Hasso Hering

This case should be dropped

Written October 21st, 2013 by Hasso Hering

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The state of Oregon has been going after Mandy Kenney for a year and a half. Next week this 29-year-old mother of three is scheduled to go on trial for reckless driving and driving under the influence. This is an unnecessary and unwarranted prosecution and a waste of everybody’s time.On Feb. 1, 2012, Kenney […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Ambien, Mandy Kenney, sleep driving

Cool Willamette: Costs may rise

Written October 19th, 2013 by Hasso Hering

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Albany borrowed and then spent upwards of $70 million in recent years to comply with clean-water regulations on the Willamette River. The city modernized and expanded its sewage treatment plant and constructed the “Talking Waters” wetlands project. Now there’s a possibility it may not have been enough.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany sewer rates, river temperature, Total Maximum Daily Load, Willamette River

A brighter downtown — on one street

Written October 18th, 2013 by Hasso Hering

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Downtown Albany may become brighter during winter nights — or as soon as a new lighting program can be started. But unfortunately, it will be a change limited to just a short stretch of First Avenue. And that brings up an old complaint that has been all but forgotten.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany downtown, Albany Downtown Association, CARA, tree lights

Senator Close makes it official

Written October 17th, 2013 by Hasso Hering

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As expected, state Sen. Betsy Close, R-Albany, next year will run for a four-year term in the position to which she was appointed a year ago. She talked to me on camera just before she announced her plans at a reception at the Albany Golf and Event Center Thursday evening. She plans to file on Friday. […]

Posted in: News, Videos
Tags: Betsy Close, Oregon Senate, Sara Gelser, Senate District 8

Obama strikes the wrong note

Written October 17th, 2013 by Hasso Hering

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If President Obama was interested in moving on to a more constructive way of running the government after the shutdown and near-default on federal obligations, he could not have made a worse start than he did today. In a speech at the White House, Obama angrily blamed his opponents in the House for refusing to negotiate […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: debt ceiling, government shutdown, Obama

Towing: Linn board shuns setting rates

Written October 16th, 2013 by Hasso Hering

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A new state law allows Oregon counties and cities to set maximum prices that tow companies can charge for giving back cars seized from private parking facilities. House Bill 3159 passed over Republican objections in the 2013 regular session of the legislature and takes effect on Jan. 1, 2014. It’s a response to predatory towing […]

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany City Council, HB 3159, Linn County Board of Commissioners, predatory towing

Liquor setup: What’s to fix?

Written July 31st, 2013 by Hasso Hering

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Before anybody tries to change the way Oregon sells and buys hard liquor, he’ll have to persuade people that there’s something wrong with the system we have had since the 1930s. It’s old-fashioned, but so what? What’s wrong with it? Since the end of Prohibition the state has had a monopoly on buying, warehousing and […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Northwest Grocers Association, Oregon Liquor Control