New Co-op Grocery Opens on Alberta PRSDRTSTD US POSTAGE See Story, Page A5 PAID PORTLANDOR PERMIT NO 1610 Knight Library 1299 University of Oiegon Eugene OR 97403-1205 Volume XXXI Number 29 www.portlandobserver.com Committed to Cultural Diversity Established in 1970 Wednesday July 18,2001 ■B THE» of celebrations REVIEW A Man Kills Wife, Son at Children’s Baseball Game ST. LOUIS— A man opened fire during his son’s baseball game, killing his es­ tranged wife and the 10-year-old boy as players and parents fled for cover. The man later killed himself, authorities said. Security Threat Worries Athletes JERUSALEM — Under tight security after a bomb explosion, thousands o f Jew­ ish athletes from around the world gath­ ered in Jerusalem for the start o f the Maccabiah Games, known as the Jewish Olympics. More than 20,000 people at­ tended the festive contests in Teddy Sta­ dium. Bush Hopes Americans Spend Refunds W ASHINGTON — The Treasury will begin mailing 91 million tax rebates. Presi­ dent Bush is urging taxpayers to spend their checks to boost the economy. But like m any Americans, the architects o f the tax plan aren’t all following that advice. Oregon Farmers Defy Federal Order KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — Farmers rigged an irrigation line into a canal in defiance o f a federal order that has blocked water for crops to save endangered fish. No farmers had been arrested because no fish were being sucked through the head gate and the Upper Klamath Lake’s water level had not dropped, a spokeswoman for the Fish and W ildlife Service said. Septuplets Given 95% Chance of Survival WASHINGTON — Septuplets bom last week to a Saudi couple have a 95% chance ofsurvival, their doctor. Also, the fatherof the septuplets, who lives in nearby Falls Church, Va., said he and his wife have lost two other children in the last five years. Olympics Could Help U.S.- China Diplomacy W ASHINGTON — In the months since a U.S. surveillance plane and a Chinese fighter collided over the South China Sea on April 1, diplomats in W ashington and Beijing have tried to restore a sense o f calm to U.S.-China relations. Both sides say the decision to award Beijing the bid for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games clears the agenda and allows the two countries to focus on cooling U.S.-China relations. China Appears Close to Joining WTO GENEVA— Boosted by Beijing’s selec­ tion as host o f the 2008 Olympics, Chinese negotiators returned to the table to try to wrap up another move onto the world stage — membership in the World Trade Organi­ zation. ‘Sopranos’ Leads Emmy List LOS ANGELES — The Sopranos re­ ceived a leading 22 Emmy nominations, the most ever in the three seasons o f the cable hit about the angst-filled life o f a suburban mob family. The show ’s chiefcompetition again will be N B C ’s White House series The West Wing, which received 18 nomina­ tions. Clashes in N. Ireland BELFAST,Northern Ireland— Rioters hurled firebombs and bottles at police Thursday night as violent street clashes erupted in the wake o f the biggest parades o f the year by the province’s Protestants. At least five police officers were injured. Beijing Awarded 2008 Olympic Games MOSCOW — Beijing was awarded the 2008 Olympics today, winning the games for the world’s most populous country for the first time. The International Olympic Committee picked China over rival bids from Toronto, Paris, Istanbul and Osaka. parade o f streetcars, s tre e tc a r su p p o rte rs, elected officials and the Lions of Batucada, a local Brazilian Samba marching band, will officially open Portland’s new streetcar for service on Friday, July 20th. The event begins at 9:45 a.m. at Portland State University’s Urban Plaza. The Oregon Symphony Brass En­ semble will be performing “Fanfare for Streetcar,” which was specially composed for the opening. The first public ride on the street­ car will be leaving from Northwest 22nd and Lovejoy shortly after noon. Free rides will be available through Sunday, July 22 in conjunction with grand opening activities all along the streetcar’s alignment from Portland State University downtown to Good Samaritan Hospital on Northwest 23rd. Five cars are currently running on the tracks. Another two are expected sometime next year. Built in the Czech Republic by Skoda, the 660foot streetcars have a modern look with large windows and low floors. Fares on the new service are the same as Tri-Met and are transfer­ able to Tri-M et’s 1-2 zone routes. There will be no charge to riders who travel only within Tri-Met’s Fareless Square. P hoto by M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver One of Portland’s new streetcars follows the tracks from Portland State University downtown to Good Samaritan Hospital on Northwest 23rd. Fares for the new transit will be the same as Tri-Met and the system will accept Tri-Met passes, tickets and transfers. 1RS Errors in Tax Notices (AP) - The IRS sent about 523,000 notices to taxpayers informing them they will get the maximum possible tax cut refund check — when in fact they won’t. Internal Revenue Service officials placed the blame Tuesday on a computer program that initially neglected to take into account certain tax credits in figuring the check amount for these taxpayers. The checks are correct, but some people could get a notice promising the maximum and a check for much less. “What w e’re doing now is working to get a corrected notice out to the taxpayers,” said IRS spokesman Don Roberts. The IRS hopes to get the proper notices out to the affected taxpayers by next week, which is when the first batch o f tax refund checks should begin arriving. The estimated 112 mil­ lion notices— the vast majority o f them correct — were mailed Monday. The checks o f up to $300 for a single tax­ payer, $500 for a head of household and $600 for a married couple filing jointly reflect this year’s payment for the new 10 percent income tax bracket created by the 10-year, $ 1.35 trillion tax cut signed into law by President Bush. Police Shootings, New Survey Draw Concern (A P) - Several high-profile police shootings and a new survey have trig­ gered concerns about police procedures, training and judgment. The survey, done by the Washington Post, ranked Portland eighth out o f the 50 largest local U.S. law-enforcement agen­ cies in the number o f fatal shootings per 1,000 swom officers, with 25 fatal shootings from 1990 to 2000. O f the five police shootings this year, two have been fatal, including the death ofa Mexican national in a psychiatric hospital in April. But despite the apparent surge in police violence, the number o f officer-involved shootings in Portland is actually down from the early part o f the decade. In 1992, for S tory continues on P age A2 Summer Camp Serving Native American Youth Begins The N ative A m erican Y outh Association's fourth annual summer science and math camp began this week in Portland’s historic Missis­ sippi neighborhood, serving 25 stu­ dents, representing more than 15 dif­ ferent tribes. The camp aims to boost science and math scores among N ative American students by providing hands-on and culturally relevant cur­ riculum. Students will trace the history of tribes native to the Portland area and their methods for m anaging re­ sources. They also will analyze and assess the health of local wetlands and propose recovery plans. Aside form organized field trips, classes meet at the association’s Youth and Family Center, 4000 N. Mississippi Ave., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The camp concludes with a barbe­ cue on Aug. 17. P hoto by M ark W ashington / ! P ortland O bseri Instructor Joe Ball (from left) draws on t history of tribes native to the Portland area to help Jean' Luc Aguire, Kim Boyh and Leora Vanantwerp boost their science and math skills at a summer _campforNative American students.