POLITICS ●Goodbye, Earl. After 27 years in Congress and 57 years in elected office, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) announced he would not seek reelection. State Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Northwest Portland), Gresham City Councilor Eddy Morales and former Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal have all announced plans to run for Blumenauer’s seat. ●Hanging Up His Hat. State Sen. Lynn Findley (R-Vale) — who participated in the May 2023 walkout — announced that he will not be seeking reelection next year. Findley, along with four colleagues, is suing Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade for barring them from reelection under state Measure 113 but says his decision not to run again is not related. ●Blown Away. Oregon’s Measure 114, which requires permits and background checks as a condition of the sale or transfer of firearms and was passed by voters in 2022, was ruled unconstitutional by a Harney County Circuit Court. ●Robot Rights. Gov. Tina Kotek announced the formation of the Oregon State Government AI Advisory Council, tasked with developing a plan for artificial intelligence in state government that “values transparency, privacy, and equity” over the next six months. ECONOMY & FINANCE ●Job Dip. November Oregon Employment Department data showed seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 4,600 jobs in October, following a revised gain of 5,500 jobs in September, increasing the state’s jobless rate to 3.6%. ●Flush. Oregon legislators are projected to have $375 million more to spend during the 2023-25 budget cycle than originally estimated — in addition to the $32 billion spending plan approved by lawmakers on June 25. MANUFACTURING ●Brew Cheese. Medford-based Rogue Creamery and Portland-based Crux Fermentation Project partnered to release an ale brewed with ingredients from the creamery’s Rogue River Blue cheese. ●If the Shoe Fits. Nike filed permit paperwork to remodel its flagship downtown Portland store in the Kress Building. The sportswear giant has also said that it will temporarily set up shop in Pioneer Place Mall while renovations take place. TECH ●Chips Ahoy. Chip manufacturer Intel and German tech company Siemens AG announced a collaboration on RESTAURANT & RETAIL ●Eclipsed. Portland-based Ecliptic Brewing announced that it has been sold to Great Frontier Holdings, a “collective of brands” that includes Eugene’s Ninkasi Brewing and California’s Wings & Arrow. The brewery’s two Portland locations have closed and its archive of rare beers sold. ●Belt Tightening. Oregonians spent 3.1% less on retail last summer, and retail employment declined 1.1%, according to the most recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The decline reverses upward trends from 2021, when Oregon retail sales jumped above 10%. FARMS & FORESTS ●Cherry Purée. KeyBank has filed a lawsuit to liquidate the 400-acre Dallas cherry and blueberry grower Meduri Farms, claiming the steps are necessary to recoup $20 million in loan collateral from the company. EDUCATION ●School for Santa. The firstever teachers’ strike in Portland Public Schools’ history ended after more than three weeks. Winter break was cut by five days as part of the agreement, which also included a 14.4% compounded pay increase over the next three years. ●Spiked. A group of three dozen female beach volleyball and rowing athletes sued the University of Oregon alleging Title IX violations and unfair treatment compared to their male counterparts. ●A New Era. The Oregon Jewish Museum announced that Rebekah Sobel will serve as its new executive director, following the retirement of longtime director Judy Margles. semiconductor manufacturing efficiency and sustainability to drive “digitalization and sustainability of microelectronics manufacturing.” ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT ●Breached? A leaked document obtained by the Associated Press said the U.S. government is willing to help build enough new clean-energy projects in the Pacific Northwest to replace the hydropower generated by four controversial dams along salmon runs on the Snake River, should they be removed. ●Running Dry. Oregon tribes, state agencies, farmers and ranchers will receive more than $31 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce toxic pollution in the Columbia River and its tributaries — the last of $79 million in funding allocated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improving the health of the Columbia River Basin. ●Settled. PacifiCorp, the parent company of Pacific Power — which provides electricity for much of the state of Oregon — agreed to pay out $299 million to settle multiple lawsuits claiming the utility didn’t do enough to mitigate the effects of the 2020 wildfire that destroyed about 170 Southern Oregon homes. ⁄Newsfeed⁄ Rep. Earl Blumenauer is retiring from public office after 57 years. No more bowties. JASON E. KAPLAN 8
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