The Gnarl Ridge Fire on Mt. Hood flared up over the weekend, forcing nearby residents to brace for possible evacuations on Monday.

By RODGER NICHOLS of The Chronicle A fire burning in steep terrain on Mt. Hood jumped fire lines Saturday, and nearly doubled in size.

The recent dustup in Oregon over new rules requiring ethics disclosures by small-town public officials is an example of the way state government fails to understand the impact it can have in the countryside, ...