CLACKAMAS, OR-The approximately $4 million lease deal brings the 103,744-sf office building completed in Sept. 2000 to 50% leased. Allied, a subsidiary of Nationwide Insurance is expanding from approximately 15,000 sf at the 1500 Building in Portland's Lloyd District.

SPOKANE, WA-The locally based savings and loan holding company has an agreement to buy the locally based commercial real estate lender for $7.50 per share, or $9.75 million. Both companies' boards have approved the merger and shareholders are expected to follow suit.

PORTLAND-Alexander Moving & Storage broke ground on a building two weeks ago, Frito Lay gets underway next month and in August the 230-acre industrial park's owner, Catellus Development Corp., plans to break ground on a revised speculative project.

SALEM, OR-The trophy of the Downtown bunch is a two-story structure on the northwest corner of Court and Liberty, the Hollywood and Vine of Salem. It sold to a longtime tenant for $557,000 thanks to a bidding war.

BEND, OR-The City Council is considering a better than 40% hike in the hotel room tax. The increase, from 7% to 10%, would go into effect Sept. 1. The city would use the extra money to help pay for police services, street maintenance and other city projects.

PORTLAND-In the past four weeks, state and local governments have heard from companies seeking a combined 100 acres of land and 600,000 sf of buildings for industrial uses. Better yet, they're looking to close deals soon in order to be operating by late 2001 or early 2002.

PORTLAND, OR-The owner, operator and franchiser of Elmer's restaurants is reporting record earnings for its fiscal year, which concluded April 2 and included the addition of eight new restaurants.

PORTLAND-The agreement means more power for the Bonneville Power Administration to spread around. Meanwhile, efforts to settle claims from the California crisis began Monday. Western states allege $15 billion in overcharges by power suppliers.