Merkley introduces bill to help small businesses
Senator Jeff Merkley introduced a bill that would reduce the wait time for small businesses in hard-hit communities to benefit from federal aid.
High Five
SolarWorld’s stock declines 14 percent
SolarWorld stock declines accelerated this week amid solar panel price cuts and reduced demand.
Alleged organic corn fraud in Oregon
A Springfield man faces a federal charge for allegedly selling more than 4.2 million pounds of corn to Grain Millers falsely labeled as organic.
Mike Reese files Portland mayoral fundraising committee
Portland Police Chief Mike Reese opened a committee to raise funds for the mayoral race, although he has not yet formally announced his run.
Portland startup helps track online sales
Portland web developer Koes Bong created Salemarked, a web program that tracks retail items to alert customers when they go on sale.
Retail sales continue slow growth
Retail sales increased in October for the fifth straight month, but only by 0.5%.
Environmental council tackles cosmetic labeling
The Oregon Environmental Council released the results of a survey showing that college women want better labeling on cosmetics and personal care products.
Bleak state forecast expected
Even before lawmakers hear Thursday’s quarterly economic forecast, the Oregon Legislature’s three chief budget writers are preparing for the likelihood of even smaller tax collections that could lead to cuts in already-approved spending for the current two-year cycle.
State gives outsiders huge contracts
The state of Oregon has forced furlough days on its workers and cut services to the poor, but it remains a cash cow for private contractors who charge as much as $300 an hour for their services, an investigation by The Oregonian shows.
Occupy PDX cleanup begins
A dozen city employees today plan to finish clearing Chapman and Lownsdale squares of debris and trash so engineers and horticulture experts can survey damage