Who's Moving Oregon Forward? Rankings • Policy Analysis http://www.oregonrainmakers.com/https://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mvbd6s2kkc2bOregon’s reading outcomes now 50th in the country. I signed this petition calling for five specific reforms. www.pencil4gov.com/signpetition Worth reading, and worth watching the interview that led me to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKb-tYr-Isk https://www.pencil4gov.com/signpetition11 Sep 2026 19:42 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvbd6s2kkc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mv7jwsjhjk25+1 Oregon Investment Council; Elizabeth Steiner, plans to reduce PERS private equity from 23% to 19% https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2026/09/02/oregon-pers-investment-council-asset-allocation.html #Oregon #OregonPolitics #PERS #OregonPERS #OregonInvestmentCouncil #OregonTreasury #ElizabethSteiner #PublicPensions #PrivateEquity #OregonGovernment11 Sep 2026 02:38 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv7jwsjhjk25https://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mv6ouyptc22w+3 Portland State University; National Science Foundation, building a pipeline to turn Oregon research into companies and jobs https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2026/09/01/psu-nsf-research-commercialization.html #PortlandState #PSU #OregonInnovation #OregonEconomy #Startups #TechnologyTransfer #ResearchCommercialization #OregonRainmakers10 Sep 2026 18:33 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv6ouyptc22whttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mv4irrummk2v+1 University of Portland, launches three-year undergrad business degree If you want to fund a lobbyist to work on the issue of free public universities in Oregon, please do so here: www.oregonrainmakers.com/take-action #UniversityOfPortland #HigherEducation #CollegeAffordability #OregonEducation09 Sep 2026 21:39 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv4irrummk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mv4cqar4i22jCorporations and wealthy people hire lobbyists. What if Oregonians hired professional lobbyists for specific policy changes we actually want? See the proposals and tell us what you’d fund: www.oregonrainmakers.com/take-action #OregonRainmakers #OregonPolitics #OregonLegislature #Oregon09 Sep 2026 19:51 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv4cqar4i22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3muzrf3pusk2k-3 @hhsofficial.bsky.social U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, cuts food safety capacity as major outbreaks strain the system https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/08/31/repub/a-summer-of-recalls-exposes-holes-in-the-nations-food-safety-net/ https://www.oregonrainmakers.com/blog/rainmaker-rankings-august-30-september-5-2026 #FoodSafety #PublicHealth #CDC #FDA #HHS #FoodborneIllness #GovernmentAccountability08 Sep 2026 19:35 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3muzrf3pusk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3muzl4sujss2k+1 The Federal Trade Commission sues Amazon over alleged scheme to inflate advertising prices. The lawsuit could benefit Oregon businesses and consumers even though Oregon did not join the case. #FederalTradeCommission #FTC #Amazon #ConsumerProtection #SmallBusiness #OregonBusiness #OregonRainmakers08 Sep 2026 17:43 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3muzl4sujss2khttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3musmbrc26k2wWho moved Oregon forward this week? | August 23–29, 2026 https://www.oregonrainmakers.com/blog/rainmaker-rankings-august-23-29-2026 #Oregon #OregonPolitics #OregonGovernment #OregonBusiness #LocalGovernment #GovernmentAccountability #OregonRainmakers05 Sep 2026 23:15 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3musmbrc26k2whttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3muskmd7vrs2w-2 City of Independence, fenced off city parks amid funding dispute +1 Friends of Community Parks, provided $30k to reopen two parks #Oregon #IndependenceOregon #CityOfIndependence #OregonPolitics #LocalGovernment #PublicParks #CommunityParks #GovernmentAccountability #PublicSpending05 Sep 2026 22:45 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3muskmd7vrs2whttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3muq652ngok2z@multcoauditor.bsky.social found the County bought 15 properties and did zero independent appraisals