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On this day, April 28, 2006, the federal government adopted a federal advisory council's recommendations for deep cuts to the 2006 salmon season for California and Oregon.




Post an Event


Election Integrity Symposium
Friday, May 24, 2024 at 1:00 pm
1-5:30, $25 adm. Speakers include Phil Izon from Alaska Ranked-Choice voting Education Association, Mark Cook from Colorado IT witness on Tim Sipple case, and Dr. Frank on how to use data to approach clerks. Washington County will give a report on finding dead voters. And others to give information on how to approach counties for in-person voting.
Keizer Civic Center, Keizer Oregon



Multnomah County Fair
Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 9:00 am
Multnomah County Fair
Oaks Amusement Park



Memorial Day
Monday, May 27, 2024 at 11:00 am
Memorial Day
A federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving.



Juneteenth
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 12:00 am
Juneteenth
Celebrated on the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when in the wake of the American Civil War, Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas.



Lincoln County Fair
Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.thelincolncountyfair.com
July 4-6
Lincoln County Fairgrounds



Independence Day
Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 11:59 pm
Independence Day
USA



Marion County Fair
Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.co.marion.or.us/CS/Fair
July 11-14
Oregon State Fair & Expo Center



Jackson County Fair
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 8:00 am
TheExpo.com
July 16-21
Jackson County Fairgrounds - The Expo



Columbia County Fair
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 8:00 am
columbiacountyfairgrounds.com
July 17-21
Columbia County Fairgrounds



Linn County Fair
Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.linncountyfair.com/
July 18-20
Linn County Expo Center



Washington County Fair
Friday, July 19, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.bigfairfun.com/
July 19-28
Washington County Fairgrounds - Westside Commons



Coos County Fair
Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.cooscountyfair.com
July 23-27
Coos County Fairgrounds



Curry County Fair
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.eventcenteronthebeach.com
July 24-27
Curry County Fairgrounds - Event Center on the Beach



Hood River County Fair
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.hoodriverfairgrounds.com
July 24-27
Hood River County Fairgrounds



Jefferson County Fair
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.jcfair.fun
July 24-27
Jefferson County Fair Complex



Lane County Fair
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.atthefair.com
July 24-28
Lane Events Center



Clatsop County Fair
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://clatsopcofair.com/
July 30 - August 3
Clatsop County Fair & Expo



Malheur County Fair
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.malheurcountyfair.com
July 30 - August 3
Malheur County Fairgrounds - Desert Sage Event Center



Benton County Fair & Rodeo
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
bceventcentercorvallis.net
July 31 - August 3, 2024
Benton County Event Center & Fairgrounds



Deschutes County Fair
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://expo.deschutes.org/
July 31 - August 4
Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center



Union County Fair
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.unioncountyfair.org
July 31 - August 3
Union County Fairgrounds



Yamhill County Fair
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.co.yamhill.or.us/fair
July 31 - August 3
Yamhill County Fairgrounds



Klamath County Fair
Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.klamathcountyfair.com/
August 1-4
Klamath County Fair



Wallowa County Fair
Friday, August 2, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://co.wallowa.or.us/community-services/county-fair/
August 2-10
Wallowa County Fairgrounds



Baker County Fair
Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.bakerfair.com
August 4-9
Baker County Fairgrounds



Harney County Fair
Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.harneyfairgrounds.com
August 4-9
Harney County Fairgrounds



Sherman County Fair
Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.shermancountyfairfun.com
August 19-24
Sherman County Fairgrounds



Crook County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.crookcountyfairgrounds.com
August 7-10
Crook County Fairgrounds



Douglas County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.douglasfairgrounds.com
August 7-10
Douglas County Fairgrounds Complex



Grant County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.grantcountyoregon.net
August 7-10
Grant County Fairgrounds



Josephine County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.josephinecountyfairgrounds.com/
August 7-11
Josephine County Fairgrounds & Events Center



Polk County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.co.polk.or.us/fair
August 7-10
Polk County Fairgrounds



Tillamook County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.tillamookfair.com
August 7-10
Tillamook County Fairgrounds



Umatilla County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.umatillacountyfair.net
August 7-10
Umatilla County Fairgrounds



Wheeler County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.wheelercountyoregon.com/fair-board
August 7-10
Wheeler County Fairgrounds



Clackamas County Fair
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at 8:00 am
clackamascountyfair.com
August 13-17
Clackamas County Event Center



