Issues
Good News For the Mid Year – Issue 141
Oregon’s U-6 Unemployment Rate Tumbles to 8.6%
The Beaver State’s U-6 unemployment rate, which includes part time workers who want full time jobs and discouraged workers who’ve given up looking, fell in March from 9.1% to 8.6%.
That’s still way too high, but we celebrate this step in the right direction.
Good News For The Mid Year – Issue 140
Our University of Oregon Ducks boast a 90% graduation rate for student athletes exhausting their eligibility at UO. They also count 101 Academic All-Americans – 33 in the past 4 years. That’s more than USC, UW or Cal!
Go Ducks!
Good News For the New Year – Issue 139
Jail Capacity Now 317 beds!
When Lane County voters voted on the Jail/Youth Services Levy in 2013, we were told jail capacity would rise to 255 beds. But our Sheriff’s Department did even better. So much better that we now have 317 beds – the most in 14 years! And more thugs in jail makes for a safer Lane County!
Good News For The New Year – Issue 138
Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Drops To All Time Low
February witnessed a decrease in Oregon’s unemployment rate from 4.3% to 4% even!
This record was tempered somewhat by the fact that government jobs increased more than those in any other sector.
Good News For the New Year – Issue 137
Oregon Unemployment at Record Low!
Oregon’s January unemployment fell from 4.5% in December to 4.3% – the lowest since the Beaver State began collecting this data in 1976.
Kate & Ellen’s Buds
Guv Kate and Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum lined their campaign coffers with contributions from entities doing business with our Beaver State. Here we highlight one of them. But first Guv Kate’s forgotten vow:
“I am committed to getting the big money out of politics” – Gov. Kate Brown, then candidate for secretary of state, Sept., 2012.
Oregon is home to Native American groups who hold state contracts worth $36.7 million in lifetime value. These groups are also significant political donors with campaign donations of $140,000 since 2012. Brown received $123,000 while Rosenblum bagged $17,000.
Good News For the New Year – Issue 136
Home Sales Tops For Decade
Despite rising mortgage rates, January existing home sales rose 3.3% over December and rose at the highest rate since 2007. Adjusted annual sales hit a rate of 5.69 million!
Good News For the New Year – Issue 135
Summit Bank Reports Increased Annual Profit
Eugene’s own Summit Bank recently reported a record annual profit of $2.8 million and announced its intent to raise $5 million via a stock offering.
We love seeing our Lane County companies achieving success. Way to go, Summit!
Good News For the New Year – Issue 134
Lane County 2016 Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.2%!
For 2016, Lane’s average annual unemployment rate fell to 5.2%, matching 2007’s record low.
Good News For The New Year
More Pay, Greater Confidence Lifts US Retail Sales 0.6 Pct.
Americans stepped up their auto buying and online shopping in December, reflecting a boost in confidence after the election and a solid increase in pay.
Retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent, following a small 0.2 percent gain in November, the Commerce Department said Friday.