The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted unanimously Friday morning to continue an investigation into Chinese subsidies for solar panel products. Many U.S. companies fear subsidized solar panels are negatively impacting the U.S. solar panel manufacturing industry.
The decision comes after SolarWorld, a solar energy company based in Hillsboro, Ore., filed a formal complaint last October, petitioning the federal government to halt the rise of heavily subsidized solar cells and panels that the China’s state-supported solar industry is currently dumping into the American market. SolarWorld contends that the U.S. industry is suffering severe harm to employment, pricing, production and shipment, and that solar cell imports has resulted in the elimination of thousands U.S. jobs.
 
The Oregon Justice Department is compiling a list of charities that citizens should donate to this holiday season. The list is meant to offer guidance to citizens in avoiding charities that may be scams. The department released a similar list last year.
 
Republican congressional candidate Rob Cornilles came under fire last week after describing himself as “pro-life” and supporting restricted access to abortion. He is supported by Oregon Right to Life, the largest anti-abortion group in Oregon. Cornilles is running against Suzanne Bonamici to fill the vacancy left by David Wu for the seat in the 1st Congressional District. The special election will take place January 31, 2012.