News Digest
Thursday, November 8, 2007 11:12 AM PST
OREGON
Portland loses water protection case on
appeal
PORTLAND (AP) — A federal appeals court ruled that Portland must provide additional treatment to its Bull Run water source and cover or retire two open-air reservoirs, or treat the water from them.
A three-judge panel of U.S. District Court judges in Washington, D.C. rejected the city’s appeal of an Environmental Protection Administration rule that ordered costly new precautions against the parasite cryptosporidium.
Portland contends the threat is low and the required precautions could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Water Bureau Director David Shaff said the city will look at its options. The EPA’s water treatment rule has variances for high-quality public water systems that Portland can pursue.
IDAHO
Hailey passes three marijuana initiatives, rejects one
HAILEY (AP) — City residents voted Tuesday to legalize medical marijuana, make enforcing pot laws the lowest police priority and to decriminalize industrial hemp, but they rejected a companion measure that foresaw the city regulating and taxing legal pot sales.
The medical marijuana and industrial hemp measures each passed with 54 percent of the vote, while 51 percent of voters supported making pot arrests the lowest police priority.
Meanwhile, the initiative to legalize pot sales to adults was supported by only 46 percent of voters.
Bieter beats Tibbs in Boise mayor race
BOISE (AP) — Incumbent Dave Bieter won a second term as mayor of Idaho’s capital city, easily beating challenger Jim Tibbs.
Bieter, a Democrat, was leading with 64 percent to 36 percent for Tibbs, a Republican.
That was after 69 of 81 precincts had been counted. Bieter, one of America’s only mayors of Basque descent, was seeking a second term after winning a closely contested race in 2003.
Tibbs is a member of the Boise City Council and a former interim police chief in the city.
In other races for city council, incumbents Alan Shealy, David Eberle and Elaine Clegg all beat their challengers.
