a) Everyone has known for a long time that the NBA was going to demand Moda renovations b) The city/state/county had no one to deal with while the ownership was in flux c) Now that there's a (almost) a new owner, someone (the league? the new owner?) apparently wants immediate action.

Reuters says Intel's deal to buy SambaNova is off. The chipmaker would invest $100m-$150m instead, according to Reuters. (Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan is, of course, an SambaNova investor and the company's chairman.)

The NBA has Portland at a distinct disadvantage. With employment and business activity down and its national reputation damaged, the city can ill-afford to lose a major franchise. Portland -- and MultCo, and the state -- do have leverage. It'll be interesting how and if they coordinate to use it.

Here's the concept for the new Lloyd Center. We also now know the main mall will shut down at some point this year, and yes, the whole thing is slated for demolition, including the ice rink:

Fun to see Linda Weston reflect on the early days of professional women's basketball in Portland, and her take on the Fire's launch. “The more you can build community, the better." via @nikstreng.bsky.social

For decades Nike has repeated a mantra: Workers in its Asian factories make double the minimum wages. @matthewkish.bsky.social shows that isn't so. That leaves many workers struggling to get by, some earning as little as $150 a month.

The family has a pending asylum claim. Read my story to find out more: ICE detains family seeking emergency care for child at Portland hospital www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...

Wall Street analysts say the gaffe raises doubts about Intel's ability to deliver on its turnaround plan.

Intel shares had been on a tear but the stock slid 13% this afternoon after executives admitted they had badly underestimated demand from data centers. “We are working aggressively to address this and better support our customers’ needs going forward," CEO Lip-Bu Tan told investors.

Do you rent (or do you have friend who rents) on Burnside Street in Portland? I'd like to chat with you (or said friend) for a story, preferably by the end of the month. Please shoot me an email -- [email protected] -- to set up a time to talk. Thanks! @oregonian.com

Another $30M for chip architecture startup AheadComputing, which has grown from 80 employees last spring to 118 now. Most work at its Beaverton HQ. AheadComputing is among several young companies in the Portland area focused on semiconductor innovation.

Intel shares up 11% this morning at $53.87. January is the first time in 2+ years that the stock has topped $50. Intel is being buoyed by analyst upgrades, optimism over foundry work with Apple and expectations that AI demand will spill over to Intel's CPUs. Intel reports Q4 numbers tomorrow.

Gov. Tina Kotek has named a panel of climate and energy professionals to study data centers' impact on Oregon's environment and energy supply, and to issue recommendations. The panel won't, however, make recommendations about the enormous tax breaks that bring data centers to Oregon.

Google execs say they are all about transparency. Their track record says otherwise. They tried to keep their water use secret. The Oregonian had to sue to make that information public. This was one Google executive’s response when I pressed him about the lawsuit.

via @shanedkavanaugh.bsky.social

Lip-Bu Tan's connection to ACM Research adds to mounting questions about how he is balancing his technology investments with his day job as Intel's CEO.

Reuters: Intel has tested chipmaking tools this year from a toolmaker with deep roots in China and two overseas units that were targeted by U.S. sanctions.

Reuters weighs in on the same issue: www.reuters.com/business/int...

NYT looks at potential conflicts between Lip-Bu Tan's role as Intel's CEO and his side gig as a chip industry investor.

I really admire the state's determination, every year, to pitch Oregon's almanac and directory as a thoughtful Christmas gift. But how many people *really* want a "legacy" Blue Book from, say, 2007, under the Christmas tree?

Former Intel President Renée James sold her chip startup Ampere to SoftBank this year for $6.5B. At the Oregon Leadership Summit this morning, James says she's starting a *new* company. She didn't offer any specifics but asked Oregon lawmakers why she should do it here, given taxes/regulation/etc

Fascinating to compare how the Oregon Business Plan views the state's economic issues (and potential solutions... oregonbusinessplan.org/wp-content/u...

I asked the State Department about this. Here's the response: "The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens."

Intel shares up 10% this morning

A potential breakthrough for Intel, from a reputable source.

Intel acknowledges hiring former TSMC exec Wei-Jen Lo and says it acted properly. “Based on everything we know today, we see no merit to the allegations involving Wei-Jen, and he continues to have our full support," says CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

Ampere says it has completed its $6.5B sale to SoftBank.

Major exposé in Rolling Stone on Morrow County, the nitrates disaster and Amazon's role in the community:

Governor Tina Kotek announced today she received a verbal demobilization order from the U.S. Northern Command for the 200 Oregon National Guard members.

Here are the details on PowerLattice (now HQ'd in Vancouver), which emerged from stealth today with a $25m round: www.oregonlive.com/silicon-fore...

It's been about 24 hours since this layoff notice appeared. Still no similar notices in Intel's other major U.S. sites (Arizona, California and New Mexico.) Intel didn't respond yesterday to a question about whether it plans to cut jobs in those locations, too.

This leaves Intel with a little more than 16,000 Oregon workers, fewer than at any point since 2012.

Intel says it's laying off 669 more Oregon workers this fall. Total Washington County layoffs this year now top 3,000.

Al Thomas made the most of the wonderful place where we live -- and provided a path for many others to enjoy the outdoors, too. Great guy, great journalist.

Another death from someone trying to cross the tracks in this incredibly dangerous area. (In June I wrote that there were two different types of train but there are, of course, three -- MAX, Amtrak and freight.) www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

The WSJ visits Hermiston to look at the impact of Amazon's local data centers:

Judge bars National Guard deployment to Portland until her final ruling on Friday @oregonian.com www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

Gloo, which makes technology for churches and other faith-based organizations, hopes to raise $100m+ in an IPO that would value the business at $874m. Its executive chairman is Pat Gelsinger, Intel's former CEO. via Reuters. www.reuters.com/technology/g...

Bloomberg says Intel is negotiating to buy custom AI chip designer SambaNova. Both Intel Capital and Walden International, CEO Lip-Bu Tan's firm, are SambaNova backers. The Information reported last week that SambaNova's valuation ($5B in a prior round) plunged after a failed fundraising effort.

National Guard troops were at Portland ICE building despite court ban, feds admit Portland police Cmdr. Franz Schoening testifies he was ‘startled’ by federal officers’ indiscriminate use of force against passive protesters outside ICE facility. www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

BREAKING: 9th Circuit agrees to broader review of Oregon National Guard deployment: What happens next? www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

No Oregon National Guard troops can be deployed under federal control, at least through Tuesday @oregonian.com www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

‘Here we go again’: Chauncey Billups arrest is another setback for Trail Blazers franchise seeking momentum: www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025...

Newly disclosed records show: • The insiders who bought Amazon’s local fiber provider appointed the people who approved their deal. • They discussed shredding an unfavorable opinion. • They bucked lawyers’ advice to get an outside ‘fairness opinion’, saying it would cost too much and take too long.

Appeals court, in 2 to 1 split, puts hold on restraining order barring Trump from deploying Oregon National Guard @oregonian.com www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

Appeals court majority appears skeptical of Oregon judge's order blocking Trump's deployment of troops in Portland @oregonian.com www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

“I’m troubled by the direct contravention of my (prior) order.” -- U.S. District Court Judge Karin J. Immergut via @maxbernstein.bsky.social