Morning Roundup


Photo credit: Willamette Week

Women’s march attracts 100,000+, marijuana taxes beat estimates six-fold and Bora Architects is selected for Knight Campus.

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An estimated 100,000 women, men and children turned out this weekend for Portland’s Women’s March. A sea of pink knit caps and glittery anti-Trump signs submerged Portland’s waterfront as the march inched forward. The peaceful rally was a stark contrast to the protest the night before, which ended with tear gas and multiple arrests. The question going forward is how activists will translate protest into political action.

1. Marijuana tax revenue is declining, but year-end total still beat all estimates

Tax revenues peaked in October at $7.8 million for the month. Once new regulations went in effect, and supplies began running low, December revenues dropped 28%, the Statesman Journal reports. Despite recent losses, tax receipts for marijuana beat original projections nearly six times over, Willamette Week reports. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission projected $10.7 million for the two-year budget cycle. Final counts for 2016 put revenue at a whopping $60.2 million.

2. Texas wants Oregon’s nuclear waste

Andrews, Texas will likely remove and store nuclear waste from Oregon’s shuttered Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, OPB reports. The small Texas town sees nuclear waste storage as an opportunity to build its economy. The proposed waste move isn’t likely to happen soon, as the proposal requires approval from the Department of Energy. The plant closed in 1993 and was decommissioned in 2003. Leftover waste is stored on-site in casks on a concrete pad. 

3. UO selects design team for new Knight campus

Portland’s Bora Architects will partner with Ennead Architects to design the $500 million Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact. A construction timeline has not yet been announced, but when work commences, it’s expected more than 1,300 jobs will be created, contributing $99.7 million in economic activity.

4. Boeing begins buyouts, layoffs

The plane manufacturer cut 11,000 jobs last year, which will apparently continue into the new year, OPB reports. These cuts come despite recent large orders for planes. 

5. Suspicions confirmed: Lattice Semiconductor buyer is backed by Chinese government

That’s not a surprise, however. Speculations to the buyer’s backing began in November. Lattice confirmed rumors Friday in a SEC disclosure, the Oregonian reports. The deal requires federal approval, which could be difficult given the President’s proclivities against China.

6. Portland to seek bond to modernize three high schools

Lincoln, Benson and Madison high schools would be completely renovated if a new bond package is approved for the May ballot, the Oregonian reports. The bond could cost anywhere from $745 million to $802 million. The total is dependent on the choice to modernize Kellogg Middle School or build a new one entirely. The bond would also remove all lead paint and lead in drinking water district wide.

7. Wallowa County plans to save 1 billion gallons of water

Thanks to a $1.4 million Oregon Water Resources Department grant, the Freshwater Trust will work with Wolfe Ranch to upgrade its infrastructure and conserve water, Capital Press reports. The conservation efforts and irrigation upgrades could allow the ranch to not only increase crop production but also produce higher-value crops.