Transportation package may see light of day, clean air initiative needs alternative financing and revenue department faces audit.
We caught a whiff of compromise in the air at the state capitol — just a whiff, mind you.
Legislators are nearing agreement on a transportation package. Noticeably absent from the latest proposal are two Portland highway projects — the widening of Interstate 205 near Oregon City and improving Interstate 5 traffic near the Rose Center. Gov. Brown says lawmakers have come to an agreement on gas taxes and vehicle fees. OPB has the story.
Clean air funding a no go. Gov. Brown’s clean air initiative, Cleaner Air Oregon, will be forced to find alternative funding after the Legislature declined to raise the $1 million needed to support the program. Read more from the Oregonian.
Lawmakers demand revenue department review. Oregon’s tax collecting agency will undergo $500,000 worth of audit and assessment even as the legislature is expanding its powers to collect bad debts. The Statesman Journal has the story.
OMIC announces center partners. The much-anticipated Scappoose manufacturing training facility finally unveiled its company partners. Daimler Trucks North America, Blout International and ATI join Boeing and three other companies as private sector collaborators.
Oregon ranks low on cannabis industry transparency. OB research editor Kim Moore asks, does Oregon’s marijuana sector need to be more transparent?
Eugene misses Olympic mark. For the last three Olympic Track and Field trials, Eugene has played host. In 2020 those honors go to Walnut, Calif. Read the story from the Register Guard.
Downtown Pendleton coffee shop powers down. The Coffee Bean received $30,000 in funding from the Pendleton Development Commission in attempt to bring the shop to downtown. The Bean still owes $22,000 of that loan as it closes up shop. The East Oregonian has more.
