SPORTS ●Blazing away. The estate of billionaire Paul Allen has put the Trail Blazers up for sale. Allen’s sister, Jody, has controlled the team since his death in 2018. His will called for the franchise to be sold “at some point” in the future. The team is valued at $3.6 billion. Allen bought it in 1988 for $70 million. FARMS AND FORESTS ●Confection connection. Italian candy maker Ferrero has deepened its investment in Oregon with a $500,000 donation to Oregon State University for research into hazelnut production. The company uses Oregon hazelnuts in its celebrated Ferrero Rocher candies and the popular chocolate-hazelnut spread Nutella. MANUFACTURING ●Closing its doors. Jeld-Wen announced the closure of its Chiloquin door-making factory. The company, headquartered in North Carolina, was founded in Klamath Falls and was once the largest private company in Oregon. ECONOMY AND FINANCE ●Crossing streams. Umpqua Bank will change its name to Columbia Bank, a Tacoma, Wash.-based institution that bought Umpqua in 2021. The Lake Oswego-based bank is the largest bank based in Oregon. ●Dealt a bad hand. Around 250 UPS “manual” workers will lose their jobs with upcoming automation at the Swan Island shipping hub. After posting a $1 billion loss last year, the company is consolidating operations near dozens of shipping hubs in the U.S. TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION ●Air(port) exclusion zone. Portland International Airport unveiled a new, exclusive common-use lounge. For $40, travelers of all airlines can access private seating, showers, Wi-Fi, a chef-curated menu and a bar. POLITICS ●Greener pastures. Former Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan was fined $3,600 for failing to disclose a consulting side gig in the pot industry while serving as Oregon’s second-highest- ranking public official. The once-rising Democratic pol apologized, calling her actions “indefensible.” ●The business front. Federal police arrested the owner of regional money-serve business La Popular, who allegedly used the company to launder $18.5 million in dirty money for drug traffickers. The 39-yearold owner faces 20 years in federal prison if convicted. REAL ESTATE ●Humane resources. In light of federal cuts, the global humanitarian nonprofit MercyCorps has opted to sell its Old Town headquarters building. Leaders say the organization pals Deek Heykamp and Bryan Knudsen. ●Industrial metal techno. Albany-based Metal Technology was acquired by California-based military tech firm Karman for $90 million. Karman expects to secure defense work through Elon Musk’s SpaceX. TECH ●Cleaning house. San Jose, Calif.-based Adobe announced it will close its office in Southwest Portland. The software company allowed 56 employees to continue to work remotely, but 47 were told to relocate to California or Washington or be laid off. ALCOHOL AND CANNABIS ●Hard hats, hard liquor. In April the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission broke ground on a new distilled- spirits distribution center in Canby. The $87.6 million facility, dubbed “Project Meadowlark,” is intended as a modern update to the current facility in Milwaukie, in operation since the 1950s. ARTS AND MEDIA ●Best Enterprise reporting. The Malheur Enterprise printed its final edition after 115 years in operation. Husband-andwife owners Les Zaitz and Scotta Callister opted to retire in May, 10 years after purchasing the paper and winning numerous journalism awards. ●If You Give a Mouse a Pickle. Owners of the collegiate summer-league Portland Pickles have sued the Walt Disney Company for trademark infringement for naming a team the “Pickles” on the company’s streaming program “Win or Lose.” will still employ people in the Portland area, but the office, which lists for $18 million, had become “underutilized.” ●Firm footing. An expansive economic development effort to make Portland a footwear and apparel mecca called Made in Old Town announced its first four tenants, who are expected to arrive in August. When fully built out, project leaders say Made in Old Town will cover eight to 10 buildings and employ 400 people. ●Crane bust. The semiannual RLB Crane Index recorded the lowest mark for Portland in more than a decade with just five cranes in the air earlier this year. RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS ●Love me, love my dogs. California-based hot dog spot Wienerschnitzel has targeted the Pacific Northwest for expansion and is looking for franchise owners to manage new Oregon locations. The chain hasn’t had a restaurant in Oregon since one in Portland closed 20 years ago. ●Adventure capitalists. The longtime owners of outdoor- gear retailer Next Adventure announced they will shutter all four of their Oregon locations this year. The company, with a flagship store on Portland’s Central Eastside, was founded 28 years ago by childhood ⁄Newsfeed⁄ Paul Allen’s estate has put the Portland Trail Blazers up for sale. SHUTTERSTOCK 6
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