Morning Roundup: Brown endorses Measure 97; Nestle moves bottling proposal


Gov. Brown supports Measure 97, while Nestle finds new town for bottling plant.

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 OREGON NEWS

— Gov. Kate Brown has endorsed the proposed corporate tax now known as Measure 97. Brown had declined to take a stance on the 2.5% corporate sales tax for months, stating that she wanted make the right endorsement. She sent an email to supporters explaining her endorsement, saying there’s a “basic unfairness” in Oregon’s tax code that has created an unfair burden on working families. Brown addressed the need for a more stable revenue base as well. The Statesman Journal has more.

— Although effectively blocked by Cascade Locks, Nestle appears to be determined to build a bottling plant in the Northwest. OPB reports Nestle has shifted its focus to Waitsburg, Washington, just east of Walla Walla. Discussions began Tuesday in a community discussion, which was filled largely with opposition. Waitsburg Mayor Walt Gobel stepped down unexpectedly amid allegations he and other city staff met with Nestle for a backdoor deal to repair leaky pipes near the springs. 

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— Oregon has received the all-clear to amend its lawsuit against Oracle and seek punitive damages. At the same time, the Marion County judge denied Oracle’s request for judgement. The punitive damages result from the allegation that Oracle misrepresented its work before the botched 2013 website debut. The Portland Business Journal has more.

— Oregon State University announced yesterday it will construct a $50 million center in Newport designed for global marine studies. The facility will span 100,000-square feet and sit within the tsunami inundation zone. The building could open in 2018. Read more here.

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— Bend’s Humm Kombucha announced yesterday it will not only expand its availability at CentryLink Field in Seattle, but the tea will be the first official kombucha for an NFL team. The tea will be available at two additional locations in the stadium, beginning next season. Read more from the Bend Bulletin.

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— D.C-based DuPont Fabros Technology has purchased 47 acres in Hillsboro to host a data center. Hillsboro is a popular home for data centers thanks to a break in property taxes. The Oregonian has more.

NATIONAL NEWS

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— ICYMI: The Summer Olympics open tonight in Rio. NPR reports getting Rio ready for the opening ceremony and following events hasn’t been easy, but officials are optimistic things will operate smoothly.

— Daimler has funded a second car-booking service this week. Fortune reports the German automaker led a funding round for Blacklane. Blacklane is a more traditional limo service. Daimler merged its Mytaxi service with Hailo last week as well, which is more similar to Uber, but still uses licensed drivers to provide its ridesharing service.