Portland State Univ. "is partnering with footwear design academy Pensole to bring students from historically black colleges and universities" to the city starting in '15. The program "is intended to be a step toward bringing more people of color into the athletic footwear design industry." Portland State assistant professor LAUREN BEITELSPACHER said that the program "would be designed to meet a need in the area's footwear industry." She added, "One of the things we've heard in the industry is that there just aren't a lot of women and minorities applying for positions" (Portland OREGONIAN, 4/10).
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Bosworth (c) testified before the Senate Judiciary
Committee on the Comcast-TWC merger |
POLITICAL POSTURING: Back9Network CEO JAMES BOSWORTH yesterday "told the Senate Judiciary Committee about his efforts to gain a place on one of the nation's four large outlets for pay TV." Comcast told Back9's team in '12 that it "would not launch the channel -- because, Bosworth suspected, Comcast owns the Golf Channel." Bosworth said Time Warner Cable "could not have been more helpful" in its talks with Back9Network -- until Feb. 13, when the TWC and Comcast announced the merger deal. Bosworth: "As soon as this merger was announced, that definitely softened quite a bit. It's become a lot more difficult for us" (HARTFORD COURANT, 4/10).
NAMES: Red Wings Owner MIKE ILLITCH's Olympia Development yesterday "agreed to buy the Vietnam Veterans of Detroit Chapter 9 building ... a property that is just past the northern border of the new arena." Officials said that the building "and the city-owned lot will be used as ancillary development surrounding" the Red Wings' new arena (DETROIT NEWS, 4/10)....Rapper DRAKE will host the '14 ESPYs (ESPN)....NFL Draft prospect AJ MCCARRON and his fiancee, KATHERINE WEBB, have "decided to do a reality show throughout the planning of their wedding, leading up to a televised wedding" (THEPLAINSMAN.com, 4/9)....Golfer KEN DUKE, who has scoliosos, last night was honored with the Ben Hogan Award at the Golf Writers Association of America Awards Banquet at Augusta Country Club. The award "goes to a golfer who remains active in the sport despite a physical handicap or serious illness" (AUGUSTA.com, 4/9)....A custom-built Ottawa mansion belonging to Predators C MIKE FISHER and wife CARRIE UNDERWOOD has been sold. The five-bedroom home was originally listed at $2.2M, but the asking price was reduced to $1.95M in November (OTTAWA SUN, 4/10).
