Morning Roundup


Photo credit: Portland Business Journal

Newport wave center inches toward funding, Uber launches EV program and Zoom+ rebrands following lawsuit.

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Wave energy test center closer to funding

The Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources approved a $4.6 million funding bill to help build a national wave test energy center in Newport, the Portland Business Journal reports. The center, proposed by Oregon State University, required $50 million. While $4.6 million is just a drop in the bucket, lawmakers say it’s enough to boost the test center’s ability to compete for federal funding. Nearly 80% of the project’s budget it expected to come from federal coffers.

Uber is launching its first electric vehicle initiative in Portland

The rideshare company announced the new program — the first in the U.S. — today.

Zoom+ rebrands after lawsuit settlement

Nearly nine months ago, Zoom+ settled a trademark infringement lawsuit over its logo. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association argued Zoom’s logo was too similar to their Blue Cross logo. The logo on Zoom+ clinics has now changed, the Portland Business Journal reports. Instead of a blue cross with white letters, the logo is a white cross with blue letters.

ODFW finds wolf population stagnant

Last month, wildlife officials said the wolf population had stabilized and prepared to move to the next stage of wolf management allowing farmers to kill troublesome wolves. But a report released yesterday shows there are only two more wolves in Oregon than in 2015, 112 total, the Oregonian reports. The report also found only 8 breeding pairs, down from the 11 counted in 2015. ODFW’s commission is set to meet next week to discuss wolf management moving forward.

Additional campsites opened for solar eclipse viewing

Oregon State Parks is opening an additional 1,000 campsites within the total eclipse viewing path, the Statesman Journal reports. Reservations will open April 19. Campsites and hotels for the August event have been booked for months, some for years, in anticipation of the event which could draw more than one million visitors.

Opinion: Busting the biggest myth about proposed paid leave laws

The words “mandated paid family leave” tend to cause a mild panic in the hearts, minds and pocket books of small business owners.

Downtown Portland building evacuated for fear of collapse

The 10-story building at 1400 SW 5th started visibly buckling yesterday morning, OPB reports. The building houses FedEx, eBay, KinderCare and Oregon Heath and Science University offices. Officials later determined the damage was to the exterior of the building, meaning there was no structural damage. The building is closed until further notice.