Precision Castparts faces another lawsuit, while Prineville is out of space.
OREGON NEWS
— Southeast Portland residents have filed a suit in Multnomah County to stop Precision Castparts from emitting toxic air pollutants. The suit asks Precision to clean up nickel, chromium, arsenic and and other pollutants. This is the second such suit filed against Precision. The first was filed by two residents in May. This suit against Precision also seeks class action status for the 5,000 residents living nearby. The Oregonian has more.
— Prineville hosts Facebook and Apple data centers, but it appears once construction is complete on the third round of centers, there will be no more centers built. The Bend Bulletin reports Prineville is out of space.
— According to Cozy, Portland’s 97203 zip code is the second most competitive zip code for renters in the U.S. The site compared rental listing data to determine where “everyone wants to live.” Portland’s contribution is the St. Johns, Portsmouth and University Park areas.
— In the three months since the city of Bend relaxed the rules for accessory dwelling units, dozens of residents have applied for permits. The Bend Bulletin reports the 40 applications received so far are more than any 12-month period in the past decade. Permits for homeowners are only $800; previously, a conditional use permit requirement cost $2,600.
— The effect gas prices have on mass transit use is hard to pinpoint, but researchers have found the tipping point. Once the price per gallon passes $3, there’s a rise in mass transit users. CEO of the JPMorgan Chase Institute Diana Farrell found additional information by studying consumers’ credit card bills. For each dollar saved at the pump, there was a 14 cent decrease in transit spending. Read more from OPB.
— The name Margie Harris is virtually synonymous with Energy Trust of Oregon. Editor Linda Baker talked with Harris on 15 years of energy efficiency.
NATIONAL NEWS
— Tesla has cut its selling price for its vehicles for the second time this year after missing sales targets. The electric automaker has had problems recently after the first fatal accident occurred with its autopilot technology, and CEO Elon Musk announced the proposed purchase of SolarCity [of which Musk is a major shareholder]. Read more from Reuters.
— Portland’s salaries may be above the national average, but that’s not true everywhere or for everyone. MarketWatch put together a list of seven national companies that can afford to pay its employees higher wages. The list includes Sears, Aramark, Target and Chipotle.
