This program 71 of the To The Point! series.

International: (Richard Donin) German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently paid an historic visit to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to mark Israel’s 60th anniversary. The two governments signed off on a number of agreements relating to education, the environment and defense. Will this new partnership between Germany and Israel change anything in that region of the Middle East?

National: (Matt Wingard) Florida will not redo its voided presidential primary, but Michigan’s delegate votes may still be on the table. Both Michigan and Florida were stripped of their delegate votes in the Democratic primary because the two states violated party rules by moving the dates of their presidential primaries forward to January. Is there any hope of a redo in Michigan?

State: (Mike Riley) Oregon Department of Labor Commissioner Dan Gardner recently stepped down from his post one day after the filing deadline for anyone intending to vie for the position in the May election. Governor Ted Kulongowski then appointed Democratic Senator Brad Avakian to take Gardner’s place. Was this all as premeditated as it looks, and will this smooth move ensure now incumbent Brad Avakian a win in November?

Local: (Al Young) Nearly every city and county in the metro area is trying to raise fees: taxes for needed streets, bridges, and roads repairs. If local governments are successful will it make it harder to raise taxes and fees for projects of regional and state concerns like major bridges over the Willamette and Columbia Rivers in the future?