Oregon’s film and television industry has never looked stronger. Vince Porter, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Film and Television, predicts that the state will pull in more than $90 million from television shows and films shot here in 2011. And that record windfall could be just the beginning.

After an uncertain start, the state law that bans trashing electronic waste has kept heaps of toxic material out of landfills and created jobs. But just how many jobs is unknown, and as the Legislature considers expanding the program it is also looking to tweak the rules with job creation in mind.

It’s tax time again, unless you happen to be one of the thousands of Oregonians who don’t pay taxes.

Big deals of the month.

A new gas tax and soaring crude prices are prompting Oregon truckers to innovate to protect their bottom lines while passing on as much cost as they can to consumers.

Oregon’s taxes on products deemed “sinful,” such as alcohol, cigarettes and perhaps gasoline given its pollution, vary widely compared to neighboring states.

Total help-wanted ads placed in The Oregonian during 2010 represent only 7% of the total placed five years ago in 2006.

  All “latest” numbers are for January 2010 unless otherwise noted. Latest Month Previous Month Previous Year Annual Change EMPLOYMENT/BUSINESS LISTINGS Total employment State of Oregon, thousands 1,759.5 1,776.3 1,726.7 1.9% Total unemployment State of Oregon, thousands 218.8 205.0 234.6 -6.7% Unemployment rate Ore. civilian labor force, seasonally adjusted 10.4% 10.6% 11.0% -0.6 Portland/Vancouver MSA; … Read more