Morrow County Fair
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.co.morrow.or.us/fair
August 14-17
Morrow County Fairgrounds



Wasco County Fair
Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.wascocountyfair.com
August 15-17
Wasco County Fairgrounds



Gilliam County Fair
Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 8:00 am
http://www.co.gilliam.or.us/government/fairgrounds
August 29-31
Gilliam County Fairgrounds



Lake County Fair
Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.lakecountyor.org/government/fair_grounds.php
August 29 - September 1
Lake County Fairgrounds



Oregon State Fair
Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.oregonstateexpo.org
August 31 - September 9
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center



Linn Laughs LIVE with Adam Corolla
Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Linn Laughs LIVE with Adam Corolla 5pm-9pm
Albany, OR


View All Calendar Events


School Re-Opening Guidelines: A Series
Don’t bother to read them. Wait for the movie.

Editor’s note: This is the first of a multi-part series analyzing the latest version of the school re-opening guidelines.

The Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority have released an extensive revision of Ready Schools, Safe Learners: Guidance for School Year 22020-21, a 74 page tome on what metrics need to be met before a school can re-open. The document is quite comprehensive and takes into account various non-traditional educational environments and some of the less-common aspects of education. Approximately half of the document is set in green type, indicating that it is new or changed.

Cryptically, the section numbering starts with 0 -- something found more in the basements of Computer Science labs than in the fields of health or education. Nonetheless, the sections of the documents include:

Some critics have pointed out the misuse of the term "guidelines." Most of the work is not a suggestion. Each page has a footer that reads “Checkboxes () indicate requirements; arrows (⇨) indicate recommendations.” There are far more checkboxes than arrows, be assured. The term “required” appears 80 times in the document.

OK, let’s cut to the chase. Is your kid going back to school -- back to a brick-and-mortar building -- in the Fall? The Governor, despite all the positive vibes she tried to project, pretty much told you “no.” Her way of sugar-coating it was to repeat over and over that “School in the Fall is not going to look like a traditional school year.” This is the new vocabulary of leadership: When you fail, introduce it as the “new normal.”

If you don't believe that analysis of her press conference earlier this week and want to read it in black and white, this is what the document says:

Returning to In-Person Instruction Through the On-Site or Hybrid Instructional Models

For a school to return to in-person instruction through the Oregon Department of Education’s (ODE) OnSite or Hybrid Instructional models, the metrics below, which consider local as well as statewide conditions, must be met:

1) Schools must be in a county that is no longer in baseline phase to consider in-person instructional models. At this time, no Oregon counties are in baseline phase.

The following County Metrics must also be met for three weeks in a row:

AND 2) The following State Metric must be met three weeks in a row:


Want some science to down that bitter pill? This chart is included with the bad news.

Approximate COVID-19 Case Rates in Other Countries When They Re-Opened Schools
CountryDateNew cases per 100,000 per dayNew cases per 100,000 per 7 days (week)
Denmark4/15/202.618.2
Germany4/29/201.39.1
Netherlands5/11/201.510.5
France5/11/200.96.3
New Zealand5/15/20<0.1<0.7
Australia5/11/20<0.1<0.7
Oregon*5/25/200.85.6
Oregon*7/20/206.948.3
*Oregon data included at two different time intervals for comparison.

One wonders if the results in Oregon are being driven by a different level of testing or reporting. It just doesn't seem like things are all that bad in Oregon.

Smart parents who find this unworkable are looking for different options. For certain, there is one schooling option that won't look all that different than last school year. That's home schooling.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-07-30 18:25:06Last Update: 2020-07-30 21:25:28



Meme of the Week
Your doctor called. You aren’t getting enough memes.




--Northwest Observer Meme Team

Post Date: 2020-07-29 21:08:26



The Grass is Greener
...taxes lower, fewer regulations, oh, and the federal courthouse is not on fire.

Rural Oregon counties have launched Move Oregon’s Borders for a Greater Idaho, a movement to make themselves part of Idaho by moving Oregon’s borders. Fifteen counties are circulating petitions for the general election. On July 18, Wallowa County reached their first goals to put their initiative on the Wallowa County ballot in November 2020 elections.

