• ICE Box: Portland Immigration Rights Coalition updated on Dec. 15 that 60 detentions were reported between Dec. 8 and Dec. 14. Sixteen were in Multnomah County, 28 in Washington County and the rest in Clark, Yamhill, Marion, Clatsop and Clackamas counties.
• Hey Mr. Rogers fans, let’s focus on the helpers! Shout out to Eugene-based U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken. The Oregonian reported that when a 22-year-old woman in immigration custody took the witness stand Dec. 8 “and said she hadn’t had anything to eat since she was rousted at 2 am for the drive from a detention center in Tacoma to federal court in Eugene, the judge immediately halted the hearing,” saying, “OK, that’s unacceptable.” Aiken said she wouldn’t continue until federal officers fed the woman and offered up her own lunch. Aiken also doubtlessly further pissed off the Trump administration when she granted a 14-day restraining order barring Homeland Security from enforcing a “loud or unusual noise” provision of new rules that are trying to stifle protesters on federal property while the court determines whether a permanent injunction of the rules will be upheld. Read more by reporter Eve Weston on EugeneWeekly.com.
• Onto a note of sadness and a resounding WTF — news of the murder of beloved film director Rob Reiner and wife photographer Michele Reiner this week was a knife in the heart of Gen Xers who loved The Princess Bride, This is Spinal Tap, Stand By My (this last filmed locally) and more. The WTF is for the psychotic and evil post by President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform blaming the deaths on “the anger” Reiner “caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME” and that Reiner “was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump.” That post was revolting.
• In city news: The Eugene City Council voted Dec. 10 to direct the city manager to begin the process of restructuring Eugene Springfield Fire to run as a standalone agency, jointly governed by Eugene and Springfield. A side note, City Manager Sarah Medary retired Dec. 12 and Assistant City Manager Matt Rodrigues is the interim city manager until the council hires the next one. And yes, the agency calls itself Eugene Springfield Fire and cut off the word “department.” You do you, fire department.
• Have you ever messed up? Know someone local who screwed up and came back from it? Eugene Weekly is collecting redemption stories for an upcoming issue! Send us your story — or a tip! Editor@EugeneWeekly.com.
• What we are reading: The Fragile Blue Dot (GladEye Press, $15.95) uses fiction to depict the complexities of the climate crisis and environmental advocacy. Ross West’s short stories are more illustrative than other dystopian tales because the book doesn’t isolate its pages to one story or group of characters and so emphasizes the many ways that climate change threatens to endanger the planet. The book addresses how sources of power will couch their environmental damage as necessary interventions. (Tellingly, the characters who try to challenge the destruction are sometimes discouraged with phrases such as “don’t turn over rocks” or “don’t make waves,” showing the hypocrisy of their speakers.) West was a science writer at the University of Oregon, as well as editor of Oregon Quarterly (Review by Kendahl Nuckles).
• At a loss for Christmas and Chanukah gifts? We got you! Check out EugeneWeekly.printful.me for endearing T-shirts that say things like “I ❤️ Eugene Weekly (most of the time)” and “Local and Vocal since 1982!” Now’s a good time to celebrate local news! (OK, it’s always a good time to celebrate locally owned, homegrown, slightly snarky news!)
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