The practice of suction dredge mining has been limited or stopped in Washington, California, Idaho and all federal lands. Yet, suction dredge mining is one of two placer gold mining activities still commonly found in Oregon, often in our state’s most remote and beautiful rivers, and the same watersheds that have historically supported strong salmon and trout fisheries.
Much like residential real estate that finally seems to be regaining ground lost years ago during the recession, sales of businesses are also seeing modest improvement.
It is time for the people of Oregon to be heard on the Klamath Settlement and it is time for real leaders in Washington to step up, confront the hard questions, and take up the Settlement in a meaningful way.
New results from a unique study of the effects of health insurance coverage in Oregon have added more fuel to the debate over health care.
Education reforms are important, but they shouldn’t distract us from boosting our state’s commitment to post-secondary education as the pathway to opportunity for our people and prosperity for our state. That commitment will require not only reform but investment.
Oregon prides itself on being a small-business state, but its moms-and-pops and start-ups are not feeling loved. According to a recent survey of small business owners, the state’s economy is worse off than the rest of the country.
The first WebVisions conference took place in Portland in 2001 and drew 150 people. Now the annual conference, aimed at exploring the future of the web, attracts about 1,200 people from around the world. Executive director Brad Smith speaks about the blurring of the line between techies and designers, and how this convergence will transform the business world.
Last week the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources voted on two bills to ban legally permitted small-scale mining operations on Oregon’s waterways. I voted against both bills for one simple reason: not once was the committee presented with scientific evidence that the practice of small-scale suction dredge mining is damaging to the environment.
SoloPower’s closure caps a gloomy 10 days for Oregon business leaders.
If what we strive for as a state is education over incarceration, now is the time for business leaders and elected officials to face Oregon’s expensive public safety system with the same courage and forward-thinking that has made Oregon famous in the health care reform arena.