Mike McCarter, President and Chief Petitioner of Move Oregon’s Borders for a Greater Idaho, appeared on Fox & Friends first on July 21 said “a large number of decisions are made in the Willamette Valley including Portland and rural Oregon would like to align itself with a state that is used to dealing with rural counties and rural concerns… We would like to choose who governors us.” In a setback, U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane, ruled against Move Oregon’s Border’s request for more time and a reduction in the number of signatures due to the COVID pandemic. He determined that the group had not made much of an effort to obtain signatures. But McCarter says the group is more than halfway to its goal in Jefferson, Union and Douglas counties and believes it’ll secure a ballot spot in Sherman County. (That county only requires 60 signatures.)

Move Oregon’s Border wants to make its case on the ballot of each of the counties the group would like to see as part of a Greater Idaho. Most of the counties petitioning have double the number of registered Republican than Democrats, but non-affiliated voters are growing to significant numbers in all counties. If all or any of the 22 targeted counties vote to move themselves into Idaho, the Oregon and Idaho legislatures, and ultimately the U.S. Congress, would have to give their approval.

It doesn’t help Oregon’s case that Governor Kate Brown had a different understanding when speaking with Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf on jurisdiction in Portland. Governor Brown agreed to address the violence in Portland by sending in State and local police in a phone call with Secretary Wolf, and that federal agents would leave after streets are secured. Blithely, the Governor tweeted that “federal government has agreed to withdraw federal officers from Portland.” Wolf retorted, "As I told the Governor yesterday, federal law enforcement will remain in Portland until the violent activity toward our federal facilities ends. We are not removing any law enforcement while our facilities and law enforcement remain under attack."

Who really wants to live in an Oregon that doesn’t put the safety of citizens and property in perspective? Even if you’re not Christian, “Do unto others as you would have them do to you” is universal when it comes to infringing on someone’s rights. It’s difficult to accomplish change within the rule of law when leadership is non-existent. But isn’t that the challenge that Ben Franklin gave all Americans when he said, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-07-29 19:02:41Last Update: 2020-07-29 19:03:17



State Police to Engage Rioters
Federal law enforcement officers will continue their mission

After meeting with Governor Kate Brown, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf has released the following statement:

Over the past 24 hours, Governor Brown and I have been in regular communication and have agreed to a joint plan to end the violent activity in Portland directed at federal properties and law enforcement officers. That plan includes a robust presence of Oregon State Police in downtown Portland. State and local law enforcement will begin securing properties and streets, especially those surrounding federal properties, that have been under nightly attack for the past two months. Oregon State Police will coordinate with Federal Protective Service (FPS) officers to ensure all federal facilities remain protected and secure.

This plan is possible due to the valiant efforts of the DHS law enforcement officers protecting federal property in Portland from violent activity for the past two months.

The Department will continue to maintain our current, augmented federal law enforcement personnel in Portland until we are assured that the Hatfield Federal Courthouse and other federal properties will no longer be attacked and that the seat of justice in Portland will remain secure. This has been our mission and objective since the violent, criminal activity began.

The Department will continue to re-evaluate our security posture in Portland, and should circumstances on the ground significantly improve due to the influx of state and local law enforcement, we anticipate the ability to change our force posture, as we do everyday at our other 9,000 federal properties we protect across the country.

President Trump and this Administration have been consistent in our message throughout the violence in Portland: the violent criminal activity directed towards federal properties and law enforcement will not be tolerated, state and local leaders must step forward and police their communities, and the Department of Homeland Security will not back down from our legal duty to protect federal law enforcement officers and federal properties in the face of such criminal behavior.

President Trump has also made clear that this Administration is ready and willing to partner with state and local law enforcement to protect every American – and you see that commitment in Portland with this plan. The Department and this Administration will also continue to fulfill its solemn obligation to uphold federal law across the country.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown, in a facebook post, spun the meeting differently:

After my discussions with VP Pence and others, the federal government has agreed to withdraw federal officers from Portland. They have acted as an occupying force and brought violence. Starting tomorrow, all Customs and Border Protection and ICE officers will leave downtown Portland.

Out local Oregon State Police officers will be downtown to protect Oregonians' right to free speech and keep the peace. Let's center the Black Lives Matter movement's demands for racial justice and police accountability. It's time for bold action to reform police practices.

Speculation is rampant that the riots are losing favor with the public and that if they continue, there may be a negative impact on the November elections for Democrats. It remains to be seen if the State Police have any more success than federal law enforcement in ending the riots and violence.




