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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency Services Missing girl's family, friends, want more info from police Couple's creativity and hard work fuel Kid Time! preschool expansion LNG project: Where the gas would flow, so would the money Time for a little winter prospecting Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Missing girl's family, friends, want more info from police Emergency Services Suspect in high-speed chase still unaccounted for Emergency services Politics and Elections State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means Education Traveling artist sets the stage for Ruch School amphitheater Ruch school class focuses on the natural environment Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Logos may offer students 'fifth year' at RCC or SOU St. Mary's plays host to youth robotics tournament Environment Monument expansion expected to increase tourism, protect resources Biologist resigns over LNG reporting failure Bird flu discovered in Winston backyard flock Jackson County holds back on enforcing GMO ban for now No fish, no funding for problem dams State News Oregon missionary deported back to U.S. faces molestation charges Poverty rate in Oregon schools jumps since 2007 Northwest poultry producers fear bird flu outbreak may hurt exports John Day loggers, conservationists cut a deal to save a mill Seaside man accused in child's death Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Obituaries Patricia Ann Burton Alan Leslie Kenmoen Sharon Kay Boldt David A. Schneider Dovie Mae Stout Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Harbaugh, 49ers agree to part ways Beavers' Andersen hires offensive coaches No. 10 Beavers fall to No. 8 Vols Falls comes up big for South Medford UCLA isn’t looking back after Kentucky shellacking Varsity 541 College Sports Beavers' Andersen hires offensive coaches No. 10 Beavers fall to No. 8 Vols UCLA isn’t looking back after Kentucky shellacking No. 1 Kentucky holds off No. 4 Louisville Winston is in his 'sanctuary' at Rose Bowl Pro Sports Harbaugh, 49ers agree to part ways Raptors halt Clippers' home streak NBA’s trading season has started early Ryan cleans out office, awaits his fate Garrett refused to give up on Cowboys Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape Business Latest Stories LNG project: Where the gas would flow, so would the money Southern Oregon Surrogacy Center opens in Medford Silvio Calabi: GLA250 is a Merc for the masses Blog: The Holidays Have Arrived Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Real Estate News Rental owners group reports 2.48 percent vacancy rate More sales, but no change in residential housing median price People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 Transportation Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Agriculture K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Opinion Latest Our View: Council is barking up the right tree Letters to the Editor, Dec. 28 Another View: Jeb Bush's Republican primary hurdles Dana Milbank: Larry Klayman's legal massacre Robert Samuelson: The best stats of 2014 Editorials Our View: Council is barking up the right tree Other Views: Roseburg VA director sets the right goals Our View: Thanks to four departing leaders Other Views: Yes, Virginia ... Our View: Small post offices no longer practical Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 28 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 26 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 25 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 24 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 23 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Guest Opinion: Forest thinning means water for the future Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Lifestyle Latest stories Time for a year-end memory workout This local dog has his say Blog: BOOK IT! Friday: Last 3-Team Parlay of 2014 Keeps the Empties in the Garage Longer Community blog: Why New Year�s Resolutions Don�t Work and What to Do Instead Fishing report: Friday, Dec. 26 Food Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Kitchen Call: The comfort of creamy soups Community blog: Baking contest finalists combine cookies, candies Community blog: 'Cookbook Book' digests genre's past 300 years Community blog: Liver pat� an easy nosh for Hanukkah and beyond Home and Garden Dear Monty: Can a rookie real estate agent be a good choice? Bathtub or shower: What’s best for you? Home Help: Home safety tips for a safe and happy winter season How NOT to install drywall Dear Monty: Siblings dispute inherited real estate Health Community blog: Why New Year�s Resolutions Don�t Work and What to Do Instead Community blog: I Get It. Took a While. Health Watch: Small diet changes can make a big difference Community blog: Removing Barriers Is Good Insurance Health Watch: Change up your treadmill workout Hiking Biking Faith (No heading) Churches, synagogs host seasonal events Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Milestones and Achievements Pear Blossom queen has open heart surgery Hundreds enjoy Christmas dinner, gifts at St. Vincent de Paul SinceYou Asked: SBA would work with Mt. Ashland Ski Area about loan Fans, friends and family welcome home