Bloodied church, sweaty riders and a tearful Pearl.

[April 18th, 2007] WINNERS

Congratulations to The Oregonian , which won the Pulitzer Prize in the breaking news category for its coverage of rescue efforts in Southern Oregon last December for the Kim family. The O was also a finalist in two other categories—national reporting and feature writing.

Last week, the Portland Archdiocese finally got cost certainty on what it must pay for decades of emotional scarring: $75 million. That settlement with alleged sex-abuse victims doesn't sound like cause to praise Jesus, but it could have been much worse. The settlement limits payments to victims who come forward in the future and doesn't require the sale of parish-owned churches or schools. No word on how many Hail Marys were prescribed.

Move over, Phil. The University of Oregon may have another sportswear sugar daddy. Last week, Columbia Sportswear president Tim Boyle and his wife, Mary, pledged $5 million to the school. That's chump change for Boyle, but at least it shows UO has gotten a pinky into the billionaire's fleece-lined pocket.

LOSERS

As if rubbing against sweaty strangers isn't bad enough, TriMet riders will face their fifth fare increase in two years. Come September, they'll need a nickel more for their daily commute.

No extra nickels to be found at the recycling center. A proposed 5-cent bottle deposit increase (see "Bottled Up," WW, Dec. 13, 2006) is dead in the Oregon Legislature. At least TriMet riders won't be tempted to wrestle with the homeless over empties.

We all lose as Metro shirks its duty to stretch the urban growth boundary. A bill that passed the House gives Metro two extra years to ponder development, rather than getting down to business right now—as mandated by state law. So, do we get two extra years to pay our taxes?

The City Council's first move toward a Burnside-Couch couplet last week has well-heeled Pearl residents pacing their bamboo floors. If Burnside gains a streetcar and loses two lanes, Couch will pick up the westbound slack. And elite condo-dwellers will lose a little peace and quiet.