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Camilla Mortensen is the longtime local editor of Eugene Weekly, the area’s alternative newspaper. The paper, which has been in print since 1982 (originally as What’s Happening) continues to print more than 27,000 copies a week in addition to its popular email newsletters and website. Camilla has a masters degree in folklore and mythology from UCLA and a doctorate in comparative literature from the University of Oregon. She has been a reporter and editor at EW since 2007 and teaches journalism at the UO in the mornings before heading to the Weekly’s office. She also teaches newswriting at Lane Community College and advises The Torch student newspaper.
The race for EWEB Wards 6&7 just got a little strange and ugly with this attack mailing against Sonya Carlson. Carlson is running against Gary Malone in the position. EW reached out to Carlson and Malone for comment. Continue reading
Oregon Native American history and culture feels a bit under siege is Lane County this week Over on the Lane Community College Campus on Wedesday, May 11, advocates for teaching Chinuk Wawa are organzing and asking to be heard by the LCC Board of Education. They will be meeting 6:30 pm in Building 3, Room 216 on the main campus and speaking during the 20 minute public comment session. Continue reading
Is the South Willamette Special Area Zone, the controversial plan to change the zoning of the buildings around Willamette Street from 23nd to 32rd avenues, “an unlawful bait-and-switch money-making scam”? That’s the question Brian Wanty asks in a recent email to the mayor, Eugene City Council and planners. He says the city’s plan for a Multimodal Mixed Use Area within the SW-SAZ does not comply with state planning requirements. Continue reading
Former Eugene area pet store owner Nathan McClain paid a prostitute with donations that were intended for the Girl Scouts and gave her a bushbaby (aka Galago primate) as a tip. McClain was arrested after he was observed exiting an adult porn shop apparently under the influence of methamphetamines, according to the press release from the Eugene Police Department today. The Galago, named Gooey, is safe. The full press release is below. Continue reading
Voodoo Doughnut made a purple-topped raspberry-filled doughnut to honor Prince, and people immediately complained that it's not vegan. Voodoo Doughnut's response? "Unfortunately we weren't expecting prince to pass away today and didn't make extra vegan doughnuts this morning." It's comments section gold on the Voodoo Facebook page. And yes, the Prince treat is available at the Eugene store. Continue reading
Bridges aren’t just transportation structures; they can be iconic parts of the landscape. Picture the Golden Gate or any of Lane County’s covered bridges. But what happens when the structure is no longer usable? Rather than simply demolish the 1930s art deco railings of Hwy. 101 Siuslaw River Bridge as the bridge is retrofitted by the Oregon Department of Transportation, BRING Recycling is finding new homes for the decorative railings, which span 24 feet and weigh 4 to 5 tons. Continue reading
Leif Williams Brecke Continue reading
On Sunday, April 10, dozens of people came to Kesey Square in downtown Eugene to memorialize a vibrant former member of the Eugene community with Cascadian flags, pine cones and other symbols of his years in activism, civic engagement, advocating for diversity and more. Continue reading
In the aftermath of the Arizona primary election fiasco, with voters waiting in long lines and ballots getting thrown out, Lane County voters are wondering how they can make sure their ballots get counted. Concerned area residents have contacted EW saying their voter affiliation is incorrect and that they had registered as Democrats but recently received a notice from the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division saying they were unaffiliated. Continue reading
$1.2 million. That’s how much money Oregon won’t receive this year from two federal agencies due to its failure to protect water quality from logging in coastal watersheds. According to Nina Bell of Northwest Environmental Advocates, “the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have said for 18 years that Oregon’s logging practices create dangerous levels of water pollution and harm fish.” Continue reading