Oregon hospitals on a losing streak, a Real ID reprieve and new rules for Salem Airbnb hosts.
Not to rub it in, but oh, the weather outside’s delightful. We’re stuck indoors too, culling the day’s top news stories.
Hospitals report slim profit margin. Oregon hospitals take another hit after yesterday’s news about the wave of cost-cutting measures underway. A new report shows the median hospital operating budget was -0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2016. Read more from the Bend Bulletin.
Real ID reprieve. Oregon residents don’t need to panic just yet. The federal government granted Oregon an extension as it develops new ID cards. The original deadline for TSA compliant identification to travel via aircraft is Jan. 22, 2018. The Oregonian has more.
Salem implements new Airbnb rules. Short term rental landlords — including those with plans for the August 21 solar eclipse — will now need a license from the city. Read more from the Statesman Journal.
Transportation package assists low-income TriMet riders. Thanks to new funding, TriMet is instituting a new discounted fare for low income riders and plans to expand bus routes to low-income communities. The funding comes from a .01% payroll tax included in the legislative package. The Portland Tribune has more.
But Pendleton highways lose out. Greg Barreto, the region’s legislative representative, voted against the $5.3 billion transportation package. As a result, Pendleton will not receive funding for an earmarked project. The Eastern Oregon community wanted to build an interchange on Interstate 84. The East Oregonian has the story.
International tech firm moves to Medford. Lighthouse Worldwide opened up shop in Jackson County 15 years ago. But the tech company announced yesterday the company going all in and plans to relocate its California-based HQ to Oregon. The Mail Tribune has more.
Kenny & Zuke’s owner in the hot seat. Ken Gordon blasted a column by the Oregonian‘s Steve Duin about an employee’s struggle to pay rent working two jobs. Social media didn’t like it. In an age when anything can and often does go viral, Gordon would have been wise to count to 10 before hitting send.
Right 2 Dream Too opens new digs. The community’s 11 permanent residents moved in a while ago, but the camp is now open to the public. The camp was relocated from Old Town Chinatown to the Rose Quarter six weeks ago. The Oregonian has more.
OB Original Blog: Beloved photography center closes its doors. As OB photographer Jason Kaplan writes, financial challenges force the shuttering of 15-year-old nonprofit the Newspace Center for Photography.