https://multco.us/info/multnomah-county-real-estate-purchases #Oregon #MultnomahCounty #GovernmentAccountability #TaxpayerDollars #PublicSpending #GovernmentOversight #RealEstate #PublicAudit #FiscalResponsibility #OregonPolitics04 Sep 2026 23:56 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3muq652ngok2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mupqckfjvs2z+2 Oregon Department of Justice, secured $125M from Meta and new child-safety rules -3 Meta, built addictive products that harmed children https://www.oregonrainmakers.com/blog/rainmaker-rankings-august-23-29-2026 #Meta #Instagram #Facebook #SocialMedia #OnlineSafety #ChildSafety #ConsumerProtection #TechPolicy04 Sep 2026 19:49 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mupqckfjvs2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3munjxpa5ls2u-1 Portland City Administration, 7 costly executive exits as leadership vacancies mount #Portland #PortlandOregon #PortlandPolitics #CityOfPortland #OregonPolitics #GovernmentAccountability #PublicSpending #TaxpayerMoney #CityManagement #GovernmentTransparency #OregonRainmakers03 Sep 2026 22:50 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3munjxpa5ls2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mun642i7ac2u+1 Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, invested $185K in two Oregon startups: Yak Tech and Harmonee AI. #Oregon #OregonStartups #OregonBusiness #Entrepreneurship #AngelInvesting #OregonEntrepreneurs #TechStartups #ArtificialIntelligence #PortlandOregon #KlamathFalls #EconomicDevelopment #RainmakerRankings03 Sep 2026 19:18 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mun642i7ac2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mun4tlr4cs2u+1 Oregon State Sheriffs' Association for expelling John Ward from sheriffs’ group 28-0, 2nd expulsion in 110 years. #Oregon #CurryCounty #JohnWard #OregonSheriffs #LawEnforcement #GovernmentAccountability #PublicTrust #PoliceAccountability #OregonPolitics #RainmakerRankings03 Sep 2026 18:55 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mun4tlr4cs2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mukhkwqal22t-3 Trump Administration, USPS for creating a federal checkpoint before Oregon voters receive their ballots by mail. +2 Dan Rayfield, for continuing to sue to stop the executive order 0 Tobias Read, needs to find an alternative statewide method for getting ballots to voters if USPS rule stands.02 Sep 2026 17:29 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mukhkwqal22thttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mukdvilxhs2t@panic.com refunded nearly $100,000 to customers after the federal government returned tariffs that the Supreme Court had ruled illegal. It’s a strong example of a company treating customers right. #Oregon #VideoGames #Gaming #IndieGames #OregonBusiness #Tech #Tariffs #ConsumerRefund02 Sep 2026 16:24 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mukdvilxhs2thttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mufue7gmwc2x@oregonstate.edu opened PacWave South off the Oregon coast. The facility allows companies to test full-scale wave-energy technologies and connect them directly to the electrical grid. https://www.oregonrainmakers.com/blog/rainmaker-rankings-august-23-29-2026 #Oregon #PacWave #WaveEnergy #CleanEnergy #OregonStateUniversity31 Aug 2026 21:35 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mufue7gmwc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3muft64ygfk2xQuaise Energy raised $180 million to advance Project Obsidian near Bend. The investment is a meaningful step toward testing a potentially valuable new energy source in Oregon. https://www.oregonrainmakers.com/blog/rainmaker-rankings-august-23-29-2026 #Oregon #Geothermal #CleanEnergy #QuaiseEnergy #BendOregon #EnergyInnovation31 Aug 2026 21:14 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3muft64ygfk2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3muau5vcgds2eWho moved Oregon forward this week? August 9-15, 2026 Score points by making Oregon easier (or harder) to live, work, and raise a family in. https://www.oregonrainmakers.com/blog/rainmaker-rankings-august-9-15-2026 #OregonPolitics #OregonRainmakers #Oregon #OregonGovernment29 Aug 2026 21:48 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3muau5vcgds2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3muasycwnqc2eProsper Portland launched an $800,000 grant program to help small businesses move into vacant retail spaces across