Study questions business tax share, Schnitzer Steel CEO meets with Trump to discuss female executive council and legislators consider I-5 crossing improvements.
Oregon businesses only pay 80 cents per dollar received in public services
A national study evaluating business taxes found businesses in Oregon aren’t paying their fair share, the Oregonian reports. The study found businesses receive more in state services than they fund via tax payments. Evaluating a total share of state taxes, Oregon’s businesses paid 29.9% in 2015. The average business nationwide pays 39.5%.
Schnitzer CEO backs Trump Council
Tamara Lundgren, CEO of Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc., supports a U.S.-Canada council to create opportunities for women executives. Lundgren was one of nine leaders who met with Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Monday to discuss the council.
Lawmakers evaluate alternative Columbia River Crossing, again
Washington legislators introduced bills in both the House and Senate to designate developing a replacement plan for the I-5 bridge of “statewide significance,” OPB reports. Another proposed plan by Republican legislators suggests developing new regional corridors instead of tackling the existing bridge. The alternative projects include resurrecting a proposed bridge in East Multnomah County, a tunnel below the I-5 corridor and a flyover bridge near I-5.
Boeing 2015 misconduct revealed
Newly disclosed documents reveal shoddy paperwork and sloppy procedures by Boeing led to a $12 million fine in 2015, the Seattle Times reports. An investigation by the paper uncovered a Federal Aviation Administration report about the misconduct. The FAA investigators found Boeing repeatedly ignored safety protocols and falsified production checklists. The FAA findings were not reported in the media at the time of the punitive measures.
ODFW proposes limited wolf hunting
A proposed change to the wolf management plan would allow the public to hunt “problem wolves,” the Herald and News reports. The proposal does not create a hunting season for wolves, ODFW said. The department says wolves designated for hunts would be predators the ODFW would kill on its own as part of a controlled take. Seasonal wolf hunting is currently allowed in Idaho and Montana.
Portland top market for office space investors
A forecast from the Ten-X U.S. Office Market Outlook found that despite a lack of office space nation-wide, Portland is the No. 1 market for investors interested in office space, the Portland Tribune reports. Oakland, Palm Beach, Orange County and Miami join Portland on the top five list.
Portland switches from Bull Run to Columbia River water source
Officials found the parasite cryptosporidium several times in the Bull Run watershed, OPB reports. As a result, the Portland Water Bureau is pulling water from wells along the Columbia while the city treats the reservoir. It could take up to two weeks, however, for homes to receive water from the groundwater wells. Those with compromised immune systems should seek water from different resources until the water treatment is complete.
