Morning Roundup


As time runs out, the Legislature manages to get stuff done. The latest approvals include $100 million to keep Elliott State Forest public, funding the Knight campus and approving a transportation package.

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Bonds approved for Elliott State Forest. The state will issue more than $100 million in bonds to keep the forest in public hands. The budget also allocates $50 million for the University of Oregon’s Knight science complex. The Oregonian has more.

Transportation plan shuffles forward. The joint committee on transportation was able to send a transportation package to both the House and Senate simultaneously after hours of review. Lawmakers only have until July 10 to approve the bill before the session ends. Read more from the Statesman Journal.

Oregon ranks 33rd best state for business. That’s according to a new study by WalletHub anyway. The ranking was based on business environment, access to resources and business cost. North Dakota ranked No. 1.

AOI, OBA merger complete. The creation of the new business advocacy group Oregon Business & Industry was finalized July 1. We explored this new alliance — which paradoxically exposes divisions in the state’s increasingly fragmented for-profit sector — in our upcoming issue. Check out the story here.

Oregon tourism makes play for new state agency. The outdoor recreation industry wants its own tourism office to coordinate policy and promote tourism in Oregon. A bill to do just that has gained traction in the Legislature. The Bend Bulletin has more. 

Autonomous vehicles: Who is going to lead the way? OB guest blogger Michelle Rudd writes civic and business leaders need to engage in robust planning discussions about how to leverage AVs to achieve health, safety and climate objectives.

“This is another time when Oregonians should take a stand.” I caught Sen. Ron Wyden’s talk on net neutrality just before the holiday weekend. Check out the highlights.

Most popular stories. Our readers preferred stories on the cannabis industry, the impacts of Trump and the future of The Dalles. See what made the list here.