Ethanol project fuels optimism
Seventy jobs may not seem like a lot. But to tiny Clatskanie (population: 1,710) in Columbia County, it’s 70 more people spending money locally who weren’t spending it before.
Costs in Oregon higher than average
Oregonians face a harder challenge than most Americans in making ends meet.
Candid feedback saves a life
During a recent meeting, contributing columnist Tom Cox noticed one attendee — an older, overweight guy — was speaking more “thickly” than usual. “It reminded me of some early stroke symptoms I’d read about. I had to decide — do I say anything? What do I say? How do I say it in a way most likely to encourage the desired behavior? And what if I’m wrong?”
If the glove fits
It’s pink, sleek, and form-fitting, the inside lined with a layer of rayon for extra comfort. It costs 30% more than similar products, but research says women will pay it for added comfort. And part of the sales of the $2.99 product will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research.
Klamath dam removal uncertain
When the Klamath Restoration Agreements were signed in February 2010, the documents were hailed as a historic solution to decades of conflicts over water rights and environmental management in the Klamath Basin. Almost two years later, many stakeholders are still waiting to move forward with projects connected to the agreements, which include both the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement and the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement. At issue is whether legislators will authorize the agreements and allocate the $500 million for implementation.
Inventors face retooled patent law
In the early-1990s, a Bothell, Wash.-based startup called CellPro developed a novel way to clean bone marrow stem cells before inserting them into leukemia patients. Early clinical trials saw surprisingly high rates of survival in desperately ill children, and CellPro’s cancer-stricken CEO also made a bone-marrow-aided comeback in experimental treatment.
The state we’re in: freight transport
State tax receipts collected from truckers jumped 25.3% August year-to-date.
Seed synergy
The Portland Seed Fund turns the startup launch into a team sport, with the goal of doing a lot with a little.
Do people follow jobs?
Population and employment have always had a symbiotic relationship. A growing population creates a need for goods and services. A surge in hiring, such as when a new company sets up shop, can create demand for workers from outside the area, boosting the local population. Generally, a change in either can’t be sustained without a similar change in the other.