• Coming up in weird local politics, the city of Oakridge is putting STAR Voting (score then automatic runoff) on the ballot in November. Eugene voters nixed the alternative voting method in the May primary and Eugene Weekly did not endorse it in that election (and STAR supporters lost their minds on X). According to KLCC’s reporting, Oakridge City Administrator James Cleavenger is pro the voting method that has been criticized as confusing. The Weekly also did not endorse Cleavenger in the primary when he ran for district attorney because we never got over his explanation that the reason allegations of sexual assault against him were false was because he had “blue balls” the next day.
• It rained cats and dogs in Eugene Wednesday, but in Springfield, Ohio, they were being eaten, lied former U.S. President and convicted felon Donald J. Trump during the Sept. 10 presidential debate. ABC news anchor and debate moderator David Muir responded by telling Donny the Springfield city manager disspelled those claims. Trump doubled down, saying “I saw it on TV.” While others may critique vice president and presidential candidate Kamala Harris for sometimes going low in her repartee, we were down with her goading him to show his colors with snark about turnout for his rallies and his behavior during the Jan. 6 uprising.
• What’s this? Taylor Swift bringing out the steel (endorsement) chair! A childless cat lady herself, Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris means big business. Last time she endorsed two Tennessean Democratic candidates in 2018, we saw a bump in voter registration all the way across the country and here in Lane County. Another win for the Swifties. Get out and vote people. You can register at Vote.org or Sos.Oregon.Gov. The last day to register to vote in Oregon is Oct. 15.
• It’s not the Civil War anymore. It’s no longer a Pac-12 Conference game, either, and, most strange of all, it’s not even played on Thanksgiving week. Yet the Oregon Ducks of the Big Ten Conference and the “Pac-2” Oregon State Beavers, who are still looking for a conference with more friends, will renew their football rivalry Sept. 14 at Reser Stadium on the OSU campus. Both teams are 2-0 to start the season, though neither team has looked sharp. Oregon, ranked No. 9 in the country, struggled to defeat Idaho and Boise State. It’s time for both teams to step up their game.
• The City Club of Eugene meets at noon, Friday, Sept. 13, at WOW Hall to discuss Oregon’s centuries long history of timber production. Nearly half of Oregon is covered in forest and trees, making it one of the largest economic sectors in our state. Wood is important to the economy of Lane County in particular, the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce says, as approximately 200 manufacturers in the industry employ over 7,000 people in the county. From an environmental perspective those trees are worth more to the world if left standing. City Club members and non-members alike are invited to attend free to hear more about the history and future of Oregon’s timber industry from a variety of perspectives.
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519