--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-07-29 09:17:35Last Update: 2020-07-29 10:12:37



Democrats Want Your Body
It’s about power, not public health.

The controversy over forced vaccinations brought to light where the 2019 Oregon Legislative session wanted to take healthcare. Supporting legislators painted HB 3063 as protection for young children but studies do not support that opinion. It drew the conclusion that it was another step towards their ultimate goal -- single payer health care, that passed along party-lines to develop a prototype.

The proposed vaccine law would make Oregon among the strictest in the nation, eliminating the religious and philosophical exemptions that parents can currently use in order to skip or delay shots.

Legislative Fiscal Office said that “House Bill 3063 removes the ability of a parent to decline required immunizations against restrictable diseases as a condition of a child attending any Oregon school or children’s facility for reasons other than an indicated medical diagnosis. Children who have not received the required immunizations may attend online education programs with the exception of attending in-person certain school-related events or meetings.”

The fear tactic being used over the COVID-19 virus didn’t work. Why would you fear a breakout from less than 5% unvaccinated if vaccines work so well? Proponents find themselves in a philosophical conundrum: If vaccines work so well, why don't you just use them, and you'll be safe. If someone doesn't want to use them, they pose no threat to you. That is, unless vaccines don't work.

Testimony on Christian reasons to avoid vaccinations undersigned by 189 religious objectors gave details on the moral issue of cell lines taken from aborted babies: “Some of the most common vaccines are only licensed in America in forms that include live attenuated viruses cultured in aborted fetal cell lines. The Rubella portion of the MMR or MMRV is Wistar RA 27/3. It is documented that at least eighty abortions, likely more, took place in order to create simply that one vaccine. It also appears that the researchers involved had close relationships with abortionists, and obtaining babies’ bodies for the purpose of creating vaccines was intentional. What persuasion or coercion of mothers to that end took place is unknown. WI-38 is a cell line sourced from the lung tissue of a Swedish baby girl, and MRC-5 was taken from a baby boy. Both of these are currently in use in America, and this alone would be enough to give Christians serious pause. What is even more alarming is that the cell lines do not last forever, and there is a demand to continue to produce cell lines. One recent one is Walvax-2, taken from a Chinese baby girl. She was one of nine aborted babies used in starting this new cell line in 2015.”

A driving force against HB 3063 was a group of Slavic communities that testified that they fled to the U.S. for freedom from forced medications -- people not unfamiliar with religious persecution. Joining them and the religious groups were those that questioned the validity of vaccinations. A freedom of information act request revealed that the CDC commissioned a vaccinated vs unvaccinated study in 1999 with results so damaging they hid it. The data verified what parents have been saying, showing inculpated thimerosal (mercury preservative used in vaccines) as the principle culprit behind the autism epidemic. After a plot to hid the study came to light, they attempted to restrict the data and revealed false findings. In a second attempt, which they thought would vindicate the false results, again proved a shocking 364% increase in autism among African American boys given MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine in Georgia. And, again the CDC official, Frank DeStefano, ordered the results destroyed, and a sanitized study is now cited in 97 publications as proof that vaccines don’t cause autism.

Despite CDC’s efforts at suppressing the studies, independent scientists and research institutions (including UCLA) have managed to conduct and publish several additional vaccinated/unvaccinated studies since 1999. Those studies indicate high incidence of chronic diseases and brain and immune system injuries among vaccinated compared to unvaccinated clients.

Breeauna Sagdal of the Unified Liberty Coaltion noted,"American children are delaying vaccines, not by choice, but, due to skipped well child visits. We expect to see the results, of delaying vaccines reflected in the data. Time will tell, if SIDS, and infant mortality plummet during this pandemic.”

A vaccine is in the works for the COVID-19 virus, which is to be optional according to President Trump. In Oregon, Democrats still want to add vaccinations as a mandate for every child to attend school. They want medical control. And goodness knows, we've seen enough of that lately.

