June 2020 Employment and Unemployment in Oregon’s Counties By Oregon Employment Department, In June 2020, all 36 of Oregon’s counties experienced over-the-month decreases in their unemployment rates. In 16 of Oregon’s 36 counties, unemployment rates dropped by 3 percentage points or more. Clatsop County experienced the largest over-the-month decrease at […]

By Josh Lehner, Oregon office Economic Analysis I am presenting a mid-year forecast for the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland. A summary of my thoughts and a copy of my slides are below. Due to the severe recession and pandemic, our office’s initial expectations were for housing and construction […]

By University of Oregon Economic Indicators An inability to get updated data has delayed the latest release of the Regional Economics Indicators; the Oregon Statewide continues to be released regularly with an update coming this week. While I wait for the delayed data, I want to share some insights gained […]

By Dennis E. Westlind Bullard Law, NW Law firm Employers may once again use their discretion to discipline employees represented by a newly certified union without first bargaining, the National Labor Relations Board ruled yesterday. The Board’s decision in 800 River Road Operating Company, LLC dba Care One at New Milford reinstates 80 […]

By US Chamber, Amid growing concerns about a “second wave” of the pandemic, the small business recovery sputtered in recent weeks, according to a new poll of small business owners taken July 9 – 16 and released today by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and MetLife. After retreating from record […]

By Portland Business Alliance Statement by Portland Business Alliance, greater Portland’s Chamber of Commerce For more information, contact: [email protected] The presence of federal agents in a single block of downtown Portland has led to a near-universal upset and a worsening of conditions on our streets over the last two weeks. […]

By Josh Lehner Office of Economic Analysis The U.S. Small Business Administration just released detailed data on the actual Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans/grants across the country. Individual business information is now public for loans in excess of $150,000, while general characteristics (amount, zip code, industry) are available for loans […]

By United States Senator Ron Wyden, Press Release U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said that House passage of legislation he introduced to help non-profits will help these key community groups to remain financially viable during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Nonprofit organizations in Oregon and nationwide are essential pieces of each community’s response […]

  By Amy Angel & Makayla Halkinrude-Allmaras Barran Law, Effective October 1, 2020, the Workplace Fairness Act requires employers to adopt a written policy containing procedures and practices to reduce and prevent covered discrimination and sexual assault. The policy must: Provide a process for employees to report prohibited conduct; Identify an individual […]

By NFIB, NFIB filed an amicus brief in the case CIC Services LLC, v. Internal Revenue Service requesting the Court clarify that the Anti-Injunction Act’s scope is limited to its terms and that it does not prohibit pre-enforcement judicial review of tax rules. “Ever-changing federal tax laws have traditionally been […]