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1 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 Talent leaders remember Brian Roberts as champion for civil liberties, water system improvements California governor orders mandatory water restrictions in state Standing Stone owners will open brew pub in downtown Medford Retired geology professor talks about earthquakes Jacksonville resident Gary Dahl, creator of the Pet Rock, dies at 78 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Oregon AG sues White City company over subscription scam Police investigate mini-spree of White City car break-ins Siskiyou County man arrested near Talent on kidnapping charges One person suffers smoke inhalation in Ashland house fire on Union Street Politics and Elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for one year Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Education New SOU board hikes tuition 5 percent Southern Oregon Education Service District superintendent to retire in June Which comes first: The rocket or the egg? Medford School District one of most accident-prone in state Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Environment A sea-foam change Rogue Valley lions on their way to California Corps hopes to clear Lost Creek Lake of debris Beetles taking toll on Ashland pines Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 State News Navy vet recalls a time of MAD, and nukes in Vietnam Seaside moves closer to allowing pot dispensaries Democratic schools budget clears Oregon House: $7.3 billion Oregon ski areas ask lawmakers for re-strengthened lawsuit protection More truck traffic coming into Oregon via Highway 97 Nation - World Obituaries Gary Dahl Death Notices Edward Thomas Reichenbach Frederick David Schatz James Francis Poole Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories South’s Fisher ties for third in SWC opener North dominates in SWC opener Patriots owner Kraft testifies in Hernandez trial Djokovic triumphs, but Venus Williams falls Randle sets record, leads Stanford in NIT Varsity 541 College Sports Randle sets record, leads Stanford in NIT UConn coaches won’t go to Indiana for Final Four Coaches hired for league-bound RCC Looking for a leader Sports leagues need to fight Indiana law Pro Sports Patriots owner Kraft testifies in Hernandez trial Djokovic triumphs, but Venus Williams falls Cubs' Lester frustrated by Bryant’s demotion Ko rolls toward LPGA history NASCAR penalizes RCR, Newman for tires Community Sports Business Latest Stories Standing Stone owners will open brew pub in downtown Medford A study in fine-tuned artistry Cars We Remember: ‘Topper’ movie car most memorable After being sidelined by blindness, Stan Moore returns to the bike business in Medford Mandatory paid sick leave gets mixed reviews Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business, March 26, 2015 Transportation Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Agriculture Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Harry & David announces new president Opinion Latest Our View: The tangled web at Medford's Northgate Centre Letters to the Editor, April1 Kathleen Parker: Religious freedom is a two-way street Landgren cartoon: European travel essentials Our View: Lawmakers ending a small annoyance in the law Editorials Our View: The tangled web at Medford's Northgate Centre Our View: Lawmakers ending a small annoyance in the law Other Views: Sage grouse listing would be unfortunate Our View: Phoenix lion sanctuary was a missed opportunity Other Views: Gun background check bill won't make us safer Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, April1 Letters to the Editor, March 31 Letters to the Editor, March 30 Letters to the Editor, March 29 Letters to the Editor, March 28 Columns Kathleen Parker: Religious freedom is a two-way street Guest Opinion: Marijuana offers Oregon benefits, drawbacks Kathleen Parker: A leap of faith — into thin air George Will: Remembrance of Clintons past Dana Milbank: The end of the White House's insularity? Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Marijuana offers Oregon benefits, drawbacks Guest Opinion: How to end the influence of money in elections Guest Opinion: How schools teach U.S. history raises hackles Guest Opinion: Guest Opinion: Raise your voice against child abuse Lifestyle Latest stories Fish on: Winter steelhead fishing is so good on the upper Rogue that even rookies can limit out Tips for catching winter steelhead in the upper Rogue Page H. Onorato: What’s on the menu for Easter? Page H. Onorato: Leftover ham and eggs make for some yummy dishes after Easter Carol Link: It’s time to get into shape for spring yard work Food Page H. Onorato: Leftover ham and eggs make for some yummy dishes after Easter The journey from inspiration to written recipe Tammy Kelly: Lighten up traditional Easter desserts Kitchen Call: Goat cheese recipes worth bleating over Community blog: Try slightly smoky baked beans instead of refried Home and Garden Carol Link: It’s time to get into shape for spring yard work Dear Monty: Relocation brings pay raise and challenges Garden Cameos: Planning for a fragrant garden year round Paul Rogers: Choose the right tool for job in the garden Home Help: Easy enhancements for your master closet Health Brent St. Germain: Feeling the burn again HealthStyle: Normal anxiety or anxiety disorder? Community blog: How to Get Rid of a Tension Headache St. Mary's student helps others with diabetes Community blog: Sleep Tight: Making Your Bed, Body and Mind Ready for Rest Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Milestones and Achievements Haga-Parks Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Trivia Tuesdays at South Stage Cellars Sweetwater String Band tonight at