People on 

the move  

Lisa Rodgriguez, a nurse supervisor at St. Charles Health System, has received the 2024 Medique Nurse Leadership Award from the Oregon State Association of Occupational Health Nurses.  

Gregory Deffenbaugh has been named KTVZ’s station news director. Most recently Deffenbaugh served as a news director at WREX TV, a NBC station in Rockford, Illinois. 

Eyewear retailer

joins Old Mill

Warby Parker, a national eyewear retailer, will be joining the shops at the Old Mill District, taking over some of the space occupied by outgoing Victoria’s Secret, according to the Old Mill District.

The eyewear retailer will take over 1,800 square feet of space next to J.Jill in the shopping area, according to the shopping district.

The retailer, founded in 2010, will open its Bend location this fall. With 270 stores nationwide, the retailer offers prescription eyewear and sunglasses.

Headquartered in New York City, Warby Parker performs eye exams and vision tests in addition to selling eyewear. It contributes annually to philanthropy through its Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program, which has donated 15 million glasses to people in need through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, according to the company.

Google scraps

diversity goals

Google is scrapping some of its diversity hiring targets, joining a lengthening list of U.S. companies that have been abandoning or scaling back their diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The move, which was outlined in an email sent to Google employees on Wednesday, came in the wake of an executive order issued by President Donald Trump that was aimed in part at pressuring government contractors to scrap their DEI initiatives. Like several other major tech companies, Google sells some of its technology and services to the federal government, including its rapidly growing cloud division that’s a key piece of its push into artificial technology.

30-year mortgage

falls to 6.89%

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased for the third week in a row, a smidgen of relief for prospective home shoppers getting into the market before the busy spring homebuying season starts. The average rate fell to 6.89% from 6.95% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, it averaged 6.64%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance their home loan to a lower rate, also retreated this week. The average rate fell to 6.05% from 6.12% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.9%, Freddie Mac said.

US jobless rate

falls to 4%

U.S. employers added just 143,000 jobs last month, but the jobless rate fell to 4% to start 2025. The first monthly jobs report of Donald Trump’s second presidency suggested he’s inherited a solid but unspectacular U.S. labor market. January job creation was down from the 261,000 added in November, and the 307,000 created in December.