By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis We received the national June jobs report. Another very strong month for job gains, and ongoing wage increases. It is encouraging to see these dynamics continue to play out as the labor market recovers from the pandemic. Our office’s forecast has front-loaded […]

By Karen Vineyard, chair, OBI Board of Directors When the legislative session began back in January – amid a global pandemic that had shuttered schools and broken businesses, a nationwide reckoning with racial injustice and with thousands of Oregonians still displaced from autumn wildfires – we knew it was going […]

By Julie Preciado & Blayne Soleymani-Pearson Barran Liebman Law Oregon law firm On June 11, Governor Brown signed into law Oregon’s version of the “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (“CROWN”) Act.” Oregon is the 12th state to adopt such a law since 2019. The CROWN Act […]

By NFIB, NFIB applauds today’s decision from the United States Supreme Court in the case Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta, which defends the right of private individuals to anonymously donate to nonprofit organizations. NFIB filed an amicus brief in the case arguing compelled disclosure of a nonprofit organization’s donors […]

Gov. Inslee Changes Course in Washington, Unmasking Only for Vaccinated Persons; Oregon and Washington Revised Requirements Begin Today By Heather J. Van Meter Bullard Law Washington Update Late on June 29, Washington Gov. Inslee reversed course and will only permit the general public to go without masks if they are […]

By John Charles Cascade Policy Institute President Biden is proposing to spend $174 billion subsidizing the electric vehicle (EV) industry as part of his American Jobs Plan. His ultimate goal is to eliminate the vehicles most of us use today, powered by gasoline or diesel fuel. As he said recently […]

By Oregon Employment Department, May 2021 Employment and Unemployment in Oregon’s Counties In May 2021, 19 out of 36 of Oregon’s counties experienced over-the-month decreases in their unemployment rates. Nine counties experienced increases in their unemployment rates over the month, and eight counties experienced no change in their unemployment rates. […]

Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, The announcement from Governor Kate Brown announcing a full reopening of Oregon’s economy no later than Wednesday, June 30 is welcome news. Our state’s restaurant and lodging establishments have a long road ahead as small businesses continue the hard work of regaining their footing after […]

By NFIB, The decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid affirms that small businesses have dominion over their private property and the right to exclude union organizers. “We are pleased to see the Supreme Court once again protect the property rights of America’s […]

By Portland Business Alliance, Hundreds of business and civic leaders, gathered to recognize the important partnerships formed after a challenging year at our 2021 Annual Meeting, presented by U.S. Bank. This hybrid event, hosted via livestream with a small live gathering at McMenamin’s Edgefield, honored volunteers and community leaders who […]