Portland. https://www.oregonrainmakers.com/blog/rainmaker-rankings-august-16-22-2026 #Portland #ProsperPortland #SmallBusiness #PortlandBusiness #EconomicDevelopment #DowntownPortland #OregonBusiness29 Aug 2026 21:27 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3muasycwnqc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3muasdlgb7k2eUmatilla County Sheriff Terry Rowan may have his law-enforcement certification revoked for at least three years. https://www.oregonrainmakers.com/blog/rainmaker-rankings-august-16-22-2026 #Oregon #OregonPolitics #UmatillaCounty #PoliceAccountability #GovernmentAccountability #PublicSafety #OregonRainmakers29 Aug 2026 21:15 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3muasdlgb7k2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mu67rct4uc2iThe U.S. Forest Service awarded more than $15 million to 20 Oregon projects. Link to google map of award winners: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1CIlzC9Hk9EjDRdAaWOQoTL-l5rS9qsg&ll=44.815565571957855%2C-121.66508585169574&z=728 Aug 2026 20:38 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu67rct4uc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mu5zoo6ky22vGenentech's planned $750 million Hillsboro expansion is a major investment in Oregon manufacturing. But the project also includes a forgivable state loan approved by @tinakotek.bsky.social. Its amount and conditions have not yet been disclosed.28 Aug 2026 18:49 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5zoo6ky22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mu5y6w4xds2v@ogec.bsky.social voted unanimously to investigate former @homeforward.bsky.social CEO Ivory Mathews after a preliminary review found grounds to believe she may have violated state ethics and conflict-of-interest laws through agency-funded travel. https://www.oregonrainmakers.com/blog/rainmaker-rankings-august-16-22-202628 Aug 2026 18:22 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5y6w4xds2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mtuejohmsc2uState Rep Court Boice publicly called on Sheriff John Ward to resign, citing documented misconduct and Ward’s failure to comply with county oversight efforts. In a small county where the sheriff remains politically popular, Boice is taking a visible political risk.24 Aug 2026 22:36 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtuejohmsc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mtudfrvrqs2uPortland Solutions helped protect Urban Alchemy’s public image while the city’s largest homeless-services contractor faced more than 150 grievances and growing questions about accountability. https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/records-show-city-staff-pr-firm-coordinating-to-polish-urban-alchemys-image/ #PortlandPolitics #UrbanAlchemy #PortlandSolutions24 Aug 2026 22:16 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtudfrvrqs2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mttr6rfyq22n@BallmerGroup @Steven_Ballmer committed $125 million to expand @uoregon bachelor’s behavioral health model. But the gift highlights a larger problem with billionaire philanthropy: individuals with enormous fortunes can effectively decide which social problems deserve solutions.24 Aug 2026 16:50 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mttr6rfyq22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mtozhd5sh22f22 Aug 2026 19:35 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtozhd5sh22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mtk5viytck2g@repdexteror.bsky.social made an unannounced oversight visit to the Tacoma immigration detention center after reports of a hunger strike and poor conditions. https://www.oregonrainmakers.com/blog/rainmaker-rankings-august-9-15-2026 #MaxineDexter #ICE #ImmigrationDetention #TacomaDetentionCenter #Immigration20 Aug 2026 21:11 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtk5viytck2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/oregonrainmakers.bsky.social/post/3mtk4babuys2jProvidence Portland is adding 96 hospital beds. Oregon has one of the lowest rates of hospital beds per person in the country, at 1.6 beds per 1,000 residents compared with a national average of 2.35. https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2026/08/13/providence-portland-hospital-beds-oregon.html https://www.oregonrainmakers.com/blog/rainmaker-rankings-august-9-15-202620 Aug 2026 20:42 +0000at://did:plc:vhsdhvoxmtsbvwgqsupml2ah/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtk4babuys2j