjoyment                         The Place                                             paul thomas, Mrs. Atos, Atos Jr.and Mr. Atos ( Thank you Mr. Atos for setting up this great evening)    The guests of honor: Jim Robinson, Sheila & Chris                Mrs. fire-eye, Mr.WHATNEXT, WHATNEXT, fortress & fire-eye         WHATNEXT, NamVet, son of NamVet, ex-texan                                      LayoutGuru2  &   AndyfromBeaverton                                                                                             The group             WHATNEXT, ex-texan, LayoutGuru2, NamVet&  JimRob                            The man, the legend: Jim RobinsonIt was an honor to...

August 7, 2004 Bush, Kerry schedule Friday visits to Portland PORTLAND - President Bush will visit Portland late next week, White House officials said Friday. Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry plans to be in the city on the same day. Tracey Schmitt, a White House spokeswoman, said the president intends to travel to Portland on Friday to attend a "small business summit," a Bush-Cheney campaign event centered on strengthening small businesses across the nation. Kerry is expected to arrive in Medford on Thursday, then head to Portland on Friday, his campaign said. The Massachusetts senator is finishing his coast-to-coast tour...

Oregon FReepers! Here is your chance.......

John Fonda Kerry will be in Portland, OR on Monday, May 17 for a "public rally" Pioneer Courthouse Square that will be free to the public. Great freeping opportunity. Any takers?