Oregon Mom, Son Drop Lawsuit Over Transgender Bathroom Use
AP

“An Oregon woman and her son have dropped a lawsuit that sought to mandate that students in the Sutherlin school district use bathrooms matching their gender at birth. The News-Review reports the lawsuit was filed in May against the southwest Oregon school district.”

FYI: This is the second time this summer that Oregon has affirmed that transgender students have the right to use the restroom of their choice. In late July, a federal judge sided with a school district in Dallas, writing that “forcing transgender students to use facilities inconsistent with their gender identity would undoubtedly harm those students and prevent them from equally accessing educational opportunities and resources.” The News-Review also had an editorial on the case last week.

New Data Reveal Extent of Oregon Student Loan Debt
Eugene Weekly

“More than 50 percent of Oregon college grads are in debt, and Oregon is ranked 22nd in the country for its amount of average student loan debt per borrower. That amount per borrower in Oregon is $27,500, according to a new data gathered by LendEDU, a student loan refinancing company. … On the West Coast, Oregon is the only state that has had an increase in the amount of student debt per borrower from 2016 to 2017 — an increase of 1.63 percent. California had a decrease of 0.47 percent while Washington had a decrease of 3.33 percent. Both California and Washington also have less college graduates with debt than Oregon — 50 percent and 52 percent respectively.”

FYI: The study found that 57 percent of Oregon college grads are in debt. Nationally, students have a combined $1.52 trillion in outstanding loan debt.

Oregon Supreme Court: Yes, bank that made millions off Oregonians does owe corporate taxes  
The Oregonian

“The Oregon Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that businesses must pay taxes on income they earn in the state, even if they don’t have a physical presence in Oregon. Capital One acknowledged its credit card and consumer loan affiliates, based in Virginia, charged Oregonians nearly $150 million in fees in 2007 and 2008 and sent 24 million solicitations to state residents. State law requires businesses to pay taxes on “income derived from sources within the state.”

FYI: The ruling affirms an earlier state tax court decision that found regardless of whether a company has offices or property in Oregon, income earned in Oregon is subject to state law.

New Oregon toolkit aims to curb violence against hospital workers
KTVZ

“Gov. Kate Brown joined Oregon’s hospitals, doctors and nurses organizations and organized labor groups Wednesday in announcing a new workplace violence prevention toolkit. The toolkit was designed collaboratively, and when implemented in Oregon’s hospitals it will increase worker safety, officials said. The Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, the Oregon Nurses Association, the Service Employee International Union – Local 49, the Oregon Medical Association, the Oregon Emergency Nurses Association, the Oregon Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Northwest Organization of Nurse Executives, and the Oregon Center for Nursing all endorse this new, comprehensive approach and see implementation of the toolkit as a key step in prevent worker injuries due to violence.”

FYI: Gov. Brown: “Our health care workers support and protect every Oregonian during the most difficult periods of their lives. In order for them to focus on their jobs, they first need to be safe.” You can view the toolkit here.

Portland mayor announces sweeping city bureau assignment changes                                                                          The Oregonian

“Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler on Wednesday announced sweeping changes to the bureaus he has assigned himself and other city commissioners to oversee … Wheeler announced he will keep his posts as commissioner in charge of police, housing, planning, development, and management and finance. He gave up control of three other bureaus that are small by comparison: the Bureau of Emergency Management, Bureau of Emergency Communications and Office of Equity and Human Rights.”

FYI: The Mercury has more.