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The Impact of Protests


There are few things more powerful than a large crowd of people gathered to send a message.  The chanting in unison to let the world know injustices are being done, that people are being oppressed, or  killed can really stir up empathy. We've seen this in cities across the globe, in the U-S and even in Portland.  However, there is a fine line to this method of getting attention and empathy.  When people start breaking windows and starting fires in trash bins and fighting with the police, the empathy wanes.  That was the subject of my discussion on May Day as some friends and I watched protesters on TV.  We saw the police say they wouldn't arrested protesters for not having a permit but they would force them to stay on the sidewalks so the traffic could get by.  Then we saw some wayward protesters say "we'll walk in the streets if they want to" even if it means clashing with police.  There were clashes too.  As I'm writing this, 35 protesters were arrested.  Watching the damage made some of the people I was with cringe or roll their eyes and say "now they've gone too far."  ((To be fair MOST of the protesters on Tuesday did so peacefully and lawfully.))  School closures make us all mad, unfair wages are uncool, and no one wants to see the banks take advantage of every day citizens, but how we send that message is just as important as the message itself.

~Rebecca Marshall

KXL News Anchor and News Director

 

 

 

School Funding Problems Longterm


I had the chance to talk to Superintendent Smith when she came into the KXL studios today. She told me property tax revenue and bond measures are too unreliable. She opts for working with the Governor and legislature to set high level targets more than adequately raising funding revenue and make things less problematic . Education has been squeezed by the state where it got 45% of the pie several years ago in the most recent legislative session it was given 39 % of state budget that’s a loss of 35 million dollars and the equivalent of 350 teachers. Smith says the district has been evaluating empty schools. Selling off those it thinks it will not use again. Renting out buildings when possible and keep others in reserve for future use. She believes we have no choice as a state but to put our thinking caps on and come up with innovative ideas. The Oregon Lottery and a sales tax are at the top of her list. She was very kind and calm considering all the pressure I'm sure she's under.

~ Rosemary Reynolds

KXL Reporter

You Can't Escape Jury Duty!


You may have noticed that the wonderful Rosemary Reynolds was co-anchoring Portland's Afternoon News on Tuesday.  That's because I was doing my civic duty: jury duty.  People usually groan when they get a jury summons and many people try to get out of it.  Not me though, I was excited!  I've never been called for jury duty and wanted to have the experience.  Never been called either?  Mostly you will do a lot of waiting, but the process was very intriguing to me.  Hundreds of people sit in a room, waiting for a judge to call down and request a jury pool, made up (usually) of 18 people.  Those people then go to the courtroom and are asked a series of standard questions, like name, education and occupation.  From there, the lawyers will narrow it down to 12 people (usually) and the remainder are sent back down to the waiting room.  I never even made it that far, but I was close.  (More on that later.)  Since the process is totally random, you could be called up to a courtroom several times or not at all.  I was picked as a "holding group" just before lunch, which meant that 2 courts were still waiting to see if a jury was needed or not.  About 50 people were held back just in case, and the rest of the masses were set free.  Turns out, the holding group wasn't needed and I was released after about 7 hours of playing on my i Pad.
Probably sounds boring for a lot of people but it reminded me that jury duty is important.  You could be involved in a case that dramatically impacts your community, not to mention the direct parties involved.  The people involved in the cases, whether criminal or civil, are dependent on you serving.  I wish I could tell you I got called to a juicy case but alas, it just meant a day out of work.  But the next time you're called, just think of the important implications it means.
-Lacey

Bowling For A Good Cause


Chances are you've heard Steve Leader and I singing the praises of Sleep Country on KXL. Sure, they make great mattresses but it's what the owner does behind the scenes that has always really impressed us.  Dale Carlson has made a point of raising money for foster kids with his Pajama Bowl event.  Steve and I put on the PJ's and threw for a couple of games on Sunday.  We were joined by KUPL's morning team Scott Simon and Jolynn Winter.  My 8 year old son came along too and at one point was only a couple of pins behind Steve (sorry Steve, I had to tell).  We had a really good time but the best feeling was raising money for foster kids.  I still haven't heard the tally but we'll pass it along as soon as we know.

~Rebecca

Lacey and Gregg Scratch It For Schools



Today, KXL participated in the Oregon Lottery's Sratch It For Schools program, helping raise more than $700 for Scholls Heights Elementary in Beaverton.


Gregg Hersholt and Lacey Evans from Portland's Afternoon News had five minutes to scratch as many lottery tickets as they could.  The school got to keep all the winners! 

Over the years, the Oregon Lottery has donated more than $1 Million to schools across the state.

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Gregg Hersholt and Lacey Evans, Portland's Afternoon News


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Hard at work scratching as many tickets as possible in five minutes


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Together, Lacey and Gregg raised over $700 for Scholls Heights Elementary

Timbers Fans: Are you a Sitter or a Stander?


I was at the Timbers match Saturday night against Real Salt Lake when I witnessed something interesting.  Several people in my section were asked to sit down by the ushers.  We learned that section 117 was considered a "sitting" section, and if you're in that section, you're not allowed to stand for the whole game or at inappropriate times.  Sure, you can stand and cheer when there is a great play, but you're asked to sit when the action isn't as exciting.
This made me curious because I've never heard of anything like this before.  The Timbers front office wants to make sure everyone has a good time so last year, they documented what kind of fans were in each section.  Did the majority of them stand or sit?  Did they wave flags and cheer or take in the action in a more quiet manner?  Season ticket holders were also polled in the off season, asking them what they prefer.  For example, the majority of season ticket holders in section 117 preferred to sit, so that section became a sitting section.  Team employees tell me if you're buying season tickets, you will be made aware of what kind of section you're buying.  You can also ask at the box office if you're buying single game tickets.  Employees also say if you are uncomfortable in your section, say if you're more of a stander and you're in a sitting section, they will try to move you if there are open seats available.
What do you think of this?  It's the first time I'd ever heard anything like it.  The Seattle Sounders do something similar but I can't find examples of any other team, or any other league, designating sections like this.  What do you prefer to do at games, sit or stand?  Were you ever asked to sit down at a Timbers game?  How did you react?  Let me know what you think!
---Lacey
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