Unemployment trust funds across the country are under tremendous stress, but officials with Oregon's Employment Department assured a legislative panel today (Tuesday) that the state's unemployment trust fund remains on solid ground. That's despite paying out some jaw-dropping amounts of benefits recently. Salem Correspondent Chris Lehman reports.
« August 2009 | Main | October 2009 »
September 2009
09/29/2009
09/25/2009
09/24/2009
The Crush Part One: Go West! Wine-Makers Set Up Shop in Woodinville
(pictured: Dusted Valley Vintner tasting room in Woodinville)
WOODINVILLE - Walla Walla is known as Washington's wine capital. But as the economy has faltered, a trend is emerging. Eastern Washington winemakers are heading West over the Cascades. They're opening tasting rooms in Woodinville wine country (near Seattle) - to be closer to their customers. This week as winemakers process their latest grape harvest - we're looking at how the wine industry is adjusting to the new economy. In part one of The Crush, Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports on the westward expansion of eastside vintners.
Continue reading "The Crush Part One: Go West! Wine-Makers Set Up Shop in Woodinville" »
The Crush Part Two: New Business Plan for Walla Walla Wineries
(photo: Gilles Nicault, a winemaker for Long Shadows out of Walla Walla, WA, inspects his grapes on Red Mountain. He makes high end wines - which face a tough economy.)
WALLA WALLA, WA - The bad economy has hit the Northwest wine industry hard. That’s especially true in the market for high-end wines. In the last 20 years, Washington alone has added 600 new wineries. Now, signs of stress are leaking out in one of the region’s wine hubs, the Walla Walla Valley.
09/21/2009
Two NW Families Struggle as Unemployment Benefits Run Out, But Still No Job
Congress is considering granting yet another extension of unemployment benefits to out of work Americans. But unless lawmakers act quickly, thousands across the Northwest will soon cash their final unemployment insurance checks. They're part of a wave of people who've exhausted their jobless benefits, but still haven't found work. Correspondent Austin Jenkins introduces us to two Northwest families in this predicament.
For Casi LaLonde a trip back to the busted mill town of Cosmopolis, Washington is a trip down memory lane.
Casi LaLonde, Unemployed Worker: “We are looking at the place I used to work. The Cosmopolis Pulp Mill. Kind of a ghost town now.” LaLonde spent 12 years here operating heavy equipment and running the scale shack. A union worker, she could pull down 80-grand a year with overtime.
Casi LaLonde, Unemployed Worker: “I miss the money I made there, but I don't really miss the work.” It's been three years now since Weyerhaeuser shut down the mill and laid everyone off. LaLonde remembers that day well.
Casi LaLonde, Unemployed Worker: “I'd like to say I was clicking my heels out the door, but I was scared, I was bitter, very bitter at Weyerhaeuser.”
That bitterness didn't last long. LaLonde immediately switched gears. Within weeks she enrolled in Community College and later she transferred to The Evergreen State College. In June she graduated with a Bachelor's in Social Services. LaLonde's classmates chose her to speak at graduation. Back in her apartment in Aberdeen, Washington she reads from that speech.
Casi LaLonde, Unemployed Worker: “Remember this day and revel in the fact that we're all on a level playing field, only separated by time and circumstances and not ability, hope or promise.”
Casi LaLonde, Unemployed Worker: “It's a totally different feeling reading now. It kind of just feels like words. I really I meant when I was saying it though. I was so full of hope. I felt successful. Today I don't feel successful.”
That's because LaLonde can't find a job. And now to make matters worse her unemployment benefits have run out. She cashed her last check. She's a single mom. And her bank account is almost empty.
Casi LaLonde, Unemployed Worker: “Ya, I'm probably about a month away from homeless. I've been looking for jobs that I never thought I would do in my life after obtaining my degree. I'm scared to death.”
