Slant 4-30-2015

• Kathmandu has been a sister city to Eugene since 1975 and many Eugeneans, including Councilor Betty Taylor, have visited there. The earthquake death toll in Nepal grows by the hour. The best way to help Kathmandu right now is through financial donations. The website kathmandurelief.org has been recommended by the Eugene/Katmandu Sister City Association, but the organization does not currently have 501(c)(3) status, so donations are not tax deductible. See eugeneweekly.com/blogs for updates. Continue reading 

Biz Beat 4-30-2015

We hear The Barn Light is looking at opening a new pub and restaurant down on lower 8th Avenue in the bottom floor of the new Northwest Community Credit Union. Sam Bond’s Garage opened Sam Bond’s Brewing across the street last year. That area near the U.S. Courthouse has a lot of potential with The Hub student housing nearby nearly completed and redevelopment coming for the EWEB riverfront property across the tracks. Continue reading 

Slant 4-23-2015

• The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is facing a $32 million deficit in the next two-year budget cycle, and cuts are looming. The agency is in a bind due in part to its reliance on revenues from fishing and hunting licenses. It’s a quandary. Fishing license fees have gone up while there are fewer fish to catch, so fewer people go fishing. And hunting is no longer such a big part of Oregon’s culture, at least not in urban areas. Continue reading 

Biz Beat 4-23-2015

The pending sale of the Tsunami Books building at 2585 Willamette was announced in this column last fall, and it looks like the deal will finally close later this month. Owner Scott Landfield tells us “We will get at least two more years at this location, likely at a considerable increase in rent.” To help cover the rent boost and improvements to the bookstore and events venue, Landfield has launched a 50-day Indigogo crowdfunding campaign. Links can be found at the Tsunami Facebook page.  Continue reading 

Slant 4-16-2015

• No surprise that the timber industry in Oregon still has enough lobbying power to stifle the Democratic Legislature when it comes to even minor new rules on aerial spraying of pesticides on private timberlands. The timber industry has a strong ally in Oregonians for Food and Shelter, which represents big chemical manufacturers and distributors. What can we do other than hold our lawmakers’ feet to the fire? Well, when the Legislature fails to make reforms, the people can rise up. Continue reading 

War Dead 4-16-2015

In Afghanistan • 2,356 U.S. troops killed (2,356 last month) • 20,068 U.S. troops wounded in action (20,067) • 1,592 U.S. contractors killed (1,582) • 16,179 civilians killed (updates NA) • $755.5 billion cost of war ($792.7 billion) • $317.7 million cost to Eugene taxpayers ($317.1 million)   Against ISIS • $2.3 billion cost of military action ($2.1 billion) • $933,300 cost to Eugene taxpayers ($849,200) Continue reading 

Activist Alert 4-16-2015

• A panel discussion about the pending Pacific Connector Pipeline and Jordan Cove LNG Export Terminal will be from 6:30 to 8 pm Thursday, April 16, at the First United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive St. Panelists include Jody McCaffree, executive director of Citizens Against LNG, Stacey McLaughlin, a southern Oregon landowner facing eminent domain, and Ted Gleichman from the Sierra Club. See world350.org/Eugene for more information. Continue reading 

Lane County Area Spray Schedule 4-16-15

• ODOT is currently spraying roadsides. Call Tony Kilmer at ODOT District 5 at 744-8080 or call 1-888-996-8080 for herbicide application information. Hwys. 58, 99 near Cottage Grove, 105 and 126 in Springfield and Beltline were sprayed recently. • Walton Hylomorphia, 343-4167, plans to spot spray 179.1 acres abutting Stagecoach Road near the Siuslaw with glyphosate, imazapyr, triclopyr with acid, W.E.B. Oil and/or AD-Wet 90 CA. See ODF notification 2015-781-05877, call Robin Biesecker at 935-2283 or Jim Hall at 997-8713 with questions. Continue reading