Those voting in support of mandatory vaccinations include:
Senate Majority Leader Rob Wagner, SD 19
Senator Lee Beyer, SD 6
Senator Lew Frederick, SD 22
Senator James I. Manning Jr, SD 7
Senator Arnie Roblan, SD 5
Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward MD, SD 17
Senator Chuck Thomsen, SD 26
Speaker Tina Kotek, HD 44
House Majority Leader Barbara Smith Warner, HD 45
Representative Diego Hernandez, HD 47
Representative Teresa Alonso Leon, HD 22
Representative Jeff Barker, HD 28
Representative Janelle Bynum, HD
Representative Brian Clem, HD 21
Representative Margaret Doherty, HD 35
Representative Julie Fahey, HD 14
Representative David Gomberg, HD 10
Representative Chris Gorsek, HD 49
Representative Mitch Greenlick, HD 33
Representative Ken Helm, HD 34
Representative Cheri Helt, HD 54
Representative Paul Holvey, HD 8
Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer, HD 46
Representative John Lively, HD 12
Representative Caddy McKeown, HD 9
Representative Mark Meek, HD 40
Representative Tiffiny Mitchell, HD 32
Representative Nancy Nathanson, HD 13
Representative Rob Nosse, HD 42
Representative Carla Piluso, HD 50
Representative Karin Power, HD 41
Representative Rachel Prusak, HD 37
Representative Dan Rayfield, HD 16
Representative Jeff Reardon, HD 48
Representative Andrea Salinas, HD 38
Representative Tawna Sanchez, HD 43
Representative Sheri Schouten, HD 27
Representative Kim Wallan, HD 6
Representative Marty Wilde, HD 11
Representative Anna Williams, HD 52
Representative Brad Witt, HD 31



--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-07-29 08:15:57Last Update: 2020-07-29 16:55:43



Rep. Nearman Calls for Moving Federal Courthouse
Suggests that Dallas might be a better location

State Representative Mike Nearman (R-Independence) announced today that he is calling on President Donald Trump to close the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse for the Oregon District located in Portland, and offering to have its operations moved entirely to the City of Dallas, Oregon and a new courthouse constructed there, a little over an hour away from its current location.

Nearman said, "While this will certainly be inconvenient for many in Portland who have business at the courthouse, the City of Portland has demonstrated over the last two months that it is both unwilling and unable to provide even the most basic security for the facility."

Many Democratic legislative leaders defended the rioters in a letter to the US Attorney General William Barr, criticizing the activity of federal law enforcement, as they have defended federal property in Portland.

The 16 story courthouse, completed in 1997 at a cost of $129 million, has been under daily siege by rioters for two months, sustaining an unknown amount of damage.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-07-29 07:11:09Last Update: 2020-07-28 22:13:48



Executive Orders Reach All-Time High
At least Governor Brown is good at something

Congratulations, Governor Kate Brown, on July 21, 2020, you issued the most executive orders in one year in the history of Oregon. Granted, this is an unusual year, but we are barely half through the year.

The winning order isn’t glamorous. Matter of fact, it’s in a series of orders that is issued every other year. Executive Order 20-32 along with 20-31 declares a state of emergency in Morrow, Wheeler, Douglas, Gilliam, Josephine, Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson and Wasco Counties due to unusually low water supplies and hot, dry conditions. The orders include six directives, which are a repeat of duties and assistance that agencies normally operate under. There are no new duties or moneys. It is unfortunate that these counties have to be highlighted in an executive order to receive the service they rightfully deserve anyway.

These same counties were the subject of emergency orders in February through May in 2019 for severe winter storm, heavy snow, ice accumulation, high winds, flooding and landslides. In 2018 there was again a series of drought emergency orders due to low snow pack, precipitation and stream flow, and warming temperatures. Curious, I checked emergency orders for 2017. Any guesses? Yep, there was again a series on severe winter storms.

What is common is a sense of placating these rural counties with words from on high. What is interesting is that in years of elections the emergency on drought and fires running up to the election are issued. Another coincident is in 2019 as these severe storm orders were issued the legislature was passing flood safety and water quality districts for urban growth in Metro in SB 431 and HB 2008. And, in 2018, bills passed focused on water use, reservoirs and transfers under SB 1558.

If the executive orders are an indication of what’s to come, we should prepare for more water restricting proposals in 2021 session. Under Obama Administration, President Obama issued environmental rules to sweep in small water streams under wetland regulations devastating farms. In September, 2019, President Trump rolled back the overreaching rules of the Clean Water Act. What we have seen in Oregon is the majority party is trying to make sure that whatever President Trump does to stimulate the economy with more freedom to operate businesses, will not be instigated in Oregon. We saw this in the passage of HB 2250 during the 2019 session that adopted changes to federal environment laws but limited changes to those federal environmental laws effective on January 19, 2017.

