By Liani J. Reeves & Maryann Yelnosky Bullard Law, Oregon Workplace Fairness Act Provisions Effective October 1, 2020 The Oregon Legislature’s response to the #MeToo Movement came in the form of sweeping legislation that passed during the 2019 legislative session. The Oregon Workplace Fairness Act (“the Act”) applies to all […]

Oregon Brewers Guild Press Release, Leaders in the beverage alcohol sector are urging industry advocates across the U.S. to participate in a national Day of Action by asking their members of Congress to pass the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act, S.362/H.R. 1175 (CBMTRA). Unless Congress acts, on December […]

By Oregon Small Business Association, The coronavirus pandemic has taken a huge bite out of Blue Star Doughnuts, forcing the Portland bakery into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Blue Star owners announced the company is restructuring after permanently closing four of its eight Portland outlets this year because of COVID-19, according to […]

US Chamber of Commerce, The state of the U.S. economy is having a major influence on small business owners’ attitudes towards the upcoming election, according to a new poll taken August 21-27 and released today by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and MetLife. Over half (57%) of small business owners […]

Powell’s Books Press Release, An Update From Emily Powell Hello Powell’s Community, Happy almost Independent Bookstore Day to you! We hope this letter finds you with plenty of good reading material at hand, and the perfect end-of-summer moments to dedicate to your book of choice. Amongst us book lovers, there’s […]

By Oregon Employment Department, September 11 —  Over the past several days, we’ve watched in collective fear and sadness as nearly 1 million acres of our beautiful state have gone up in flames. While in recent history most wildfires have been isolated to wilderness areas, the 16 fires currently burning […]

Us Senator Ron Wyden, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., condemned a decision by the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to allow the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deny visas and green cards to certain immigrants who use key safety net programs, including Medicaid […]

By Taxpayer Foundation of Oregon, The state of Oregon has paid $4.1 billion in unemployment claims since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but the acting director of the Oregon Employment Department faced criticism for delays in issuing payments to claimants, according to a KPTV report. Since the novel coronavirus shut down […]

US Chamber of Commerce Release, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce applauded House passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (H.R. 2694), which was approved by a vote of 329 – 73, including 103 Republicans. This legislation would clarify an employer’s obligation to accommodate a pregnant employee or applicant with a […]

Photo: Left: Bar West, Portland, Right: Ruddick Wood, Newberg. By Oregon Small Business Association As wildfires rage across Oregon, restaurants—already struggling after shutdowns from the coronavirus pandemic—have stepped forward to feed firefighters, evacuees and others in need. Malka, a crowd-funded eccentric restaurant, has offered free rice and vegetable bowls to […]