• A big thank you to all the folks who called and wrote to the Oregon governor’s office after Tina Kotek initially denied the extradition of Eugene Weekly’s former business manager who was arrested in Ohio on five felony charges in our embezzlement case. Your voices were heard and Gov. Kotek reversed the decision. Thank you also to everyone who offered to us and to the DA’s office to fundraise for the extradition. This community and its support of this paper blew us away. Check out our story this week as well as coverage in The Oregonian, and on KLCC, KGW, KMTR, KEZI, KVAL and we hear The Register-Guard is working on a story. Cheers to local media, too!
• In a time where the world is overwhelming from wars abroad to attacks on the rule of law in our own country (looking at you, Donald Trump) the city of Eugene would like to celebrate the folks standing up for human rights. The Eugene Human Rights Commission is seeking nominations for its Leadership Awards. Nominees should be strong community leaders who are champions of human rights. Nominations can be submitted online until 5 pm on Thursday, June 12. Go to Eugene-or.gov and type “human rights” into the search bar.
• At least 200 people turned out Sunday, May 20, to say their last goodbyes to Anita Johnson, a longtime owner of Eugene Weekly and unrelenting force for good in the community she loved. Johnson died Dec. 15, 2024, at the age of 95. The warm-hearted memorial at Venue 252 drew family and friends, local politicians, activists and artists, and a smattering of lawyers, journalists and University of Oregon students. The program celebrated a remarkable life well lived, weaving together tales and photos of her childhood and youth, her marriage to attorney Art Johnson, with whom she climbed the Alps and Oregon’s high Cascade peaks, and, of course, her commitment to journalism as a way to make the world a better place. We’ll miss her.
• Our May 15 Slant on Oregon House Bill 3564, introduced by freshman lawmaker Darin Harbick, referred to Darin Harbick’s attorney. It was Tyler Harbick’s attorney. We regret the error. HB 3564 modifies rules for demanding corrections and retractions from news organizations.
• News around the state: For ongoing coverage of HB 3564, we recommend checking out Portland’s Street Roots. The Register-Guard and statewide outlets have been following an Oregon Coast safari park whose owner was arrested after 44 guns, $1.6 million cash and drugs were found. Officials removed 310 animals, including a camel that was later euthanized due to its poor condition, from West Coast Game Park Safari in Bandon. Locally, KEZI,KLCC and others report that the driver who struck and killed violinist and professor Sharon Schuman on the morning of April 23 on the Amazon running path had a blood alcohol content of just under three times the legal limit. Eugene Weekly’s online extra is a Bricks $ Mortar by Christian Wihtol on the Eugene 4J School District potentially selling its downtown Wells Fargo building to Lane County. We also have not one — but two! — scintillating stories about Russian pianists at EugeneWeekly.com.
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