Archives

July 31, 2014 - Microsoft defends email privacy in Fed. Court

NW software giant Microsoft is in federal court today over the privacy of emails.  The issue revolves around the protection of emails held outside U.S. borders and whether a US warrant can force access.  Below is a defense of email privacy by Brad Smith who represents general counsel for Microsoft. […]


July 30, 2014 - “Homesharing” no threat to cities, hotels

Cascade Policy Institute By Everet Rummel, research associate On July 2, the Portland City Council held a hearing on proposed amendments to the Zoning Code concerning short-term rentals. The council chambers were packed with citizens who support legalizing renting one or two bedrooms from a primary residence. An emerging sector […]


July 29, 2014 - Ore. venture funding hits new high

By Technology Association of Oregon. Venture capital funding in Oregon hit a high in the first six months of 2014, raising more investment dollars in the first half of the year than in all of 2013. According to the Oregonian, Dow Jones VentureSource reported that Oregon startups raised $174 million […]


July 28, 2014 - Hidden problems of Paid Sick Law

Dennis Morgan, Volunteer Executive Director Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI) Employers of all sizes understand that employees need time off to address personal or family health issues, which is why the vast majority of employers voluntarily offer generous paid leave benefits. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 83 percent […]


July 24, 2014 - Service dogs & workplace accommodation

By Bullard Law, Portland law firm ADA Dog Days – Service Animals and Reasonable Accommodation The Bullard Edge loves dogs. My pup Jimmy turns 2 today and I have attached his picture (a black and brown mini Dachshund). Jimmy also relates (allow me some leeway here) to this week’s question in […]


July 23, 2014 - Ore. breaks beer record & leads nation

By Oregon Brewers Guild The Oregon Brewers Guild announced that Oregonians bought more than 500,000 barrels of beer produced in Oregon in 2013, setting a new record in Oregon craft beer history and leading the U.S. in percentage of dollars spent on craft beer. Oregon’s breweries crafted a little more […]


July 23, 2014 - Walden votes for permanent internet tax ban

Congressman Greg Walden & House pass Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act Oregon Congressman Greg Walden, Press Release The Internet is possibly the most important technological advancement since the printing press. Governments’ hands off approach has enabled the internet to rapidly grow into a powerful engine for our economy. At the […]


July 22, 2014 - State AG sues 5-hour Energy Drink makers

By Oregon Department of Justice Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum filed a lawsuit against Living Essentials and Innovation Ventures, the makers of the energy drink 5-Hour ENERGY®. The lawsuit alleges that the companies repeatedly violated the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA) by making deceptive and misleading claims about their […]


July 21, 2014 - Portland venture fund remains a mystery

By Joel Grey Cascade Policy Institute The Portland Seed Fund started as a public-private venture intended to close a funding gap for small loans to entrepreneurs. The City of Portland, the City of Hillsboro, and the State of Oregon provided a majority of the funds for the first Seed Fund […]


July 18, 2014 - A way Obama can reform immigration w/o Congress

By Alex Nowrasteh Cato Institute President Obama seems poised to act on immigration, with or without the help of Congress. Last week, he announced that he’s “beginning a new effort to fix as much of our immigration system as I can on my own, without Congress.” Critics have decried this […]