27,000 Oregonians lose unemployment insurance pay
The Bush Administration, which is sitting on $20 billion in federal UI funds, has declined to support any new extensions of the federal jobless benefits that expired in December.

U.S. judge upholds ban on petition pay per signature
A federal judge ruled Feb. 11 that the ban on per-signature payments to initiative and referendum petitioners, passed by the voters as Measure 26 in the 2002 general election, was needed “to protect the integrity of the electoral process and to restore the public’s confidence in its government.”
UFCW endorses Adams for Portland City Council post
Adams, a former aide to Mayor Vera Katz, is running for the council seat being vacated by Jim Francesconi. Francesconi is leaving the post to run for mayor. Katz is not seeking re-election.