Your fresh (sort of), local (mostly) and seasonal (definitely) news recap.

[June 29th, 2005] WINNERS

Like two estranged, transgendered partners making up, gay rights and civil unions are now reunited in the Legislature. Sponsors of a bill to create civil unions revived an anti-discrimination part of the measure before a vote this week. And with Nike coming out for civil unions, Oregon's queers gain a powerful, legislatively swift ally.

Meier & Frank aficionados can take a deep breath-a store restoration/hotel project for the downtown landmark has survived a potential deal-killer. State officials say there's no need to pay those annoying prevailing wages to workers on the redevelopment.

City Commissioner Erik Sten was assigned fewer bureaus to manage than his council colleagues. Mayor Tom Potter's decision last week to give Sten a lighter load frees the commissioner to spend more time leading the city's effort to buy Portland General Electric.

LOSERS

A rash of recent shootings may have Portland's downtown clubbers accessorizing their Seven Jeans with Kevlar vests. Last month's shooting outside H20 was followed early Sunday by a barrage of bullets that injured two and scarred a few cars on Southwest Stark Street. Between the gunplay and incessant repeats of 50 Cent's "Just a Li'l Bit," D-town is getting very scary.

President Bush and his amen chorus of Iraq boosters should look up "slippery slope" in their history books right about now. Increasingly restive Republicans in Congress and polls showing mounting concern about the war make the blind-descent-into-Vietnam parallels all too easy. Is that the smell of napalm in the morning?

Local NASCAR fans must gear up to drive the I-5 200 if they want to watch their fave drivers make left turns all day long. Oregon's stock-car quest officially lost out last week to Washington, new home for a NASCAR track south of Bremerton's airport. Promoters of female boxing are on the defensive after 50-year-old Eugene fitness instructor Linda Shampang suffered potentially fatal brain injuries in a recent bout with a younger woman. At least one Oregon legislator is making noise about tightening fight regs as a result.