University of Oregon Regional Economic Indexes By Tim Duy Oregon Economic Forum University of  Oregon Weak employment data in June contributed to a drop in the Oregon Measure of Economic Activity. Highlights of the report include: – The Oregon Measure of Economic Activity to -0.60 compared to a revised 0.68 […]

Business News Note: Microsoft’s 14,000 layoffs may have an impact in the NW. The main cause has been their focus in one particular industry sector — mobile devices. Oregon financial professional, Jason Norris of Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc., explains to KGW-TV news that Microsoft is “determined to make it […]

By Jan Meekcoms Oregon NFIB (Originally published in Salem Business Journal) Has our public employment retirement system (PERS) in Oregon been so successful that we should force it on private enterprise by law? Oregon’s current PERS deficit is in the billions. Add it to other public retirement systems around the […]

Barran Liebman Oregon Law Firm Executive Order Extends Ban on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Discrimination President Obama has signed an executive order which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Effective immediately, this protection extends to most companies that perform work for […]

By NFIB After a promising 3 month run, June’s Optimism Index fell 1.6 points to 95.0. While job components improved, capital outlays and planned spending faded along with expectations for improving business conditions. Overall only two Index components improved, two were unchanged, and six fell. “The only two index components […]

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation By Michael Hendrix It’s been an open question for some time whether personal data could be effectively de-identified. That is, could we handle and analyze mass datasets without exposing individual’s personal information? Some have contended that the answer is “no.” But a recent paper by […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]