UO E-clips, Sept. 9

Some 14 billion years ago, a volume smaller than a single atom contained the entire visible universe. Today, the glorious structure of nature fills an incomprehensibly large region of space. And this fall, the United States loses its lead in the study of how it all happened as the Large Hadron Collider in Europe overtakes Fermilab, near Chicago, on the particle physics energy frontier. Following a decade and a half of construction, the LHC opens operations this fall. Designed to find and study the Higgs boson, this new particle collider replaces Fermilab as the leading particle physics facility in the world with an energy seven times higher. Housed in a 17-mile underground tunnel near Geneva, Switzerland, at the European particle physics laboratory, CERN, the LHC will empower physicists from all over the world to explore the fundamentals of energy and matter. (Read Brau's piece)

Judge hears UO wrestling arguments (Register-Guard): A judge in Salem heard arguments Monday on motions seeking a final judgment in a lawsuit prompted by the University of Oregon’s decision to eliminate men’s wrestling. Marion County Circuit Judge Lynn Ashcroft heard from lawyers on both sides asking that he rule in their favor without moving to a trial. He took the arguments under advisement but did not indicate when he would issue a ruling. The lawsuit stems from the UO decision last year to drop wrestling and add men’s baseball and women’s competitive cheer. At the time, UO Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny said the move reflected both the higher profile and revenue-generating potential of baseball and the declining popularity of wrestling.

Economic index shows hopeful economic signs (The Oregonian): Oregon residential building permits rose in July, as did U.S. manufacturing orders and consumer confidence. But a monthly University of Oregon economic index still suggests we're in at least a mild recession. The economy is being dragged down by job losses -- 11,300 in Oregon during the past five months -- and continued weakness in the housing markets, said Tim Duy, Oregon Economic Forum director and author of the report.

Index of Oregon economic indicators dips in July (Associated Press, appearing on Forbes.com): The University of Oregon index of economic indicators declined slightly overall in July as weak job growth signaled a continued downturn. Employment fell in July, with nonfarm payrolls falling by 3,600 jobs to bring total job losses statewide over the past five months to 11,300. Initial unemployment claims rose in July while help-wanted advertising in Oregon newspapers declined significantly. The sectors of the Oregon economy most affected during this downturn include construction, manufacturing and financial activities, all closely linked to housing. On the positive side, residential building permits, U.S. consumer confidence and core manufacturing orders improved a bit.