We've got issues.
• 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
• The Oregon Legislature’s Joint Committee on Ways and Means is holding a public hearing on the state budget during its meeting from 6:30 to 8 pm Thursday, April 23, at Springfield City Hall Council Chambers. Find budget materials and meeting schedules at wkly.ws/20a. Continue reading
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
• 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. Highways I-5, 58, 99, 101, 105, 126 and Beltline were sprayed recently. ODOT also plans to spray the entire length of Highway 36 soon. Continue reading
• 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
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
• 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
• 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
KEPW Eugene Home Grown Community Radio is holding weekly meetings at 6 pm Thursdays at the Growers Market upstairs, 454 Willamette St. The group has raised about $2,500 of the $10,000-plus needed to get the low-power radio station up and running by late summer. Organizers plan to broadcast local musicians and bands, variety shows, progressive call-in talk shows, environmental news, labor news and more. See enfn.org/~eugpeace or look for KEPW on Facebook. Continue reading
• After listening to Phyllis Barkhurst and Jeff Todahl at City Club of Eugene last week talk about 90by30, their initiative that seeks to reduce child abuse 90 percent by 2030, we’re even more convinced that we need more teachers, more counselors, more school nurses, more frontline professionals who interact with children and can recognize signals of abuse. To date, the education budget being debated in the Oregon Legislature this week doesn’t bring that about. We’re looking for the leadership that will. Continue reading