US State Department: Egypt to halt raids on pro-democracy groups
December 31, 2011
[JURIST] The Egyptian government agreed on Friday to cease its crackdowns on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that advocate for democracy in Egypt, according to the US Department of State (DOS) [official website]. Egyptian officials assured the US [BBC report] that it would return all property and assets seized in the raids to the NGOs. Despite Egypt’s assurances, however, the US said that the raids on NGOs did not positively reflect the Egyptian government’s commitment to democracy.
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US State Department: Egypt to halt raids on pro-democracy groups
Montana high court re-affirms ban on corporate campaign spending
December 31, 2011
[JURIST] The Montana Supreme Court [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] on Friday that corporations cannot directly contribute to political campaigns or candidates. In the case, Western Tradition Partnership, Inc. v. Montana, the high court affirmed a century-old ban on corporate spending, implemented by the 1912 Corrupt Practices Act [PPL backgrounder].
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Montana high court re-affirms ban on corporate campaign spending
US appeals court strikes down state law restricting election donations
December 31, 2011
[JURIST] The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [official website] on Thursday ruled [opinion, PDF] that a Washington law banning political action committees from taking donations of $5,000 or more in the last three weeks before an election is unconstitutional. The law was challenged by Family PAC [official website] on three grounds, including two that require political action committees to report on the identities and occupations of contributors. Only the three-week time limitation was found to be an…
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US appeals court strikes down state law restricting election donations
US appeals court upholds telecom company immunity law
December 31, 2011
[JURIST] The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [official website] on Thursday unanimously ruled [opinion, PDF] that a law granting immunity from civil suits for telecommunications companies that assist government intelligence agencies is constitutional. The Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act of 2008 (FISA) [text] provides in Section 802 that “a civil action may not lie or be maintained . . . against any person for providing assistance to an element of the intelligence community” as long as the Attorney…
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US appeals court upholds telecom company immunity law
Regional stocks: Wall Street ends 2011 flat
December 30, 2011
U.S. stocks ended the year on a down note. On the final day of trading for 2011, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 69.48 points to 12,217, the NASDAQ dropped 8.59 points to 2,605 and the S&P 500 closed down 5.42 points to 1,257. As for regional stocks, the Davidson 99, which measures stocks in seven western states, declined 1.12 points to end the year at 161.42
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Regional stocks: Wall Street ends 2011 flat
Judge blocks Calif. low-carbon fuel rule, raising questions for Ore
December 30, 2011
A federal judge on Thursday blocked California’s low-carbon fuel standard, saying it discriminates against out-of-state producers and tries to regulate activities that take place outside state boundaries. The ruling raises questions for Oregon’s similar standard, passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2009. Read the full story in Sustainable Business Oregon.
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Judge blocks Calif. low-carbon fuel rule, raising questions for Ore
Northwest Natural asks for 6% rate increase
December 30, 2011
Northwest Natural Gas Co. has filed for a general rate increase with the Public Utility Commission of Oregon. It’s the first such filing from Northwest Natural since 2002. If the 6 percent rate increase is approved, the average residential customer would pay about $5 more per month.
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Northwest Natural asks for 6% rate increase
BBSI activist shareholder targets five directors
December 30, 2011
Barrett Business Services Inc.’s largest shareholder on Friday named the five directors she wants to oust at the company’s annual meeting. In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Kimberly Sherertz said she wants fellow shareholders to vote for the removal of directors Thomas J. Carley, James B.
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BBSI activist shareholder targets five directors
Gov. Kitzhaber makes Rose Bowl wager
December 30, 2011
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber today made a friendly Rose Bowl wager with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
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Gov. Kitzhaber makes Rose Bowl wager
American Piledriving sees future in offshore wind turbines
December 30, 2011
Machines to drive foundations for offshore wind power platforms could become a new market for a small Kent pile driving company. American Piledriving Equipment Inc. has signed a $3 million contract to supply “vibratory hammer” equipment to drive 30 piles in the North Sea off the coast of Germany, each of them 22 feet in diameter, to support some of the largest wind turbines ever built.
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American Piledriving sees future in offshore wind turbines
