Portland, OR

When compared with cities across the United States, Portland topped the list of 21 of the best cities for bicycling, earning the title “Best Overall” from Bicycling Magazine. The bicycle friendly community has had an incredible effect on greenhouse emmissions, and now tests closer to the levels reported in the early 1990’s.

But it’s not just Bicycling Magazine that recognizes the enthusiastic pedal-pushing people of Portland, the city has been given “gold-level status” by League of American Bicyclists. Portland is so far the largest city to receive this award, and strives to reach “platnum-level status” within the next five years.

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In a move to bring more awareness to Oregon’s hunger issues, Governor Kulongoski has gone on the food stamp diet, or as he’s calling it, the Food Stamp Challenge. Using the same amount that the average food stamp recipient would receive on food stamps - just $21 - the Governor shopped at a Salem Fred Meyer’s grocery store for his week’s worth of food. Of course, since he and his wife share the same meals, together they are allowed $42 total for the week.

Some of the items that he chose to buy with his tiny budget were a 5-lb. sack of potatos, three cups of instant noodle soup, two zucchini, a bunch of bananas, one whole chicken, one gallon of milk, granola, bread, peanut butter and jelly. Among the items that the first lady Mary thought to have on hand: Coffee, eggs, lettuce, onions, and pesto. He reportedly had to put back a few bananas and one of the noodle soups to stay under the budget.

While appearing in court on a long list of criminal charges, Wayne Michael Trent made a failed attempt to escape while being ordered into custody by a judge at the Justice Center Courthouse. Just as Deputy Nicole Morrisey-O’Donnell of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office was preparing to handcuff Trent, he bolted out of the courtroom, with Deputy Morrisey-O’Donnell right behind him. He was about 30-yards outside of the courtroom door when she tased him, and he was aprehended once again. But as you can see in the YouTube video, as he was being handcuffed, he called out to his mom.

Unfortunately, even mom can’t keep her son from being charged with at least a few of the 12 charges that he could be facing. The list of charges includes Escape III (Class A Misd), Harrassment (Class B Misd), Criminal Impersonation, Criminal Impersonation of a Peace Officer, Theft I, UUMV, Burglary II, Criminal Tresspass II, Possession of a stolen Vehicle, Identity Theft (Class C Felony), Possession of False Police ID (Class A Misd), and Criminal Impersonation (Class A Misd).