AltWeeklies Wire
New Report Raises Questions About Portland as 'Bike City USA'new

The number of bike trips in Portland dropped for the first time in five years, according to a new report. Meanwhile, city officials are launching their most ambitious plan yet to upgrade the city’s bicycle infrastructure to meet what they say is strong demand.
Willamette Week |
Beth Slovic |
12-16-2009 |
Transportation
Cheerless: The Real Reason Lincoln High No Longer Has Spiritnew
Lincoln High’s boys basketball season opened Nov. 30 with all the fanfare one would expect. The bleachers were packed. Students wore the school’s red and white. The band played. Only one thing was missing: Lincoln’s cheerleaders.
Willamette Week |
Beth Slovic |
12-16-2009 |
Education
Dragging 'Titanic': James Cameron's Opus is all Wet

The most expensive film ever made leaves much to be desired. Paralyzed from the waist down, former Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington - Terminator Salvation) voices several movies worth of tell-don't-show narration for the benefit of audiences who like being read to when they watch a movie.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
12-15-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Avatar, James Cameron
Distant Karma Catches Up With the Brotherhood's Brenice Lee Smithnew
The wheel of life brings Brotherhood of Eternal Love member Brenice Lee Smith back to OC for a brief stay in jail.
OC Weekly |
Nick Schou |
12-15-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Is Obama Hard Enough to Confront the Evil of Sheriff Joe Arpaio?new

Obama's federal investigators are here in Phoenix examining the assaults against human rights perpetrated by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas. Are they unearthing evidence or burying it?
Phoenix New Times |
Michael Lacey |
12-15-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Will She Run For Congress? Who Cares: It Makes Good Radionew

After she promoted and appeared at local tea-party protests, grassroots conservatives began courting spitfire radio host Darla Jaye to make a run for Kansas Democrat Dennis Moore's Congressional seat.
O'Brien's Song: Now, the Activist Must Fight for His Lifenew
For Tim O'Brien, grad school, and life in general, are full-contact sports, and heaven protect anyone who gets in the way of his idea of justice.
Houston Press |
John Nova Lomax |
12-15-2009 |
Civil Liberties
The Army's Repair Job for Wounded Soldiers Doesn't Always Pass Inspectionnew

After three deployments to Iraq, Spc. James Bell had spent a year in the post's Warrior Transition Unit, getting treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. His greeting to his new unit came as a barked question from a sergeant major: "ARE YOU READY TO FIGHT?"
Colorado Springs Independent |
Anthony Lane |
12-15-2009 |
War
Chavez Testing Audit Uncovers Cheatingnew
For nearly a decade now, people have talked about alleged cheating at Cesar Chavez Academy in Pueblo. The rumors persisted even as the charter school grew into a network... now, a state-commissioned audit of CCA's practices for the Colorado Student Assessment Program test has sorted fact from fiction.
Colorado Springs Independent |
J. Adrian Stanley |
12-15-2009 |
Education
Long-awaited High West Distillery Open for Businessnew
Finally, the long-awaited Park City location of High West Distillery is open for business. Fans of Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870 and its High West Rendezvous Rye, Vodka 7000 and “Bourye” (a blend of bourbon and rye with a beguiling jackalope on the label) have reason to celebrate.
Salt Lake City Weekly |
Virginia Rainey |
12-15-2009 |
Food+Drink
Bless Our Dronesnew
The drone operator, typically a high school graduate from Marion, Ind., sits safely on the ground in a control module somewhere in Australia; he looks at a screen and flies the drone with a gaming handset similar to what he uses to play Mario Bros.
Weekly Alibi |
Alex Limkin |
12-15-2009 |
Commentary
Not so Pretty in Pinknew
Has feminism been replaced by the pink-ribbon breast cancer cult? When the House of Representatives passed the Stupak amendment, which would take abortion rights away even from women who have private insurance, the female response ranged from muted to inaudible.
Metro Times |
Barbara Ehrenreich |
12-15-2009 |
The War on Women
She Comes in Colors: Niagara's Tale is Pure Detroitnew

Niagara — the same woman who did time with the late Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton in the universally cultish bands Destroy All Monsters and Dark Carnival — whose drug-fueled, gun-toting, sexually vivid pop art is known the world over.
Metro Times |
Brent Callwood |
12-15-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
EPA Looks Into American Cement Permitnew
In early October, neighbors of American Cement got word that the city had approved the permit to extend operation to 24 hours a day. The station at 4702 Carlton NW is a few blocks from Mountain Mahogany Community School and La Luz Elementary.
Weekly Alibi |
Marisa Demarco |
12-15-2009 |
Environment
Snowboarder Steve Fisher Hits a Double Cork in the Road on his Way to the Olympicsnew

The U.S. Snowboarding team pays for Steve Fisher's travel, training and health care — an important factor, given the two reconstructive surgeries he's had on his right wrist since he joined the team as a rookie in 2003.