Governor faces two overrides,

Legislature overrides Governor on education funding

After seven years in office without having a veto over-ridden by the legislature, Governor Kulongoski faced two in the same day yesterday. The Oregon House voted overwhelmingly to override the first veto, of the education funding package that will ultimately send $6-billion to K-through-12 education over the next two years. It won’t go evenly however. Lawmakers allocated $2.9-billion for the first year and the rest would come in the 2010-11 school year. The second veto override came in response to the Governors effort to block the legislature’s withdrawal of funding from the state’s Education Rainy Day Fund. Lawmakers siphoned off just over $200-million to fully fund the education budget leaving $113-million in reserve. The Senate had already voted to override the veto on Wednesday.

Nearly $9.6-million for dredging and maintenance of seven south coast ports will be included in the final version of the appropriations bill being considered by the U-S House of Representatives. Fourth District Congressman Peter DeFazio said the money was approved by a House Sub-Committee yesterday. Under the plan, the Port of Siuslaw would receive $817-thousand, the Port of Umpqua nearly $1.2-million to pay for removal of silt and channel maintenance.

The Florence City Council will hold a special meeting Monday night…
200 – “Originally we scheduled a special meeting for the council to consider the coastal goals update to our code as well as the latest round of code updates.”

However, says city manager Bob Willoughby, the Planning Commission isn’t scheduled to take action on those changes until Tuesday. But…
201 – “It was a good thing we had that scheduled because we have to adopt our budget for next year.”

Work on the city’s budget for the coming year wasn’t finalized until this past week, delaying the council’s action until early next week.

Tuesday was the first day this year that approved fireworks could legally be purchased in Oregon. Oregon State Fire Marshall Randy Simpson stressed that anything that flies, explodes or travels more than six feet on the ground is illegal to not only sell, but use. Simpson said seizure of the banned fireworks and a $500 fine are possible if you are caught with the wrong stuff. He says the best way to ensure your fireworks are legal in Oregon is to buy them from a licensed vendor.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

American Legion Baseball:
The Three Rivers Sandblasters lost a non-league contest, 10-7, yesterday at home to the Eugene Challengers. But they may have lost more than that. The 2008 4A player of the year, Newport’s Eddie Crowe left the game in the fourth inning with a possible separated shoulder after being tagged out on a pickoff play at first base. The ‘Blasters have today off, they’ll face the Challengers again tomorrow at North Eugene High School in another non-league game at six. That game will air on Coast Radio Sports beginning at 5:45.

Northwest League Baseball:
Tyrell Worthington drove in four runs and four Yakima relief pitchers held the Eugene Emeralds to one run over the final four innings and the Bears came out on top 12-6, in Yakima yesterday. The lead has swapped twice by the time the teams were tied at five-all in the fourth inning, but the Bears cruised to their third straight win over Eugene. There was a bright spot for the Ems… 6’7” first baseman Nathan Freiman broke out of a one-for-22 slump with three hits, including two doubles. The teams meet again today and tomorrow to wrap up their five game series. The Emeralds return to Civic Stadium Sunday where they’ll open up against the Everett Aqua Sox.