. «i K . V “ „ r« V k - a " ». , V « ’ '**.-• . *•’ 9 t * * ’ . -- - > • . . . i *»»* Com m itted to eulluial diversity. Volume XXIX. Num ber 11 An African American Welcoming to the Most Rev. John G. Vlazny Miracle Theatre Hosts Two Performances o f Entre dos Mundos See Page B6 See Page B4 MARCH 17,1999 w ww. port landobserver. net BULK RATE L.S. POSTAGE PAID ’ ^QXLUUISQC. See Popeye's Coupon Ini PO RTLAND, O R P E R M IT N O . 1610 University of Oregon Knight Library Newspaper Section Eugene OR 97403 ® hr Fortiani» © bsî 500 THE I N Diamond Lane Cuts Commute REVIEW Fora six-month penod. beginning on O ctober 12th, O D O T will be studying the effectiveness o f a carpooling in the Diamond Lane. If you ride on 1-5 heading north betw een G oing Street and Delta Park, y o u 'll soon be seeing w hite diam ond shapes down the m iddle o f the third lane on the left. Y ou’ve heard ofking o f diamonds, baseball diamonds. Neil Diamond. C o n s id e r th e s e R u sh H o u r D iam onds... between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m .. the Diamond Lane is reserved for vehicles carrying at least two people - a driver and a passenger o f a n y a g e - p lu s b u s e s an d Amtrak Crash Fourteen people were killed and 119 injured in the nation’s worst train wreck since 1993. A collision occurred between an Amtrak train and a tractor- trailer at a rural crossing near a steel mill about 50 miles south o f Chicago. Dead bodies were found in a double­ deck sleeping car that was three cars behind the engines o f the 14-car train. NATO Poland, H ungary and the Czech Republic will be formally joining NATO. The three governments and most o f their citizens are enthusiastic about the alliance. This new venture would require that these countries meet NATO’s military requirements for in teg rated air d efen se, secu rity procedures and language training. motorcycles. W hether it's soccer practice at Delta Park or the employees you're looking after, try out the diam onds ... and cut the commute. Aid To Schools A bipartisan bill called ed-flex was passed by the House and Senate. This new legislation would give states and schools more flexibility in how they spend $11 billion in federal money. Some schools hav e already earmarked the money to be spent on programs that benefit poor children. Schools would be eligible as long as they show signs o f academic improvement. New Board Member for the Multnomah Education Service District Public Forums on Education Dole For President Elizabeth Dole is preparing to run as a presidential candidate in the 2000 Race. She considers herself a conservative Republican that w ould appeal to c o n se rv a tiv e D em o c ra ts and Independents. Mrs. Dole is also an active C hristian w ho is pro-life concerning the abortion issue. Clinton’s Police Initiative Due to recent reports o f police misconduct, in the public’s faith in the police has been shaken In response. President C linton proposed that Congress spend more money to expand ethics training for police officers, establish academies to build rapport betw een the police and citizens, increase recruiting of minority police officers and put more police officers on the streets. Clinton made a $42 m illio n b udget re q u e st b efo re Congress to support this program. Stabilizing Oil Prices A coalition o f major oil producers recently announced that they would cut production by another two million barrels a day, a move that would help stabilize oil prices. The informal coalition included members o f the Organization o f Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Saudi Arabia, Algeria. Iran and Venezuela. The new cutback would need to be reviewed and approved by OPEC and non-OPEC producers in Vienna on March 23. Photo: Tony Sidley Senator Aval Gordley and Stan Bunn, Superintendent of Public Instruction hosted a public forum a t Madison High Photo Courtesy New Party Gerl Washington, newly elected board member for the Multnomah Education Service District, unseats Imcumbent. Read more on page A 7 ■ m a iwm ai School on M arch 1 3 ,1 9 9 9 . Several public forums are scheduled throughout the greater Portland area, to discuss w ith local residents their thoughts on education funding , testing and and other topics designed to Improve public Instruction In the state of Oregon.