The Register-Guard
25 million people lost Medicaid after pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people covered by Medicaid rose month after month – an unusual pattern for the government’s insurance program for people with low incomes and disabilities. Why? A policy of continuous coverage during the...
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Costco in talks to build more parking, gas pumps
Costco wants to expand both its parking and its gas station pumps at its Eugene store, and has two ideas for how it could do so, both of which involve tearing down the closed Office Depot across the street. In a “Project Consultation” between Costco...
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New CEO appointed at McKenzieWillamette Medical Center
Mark Robinson will take over as chief executive officer for McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center effective July 20. The change replaces interim CEO Greg Brentano, who has filled the leadership role since McKenzieWillamette’s CEO and Chief Nursing...
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Miniature moves
One of Eugene’s tiniest hidden gems is growing through word of mouth. Coined through a Google Maps pin as “The (Unofficial) World’s Smallest Skate Park,” Riverside DIY is a skate park built just for fingerboarders. According to Spencer Hovland,...
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FIRE SEASON BEGINS
Do you live in an area where the risk of wildfire is high? Officials with the Eugene Springfield Fire department have identified the parts of Eugene and Springfield they believe are the most vulnerable to wildfire in the next five years. The...
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Neighbors fight for county to take on local roads
Ninety-two public roads in Eugene with hundreds of homes, are not owned or maintained by any government, and the people who live on them are trying to change that. Local Access Roads are defined in a 1981 Oregon law. They are public in the sense that...
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Protecting species
Both sides of the debate over whether to kill hundreds of thousands of barred owls to save spotted owls presented arguments to a federal judge June 3. The debate started two years ago, after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued its “Final Barred...
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Big water problems need big solutions
When a drought turns into an urban water crisis, a city’s first step is often to limit lawn watering and launch a campaign to encourage everyone to conserve. It might raise water-use rates or offer incentives for installing lowflow devices. ● While...
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Exclusive: ‘American Flake’ to premiere later this month
When the lights dim at a movie theater, viewers are transported somewhere else — oftentimes far away. Something we’re not accustomed to seeing is landmarks and scenes from our daily life. But in “American Flake,” familiar skylines and businesses float...
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FEELING THE PINCH
Eugene-area small business and labor leaders told U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, they are being squeezed by high costs at the senator’s round table in Eugene on June 5. Ibrahim Hamid, owner of Cafe Soriah, said he knows of at least three Eugene...
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‘He really cares about learning’
Theo Shields took an irregular path to his graduation from Thurston High School, but his academic achievements led to him becoming the first Springfield finalist in years for the prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Born in England,...
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COASTAL EXPLORATIONS
At 8 a.m., a morning fog lies low over the beach at Face Rock View Point in Bandon. Those standing in the parking lot on the cliff have a bird’s-eye view of a small group gathered on the sand, etching shapes into the beach. Eventually, the group’s work...
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SUMMER CONCERTS AT THE CUTHBERT
Ever-present rain and mist most of the year ensure Oregonians make the best of warm summer weather, and what better way to celebrate the season than to post up on a grassy spot and listen to some music? Eugene is home to a wealth of outdoor music...
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New restaurant coming to north Eugene
Curious pedestrians or drivers might have noticed construction happening at Crescent Village in northeast Eugene. Rumblings and rumors about a new restaurant have been circulating on social media, and now it’s evident what is coming to the...
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Enrollment deficits
University of Oregon is planning to shutter two dormitories next year as it expects lower enrollment. Associate Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management Michael Griffel sent an email to University Housing employees on June 2 to...
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FAA grant to aid airport baggage claim updates
The Eugene Airport will use a $2 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to upgrade its baggage claim area. The project, currently in design, is part of a planned overhaul intended to make Oregon’s second busiest airport ready to...
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A NEW WAY TO RIDE THE RAILS
The first in the newest fleet of Amtrak trains has arrived in Seattle, and could be use in Eugene as soon as this fall. The Airo train arrived in Seattle for the third and final phase of testing, which will include staff training, route testing and...
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Small improvements, ‘great roots,’ big impact
Situated on the corner of 13th and High Street, Moke’s Coffee and Kitchen is in the perfect location for a neighborhood coffee shop. It has all of the aspects for being a good place to grab a cup of joe: large windows, outside seating for warmer...
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‘Legendary’ IOP hit by budget cuts
The Eugene School District 4J board’s unanimous approval of the 2026-27 budget marked the final nail in the coffin for several hopeful program leaders, staff members, parents and students. ● South Eugene High School’s Integrated Outdoor Program is one...
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Fast EV chargers being built at Winco
Wondering what's happening in the Winco parking lot on Chad Drive? Part of the lot between Winco and PetSmart has chainlink fencing, heavy machinery and workers on duty making progress on a project intended to serve owners of electric vehicles...
