UO E-clips, Feb. 22

Legislative committee approves UO basketball arena project (The Oregonian): The Legislature's Joint Ways and Means Committee approved the University of Oregon's basketball arena project by a wide margin Thursday, sending the issue to the Senate and House floors. With the emergency session headed for a fast-track finish, the arena financing plan could secure full legislative approval by Saturday. The committee passed House Bill 5100, involving bonding authority, 17-2, and Senate Bill 5555, involving capital construction, 18-1, with the one being an excused vote, not a "no." Only Sen. Avel Gordly, I-Portland, and Sen. Joanne Verger, D-Coos Bay, voted against the bonding bill.

Committee OK’s UO arena bills, which now go to Senate, House (The Register-Guard): The Legislature’s budget panel gave nearly unanimous approval Thursday to the University of Oregon’s request for $200 million in bonds for a new basketball arena, paving the way for a final floor vote on the record-setting project. A pair of bills that approve the bonds and raise the amount of money the UO can spend in the coming two years passed the Joint Ways and Means Committee with only two dissents on one bill and none on the other. The final floor vote on the bills could come as early as today or Monday. This is a very solid vote,” UO President Dave Frohnmayer said. “At the end of the day, there was no question about their belief in the soundness of the project.”

Bonds for UO arena funds go forward (Statesman Journal): A new University of Oregon basketball arena would be built with $200 million in state-backed bonds that the Legislature's budget panel advanced Thursday. Lawmakers were satisfied that the arena would not require direct state support or subsidies from the university budget, even if the arena brings in far less money than projected, as suggested in a much-debated 2004 report by the firm ECONorthwest. If debt service for the $200 million in construction bonds and $27.5 million in bonds already issued to buy the site exceed income produced by the arena and a new advertising deal, the athletic department would tap the Duck Athletic Fund and other sources. Then earnings from a new legacy fund, begun with $100 million from Phil and Penny Knight, would repay that spending.

Broadcast rights plan a big deal for UO (The Oregonian): The University of Oregon's proposed deal farming out broadcast and advertising rights to its athletic teams ranks among the top in the nation and by some measures the most lucrative in the Pac-10, industry sources say. Lawmakers say the deal -- worth a total of $56 million in annual cash payments over 10 years and another $11 million in miscellaneous payouts -- would mean the difference between making a new basketball arena pencil out and draining a $100 million pledge to the school from Nike chairman and UO benefactor Phil Knight. As early as this weekend, state legislators could approve a $200 million bond sale to finance the project.

Neighborhood fears a new basketball arena could turn their area into one big parking lot (KVAL.com): The plan for a new 12,500 seat basketball arena is missing just one thing; a place for all these fans to park. But now, there's (sic) indications that the University of Oregon is planning an underground parking structure. Residents of the Fairmont area east of campus say over the years, they've seen their roads turn into more of a campus parking lot. And before this new arena comes in, they want something to change. Sue Jakabosky lives in the Fairmont neighborhood just beside the University of Oregon. She says while she loves living next to the campus, what she doesn't love is what they see during some school events.

Oregon researchers discover a mechanism leading to cleft palate (Bend Weekly): By creating a genetic mutation in zebrafish, University of Oregon scientists say they've discovered a previously unknown mechanism for cleft palate, a common birth defect in humans that has challenged medical professionals for centuries. Many molecular pathways in zebrafish are present in humans and other vertebrates. By studying the induced mutation in zebrafish, the 10-member research team isolated a disruption in early developmental signaling involving Pdgf, a platelet-derived growth-factor protein, and a microRNA known as Mirn140, the researchers write in a paper posted online in advance of regular publication the monthly journal Nature Genetics.

KWVA ownership report under scrutiny (Oregon Daily Emerald): Student government leaders are questioning false information included in an ownership report submitted to the Federal Communications Commission by the campus radio station. he report lists a board of directors for KWVA that was dissolved more than two years ago. The report contains a clause affirming all the information is correct within 60 days of Sept. 18, 2007. The routine report is submitted biannually to the FCC and lists the ownership of the station. It lists the ASUO president as the station's owner, which is true now but will likely change soon. It also lists KWVA's 2005 board of directors, which was dissolved after the station was moved from being an ASUO program to being under the purview of the EMU Board two years ago.