Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 1998)
ó . r» •’ / r •' »‘ r âSBMbiM Volume XXVII, Number 54 A ' Committed to cultural diversity. Herb Ritts Exibit Martin Luther King, Jr. Herb Ritts will exhibit his photographs at the Gallery o f Conterporary Arts. fg JAN. 14, 1998 Northwest Passage Oregon Group fin d thier own passage to the future. Special Edition See Entertainment, page R3. See inside, Section C. See Entertainment, page B2. She |Jortí¿mh (O1* S outh — “ ö W w irton ! Salt rm /4k i OMSI C ity C enter j N orth 1 I I I Svetti« n* Convention Ctr. Rose Q u a rte r Cowboys Coach Stepping Down Barry Switzer, who took the majority of the blame forthe Dallas Cow boys’ 6-10 season and failure to reach the playoffs for the first time since 19X9, has reached an agreement with owner Jerry Jones to step down as coach, a source has told The Associated Press The Cowboys are ex pected to hold a news conference later this week to discuss the decision that Jones and Switzer reached. Winter Paralyzes the Metro Area with a strong arctic blast from the North. Portland road crew's do their best to keep travelers moving. Warmer weather is in the forecast. U.S Sends Officials to Indonesia The Clinton administration and the In ternational Monetary Fund, responding Thursday night to a worsening economic crisis, dispatched top officials to Indone sia to discuss salvaging a faltering bailout effort. President Clinton called Indone sian President Suharto from Air Force One to discuss the economic situation after the Indonesian currency sank to an all-time low Thursday, losing a quarter of its value m a single day. (Photo by M. Washington) Clinton Continues Unveiling Agenda President Clinton is continuing to pro mote a grand agenda covering new initia tives from Social Security toglobal warm ing. Installment of the piece-by-piece un veiling of that master plan, adding $70 million to the federal work-study program tor college students. In speeches at two Texas tiigh schools and a pair of political fund-raisers Clinton will primarily seek to resuscitate his campaign for national edu cation standards and testing. At the same time, Clinton is arguing for everything from pollution controls and child care subsidies to making overdue payments Io the United Nations. A xi fc I Kaczynski on Suicide Watch U n ab o m b d e fe n d a n t T h e o d o re Kaczynski’s mental health is at center stage, aday after authorities say he tried to hang himself with his underwear, recently, he also sought permission to defend him self at the murder trial. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are to confer with psy chiatrists who will examine Kaczynski. They must report to the court on whether he is competent to stand trial at all and whether he can represent himself The apparent suicide attempt will be an issue in Kaczynski’s competency examination, psychologist Paul Mattiuizzi said. Tax Cut Not Americans’ First Choice More Americans would prefer using a federal budget surplus for health, educa tion and Social Security spending over tax cuts, a poll finds The USA Today-CNN- Gallup Poll shows that 43 percent of those surveyed favored using extra money for Social Security, Medicare and education. Thirty percent supported reducing the $5.4 trillion federal debt The nationwide poll found only 22 percent of the people backed tax cuts. The telephone poll of 1,015 Americans was conducted last Tuesday and Wednesday. It has a margin of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Balloonists Prepare for Flight Two pilots hope fly to their balloon today in their bid to make aviation history by circling the globe without stopping. Weather conditions forced Dick Rutan and Dave Melton delay their flight last Tuesday The $ I million assault on one of aviation's last frontiers is the third such attempt by a balloon team since Dec. 3 1 Two balloonists in Switzerland also plan to launch soon. Neighbors Of Abused Kids to Become Activists Bv N eil H eilpern here is our rage about abuse of innocent children who can’t fight back?" the state’s top so cial worker wants to know. Kay D. Toran, director of the State Office for Services toChildren and Families, visited the Portland Observer last week, urging people to be more involved helping neigh borhood children and asking decision mak ers at all levels to "refocus the dollars so kids have a fair chance at becoming healthy, pro ductive adults." When people notice abusive situations in their neighborhood, she noted, there is noth ing wrong with a friendly message like, "I heard a loud argument at your house last night. It sounded pretty scary and I recog nized domestic violence in your home. How can I help?” Toran envisioned a return to values that required neighbors to help neighbors, noting that approach is better than removing a child from mom and dad. Applauding efforts of several programs - public and private -- that provide educational opportunities to diminish abuse, Toran said she wants more coordination between vari ous programs to make those efforts more effective. Greater networking would provide a "better map of community resources for children and connect people to those re sources", she said. Toran applauded effective grass roots pub lic education campaigns, such as Mothers Against Drunk I hiving (M ADD) w Inch popu larized the phrase "designated driver" and raised the awareness of drunk driving trag edies. “When the Never Shake a Baby campaign started four years ago, we discovered many W parents who just didn’t know that shaking causes a baby's young brain to rattle within the skull, causing major injury or death, she said. "Some people knew it but couldn't control their anger in certain situations." Toran cited several fuses that explode into child abuse, including substance abuse, v io lence. pressure of having incarcerated par ents and lack of training "Unless weelim inateordim inish violence in the home, these kids become damaged goods and have less of a chance (in society)." she said. The bottom line. Toran asserted, is "never allow the abuse of a child, or abuse in the home." She expressed hope that would be the next grass roots education campaign which local groups could start. "There are a lot of well-intentioned people who don’t know how to be a good parent." she noted. "We spend money teaching chil dren how to drive safely. so why can't we also start at a young age to teach children about parenting?" Once community awareness increases to realize need for early family education, the next step is to pressure the state department of education and the legislature to provide the means, she said Recalling (he rage many people expressed about the Viet Nam War and racial injustice - and how they acted on that rage - Toran asked. "Where is the rage about our children ’ More children died of guns since 1973 than the sum total of all victims in wars since Viet Nam.” “Change the inner rage to outrage and public action." she said, also complaining about overwhelming mass media cov erage of negative aspects of society. C ontini id to P age Aft Kay D. Toran, director of the State Office for Services to Children and Families. (Photo By Neil Heil pern)