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‘Eugene Weekly’ embezzler sentenced to 3 years
A former bookkeeper was sentenced to prison on May 27 for embezzling over $130,000 from local alt-weekly newspaper “Eugene Weekly.” Elisha Joe Young, 39, pleaded guilty March 24 to two counts of first-degree theft and three counts of first-degree...
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FINAL GOODBYES
Community members said their final goodbyes to Shasta Middle School, which is closing to prevent a severe budget deficit amid declining enrollment in Bethel School District. Hundreds gathered at the school on May 21 for a closing celebration filled...
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Majestic maple
On Third Avenue in Eugene’s Whiteaker neighborhood, a bigleaf maple stretches upward and outward. Its boughs reach over the street and the apartment complex that it grows next to, gnarled yet strong, with emerald green leaves glistening in the May sun....
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‘THE TRADITION OF REMEMBRANCE’
The morning gloom was starting to break on May 25, and a crowd of close to 100 gathered in Willamalane Park to remember friends, family and former colleagues who served in the US military at Springfield’s Memorial Day Ceremony. Some attendees have...
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Kotek vs. Drazan: Governor’s race starts in earnest
Oregonians will have familiar candidates to choose between in the November election when Gov. Tina Kotek and Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, face off again to be Oregon’s governor. Kotek, who swept her nine challengers and declared victory minutes...
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Mom seeks DNA testing in 1983 murder case
A used piece of chewing gum, beer cans and a rock panel. These are the 43year-old pieces of evidence Elizabeth Diane Downs, 70, is looking to have DNA tested to prove her innocence. On May 19, 1983, Downs shot her three children late at night along a...
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Memorial Day events in Eugene and Springfield
Community members in Lane County will gather Monday, May 25, to honor fallen service members with ceremonies, music and moments of reflection for Memorial Day. Observed each year on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day is a federal holiday dedicated...
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Smith declares victory in Eugene Council race
FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2026 | REGISTERGUARD.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Alan Torres Eugene City Council candidate Jennifer Smith claimed victory over John Barofsky after the third round of Lane County primary election returns dropped May 20, but...
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Too close to call
Two of the three races on May 19 ballots for Lane County’s five-member board of commissioners were too close to call after initial returns were counted and could result in a runoff in November. Three incumbent commissioners ran for re-election, and...
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Oregon State unveils blue whale skeleton
More than a decade ago, the body of a 70-foot blue whale washed ashore near Gold Beach, Oregon. It’s not uncommon for a gray whale to turn up on Oregon’s beaches. But a blue whale is different. They live primarily in the deep ocean and when they die,...
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Peace Pole erected in Alton Baker Park
Fifty people, including 26 Rotary Youth Exchange students from around the world, gathered at Alton Baker Park’s Nobel Peace Park Saturday evening to commemorate the installation of a Peace Pole, a project brought to Eugene through the Nobel Peace...
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‘A huge labor of love’
Sparkling sidewalks, vibrant flower baskets and fresh-painted storefronts. Cottage Grove’s Downtown Historic District officially has a new look. Several dozen people gathered in the new event plaza during the city’s grand re-opening of Main Street on...
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Judge halts timber harvest
A federal judge on May 14 ordered a halt to logging near Yoncalla in Douglas County, about 50 miles south of Eugene, after a group of Oregon conservation groups alleged old growth trees were cut down there. Conservation groups Cascadia Wildlands,...
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Augusta Sportswear closing Coburg facility
Georgia-based Augusta Sportswear, Inc., is laying off 83 workers and shuttering its Coburg facility, where Pacific Headwear manufactures hats, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) issued May 13. The closure of the...
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Paul McCartney’s ‘Liverpool Oratorio’ comes to Eugene
On Aug. 12, 1966, Eugene Concert Choir Director Diane Retallack saw The Beatles in concert. It was absolutely manic. Luckily, she was near a speaker; she doesn’t know if she would have been able to hear the music otherwise. Shortly after, The Beatles...
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NEW TENANTS
Major anchor spaces in Echo Hollow Plaza in west Eugene have been vacant for some time, leaving the large complex across from Winco with just a few tenants. ● The spaces where a Big Lots store and a Rite Aid pharmacy once set up shop are empty, the...
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Skinner speaks out against officer
Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner identified the Eugene police officer who resigned after body-worn camera footage surfaced of him making racist remarks about Black people. Skinner described Martin Siller as an “equal opportunity racist,” stating that...
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‘WE’RE LIVING ON A TINDERBOX’
State, federal and county officials shared a troubling wildfire forecast for Oregon this summer. “We’re living on a tinderbox and we have to prepare and prevent wildfire as much as possible,” U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, warned at a press conference...
