• Those of you who head to Tractor Supply to pick up what you need for your urban chickens may want to start heading over to more local — and hopefully more open-minded — feed and farm stores. On June 27, Tractor Supply walked back its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and said it will stop sponsoring celebrations like Pride festivals. The store also said in its statement to investors that  it will “withdraw our carbon emission goals and focus on our land and water conservation efforts.” 

• Back in May, we ran a viewpoint by our intern Melvin Bravo about his experiences with Peace Village housing co-op. Bravo, a first generation immigrant, wrote about how Peace Village operates and his family’s experience there. New York Times columnist and attempted Oregon gubernatorial candidate Nick Kristof reached Bravo to compliment his writing on a difficult topic. 

• On June 28 and 29, neighborhoods around the Lane Events Center (or as everybody calls it, the Fairgrounds) were filled with the sounds of revving engines and the smell of burning rubber tires. The Lockdown Performance Shredfest — billed as Lane County’s first “drift event” — took place noon to 8 pm Saturday at the events center, and as soon as drivers began practicing Friday evening, complaints came in to Lane County commissioners, the Fair Board and Eugene Weekly‘s letters to the editor. You can read our story online at EugeneWeekly.com. 

• It’s almost time to be royalty! The annual Eugene SLUG queen coronation is on the horizon! Have you ever wanted to be slimy? Applications are open until July 26 at SlugQueen.com to be the next raining figure of the Society for Legitimization of the Ubiquitous Gastropod. And if you just want to watch talent and see fabulous costumes, the SLUG queen competition and coronation is 6 pm Friday, August 9, at the downtown Park Blocks.