LaLonde is far from alone. Across the Northwest, some 35-thousand people will exhaust their unemployment benefits by year's end. That means they will have used up the standard 26 weeks of benefits. Plus several extensions authorized by Congress. In most cases, a jobless worker these days can draw unemployment for a year-and-a-half. And yet for many – in this economy – it's still not enough to bridge the gap between jobs.
At the Thurston County Food Bank in Olympia, Michael Danielson picks up supplies for the week – mostly fresh produce.
(photo: Michael Danielson, wife Hadley and son Giovanni at their Olympia Apartment.)
Michael Danielson, Unemployed Worker: “Let's get a handful of jalapenos. That'll spice up our life a little while.” Danielson, who has a wife and one year old child, is another Northwest worker who's recently exhausted his unemployment benefits. Danielson lost his job as a manager at Blockbuster video nearly two years ago. Back in their cramped apartment, Danielson's wife Hadley says the unemployment benefits were a blessing for as many weeks as they lasted.
Hadley Danielson, Wife of Unemployed Worker: “We certainly were very lucky to have it past the normal 26 and you can't expect it go on forever, but it would be really nice if it went on a little bit longer. We'd feel a lot safer.” Laughter quickly turns to tears as Michael contemplates having to ask their church again for help paying the rent.
Michael Danielson, Unemployed Worker: “The first time you do it it's hard and every time you do it after that it gets worse, not easier.” Michael still manages a sense of humor when he imagines the conversation with his church elders.
Michael Danielson, Unemployed Worker: “Everybody says God will provide. Well evidently God is providing through you guys right now and I'd really like to get to the point where he's providing through me as the head of the household. That's really where my personal humility comes in – humility versus humiliation – you got to ride that fine line.” The line Danielson isn't willing to cross – at least not yet – is working in a fast food restaurant.
Michael Danielson, Unemployed Worker: “They say you can be the night manager at Wendy's. You can be the night manager at Taco Bell. No I'm sorry. I've done that before in high school and I'd really prefer to keep looking. I'm sure that the right thing is out there.” Danielson's found a website where he can get paid writing assignments. He's also a ten hour a week personal assistant – another gig he found on-line. But it's not enough. So he and his family have signed up for TANF – that's government speak for welfare.
Back in Aberdeen, Washington, Casi LaLonde is hoping Congress authorizes another extension on jobless benefits. She says the worst part about her situation is feeling like she's let down her eleven year old daughter. Casi admits to being depressed.
Casi LaLonde, Unemployed Worker: “There's days when I don't get out of bed and that doesn't mean I'm lazy. You know sometimes it just becomes too much.”
So far LaLonde has managed to avoid sending her daughter to live with her dad in order to take a job far away, but now she says she might not have a choice. I'm Austin Jenkins reporting.
Copyright 2009 KUOW
Casi LaLonde, Unemployed Worker: “We are looking at the place I used to work. The Cosmopolis Pulp Mill. Kind of a ghost town now.” LaLonde spent 12 years here operating heavy equipment and running the scale shack. A union worker, she could pull down 80-grand a year with overtime.
Casi LaLonde, Unemployed Worker: “I miss the money I made there, but I don't really miss the work.” It's been three years now since Weyerhaeuser shut down the mill and laid everyone off. LaLonde remembers that day well.
Casi LaLonde, Unemployed Worker: “I'd like to say I was clicking my heels out the door, but I was scared, I was bitter, very bitter at Weyerhaeuser.”
That bitterness didn't last long. LaLonde immediately switched gears. Within weeks she enrolled in Community College and later she transferred to The Evergreen State College. In June she graduated with a Bachelor's in Social Services. LaLonde's classmates chose her to speak at graduation. Back in her apartment in Aberdeen, Washington she reads from that speech.
Casi LaLonde, Unemployed Worker: “Remember this day and revel in the fact that we're all on a level playing field, only separated by time and circumstances and not ability, hope or promise.”
Casi LaLonde, Unemployed Worker: “It's a totally different feeling reading now. It kind of just feels like words. I really I meant when I was saying it though. I was so full of hope. I felt successful. Today I don't feel successful.”