Oberon's Tavern in Ashland Rising Stars raises $10,000 for LIFE Art ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ plays the Craterian Theater Here's Tempo's top five picks for live entertainment this week Theater Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' ‘A Dream of Red Pavilions’ at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Review: Education and its discontents Next Stage Repertory presents 'Educating Rita' at the Craterian Theater Eugene O'Neill's 'Long Day's Journey into Night' opens at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Music Sweetwater String Band tonight at Oberon's Tavern in Ashland Rising Stars raises $10,000 for LIFE Art ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ plays the Craterian Theater Futurebirds play the Brickroom in Ashland The 2015 Rising Stars music competition ends with its final round on the Britt stage in Jacksonville Community Events Get Up & Go: April 1 Trivia Tuesdays at South Stage Cellars Rogue Valley artist Linda Evans' pastel paintings capture landscapes of Southern Oregon Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Dining Restaurant Inspections: March 29 Basque-inspired cuisine at Eleven in Ashland Parsing the meaning behind wine medals and scores Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 22 Jasmine Thai Cuisine Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Talent leaders remember Brian Roberts as champion for civil liberties, water system improvements ... Standing Stone owners will open brew pub in downtown Medford ... Jacksonville resident Gary Dahl, creator of the Pet Rock, dies at 78 ... Talent leaders remember Brian Roberts as champion for civil liberties, water system improvements ... Standing Stone owners will open brew pub in downtown Medford ... Jacksonville resident Gary Dahl, creator of the Pet Rock, dies at 78 ... BUSINESS AND POLITICS Mandatory paid sick leave gets mixed reviews Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 27, 2015 at 5:28 PM Updated Mar 30, 2015 at 10:18 AM Bill Mayers of Adroit Construction talks about the impact of pending legislation on Oregon jobs. By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 27, 2015 at 5:28 PM Updated Mar 30, 2015 at 10:18 AM » Social News A proposed hefty jump in the state's minimum wage may have fallen by the wayside in the Oregon Legislature this week, but other bills identified by trade groups and business associations as "job killers" remain in play. A delegation from three Southern Oregon chambers of commerce met with local legislators and House and Senate leaders from both parties Thursday, hoping to influence pending legislation. Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, told the business leaders he would not send a $15-minimum-wage bill to the floor this session, welcome news to their ears. But they and a coalition of agriculture, industry and small business groups oppose another 10 bills, including Senate Bill 454, which would implement mandatory paid sick leave. The Senate Workforce Committee Thursday passed the bill by a 3-2 party-line vote, with Democrats in support, pushing it along to the Joint Ways and Means Committee. Jasper's Cafe owner John Lenz, who actively opposed the minimum-wage bill, likewise rallied resistance to SB 454. He noted that if an employee calls in sick, he still needs to have someone fill the shift, so he ends up paying two people. "It's a double-paid sick leave to me, how do I cover that?" Lenz asked. Lenz acquired Jasper's nine years ago after a long stint selling residential real estate for ReMAX. He has 17 employees to cover 13 or 14 hours of restaurant activity in order to serve customers eight hours daily. "It's not like I'm an evil owner," Lenz said. "If the labor laws go through ... you're going to cut people out, or you're going to raise prices. If you raise prices and the customers don't come in as much, then you're going to have to lay people off. Then you've raised prices and laid people off; it's not a pretty picture." Ed Chun, a former Medford City Council member and owner of Sunrise Cafe on East Main Street, calculated his daily costs would have risen by $240 if the minimum-wage bill had gone through, forcing him to lay off his dishwasher and discontinue table service. But Chun said he could live with mandatory paid sick leave. As it stands, the bill would enable employees to accrue one hour of sick time for every 30 hours they work, maxing out at 40 hours' leave annually. The sick time could be used for medical time off or to help family members. "It's an equitable system," Chun said. "Everyone is earning what they are paid and getting another benefit. I can figure I'll be paying that out every year and I'd rather them be home taking care of the kid when they qualify for sick or personal time. That's the reality and I can absorb that part of it. It's an expense, but a manageable expense." Bob Mayers, president of Adroit Construction in Ashland and chairman of the Chamber of Medford/Jackson County board, said his office staff has sick leave, but the 80 to 90 field employees don't. "If our company has to provide a week's sick-pay leave for every one of our carpenters, laborers and cement masons, it's going to have a huge effect on our costs and to our clients," Mayers said. With an eye on the impact to small-business owners, Medford chamber CEO Brad Hicks told legislators during informal discussions that the mandate should be limited to companies with at least 10 employees. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/ Economic Edge . By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 27, 2015 at 5:28 PM Updated Mar 30, 2015 at 10:18 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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