Oregon’s state microbe: silly or a rightful nod to good beer?

By   /  May 24, 2013  /  Northwest  /  No Comments

Oregon becomes first state to designate a microbe, brewer's yeast

By Shelby Sebens | Northwest Watchdog
Oregon has once against made itself distinct by doing something no other state has.
This time it’s naming an official state microbe: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, better described as brewer’s yeast. Basically, it’s essential in items such as delicious Oregon beer, wine, bread… and, apparently, legislation.
The beer lover in me is nodding in approval [...]

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Coal proponents call environmental study ‘unnecessary’

By   /  May 24, 2013  /  Northwest  /  No Comments

Environmental groups push for broad study of coal impacts in the Northwest, beyond

By Shelby Sebens | Northwest Watchdog

Proponents of coal exports in the Northwest deem a broad environmental study of coal exports in the region unnecessary.

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Oregon Fusion Center: House of spies or terror-threat prevention?

By   /  May 23, 2013  /  News, Northwest  /  1 Comment

Police line the streets in downtown Portland during a 2011 Occupy protest

By Shelby Sebens | Northwest Watchdog

PORTLAND – The funding for a data collection center aimed at identifying and defusing terrorist threats in Oregon is in flux.

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Wyden unveils timber proposal for rural Oregon counties

By   /  May 23, 2013  /  Northwest  /  1 Comment

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden reveals proposal to balance timber harvesting with conservation in Oregon forests

By Shelby Sebens | Northwest Watchdog

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today unveiled his proposal aimed at creating more jobs in rural Oregon counties suffering from a lack of timber available to the mills.

The proposal aims to open up jobs in the woods while still setting aside land for permanent conservation.

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Oregon ready to add sexual orientation question to college forms

By   /  May 22, 2013  /  Northwest  /  No Comments

Oregon lawmakers to consider forcing colleges to ask students about their sexual orientation

By Shelby Sebens | Northwest Watchdog
An Oregon Senate committee will consider legislation Thursday that would require colleges and universities to ask students about their sexual orientation.
The goal of the bill, sponsored by state Rep. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis, and supported by Basic Rights Oregon, an advocacy organization for gay and transgender communities, is to collect data [...]

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