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Proposed budget passes for Springfield schools
Springfield Public Schools will cut another 33.5 full-time equivalent positions following the mid-year educator layoffs in January. That’s if the board takes SPS’s Budget Committee recommendation, which approved the district administration’s budget as...
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WHO’S RUNNING?
Eight people are running for three seats on Lane County’s Board of Commissioners in the May 19 primary election. ● Voters in the West Lane, Springfield and East Lane districts will pick who they want representing them. ● In interviews with the...
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Eugene School District 4J laying off 176 employees
Eugene School District 4J sent layoff notices to 176 employees May 1 as part of the strategy to combat a $46.4 million deficit. Director of Communications Kelly McIver said all but 12 of those 176 employees are full-time. Eugene 4J planned to cut 265...
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In order to read, these Eugene elementary schoolers walk the walk
Eliana Villanueva and Houston Mills were beaming about their “graduation” in the new literacy program at McCornack Elementary. The second graders recently advanced to a higher-level reading group after they spent a couple of months leaving their...
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Challenging fire season ahead, officials warn
Officials on May 5 warned of a potentially severe and difficult wildfire season ahead, as Oregon faces drought, a warm winter, low snowpack and El Niño conditions, and urged Oregonians to take steps to prevent human-caused fires in the months...
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Inside a Lane County restaurant inspection
Every week, The Register-Guard publishes the most recently scored restaurants in Lane County Health’s semi-annual restaurant inspections. These scores help readers make informed choices about where they eat and shine a light on a restaurant’s...
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COMPLETELY ‘DUCKED OUT’
Sad restaurant news came to Eugene at the end of April. Izakaya Meiji and The Davis, two Eugene food scene staples, announced their closure. Both spots fostered community and served great food to the city for over 15 years, solidifying them as some of...
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‘It’s time for me to have my own life again’
Tiny hands held giant scissors to cut the ribbon at Ollie Court’s grand opening in Eugene April 30. The event signaled the merging of two of Oregon’s top priorities — affordable housing and childcare — in the same building for the first time. The...
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University of Oregon’s top-paid administrators
The University of Oregon is the second-largest employer in Lane County and generates billions of dollars every year across the state’s economy. But who’s paid the most at UO? ● Eight employees made over $1 million in fiscal year 2025, all of whom work...
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IZAKAYA MEIJI CLOSES ITS DOORS
A Eugene fine dining staple has permanently closed. Izakaya Meiji owners announced the restaurant’s April 30 closure with a sign in the window of the Whiteaker establishment. According to social media posts on Reddit and Facebook, the entire staff of...
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Construction begins on fence around Federal Building
Contractors began erecting a fence in front of the Eugene Federal Building on April 29. The fence work began two days after the City of Eugene approved a right-ofway permit for the federal government to fence off lanes of two city streets to restrict...
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No more second helpings at Eugene 4J
Eugene 4J students will have more limited meal options as district leaders look to trim $30 million from next year’s budget. A nutrition services employee presented two meal trays during a recent budget committee meeting to illustrate the disparity:...
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‘A different kind of community’
In a flurry of newsie caps, suspenders, nun habits and loose newspapers, students rush around the Sheldon High School auditorium as they prepare for their production of “Newsies.” Sheldon High’s musical is 107 students strong. Dozens are in the cast,...
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Feds seeking permit to fence off Federal Building
The federal government has applied for a permit needed to build a fence around the Eugene Federal Building. City staff are processing that permit and are installing an alternate sidewalk on Pearl Street which will serve as the pedestrian path once...
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THOUSANDS HIT STREETS FOR EUGENE MARATHON
Thousands pounded the pavement on April 26 for the annual Eugene Marathon. The event, which also included a half marathon and an April 25 5K and Duck Dash, is a major draw for runners and sold out this year. See more photos and results at...
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Republicans vie for party nomination
A large field of Republican hopefuls are looking to do something no one in their party has accomplished in more than four decades: become Oregon’s governor. To do that, they’ll have to prevail in the May 19 primary election and best the Democratic...
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Score special deals with marathon bib
The Eugene Marathon has come to town again, and folks from all over are showing up to support in different ways. Runners who have been training all year for the event can pick up their bibs and unlock a world of possibilities. That's right: A Eugene...
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University of Oregon opens new $320M Knight Campus building
The newest addition to the University of Oregon will see labs refine bioengineered 3D printed biomedical tissue, serve as an incubator for startups and support the next generation of researchers. The Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating...
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FALLEN EPD OFFICER CHRIS KILCULLEN REMEMBERED
On the 15th anniversary of Chris Kilcullen’s death, his family members and local police attended a roadside gathering to remember the Eugene Police Department officer killed in the line of duty. Kilcullen, a 12-year veteran of the department, was 43...
