Treehouse brings in the bosses, while a Portland homeless campus may be on hold.
OREGON NEWS
Bring in the bosses. In 2013, online education company Treehouse got rid of bosses. When Oregon Business interviewed CEO Ryan Carson in 2014, he was full of optimism for this innovative company structure. But two years later, the bosses have returned. The experiment was designed to empower employees and allow for self-managament. Carson told the Oregonian. Treehouse was naive in trying to change the office structure, Carson says.
Center on hold. Last week, Developer Homer Williams announced his intent to build a homeless campus on the Portland waterfront. The project was proposed for Terminal One, a city-owned property purchased from the Port of Portland. But as Willamette Week reports, the campus may not be legally allowed on the site. City Commissioner Nick Fish wrote in a city memo that the property’s zoning doesn’t allow for the shelter.
Rate hikes. Preliminary rate hikes for insurance premiums have been approved by Oregon insurance regulators. Rates for individual plans will increase more than 20%. Moda Health, for example, is set to increase by 29.3 percent, and Providence Health Plan by 24%. The Portland Business Journal reports the price hikes are to offset growing costs.
More hikes. Oregonians aren’t returning bottles for the 5-cent deposit as often, which signals a deposit increase thanks to a 2011 House bill. The bill stated that if redemption rates dipped below 80% for two years, deposits would double. OPB has more.
Technology buyout. Vancouver-based Capstone Technology is moving overseas after its acquisition by United Kingdom-based Spectris for $22.5 million. Capstone has made software for industrial plants since 1997, targeting the oil, gas, paper, chemicals and refining and metals industries. Spectris has employees in 30 countries, serving as a global maker of instruments for industry. Read more from the Portland Business Journal.
NATIONAL NEWS
Brexit avoided? Recent polls show a British exit from the European Union are unlikely. These polls had an impact overseas as stock prices rallied this morning, following a troubling week when investors were unsure of Britain’s future. Reuters reports Wall Street will continue to hold its breath, however, until the actual Brexit results are known.
Clean energy. In the midst of concerns over air and water toxins, the first nuclear plant in 20 years opened in Tennessee. Scientists argue this is the first step toward achieving clean energy goals, and hitting climate control targets. Read more about the environmental implications from The Washington Post.
