The Oregon Economics Blog: Do Days in School Matter

The Lake Oswego School District had a double dose of news yesterday night: board members voted to take the next step in possible school closures, and Superintendent Bill Korach announced his retirement.

Sort of.

Korach, who's in his 24th year as schools chief, announced his official retirement. Korach will actually continue as superintendent, and find a way to use a reduced salary to fund a teaching and non-teaching position in the district.

The Lincoln Tunnel Shut Down After Massive Crash

The central lane of the Lincoln Tunnel has been closed after a major crash involving a motorbike and three buses, NBC is reporting, via at BreakingNews.

The accident happened at 7.25 this morning.

The motorcyclist has serious injuries and has been taken to hospital; another 27 people are being treated at the scene.

Only one lane has had to be closed and two lanes in and out of New York are still open, but the Port Authority says drivers making their way into the city should expect 90-minute delays.

Latest Sports Car Model Audi R18 (2011) Pics

Audi aims to continue its string of victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours with a completely new LMP1 sports car development. Since its debut in 1999, the brand with the Four Rings has won the world's most important endurance race as many as nine times with the R8, R10 TDI and R15 TDI models. In doing so, Audi has equaled this feat in the race's roll of honor with Ferrari. With the new Audi R18, which was presented at the Audi Sportpark in Ingolstadt on the evening of Friday, December 10, 2010, Audi is aiming for its tenth Le Mans success in 2011.

For the first time since 1999, Audi will contest Le Mans with a closed coupe again. "In the future, aerodynamic efficiency will be even more important at Le Mans than it was in the past," says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "A closed car has clear advantages in this respect. Our computer simulations have been confirmed in the wind tunnel and during initial track tests."

Significantly smaller engines than those used before will be prescribed at Le Mans in 2011 as the rule makers aim to achieve a substantial reduction of engine power. By opting for a 3.7-liter V6 TDI unit, Audi retains the diesel concept that saw its first victorious fielding in 2006. "From our point of view, the TDI continues to be the most efficient technology," says Ulrich Baretzky, Head of Engine Development at Audi Sport. "There are good reasons why the share of TDI units among Audi's production models is as high as it is."

Leaked: 2011 Audi RS5 pix!

[Click on the pictures for larger images]

The first official images of the 2011 Audi RS5 have leaked onto the Internet, just days ahead of the scheduled unveiling at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Breaking the mold of the sleek-yet-safe styling that Audi is known for, this latest Audi boasts an aggressive front fascia and an equally aggressive rear fascia and optional spoiler.




Although the leak comes without the full range of manufacturer verified data and specifications, it is believed that this next hot coupe will feature a 450 horsepower 4.2-liter V8 – capable of revving all the way to 8,250 with peak hp, and then on to a final redline of 8,500 rpms. Expect a DSG clutch, likely a six-speed, to be mated to whatever engine ends up in the production model.


Out back, the RS5 features the large, oval dual exhaust tips that have become a staple on the RS line. The exhaust tips are surrounded by a highly stylized lower rear fascia, complete with aerodynamic channels for added stability at high speeds. Above the lower fascia, Audi worked in an automated rear spoiler that appears as the coupe reaches appropriate speeds, and then retracts back into the decklid at lower speeds.