Morning Roundup


Photo credit | Microsoft

Microsoft moves production to China, grocery industry seeks tax exemption and Apple’s wind farm gets the green light.

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I’m working from home. And yes, I’m working, although I admit to daydreaming just a tad about my honeymoon last month to Europe.

As it turns out, I’m not the only one with travel on the brain. Microsoft is going to China. 

The software giant is closing its Wilsonville factory and moving production of its Surface Hub to China. The Oregonian has the story.

Preemptive tax exemption. The grocery industry filed a ballot measure to ensure new business taxes could not be added to grocery sales. The exemption is intended to protect supermarkets against a possible corporate tax increase. OPB has more.

Apple’s Gilliam County wind farm featuring extra large turbines gets the thumbs up. Regulatory approval in hand, Apple will start constrution on the largest wind turbines in the Pacific Northwest. The project is being handled by Avangrid Renewables. The Portland Business Journal has the story.

OB Original Blog: “We are constantly in an adversarial state.” Portland attorneys respond to a New York Times article about pervasive mental health problems and drug use in the legal profession.

Job market continues to make gains. Oregon added 8,500 jobs in June — the largest increase since February 2016. The 3.7% unemployment rate is good for workers, but is causing strain on employers who can’t find workers to fill open positions. OPB has the story.

RELATED STORY: Help Wanted — Manufacturers struggle to fill key positions.

OB Original Blog: H-2B visas — Too little, too late. The Trump Administration is increasing the number of H-2B visas by 15,000. I delve into the Oregon impacts. 

Oregon Medicaid Director leaves position. Lori Coyner served in the position for just a year and a half. Coyner’s departure comes after months of criticism about the program’s re-enrollment process. The Lund Report has the story.

Another Southern Oregon airline route. This time it’s Medford to Seattle via Delta. The nonstop flight will begin Oct. 1. The news comes on the heels of $10.4 million in FAA funding to improve the Medford airport. Read the story from the Portland Business Journal.

Speaking of going to Seattle, Simple Bank opens up shop. The Portland online bank opened a downtown office for its 22 remote workers. The Oregonian has more.