By Economist Dr. Eric Fruits, Econinternational First, the good news: In 2013, Oregon outperformed the nation in job growth. Add to that, the good-but-don’t-too-excited news: U.S. employment is now back to where it was before the recession.

By Oregon Small Business Association Blazer owner Paul Allen was one of the first NBA team owners to speak publicly on the recent LA Clippers owner, Donald Silverman, charges of racism over a taped conversation. Shortly after the news break, Paul Allen stated publicly, “If true, the alleged comments by […]

By Steve Buckstein Cascade Policy Institute By abandoning Oregon’s failed technology and adopting the federal exchange technology, the Cover Oregon Board may have made the right technical decision, but they may have opened up a huge legal risk for many Oregonians. As Cascade’s Steve Buckstein testified at the Board meeting, […]

Barran Liebman Oregon Law Firm Fit for Duty? Questioning an Employee’s Readiness to Return from FMLA Leave The Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) permits employers to require a second (and in some cases even a third) medical opinion about an employee’s need to take leave, but FMLA expressly forbids second […]

Ater Wynne LLP NW Law frim Target of social media criticism can sue for defamation, Oregon Court of Appeals holds The Oregon Court of Appeals recently held that a business owner can pursue a defamation claim against an individual who posted a negative on-line review. In Neumann v. Liles, plaintiff, […]

By Oregon Small Business Association A proposal to eliminate a so-called “insurance industry bailout” has received a lot of attention in our Nation’s Capitol. The proposal (S.1726), advanced by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, aims to eliminate this provision from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), often referred to as Obamacare. But, […]

By Jabob Grier, Portland Writer Cocktail consultant, magician, blogger. Liquidity Preference Blog Depending on whom one asks, Bitcoin is the future of currency, a useful tool for conducting transactions with vast untapped potential, or a speculative bubble of no lasting consequence. Enthusiasm for Bitcoin also signals various commitments, as Tyler […]

By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Blog New occupational data for 2013 was just released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall 2013 was not only stronger than previous years, since we already knew job growth accelerated, but the pattern of growth across occupations was also more encouraging.  […]

By Richard Rahn Institute for Global Economic Growth & Cato Institute senior fellow Paper currency is dirty and is a major transmitter of disease as it goes from unwashed hand to unwashed hand. It is easily lost and stolen, and can be easily destroyed by getting wet or burned. It […]

By Economist Dr. Eric Fruits, Econinternational Portland home prices are up 13 percent from last year, despite seasonal slowing.