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What to expect when ordering wine at local restaurants • SHOPPING, E1
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U.S. jobless aid may flow once more; who benefits?
Health care coordination will improve help to poor, 3 counties say By Hillary Borrud The Bulletin
Commissioners from Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties reached a consensus Tuesday to move ahead with a regional health authority, a new public entity that would coordinate money and health care services for low-income residents. At a two-hour meeting at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond on Tuesday, commissioners said they want to send the state a preliminary letter of intent to terminate an existing contract for local alcohol and drug outpatient services, so they can begin working on new, streamlined contracts. It was a first step toward a system that supporters say will improve health care for the approximately 20,000 tri-county residents insured by the Oregon Health Plan, the state’s version of Medicaid, and make the delivery of services more efficient. The state’s deadline for local officials to decide whether to pursue the authority is Thursday, and commissioners face a second deadline to send a final letter of commitment to the state by Sept. 15. See Health / A5
By David Holley The Bulletin
Rob Kerr / The Bulletin file photo
Sisters resident Ann Marland is on her second stint of unemployment benefits. She was most recently laid off in January by the U.S. Census Bureau. If Congress extends federal jobless benefits, Marland could receive about 18 weeks of additional aid, if she doesn’t find a job during that time.
Some people may once again be able to access the 53 weeks of federally funded unemployment benefit extensions, which expired in May, if Congress approves legislation that extends eligibility for the emergency benefits to Nov. 30. Before the extensions expired, a per-
son could have received up to 99 weeks of federally and state-funded unemployment benefits — 26 weeks of standard benefits, 20 weeks of extended benefits and the 53 weeks of federal emergency unemployment compensation, which were delivered in four tiers. The legislation, which is set to pass the U.S. Senate today, wouldn’t give people more than 99 weeks of unemployment checks, but
it would once again allow them access to the 53 weeks that have been inaccessible since late May. The House could vote on the measure this week. When the federal extensions expired, people who were receiving money from the emergency federal funds were allowed to finish whatever tier they were on, but their benefits ended there. See Jobless / A5
Inside On unemployment? See how you could be affected, Page A5 • Senate nears benefit extension, Page A5
CASCADE CYCLING CLASSIC
Landis rolls into Bend
Oil rig survivors speak of the emotional toll By Holbrook Mohr The Associated Press
MYRTLE GROVE, La. — A boom from the speakers at church was all it took to send Paula Walker Inside • Latest on the back to that moment of capped well, horror on the Page A3 Deepwater Horizon oil rig. “I freaked out,” Walker said. “I huddled up on the pew and wouldn’t put my feet down because the floor was blue and I thought it was the water.” See Survivors / A4
Corrections In a story headlined “After 94 years, Thomas closes,” which appeared Tuesday, June 20, on Page A1, Bob Thomas’ age was incorrect. He is 63. The story also incorrectly stated what Thomas sold to Lithia Motors, regarding General Motors. Thomas did not directly sell his GM franchise to Lithia. The Bulletin regrets the errors.
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SCHOOLS: New standards gaining ground, Page A3
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Rob Kerr / The Bulletin
Floyd Landis races in the two-mile time-trial prologue of the Cascade Cycling Classic on Tuesday night in Bend. He finished 91st out of 172 starters.
Controversial cyclist draws cameras, little recognition By Mark Morical The Bulletin
Slouched on a bench near a parking lot in Bend’s Old Mill District, Floyd Landis looked small. Passers-by made nary a glance in his direction as he answered
questions openly. But one man did recognize Landis, walked up and said simply: “You’re human.” Moments earlier, Landis had surged through the finish line of the prologue of the Cascade Cycling Classic sporting a gray T-shirt that made him look
more recreational cyclist than racer — USA Cycling would not allow Landis to wear a sponsor’s jersey. Much to the chagrin of Cascade Cycling Classic organizers, a good share of the spotlight on the first day of Central Oregon’s long-running
professional stage race Tuesday was on Landis. Television cameras from ABC’s “Nightline” news program followed him for an upcoming episode. Hours after Lance Armstrong made a strong bid for a stage win at the Tour de France, Landis toiled in relative anonymity in Bend — save for the cameras. See Landis / A4
Inside • More from the Cascade Cycling Classic prologue, Page D1
Perfection in the horseshoe pit as the best takes his turn By John Branch New York Times News Service
DEFIANCE, Ohio — From behind a neat, ranch-style house on Melody Lane came the clinking rhythm of iron striking iron. Alan Francis stood more than a dozen long-legged strides from an inch-thick stake
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drilled deep into tacky clay. Perhaps the most dominant athlete in any sport in the country, Francis lifted his right arm, swung it behind him and forward again. He launched a horseshoe toward the target 40 feet away. It weighed a little more than 21⁄2 pounds and spun slowly, sideways.
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It rose and fell in an arc until its narrow open end, 31⁄2 inches across, caught the stake with percussive perfection. Clink. Francis, satisfied but expressionless, pitched another. See Horseshoes / A4
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Alan Francis is a 15-time world champion in horseshoes.
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