Free Republic

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- A Bellevue couple, who had more than two dozen trees on public land chopped down or severely pruned to improve their hilltop view, have agreed to pay the city $150,000. If the city council approves the deal, Kendall and Janice Kunz will not be prosecuted for violating a city ordinance that bars cutting trees on city property. The Kunzes also agreed to apologize publicly and contribute 32 hours of community service in the proposed settlement reached Friday. The city council is scheduled to vote Monday on the settlement. "This sends the message that our public forests belong...

The sole remaining lawsuit that grew out of a tree-cutting protest in downtown Eugene five years ago was settled out of court Thursday with a $30,000 city payment to three demonstrators who were pepper-sprayed by police. In the settlement, neither side admitted wrongdoing. But the city agreed to require all officers with the rank of sergeant and above to attend two training sessions on police response to nonviolent protests. The sessions are to be conducted by an outside consultant in 2003 and 2004. Spokesmen for both sides said the protest and its turbulent aftermath taught them bitter lessons but left...