Last modified: Friday, August 15, 2008 10:37 AM PDT

News Digest:

GOOD AFTERNOON

OREGON

Ore. seeks lower emissions from coal plant

SALEM (AP) — Oregon regulators want to cut haze-causing pollutants from Portland General Electric’s Boardman coal plant by 65 percent by 2014, which would require $400 million worth of added controls.

The DEQ says the proposal also would cut emissions of sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen by 81 percent within 10 years.

Appeals court rejects Ore. gay rights

challenge

PORTLAND (AP) — A federal appeals court has rejected a challenge to the Oregon domestic partnership law approved by the Legislature last year.

Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury had ruled that opponents failed to obtain enough valid signatures for a referendum petition to put the law to a statewide vote.

Bradbury was challenged in federal court, but U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman upheld his decision.

IDAHO

ID senator balks at Boise law school

proposal

BOISE (AP) — University of Idaho plans to expand its law school with a branch campus in Boise will take about eight years to implement and require heavy support from state lawmakers. The northern Idaho university would need an extra $6 million a year to fully operate a legal programs in the state capital. A university report released this week shows Idaho lawmakers would need to approve more than half of that money. At least one state senator says he’ll fight the plan.

Sali opens  campaign office outside district

BOISE (AP) — U.S. Rep. Bill Sali decided to open his new campaign office outside the boundaries of the district he represents because it’s more convenient for the public, his spokesman said.

The Republican congressman opened the office last month in downtown Boise, close to his congressional office and the offices of Idaho’s other congressional leaders.

‘‘It’s a convenient location, and it’s a centralized location where people can interact easier with the congressional office,’’ said Wayne Hoffman.