The number of Governor Brown’s executive orders is a clear indication of the power she feels is hers, and is an indication of what the 2021 session will bring if changes aren’t made in November. Who will represent you?


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-07-28 23:04:59Last Update: 2020-07-28 23:05:32



Federal Ninth Circuit on the Verge of Change
Once derided, now becoming the home of responsible jurisprudence

The Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has been widely derided by legal observers for years as the "Ninth Circus" for being the longstanding most overturned appeals court in the federal judiciary.

The times they are a changing. President Obama's Democratic Party's failure to control the Senate during the latter part of his presidency meant that he only has seven appointees remaining on the bench that hears appeals for the western United States. His predecessor, George W. Bush still has nine.

The Court is allowed 29 members, but as they get older, they move to senior status where they help with workload, and the total number of judges is 48. Of the 29, 16 were appointed by Democrat Presidents and 13 by Republicans. Of senior judges eight are Democrat appointees and 11 by Republican presidents.

What's made the difference is the hard work of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has been quietly moving President Trump's appointments nationwide, including the Ninth Circuit. All Federal judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. While they are usually described as lifetime appointments, the US Constitution says that they serve during "good behavior" -- a term not defined.

The Ninth Circuit is especially important as it decides appeals from a great swath of western states -- many having to do with environmental or land regulations. A shift in the balance of power on this court could cause a great change in the way cases on these issues are decided.

SeniorityNameStatusAppt. DateAppointed By
1Sidney R. ThomasChief Judge1996-01-04Clinton
2Alfred T. GoodwinSenior Circuit Judge1971-11-30Nixon
3J. Clifford WallaceSenior Circuit Judge1972-06-28Nixon
4Mary M. SchroederSenior Circuit Judge1979-09-26Carter
5Jerome FarrisSenior Circuit Judge1979-09-27Carter
6Dorothy W. NelsonSenior Circuit Judge1979-12-20Carter
7William C. Canby, Jr.Senior Circuit Judge1980-05-23Carter
8Diarmuid F. O'ScannlainSenior Circuit Judge1986-09-26Reagan
9Edward LeavySenior Circuit Judge1987-03-23Reagan
10Stephen S. TrottSenior Circuit Judge1988-03-25Reagan
11Ferdinand F. FernandezSenior Circuit Judge1989-05-22Bush
12Andrew J. KleinfeldSenior Circuit Judge1991-09-16Bush
13Michael Daly HawkinsSenior Circuit Judge1994-09-15Clinton
14A. Wallace TashimaSenior Circuit Judge1996-01-04Clinton
15Barry G. SilvermanSenior Circuit Judge1998-02-04Clinton
16Susan P. GraberCircuit Judge1998-03-19Clinton
17M. Margaret McKeownCircuit Judge1998-04-08Clinton
18Kim McLane WardlawCircuit Judge1998-08-03Clinton
19William A. FletcherCircuit Judge1998-10-09Clinton
20Ronald M. GouldCircuit Judge1999-11-22Clinton
21Richard A. PaezCircuit Judge2000-03-14Clinton
22Marsha S. BerzonCircuit Judge2000-03-16Clinton
23Richard C. TallmanSenior Circuit Judge2000-05-25Clinton
24Johnnie B. RawlinsonCircuit Judge2000-07-26Clinton
25Richard R. CliftonSenior Circuit Judge2002-07-30Bush
26Jay S. BybeeSenior Circuit Judge2003-03-21Bush
27Consuelo M. CallahanCircuit Judge2003-05-28Bush
28Carlos T. BeaSenior Circuit Judge2003-10-01Bush
29Milan D. Smith, Jr.Circuit Judge2006-05-18Bush
30Sandra S. IkutaCircuit Judge2006-06-23Bush
31N. Randy SmithSenior Circuit Judge2007-03-19Bush
32Mary H. MurguiaCircuit Judge2011-01-04Obama
33Morgan ChristenCircuit Judge2012-01-11Obama
34Jacqueline H. NguyenCircuit Judge2012-05-14Obama
35Paul J. WatfordCircuit Judge2012-05-22Obama
36Andrew D. HurwitzCircuit Judge2012-06-27Obama
37John B. OwensCircuit Judge2014-04-02Obama
38Michelle T. FriedlandCircuit Judge2014-04-29Obama
39Mark J. BennettCircuit Judge2018-07-13Trump
40Ryan D. NelsonCircuit Judge2018-10-18Trump
41Eric D. MillerCircuit Judge2019-03-04Trump
42Bridget S. BadeCircuit Judge2019-04-01Trump
43Daniel P. CollinsCircuit Judge2019-05-22Trump
44Kenneth Kiyul LeeCircuit Judge2019-06-12Trump
45Daniel A. BressCircuit Judge2019-07-26Trump
46Danielle J. HunsakerCircuit Judge2019-11-12Trump
47Patrick J. BumatayCircuit Judge2019-12-12Trump
48Lawrence VanDykeCircuit Judge2020-01-02Trump