victorious SOU team at airport Wedding: Boldt-Mahon Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Dobra Tea menu offers hundreds of brews SugarBeats headline an all-ages dance party at Historic Ashland Armory In the Pocket releases 'I Got News' Live Music in Local Clubs Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Theater ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Music SugarBeats headline an all-ages dance party at Historic Ashland Armory In the Pocket releases 'I Got News' Live Music in Local Clubs Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present 'The Holly and the Ivy' Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Community Events Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Dancing People Company celebrates the solstice Dance to the Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Dining Dobra Tea menu offers hundreds of brews Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Coffee shops roll out holiday-inspired drinks Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Council is barking up the right tree ... Suspect in high-speed chase still unaccounted for ... Southern Oregon Surrogacy Center opens in Medford ... Our View: Council is barking up the right tree ... Suspect in high-speed chase still unaccounted for ... Southern Oregon Surrogacy Center opens in Medford ... 2015 CHANGES Employers brace for new laws in 2015 Minimum wage goes up; health care rules change Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 28, 2014 @ 2:00 am By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 28, 2014 @ 2:00 am » Social News Oregon’s minimum wage will increase 15 cents to $9.25 an hour in January, but new rules for providing affordable health care coverage likely will have an even bigger impact on employers next year. “We have to change the health insurance offering,” said Nikki Jones, part owner of Express Employment Professionals. “It increases our costs unfortunately.” Express Employment provides health insurance to its 450 temporary workers in the Medford and Grants Pass area. She said her company has assumed more of the cost of health care coverage to keep the rates affordable to employees, a requirement of the Affordable Care Act. “We may see a temporary increase in demand for temporary workers as employers try to figure it out,” Jones said. The minimum wage increase and changes to health care coverage aren’t the only laws that will take effect next year. A number of new laws will take effect on Jan. 1, but then on July 1, marijuana will be legal for those 21 and older will be effective. Other changes to health care laws are also going to be rolled out. Large employers with 100 or more workers must start providing health benefits to their full-time employees by 2015 and to at least 95 percent by 2016. Small employers, those with 50 to 99 employees, have until Jan. 1, 2016, to comply. The minimum wage increase probably will not be as big an impact for employers because it is a lot lower than some were demanding, Jones said. “I think the small, incremental changes aren’t as detrimental as if you go from $9.10 to $10.10,” she said. Jones said service and retail operations will feel the impact of the minimum wage hike more. Unfortunately for employers, they are being hit with an increase in the minimum wage and must absorb a greater share of health care costs at the same time, she said. Jones said a majority of her clients already pay more than the minimum wage, so that increase won’t have as much of an impact. Oregon has the second highest minimum wage in the nation at $9.10, second only to Washington, which is $9.32 an hour but will go up to $9.47. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Workers under federal contracts will receive $10.10 an hour, but the federal minimum wage generally has remained untouched since 2009. Other laws that go on the books in January will be of interest to many Jackson County residents. A bill sponsored by Rep. Gail Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, will require giving buyers a chance to test a home for methamphetamine contamination during foreclosure auctions. Whitsett’s bill was prompted by a couple whose young son fell ill after they unwittingly bought a former meth house. The couple later discovered the house still had high residues of meth. Rep. Sal Esquivel, R-Medford, said he didn’t have a big problem with the law but felt that it is ultimately the buyer’s responsibility to carefully examine a house. He said that in the example cited by Whitsett, a realtor did suggest a whole house inspection. “They refused a whole house inspection,” he said. Another law that takes effect January will allow those convicted of minor marijuana offenses from other states to obtain a concealed handgun license in Oregon. Previously, residents who had minor marijuana offenses in Oregon could get a concealed weapons permit, while those convicted in another state could not. Another new law will allow tenants in mobile home parks can organize an association to purchase a park that is up for sale . Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/reporterdm .   By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 28, 2014 @ 2:00 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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