Morning Roundup: UO and developers get ready for the Big One; state pushback on Linn County forest lawsuit


Oregon moves forward with earthquake retrofits and early detection technologies, while state argues against Linn County forest lawsuit.

Share this article!


OREGON NEWS 

— The University of Oregon is one of six university recepients of a  $3.7 million federal grant to develop an earthquake early detection system. The improved system — the West Coast already has ground sensors — could provide a three minute warning to Portlanders when the Big One hits. Read more from Willamette Week. ICYMI: read our September 2015 profile of developer Ben Kaiser, who installed his own early detection system in the Radiator building on North Williams.

— In other earthquake news, Portland building owners will be required to start making seismic improvements in the next 10 to 25 years, depending on how critical the need. Hospitals, for example, need to be upgraded by 2026. Office buildings and apartments have until 2041. Affordable housing developers will also be required to make improvements. Read more at Oregonlive.

 45e63f68c027cf27

— Since the Portland City Council designated property for a temporary homeless shelter, seven developers have come forward to purchase the land. Offers range between $6 from Costco to $10 million from two different developers. Homer Williams, the developer who proposed both the temporary and permanent shelter, has said he intends to fund the projects with private money, has yet to put forth a written proposal. The Oregonian has more.

2015 spring ruby classepicodus 750xx2048 1150 0 360

— Marylhurst University and Epicodus were selected to pilot a national education initiative teaching web and mobile development. Marylhurst will host a 27-week certificate program with Portland’s Epicodus school. Read more from the Portland Business Journal.

635857219126759397 SALBrd 10 11 2014 Statesman 1 A001 2014 10 10 IMG SAL1011 employment d 1 1 TU8PTI39 L499127355 IMG SAL1011 employment d 1 1 TU8PTI39

 â€” An influx of job seekers has caused the Oregon unemployment rate to rise from 4.5% to 5.2%. The 4.5% rate was the lowest Oregon has seen in 40 years. Most of the growth has occurred in the construction industry and business services. The Statesman Journal has more.

RQ Improvements Temporary MAX System map 1024x600 l9agfs

— TriMet will tackle a second improvement project this summer with construction beginning Aug. 21. The Blue, Green and Red lines in the Rose Quarter will be disrupted as TriMet replaces the 30-year-old tracks. The project comes with a sticker price of $2.5 million and should wrap up Sept. 3. Read more from OPB.

—  As the region gears up for 100 degree-plus weather, fires around the state are prompting evacuation. Blazes near Sun River and Southern Oregon have triggered evacuation warnings. Read more from the Eugene Register-Guard.  Meanwhile, the state is arguing Linn County can’t represent other counties in a lawsuit over forest management. The county filed a lawsuit against the state earlier this year, arguing that insufficient logging had cost 15 counties — including Clatsop County — more than $1.4 billion. Read more at the Daily Astorian.

NATIONAL NEWS

The case of the U.S. swimmers in Rio gets curiouser and curiouser.  The latest report alleges the Olympic contestants were involved in a fight at a gas station in the city and committed acts of vandalism there. The swimmers initally alleged they were robbed. Read more at CNN.com.