Salem-News.com Business articles

Department of Transportation to Establish New Rules to Ensure Safety of Oil Rail Tankers

The proposed new regulations would extend those precautions to all trains carrying 20 or more tank carloads of either crude or ethanol.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - After months of pressure by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, other legislators, and advocates around the country, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx announced Wednesday that the Department of Transportation will take steps to establish new regulations to improve the safe transportation of crude oil by rail.

Since the release of an emergency order by DOT in May setting transportation safety standards of Bakken crude by rail, Senator Merkley has called for better notification to state and local first responders of not only Bakken crude, but all flammable substances being transported by rail.

Salem, Willamette Valley Gas Prices Continue to Fall

The top five most expensive states are Hawaii, Alaska, California, Washington and Oregon.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - Oregon is one of 42 states and Washington D.C. where gas prices have fallen in the last month.

In Salem over the past week, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline fell 3 cents to $3.91.

US Gas Prices Continue to Fall Despite Worldwide Conflicts

Oregon still has the 5th highest average price at $3.95 a gallon.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The national average price of gas has fallen for 24 consecutive days due to abundant refinery production, even as geopolitical tensions gain global attention.

Tuesday’s national average price for regular unleaded gasoline is $3.57 per gallon, which is the lowest price since April 4.

Oregon AG Files Lawsuit Against Makers of 5-Hour Energy Drinks

The lawsuit alleges that the companies repeatedly violated the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act by making deceptive and misleading claims about their 5-hour ENERGY products.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum on Thursday, filed a lawsuit against Living Essentials and Innovation Ventures, the makers of the energy drink 5-Hour ENERGY.

Microsoft E-Mails Employees About Massive Layoffs

We will offer severance to all employees impacted by these changes, as well as job transition help in many locations, and everyone can expect to be treated with the respect they deserve for their contributions to this company.

(REDMOND, Wash. ) - Microsoft on Thursday announced a restructuring plan to simplify its organization and align the recently acquired Nokia Devices and Services business with the company’s overall strategy.

These steps will result in the elimination of up to 18,000 positions over the next year.

Oregon`s Timber Harvest Climbs for 4th Straight Year

Timber harvest increases can be attributed to a strong export market for Oregon logs in 2013, coupled with a domestic market recovery, particularly in housing.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - In 2013, Oregon's timber harvest rose to 4.2 billion board feet, marking four consecutive years of increase from the recession low of 2.72 billion board feet in 2009.

"This was the first harvest above four billion board feet in seven years," said ODF principal economist Brandon Kaetzel, "and represents a 12 percent increase over the 2012 harvest of 3.75 billion board feet."

Oregon Businesses Report Large Number of Job Vacancies

The largest increase since last spring occurred in vacancies requiring a high school diploma, which doubled.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Oregon businesses reported 11,700 more job vacancies in the spring of 2014 than they did the prior year. Businesses had approximately 46,900 job vacancies in the spring months of 2014, according to a Job Vacancy Survey recently completed by the Oregon Employment Department.

The last time vacancies were at this level was in 2008, before the Great Recession did its damage. In the spring of 2008, Oregon had 47,900 vacancies.

Salem, Oregon Gas Prices Headed Downward

This week three states are in the $4-per-gallon club, down from four states last week: Hawaii, Alaska and California.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - The national average for regular unleaded is down four cents this week to $3.61 a gallon, while Oregon’s average slips one-and-a-half cents to $3.97.

In Salem, the average price has dropped an average of 3 cents a gallon to $3.94. In Eugene the price has dropped 4 cents to $3.98, Medford dropped 2 cents to $3.99, while the Portland-Metro area dropped one cent to $3.96.

Trimmed Payrolls Leave Oregon Unemployment Rate Unchanged for June

In June, 28 percent of unemployed Oregonians were unemployed for six months or more, the smallest share since July 2009.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - After adding almost 44,000 jobs in 11 straight months of growth, Oregon's payroll employment dropped by 4,300 in June, as several industries trimmed payrolls.

Construction dropped by 3,600 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis, while the following cut more than 1,000: manufacturing, professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and government.

Thousands of Oregon Taxpayers Still Have Not Cashed Refund Checks

Checks are considered void after two years and are then sent to the Department of State Lands.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Thousands of taxpayers across Oregon have tax refund money awaiting them - all they need to do is cash a check.

The Oregon Department of Revenue has mailed letters to taxpayers in possession of refund checks that haven't been cashed as a reminder to redeem these checks prior to October.