Today w k i' Saturday Sunday m iteiT 2f.K High:72 Low: 45 Precip: 0% High: 68 Low: 41 Precip: 0% High: 66 Low: 34 Precip: 10% IN BRIEF ASUO Election Packet for next year available Students aspiring to hold student government offices next year have until Friday of Finals Week to file pa perwork declaring their candidacy. The Election Packet, a document outlining available positions and pro cedures for running, is now available. Approved March 8 by the ASUO Con stitution Court after it was initially re jected, the packet was under review by the court for 20 days, according to an ASUO press release. “The elections board is disappoint ed that the Con Court took longer than expected to make a ruling,” according to the press release. The board will open the ASUO of fice on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to give students extra time to file. Candidates must file voter’s guide statements with their petitions. Ballot measures must be submitted by 5 p.m. today. Campaign managers must register by March 31, when a mandatory candidate meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the EMU’s Ben Linder Room. The primary election will be April 6 8 and the general election April 13-15. Online campaigns for the ASUO Executive have already begun, with five tickets establishing Thefacebook groups to promote their platforms and enlist supporters. The Election Packet is available at the ASUO office in Suite 4 of the EMU. — Parker Howell Tribe considers 'racino' at Portland Meadows site GRANDE RONDE — Grande Ronde tribes and the operators of horse racing at Portland Meadows are considering a joint effort to build the state’s largest casino at the racetrack. Tribal officials said the resulting “racino” has worked with struggling tracks elsewhere, notably West Vir ginia and Delaware. Several regulatory hurdles would have to be cleared. It would require approval by the governor and the U.S. Department of the Interior. In addition, casinos must be on trib al or tribal trust land, and each tribe is limited to one casino. The Grande Ronde tribes already operate Spirit Mountain, west of Portland, the state’s most popular tourist attraction. The tribe would have to buy Portland Meadows and have it put in trust, said Justin Martin, a lobbyist representing the tribe. Martin said talks are still preliminary. “We’ve been sitting down and talk ing. What are the possibilities? What are the options? What would this look like?” John Doussard, spokesman for Mayor Tom Potter, said the mayor has “repeatedly said he doesn’t want a casino in Portland.” City Commissioner Sam Adams said it’s something the city might have to consider. “The only thing worse than a casino in Portland is a casino in Vancouver,” said Adams, noting that one across the river would siphon off Oregon dollars. But with Gov. Ted Kulongoski con sidering a Warm Springs off-reserva tion casino at Cascade Locks and the Cowlitz developing their La Center, Wash., casino plans, the Grand Ronde fear losing some of the Portland market. “If the governor is going to allow off reservation gambling, we have a re sponsibility to our 5,000 members to continue to sustain our newfound eco nomic self-sufficiency,” Martin said. Kulongoski remains leery of allow ing a casino in Portland, a spokes woman said. Horse racing enthusiasts say the “racino” idea could bolster Port land Meadows, which has seen diminishing purses. — The Associated Press Crossing: Intersection improvements proposed Continued from page 1 state highway system, which makes changes much harder to implement than if the street were a University or city street. School of Architecture and Allied Arts Dean Robert Melnick has been working for several years with Uni versity Vice President for Administra tion Dan Williams to create possible improvements to the intersection. Two possibilities were an overpass or an underpass, but both have too many restraints to be considered vi able options, Melnick said. An over pass would need to be at least 14 feet high and would need a wheelchair ramp. An underpass could potential ly create unsafe road conditions and would be too near the millrace. The changes with the most poten tial involve altering the timing of the lights at the intersection and better notifying drivers of the upcoming in tersection, Melnick said. “At one point we were able to suc ceed in getting the length of the light lengthened,” Melnick said. “The walk light now lasts longer. It used to be impossible to cross in one light, but it’s still not long enough, and cars still run the light.” Danielle Hickey | Photo editor The intersection of Onyx Street and Franklin Boulevard has undergone much speculation regarding its safety after a local homeless woman was hit by a car on March 2. Melnick also suggested changing the timing of the lights so all cars have a red light for 20 seconds to allow a pedestrian caught in the middle of the intersection to finish crossing. Melnick has also suggest ed putting warning lights on the boulevard 100 to 200 feet away so drivers are aware of the upcoming light. “A lot of cars go flying down Franklin and realize it’s a red light and just go through it or don’t stop in time,” Melnick said. “We need to bet ter inform drivers.” Because the highway isn’t a cam pus street DPS can’t regulate traffic, but Hicks said DPS may encourage the Eugene Police Department to raise enforcement at the intersection. abolsinger@dailyemerald.com 9324, tom mm Restaurant and Lounge Authentic Chinese Cuisine Fresh, Quality Ingredients 947 Franklin Blvd. (near UO) • 343-4480 Individual, Family Style, Banquets to 100, Take Out Tues.-Thurs. 11-10:30, Fri. 11-11 Sat. 12-11, Sun. 11:30-10 3E + + ARE YOUR WEEKENDS MISSING SOMETHING? Join us on Sundays for worship services featuring + Holy Communion. 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