--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-07-28 20:02:12Last Update: 2020-07-28 20:02:22



School Re-opening Guidelines Announced
Spoiler Alert: Unless you live in a very small county, you’re not going back to school

Governor Brown led a press conference today outlining some of the guidelines being developed for re-opening public schools for in-person instruction in the Fall.

Colt Gill, Director of the Oregon Department of Education contrasted comprehensive distance learning with the goal, which he said is, “Our highest priority is to open schools to in-person instruction.”

Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the State Epidemiologist said, “COVID-19 poses much less risk to children age 10 and younger.” He cited the following observations:

Despite these facts, and despite the Governor's cheerleading phrase "We can do this," the outlook for in-person instruction looks bleak. Three levels of metrics to be met before reopening in-person schools, were announced
A reporter at the briefing did some math and asked how Multnomah County -- based on it's current performance -- could ever meet the metrics.

Dr. Sidelinger noted that there is one county that currently meets the criteria, with the exception of the statewide component.

What is the end game? We seem to be starting a cycle of lockdown, release and a rise in the numbers, followed by more lockdown. Are we actually saving lives over the long run, or are we just prolonging the inevitable, as the expense of great damage to the quality of lives and basic economic activity needed to sustain society.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-07-28 16:46:45Last Update: 2020-07-28 16:47:06



MyBody, My Choice
Here comes another vaccine mandate

A White House petition calling for an investigation into Bill and Melinda Gates has reached 621,609 signatures, qualifying it for response. The petition states, “a worldwide push for vaccines and biometric tracking has been initiated. At the forefront of this is Bill Gates, who has publicly stated his interest in ‘reducing population growth’ by 10 – 15% by means of vaccination.”

The fear that Bill Gates adds to the vaccination issue in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic only adds to Oregon’s battle against mandatory vaccinations. It came to a head in 2019 when the U.S. had the worst year for measles in 25 years, with more than 700 confirmed cases according to the CDC. Across the river, Southwest Washington was the center for the measle outbreak. The outbreak prompted a host of states to consider stricter rules on vaccines, but few if any went as far as Oregon’s proposal.

Forced vaccinations was a hot item in the 2019 Oregon Legislative session. HB 3063 would have made Oregon’s vaccine laws among the strongest in the nation, eliminating the religious and philosophical exemptions that parents can currently use in order to skip or delay shots. Supporting lawmakers painted the introduction of HB 3063 as a common-sense proposal that would protect young children and those with compromised immune systems.

It wasn’t good enough to do a mass inoculation against measles. Legislation has a tendency to paint a broad brush to capture every event in one swoop. That was the construction of HB 3063 that aroused one of the biggest pushbacks that the Oregon Legislature has seen. The driving force was a group of Slavic communities that testified that they fled to the U.S. for freedom from forced medications. Joining them were religious groups and others that questioned the validity of vaccinations. They pointed to studies, one being conducted by BlueCross BlueShield that shows the millennial generation is the sickest generation in history with 54% having one or more chronic illnesses. They have a 70% chance of death before age 18. Studies point to infant mortality as the highest of any developed country in the world.

Then a freedom of information act request revealed that the CDC commissioned a vaccinated vs unvaccinated study in 1999 with results so damaging they hid it. The data verified what parents have been saying, showing inculpated thimerosal (mercury preservative used in vaccines) as the principle culprit behind the autism epidemic. After a plot to hid the study came to light, they attempted to restrict the data and revealed false findings. In a second attempt, which they thought would vindicate the false results, again proved a shocking 364% increase in autism among African American boys given MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine in Georgia. And, again the CDC official, Frank DeStefano, ordered the results destroyed, and a sanitized study is now cited in 97 publications as proof that vaccines don’t cause autism.

