Spanning the State--Prodigal Headline Edition

[For some reason, Blogger isn't letting me post a headline right now. I'll try to get one plugged in later. But for now this is a headline-free post. Ugh.]

update 1pm--fixed...TJ


Recently, free speech in the Portland metro area has taken a couple of interesting turns.

First is the appearance of The Freeway Blogger in Portland:


The Freeway Blogger had signs up all around the freeways in Portland. Click on the link to check out more.


On the opposite end of the spectrum is this piece by Becky at Preemptive Karma. Becky reports that private security in charge of the Portland Blues Festival were likely way out-of-free-speech-bounds:

A man was standing on the bridge overlooking the festival and holding up two signs. One read "Impeach" and the other "End the War." He was merely standing on the sidewalk showing his signs to festival-goers. He wasn't shouting, he wasn't in anyone's way, and he wasn't being disruptive. Nevertheless, two members of the festival security team began harassing him, one calling for backup on the radio and the other angrily talking with him. The man moved further down the bridge, but was gone a few minutes later when we looked again.

The Portland Blues Festival is held at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in the southwest part of the city. The bridge that overlooks the park is the Hawthorne Bridge, which is city property and not at all a part of the Festival grounds.

Private security kicking people off of public property? Hmmm...where have I seen that before...?

And now, let's Span the State!

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I hate that Steve Duin doesn't cover sports for the O anymore. Today's column is a reminder of what a good sports writer he is.

A family from Lewisburg is getting a new home thanks to ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

A potential standoff is brewing in Canby. Some locals are unhappy with a proposal to build a large chicken farm operation near their homes. If the family who wants to build the farm is ultimately denied, they'll undoubtedly have a large Measure 37 claim. Clackamas County voted overwhelmingly to pass M37. Buyer's remorse, anyone?

The McMenamin brothers are looking to create another of their unique inn/restaurant destinations, this time at the former Multnomah County Correctional Facility.

Madras is beaming over native son Jacoby Ellsbury, who got the call this week from the Boston Red Sox to play with the big club at Fenway.

Molalla City Council has an apparent charmer in their midst. Newly seated City Councilor Steve Clark sent out an email asking city planning director Shane Potter if he's retarted and allegedly had to be asked to leave city hall a few weeks ago by a police officer after some of the staff felt threatened by him.

The newspaper of record in Prineville loves the 2007 Legislative Session.