High Five

Oregon unemployment has dropped to 9.3 percent, all but closing the gap with the nation for the first time in more than three years.

Extension agent Ross Penhallegon said the cold, wet spring means that the berries are about two weeks late this year.

Plans to build an Oregon City mall anchored by Cabela’s, a premier sporting goods retailer, appear to be dead — again.

A new map shows the Pacific Northwest’s growing contribution to the global electronics business.

The Senate voted Monday to remove a “scope of employment” exemption to Oregon’s ban on using cellphones while driving.

A number of Portland-area residents reported their debit cards either were compromised or canceled suddenly, and  police said at least one case was related to a data breach earlier this year at Michaels Stores Inc.

Wind farm owners stepped up their fight with the Bonneville Power Administration, asking federal energy regulators to halt the agency’s new policy of curtailing wind generation when it has excess hydroelectric power to sell.

The federal government has released the second payment from a grant of up to $3.32 million that was approved two years ago to help laid-off Monaco Coach employees at its Coburg plant and in Hines. The federal government released the first $1.66 million in 2009, with most of the money going to Lane County.

The Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Campaign for Free Enterprise says creating government programs to put the jobless back to work would be a step backward.

Raise a glass — or fork — to Lane County’s food and beverage manufacturers. They were among just a few sectors that actually added jobs in this latest deep and punishing recession.