Despite CDC’s efforts at suppressing the studies, independent scientists and research institutions (including UCLA) have managed to conduct and publish several additional vaccinated/unvaccinated studies since 1999. Those studies indicate high incidence of chronic diseases and brain and immune system injuries among vaccinated compared to unvaccinated clients.

Breeauna Sagdal of the Unified Liberty Coaltion noted,"American children are delaying vaccines, not by choice, but, due to skipped well child visits. We expect to see the results, of delaying vaccines reflected in the data. Time will tell, if SIDS, and infant mortality plummet during this pandemic.”

A vaccine is in the works for the COVID-19 virus, which is to be optional according to President Trump. In Oregon, Democrats still want to add vaccinations as a mandate for every child to attend school. Will they use the pandemic scare to again push their mandate in 2021? The only reassurance to keep vaccinations as an opt-out is to make some changes in November.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-07-27 18:26:18Last Update: 2020-07-29 16:56:35



Social Distancing is Closer on Tri-Met
Maybe the COVID-19 virus doesn’t take the bus

Amidst announcements of numerous additional COVID-19 lockdown mandates by Oregon's Governor Kate Brown was an announcement by the Tri-Met public transit service in the metropolitan area of Portland Oregon which works to offer additional seating capacity for those who might rely on their services. Critics have noted that this might be commendable when looked at without the bigger picture considered- but it may be hypocritical considering stricter mandates on placed on less at-risk rural Oregonians.

Another set of inexplicably divergent guidelines was pointed out by people on Friday who noted that preachers and choir members in churches now have to wear masks when preaching or singing -- even though the Governor routinely takes her mask off when she gives press conferences.

The guidelines announced by Tri-Met are in conjunction with an increase in rider capacity.

Effective Sunday, July 26th, we are increasing the rider capacity on buses and trains. Buses will now carry 19 passengers, or up to 24 if there are couples or families riding together. A MAX car will carry 22 people, or up to 26 with couples and families. WES will carry 25 to 37 passengers, depending on the type of train.

This change is based on the 3-foot physical distancing guidelines for transit previously announced by Governor Brown and the Oregon Health Authority. We held off implementing 3-foot distancing until we could put in place additional safety measures:



--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-07-27 17:43:20Last Update: 2020-07-27 18:26:18



Antifa Plays Dress-up
This may continue to election day

First Antifa rioters show up in Portland wearing yellow shirts pretending to be moms. Now they are pretending to be Veterans. Andy Ngo tweeted, “I recognized a lot of the so-called “moms” as the same Antifa women who dressed in black as recent as a couple days ago. They just put on a yellow shirt now for optics. Most of these people aren’t mothers & many don’t even identify as female.” They are saying that moms and dads are supporting the destruction of their community – really?

This after Mayor Ted Wheeler said he was tear-gassed by federal agents Wednesday night for no reason. But, CBN News contributor Chuck Holton was an eyewitness and said the whole incident was intentionally staged.

To cover up his failure, he authorized Chris Warner, Director, Portland Bureau of Transportation, to issue a letter dated July 23, 2020, to Roy Atwood, Region 10 Administrator, U.S. General Services Administration, with a Cease and Desist demand from Chief Deputy City Attorney Robert Taylor. The letter states, “Unidentified contractors have installed fencing and concrete barriers illegally in the City of Portland’s Right of Way on the streets surrounding the Hatfield Courthouse in downtown Portland. The structures are both unpermitted and represent a hazard to the traveling public particularly along SW Main, which is a major bicycle corridor into the central business district...” The rioters tried to cut down the fencing with a chainsaw, but failing to do so, they have ordered it be removed so protesters have access to the federal courthouse building.

Andy Ngo also tweets “Portland Police found a supply bag of Molotov cocktails and loaded magazine clips at the riot zone area outside the courthouse. Today, a person was shot in the area. Two days ago someone was stabbed.” Rioters are taking it to the next level injuring six federal agents and attempting to burn the building with people in it. Is Portland setting the stage for civil war? Mayor Wheeler has already tried to instigate such an acceleration by suggesting federal agents have live ammo.

This is a terror movie being orchestrated for media to scam the public about what is really happening. These are hired actors and George Soros just added another quarter-billion to the pot for Black Lives Matter. We may feel helpless, but not so. This may continue to election day – the day we have our revenge.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-07-27 09:23:59Last Update: 2020-07-27 09:24:32



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