Morning Roundup


Lawmakers propose further cost cutting, SureID CEO quietly replaced and a look at Oregon CEO compensation.

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New budget constraint bill cuts costs by $691 million

Lawmakers hope to save money by reducing administrative health care costs and opting to leave vacant state worker positions empty, the Statesman Journal reports. Democratic leaders say they’re determined to pass the bill with or without a successful corporate tax.

Five weeks left in legislative session

As the 2017 session comes to a close, lawmakers are rushing to pass large bills: tax increases, transportation funding and spending cuts to close the $1.4 billion deficit, the Bend Bulletin reports. Recent actions include pushing forward a Deschutes River bridge bill and allowing pharmacists to prescribe contraceptive patches and injectable birth control.

SureID CEO replaced after company lost U.S. Navy contract

Steve Larson, founder of SureID, remains in place as chairman but was quietly replaced last month, the Oregonian reports. President James Robell took over as CEO in May. SureID laid off dozens of employees (potentially as many as 200) last month just after the Navy cut ties with the identity verification company. Inspectors found the software was allowing unauthorized parties onto naval property. 

OB Original Blog: Win some, lose some: 2016 CEO compensation packages

As state and national conversations around corporate governance intensify, Oregon CEO pay moves up — and down. Take a look at 2016 compensation packages for CEOs of Oregon public companies.

Fishpeople Seafood lands $12 million investment

The sustainably sourced seafood company produces seafood kits for stores and meal delivery services. The Series B funding round will allow the company to expand both its product offering and distribution reach, the Portland Business Journal reports. Fishpeople launched five years ago in Portland.

OB Original Blog: ‘We need to engage businesses on what they would like to see Medford become’

I talked with Brian Sjothun, Medford’s new City Manager on his new position, city management and visioning the future of Medford.

Virtual tour of Framework Building

The Portland Business Journal has a first look at Portland’s much anticipated mass timber building. The Framework Building is located in the Pearl and the tallest mass timber high-rise in the U.S.