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Why a professional construction project manager?
The practice of professional project management is often taken for granted. The benefits of hiring a qualified project manager, particularly for construction projects, far exceed the cost. Project risk, timing, […]
Court: DEQ storm-water permits do not violate Oregon laws
Using acronyms only environmental lawyers could love, the Oregon Court of Appeals determined that metro-area municipality storm-water permits issued by the Department of Environmental Quality did not violate state laws […]
Oregon employers claim victory in medical marijuana battle
Last month in this column, I reviewed Oregon’s law on medical marijuana in the workplace, describing the confusion and uncertainty that surrounded the law. Shortly thereafter, the Oregon Supreme Court […]
Keeping up with technology
There is a technology shift going on right under our feet, and it may be the first one for some generation Xers. We recently put a proposal together for a […]
Oregon Supreme Court identifies potential water rights for farmers
The great Klamath River basin water war intensified this month when the Oregon Supreme Court responded to a series of certified questions from the United States Court of Appeals for […]
Recession a chance for good ideas
As we look to the economic recovery that may be on the horizon (car sales are up and hedge fund managers are making billions again), firms are looking to develop […]
Employees with medical marijuana
One of the most common questions I hear from clients is: “We have an employee with a medical marijuana card; what do we do?” Employers often are unsure about their […]
Legislative session: Less than a whimper
The 25-day short session of the Oregon Legislation is now over. Although there briefly seemed to be a whirlwind of activity coming from Salem, the activities relating to planning law, […]
No more employee credit checks
Effective July 1, most Oregon businesses will no longer be able to review applicants’ credit history before deciding whether to hire them. The Oregon Legislature last month passed a new […]
130 responses???
In the last few months a local governmental agency sent out a couple of RFPs for professional services. One for architectural services garnered more than 130 responses, and another for […]
The fight over blight
Five years after the dust has settled from the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Kelo v. City of New London, the private homes of Fort Trumbell, in the city of […]
Minimize the risk of workplace violence
Early this year, two workplace shootings grabbed national headlines. On Jan. 7, an employee at a St. Louis transformer manufacturing plant killed three of his co-workers and injured five others […]
News
- $960,000 office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 10, 2026
- Two projects in historic districts in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 10, 2026
- Multnomah County commits up to $101.6M for Moda Center
- Portland code changes to take effect in November
- Los Colibris project approved for Portland’s OMSI District
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $9.9 million in top bidders | Aug. 7, 2026
- Oregon opens infrastructure grant program
- Ex-TV host claps back at Detroit officials in blight case
- 31-unit multifamily project in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 3, 2026
- $2.4 million office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 3, 2026
- Transportation commission weighs ODOT budget cuts
- Lam Research planning $1.7 billion investment in Tualatin
Commentary
- Beware of when the debt collector comes calling | Opinion
- Assembly of a future workforce begins with an invitation | Opinion
- Beware of overlooking legal requirements for remote workers | Opinion
- Become a critical thinker and transform a workplace | Opinion
- Managing construction risks with international suppliers | Opinion
- A rally with many engines: the lesson of 2026’s first half | Opinion
- Oregon housing challenges persist despite sound and fury | Opinion
- When does an employee’s bullying become harassment? | Opinion
- Ditch disorganization 鈥� the cost of deferred decisions | Opinion
- Consider 10 common risks for healthcare construction projects | Opinion
- Clarifying the reach of a law regarding prevailing wage | Opinion
- Adjust to legal changes now to ensure compliance later | Opinion