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Springfield’s LDS temple is 3rd in OR
Over the next two and a half weeks, EugeneSpringfield area residents can visit the new Willamette Valley Oregon Temple, the third of its kind in Oregon. Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints announced plans for the temple in 2021....
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Creative matcha lattes, new food spot in VRC
This week’s restaurant round-up picked up news bits from all over Eugene’s restaurant scene, bringing you interesting bits and bobs from some of Eugene’s beloved restauranteurs and newbies to the business. What’s your favorite matcha spot in town? If...
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Ranking Lane County’s Top 15 best schools
As the end of the school year approaches, parents and guardians of middle schoolers may be wondering which local high schools will offer their children the best education. U.S. News & World Report ranks high schools nationwide and in each state every...
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BORN IN OREGON
Woven into the fabric of Oregon’s history is the legacy of a brand born out of a desire to improve the performance of track athletes. Years' worth of tinkering, a few broken waffle irons and decades later, Nike has stamped its footprint on the sports...
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Snow drought presents climate stress test
Across much of the Western United States, winter 2026 was the year the snow never came. Many ski resorts got by with snowmaking but shut down their winter operations early. Fire officials and water supply managers are worried about summer. Where I...
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Sheldon football coach has been on leave for 6 weeks
Sheldon’s football players are rallying in support of their head coach. It is unclear why, however, they have been prompted to come to his defense. Dozens of students and parents showed support for Tyler Martell, head football coach and math teacher...
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TAKING THE STAGE
The 2026-27 Broadway in Eugene season includes an acclaimed show that debuted in 2025, a classic that has been on stage for two decades and everything in between. ● Shakespeare meets pop in the 2022 Broadway hit “& Juliet” to kick off the new season....
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State of the County nod gets pushback
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission opened an investigation into whether Lane County Commissioner David Loveall used his position to promote his business, and whether he properly disclosed his business interests, at the board’s April 10...
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Crafting a comeback Eugene Makerspace reopening in bigger space with more tools
Tinkerers, crafters and handy-folk of all walks of life can rejoice: Eugene Makerspace is reopening. It’s taken about a year and a half for the nonprofit to relocated and rebuild after a fire in mid-September of 2024. Eugene Makerspace was founded in...
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Park now $90K away from new mountain bike system
A series of mountain bike trails and a skills park are being developed in Suzanne Arlie Park, the largest in Eugene’s parks system. The master vision for the bike park and trail system includes 11 trails with varying difficulties and three hubs...
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The risk of floods
Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps determine which property owners will be required to carry expensive flood insurance and help communities plan for development along waterways. FEMA is nearing the end of its process to re-evaluate the...
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EYES ON ORCA
The city of Florence was abuzz with energy and excitement the morning of April 8. Whale watchers donned their cameras and brought out their binoculars, heading toward the mouth of the Siuslaw River where a killer whale was spotted swimming upriver....
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Springfield sends librarian layoff notice amid budget talks
The City of Springfield has sent a layoff letter to one of its librarians, has closed another position, and likely will close the library on Mondays, according to people familiar with the situation. According to library volunteers Jim Lauinger and...
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‘IT’S SAFER NOT TO BE AFRAID’
An abundance of delighted — and frightened — shrieks filled the Walterville Elementary School gymnasium on April 3 as students watched box after box filled with critters be revealed. K-5 students crowded around “Oregon Reptile Man” Richard Ritchey as...
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From chili crisp to the whole sando
Eugene’s hottest new sandwich shop isn’t a shop at all. Hidden away in an industrial area of West Eugene, there is a commissary kitchen. Ben Maude and Ginger McCabe spend many hours there working on Chili Royale, their chili crisp oil business. But a...
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STEAM PLANT TO DREAM PLANT
For decades, the Standby Steam Plant, located in Eugene’s developing downtown riverfront neighborhood, has sat vacant. Years of vandalism have broken dozens of windows and graffiti scrawls across the interior walls of the dilapidated building. Now,...
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PeaceHealth’s new inpatient rehab facility taking shape
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can impact how a person moves, thinks and acts. These injuries, usually caused by outside forces, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, can lead to severe and permanent disability and...
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Huge plans for EXPANSION
Even as sections of the former PeaceHealth University District hospital are demolished, one part of the campus is getting a second life. ● Bushnell University acquired two former PeaceHealth buildings along 11th Avenue in November. ● The monster,...
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CONVICTED
A Lane County jury convicted Scott Stolarczyk, 52, of second-degree manslaughter and driving under the influence on April 2 in connection with a car crash that killed 79-year-old Sharon Schuman in South Eugene last year. The verdict was announced at...
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