Anti-Islamic advertisement to run on TriMet
Prompted by a 2008 free speech ruling, Portland metro transit company TriMet@@http://trimet.org/@@ has no choice but to run an anti-Islamist message on its vehicles, according to The Oregonian.
The advertisement space has been purchased by American Freedom Defense Initiative,@@http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Islamization_of_America@@ an organization run by anti-Islamist blogger Pamela Geller@@http://pamelageller.com/@@. The advertisement features a message in support of Israel and refers to Israel’s enemies as “savages”, calling for the defeat of jihad.
TriMet will run the message due to a Multonomah County ruling that public spaces, such as that on public transportation, are subject to First Amendment protection. TriMet is challenging the ruling through the Oregon Supreme Court.
21-year-old sues Baker City school board
The Baker City school board is being sued by one of its own members for civil rights violations. Kyle Knight, 21, is seeking a total of  $700,000 in damages, The Oregonian reports.
Knight had been censured by the school board after the board accused him of violating a confidentiality oath when he commented to reporters about a board member embezzling money and discussed a police investigation into gang activity.
Measure 82, 83 supporters suspend campaign
Supporters of measures to create a casino in Wood Village have suspended their campaign, according to The Oregonian. After raising and spending over $5 million, the campaign has announced it will no longer run advertisements in support of the measures.
Without the campaign’s support, the measures are unlikely to pass.
Portland mayor candidate Jefferson Smith loses endorsement
After reports that he struck a woman in the face, Jefferson Smith has lost the endorsement of a public employee union, the third union endorsement he has lost, The Oregonian reports.
Smith’s campaign has lost several endorsements since the news broke that he sent a woman to the emergency after hitting her, in a 1993 incident. In addition, Mother PAC and multiple elected officials have withdrawn their support of Smith.
Report shows Oregon hiring less
A report released Tuesday shows that Oregon employers eliminated more jobs and made less hires than expected for the month of September, according to the Oregonian.
The Oregon Employment Department reported that every industry cut back hiring.
More than 150,300 Oregonians were out of work last month.