That's because LaLonde can't find a job. And now to make matters worse her unemployment benefits have run out. She cashed her last check. She's a single mom. And her bank account is almost empty.
Casi LaLonde, Unemployed Worker: “Ya, I'm probably about a month away from homeless. I've been looking for jobs that I never thought I would do in my life after obtaining my degree. I'm scared to death.”
LaLonde is far from alone. Across the Northwest, some 35-thousand people will exhaust their unemployment benefits by year's end. That means they will have used up the standard 26 weeks of benefits. Plus several extensions authorized by Congress. In most cases, a jobless worker these days can draw unemployment for a year-and-a-half. And yet for many – in this economy – it's still not enough to bridge the gap between jobs.
At the Thurston County Food Bank in Olympia, Michael Danielson picks up supplies for the week – mostly fresh produce.
(photo: Michael Danielson, wife Hadley and son Giovanni at their Olympia Apartment.)
Michael Danielson, Unemployed Worker: “Let's get a handful of jalapenos. That'll spice up our life a little while.” Danielson, who has a wife and one year old child, is another Northwest worker who's recently exhausted his unemployment benefits. Danielson lost his job as a manager at Blockbuster video nearly two years ago. Back in their cramped apartment, Danielson's wife Hadley says the unemployment benefits were a blessing for as many weeks as they lasted.
Hadley Danielson, Wife of Unemployed Worker: “We certainly were very lucky to have it past the normal 26 and you can't expect it go on forever, but it would be really nice if it went on a little bit longer. We'd feel a lot safer.” Laughter quickly turns to tears as Michael contemplates having to ask their church again for help paying the rent.
Michael Danielson, Unemployed Worker: “The first time you do it it's hard and every time you do it after that it gets worse, not easier.” Michael still manages a sense of humor when he imagines the conversation with his church elders.
Michael Danielson, Unemployed Worker: “Everybody says God will provide. Well evidently God is providing through you guys right now and I'd really like to get to the point where he's providing through me as the head of the household. That's really where my personal humility comes in – humility versus humiliation – you got to ride that fine line.” The line Danielson isn't willing to cross – at least not yet – is working in a fast food restaurant.
Michael Danielson, Unemployed Worker: “They say you can be the night manager at Wendy's. You can be the night manager at Taco Bell. No I'm sorry. I've done that before in high school and I'd really prefer to keep looking. I'm sure that the right thing is out there.” Danielson's found a website where he can get paid writing assignments. He's also a ten hour a week personal assistant – another gig he found on-line. But it's not enough. So he and his family have signed up for TANF – that's government speak for welfare.
Back in Aberdeen, Washington, Casi LaLonde is hoping Congress authorizes another extension on jobless benefits. She says the worst part about her situation is feeling like she's let down her eleven year old daughter. Casi admits to being depressed.
Casi LaLonde, Unemployed Worker: “There's days when I don't get out of bed and that doesn't mean I'm lazy. You know sometimes it just becomes too much.”
So far LaLonde has managed to avoid sending her daughter to live with her dad in order to take a job far away, but now she says she might not have a choice. I'm Austin Jenkins reporting.
Copyright 2009 KUOW
09/15/2009
09/10/2009
09/09/2009
The Crush Part 3: Northwest Winemakers Team With Stars
(Pictured: Kyle MacLachlan and Eric Dunham sip some Baby Bear wine straight from the barrel. The L.A.-based actor and Walla Walla winemaker have teamed up to make high-end wines.)
RICHLAND If you want to see stars outside of Hollywood, head to a Northwest winery. Across the region winemakers are increasingly courting rockers, artists and movie stars to help market premium wines. In the down economy, they hope a little rub of star dust will add some cache to the fermented juice. In part three of our series on wine in the new economy called "The Crush," Correspondent Anna King reports on how big names are investing a little cash down on the farm.
Continue reading "The Crush Part 3: Northwest Winemakers Team With Stars" »