Author: Camilla Mortensen

Obama Administration Statement on Standing Rock is Worth a Read

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The Obama Administration's statement on Standing Rock, issued Sept. 9, shortly after a federal judge ruled progress on the Dakota Access oil pipeline could proceed, is worth a read in its entirety. From stopping construction, to acknowledging the peaceful protests and First Amendment rights, to recognizing there needs to be "nationwide reform with respect to considering tribes’ views on these types of infrastructure project," this is impressive. Continue reading →

Register-Guard Places Employees on Administrative Leave After Lawsuit

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In the wake of reporter Serena Markstrom Nugent’s civil lawsuit against The Register-Guard for firing her after she checked emails while on pregnancy disability leave, it appears that the R-G is considering cutting some employees that were involved in the case. EW was told by several credible sources that Eugene Newspaper Guild union co-president Randi Bjornstad and programmers Joe Clark and Horst Lueck, both in information systems, have been placed on administrative leave.  Continue reading →

Gary Johnson and the Free Market

A conversation with the Libertarian presidential candidate

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Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson is, for some Lane County voters, a possible alternative to Bernie Sanders. But while Johnson told EW during a recent phone call that he believes climate change is man-made, he also believes a free market economy is part of the fix. “I do believe that climate change is occurring,” the affable former governor of New Mexico Johnson says, and that it’s human caused.  Continue reading →

County Calls a Temporary Halt to Controversial Changes to Petition Process

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The Lane County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 on Aug. 30 to call a six-month halt on its efforts to change its initiative petition process, Commissioner Pete Sorenson tells EW.  The initiative petition process allows the public to collect signatures and get measures on the ballots, such as efforts to ban aerial sprays of pesticides or genetically modified crops — two issues that local group Community Rights Lane County has been working on. Continue reading →

Breaking News: Lane County Calls a Temporary Halt to Controversial Changes to Initiative Petition Process

News

The Lane County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 today, Aug. 30, to call a six-month halt on its efforts to change its initiative petition process, Commissioner Pete Sorenson tells EW.  The iniative petition process allows the public to collect signatures and get measures on the ballots, such as efforts to ban aerial sprays of pesticides or genetically modified crops.  Continue reading →

Heat wave brings out scientists and points to need for cooling centers

For those without air conditioning or in some cases without a roof over their heads, heat waves can turn deadly

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Prof. Vivek Shandas holds a thermometer and data recorder used to measure urban heat

Last week’s heat wave sent Lane County residents scurrying for shade. Press releases from the city and county offered suggestions for cool places like the library or swimming pools to take cover. But for those without air conditioning or in some cases without a roof over their heads, heat waves can turn deadly. Continue reading →

Know Your Rights tonight (and get ice water and Gatorade to beat the heat) at Kesey Square

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  The Civil Liberties Defense Center is hosting a Know Your Rights information booth at Kesey Square today, Thursday, Aug. 18, 7:30 pm-9 pm at Kesey Square (10th & Broadway). The Eugene Police Department recently increased its presence downtown with its Community OutReach Team (CORT). EPD says in its press release that "Trespass, drug and alcohol use, drug sales, prostitution, robbery and serious assaults typically increase in the downtown area during the spring and summer, as the weather improves." Continue reading →