The Register-Guard
WEIGHTING GAME
As millions of Americans use glucagon-like peptide-1 medicines, or GLP-1s, to manage their weight, the makers of cheaper alternatives to the drugs are facing pressure from regulators and major pharmaceutical companies amid recalls, lawsuits and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
BANK ON IT
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it will purchase $22 million in hazelnuts and $12 million in Pacific Whiting fillets under its Section 32 program. The federal program purchases food from U.S. producers and distributes it to food pantries...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
What we learned from Lane County’s midterm election
The national “blue wave” translated all the way down the ballot in the Lane County midterm election, with many Democrat-aligned candidates claiming victory. Unofficial results showed Gov. Tina Kotek with a 6-point lead over Republican challenger...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Key hurdle cleared for mental health campus
Springfield City Council approved Lane County and PeaceHealth’s request to annex the north Springfield property where the entities want to build a combined mental health stabilization center and hospital. Springfield City Council began to deliberate...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MIDTERMS WILL RESHAPE POLITICS
The midterms will change Washington. They already have. Even before the votes are counted, the 2026 campaign has focused grievances against President Donald Trump, shuffled the political map, opened a door for Democratic Socialists, surged opposition...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A ‘THRILLING’ CELEBRATION
Melody Dodd, left, and Diana Hormel perform as part of a Thrill the World flash mob at Rally in the Alley in the Fifth Street Public Market on Oct. 30. Thrill The World Eugene has performed in the community since 2012, when it joined the international...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Swimming safely, one stroke at a time
Longtime Springfield residents likely remember learning to swim in a city pool thanks to a partnership that has lasted for 63 years. ● Each year, hundreds of Springfield Public Schools students get swim lessons through Willamalane Park and Recreation...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SWEEPING CUTS AT UO
University of Oregon presented proposals for sweeping budget cuts that range from faculty workload changes to graduate program sunsetting to library reductions to college mergers. University leaders say the cuts are meant to combat a compounding...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Turning Point USA event at UO draws protest
Three people were arrested at University of Oregon during the Oct. 28 Turning Point USA debate event “Pick Up the Mic.” Turning Point USA, a national conservative organization with chapters across the U.S, came to UO to host the debate event with Alex...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘We’ll never recover from this’
A murder case marked by violence, heartbreak and a chain of events that left two men dead is headed for a retrial Oct. 28 after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict back in June. ● The new set of jurors will decide whether 57-year-old...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Witches welcome
Inside an unassuming little red building in Eugene’s Whiteaker neighborhood is a workshop that has supplied households and witches alike with essential brooms for decades. Scheumack Broom Company does everything by hand with equipment and tools from...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
STOP THE PRESS
Lane County is losing yet another local newspaper. The Cottage Grove Sentinel announced in its latest edition that Oct. 28 would be its last print release. The Sentinel is the third in a recent string of local small paper closures. Both the Highway 58...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Airport lets puppies practice navigating
The sight of a puppy is enough to elicit excitement from many people. Seeing one working hard to fill a much-needed role seems even cuter, especially for onlookers at the Eugene Airport Oct. 24 who got to see a parade of puppies practice their skills...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
UO could cut these graduate degrees
Humanities graduate programs including history, romance languages and comparative literature are on the chopping block as University of Oregon prepares to address a $65 million structural budget deficit. No final decisions have been made, but...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
In AI era, skilled trades workers in high demand
White-collar workers in AI-exposed fields are looking at the skilled trades and asking themselves whether they made the right career choice. New research suggests it may be reasonable for them to wonder. Americans fear AI could lead to job losses, so...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
How eating fries at Autzen Stadium is a sustainable practice
When about 60,000 fans pack the stands at Autzen Stadium during Oregon Ducks home games, people are juggling chicken tenders, fries, tater tots and more morsels crisped to perfection. Food might be the focus for patrons buying fried meals, but Nicolas...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Porch & Farm Crawl highlights local farmstands, businesses
Farmers markets are commonplace, but the Porch & Farm Crawl aims to support local businesses with a model almost opposite of a typical farmers market. Rather than having growers, makers and bakers convene in a space, the crawl is a self-guided journey...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Super’ El Niño on course for Oregon
El Niño has begun to rear its head, sending sea surface temperatures spiking and prompting climatologists to warn this year’s event, which some have dubbed a “Super” El Niño, could be the most severe on record. El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Latest Earhart lead comes up empty
An expeditionary team searching for the aircraft belonging to Amelia Earhart has released its first findings from the tiny, remote island of Nikumaroro, where a mysterious object attracted speculation that it may be the lost aviator’s plane. The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Authentic meals served up at Pyre Nashville Hot Chicken
MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026 | REGISTERGUARD.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Hannarose McGuinness Chicken lovers have been spoiled by recent restaurant openings in Springfield, but while fast food behemoths gobble up the attention of foodies, local...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT CARD
The race for East Lane County commissioner will be a $1 million affair, according to Oregon campaign finance data, with incumbent Heather Buch and challenger Jake Pelroy each raising roughly $500,000 each. Pelroy’s biggest support comes from...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Eugene Clean Energy Fund
Flush with political contributions, the Eugene Clean Energy Fund has been sending mailers, running campaign ads and putting up yard signs urging voters to pass the ballot measure Nov. 3. Driven by an initiative petition, the city-wide ballot measure...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Wayfinders make accessibility fun
One of the coolest things made in Oregon is often built in Matthew Pickerell’s mom’s garage in Eugene. Pacific Northwest Assistive Technologies produces modified ride-on cars called Wayfinder vehicles. The vehicles let children ages 6 months to 8...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New chicken in town
Hundreds of Caniacs showed up bright and early for the chance to be among the first customers served at Lane County’s first Raising Cane’s restaurant on opening day Oct. 13 in Springfield. A live DJ kept the energy high alongside the Oregon Duck, the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘No Kings – Vote Early’ protests planned
The latest installment in the “No Kings” antiTrump administration protest series is focused on voter power and will urge people to vote early. Across the U.S., hundreds of “No Kings − Vote Early” protests will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Earhart expedition team heads to island of crabs
Could a crab (or crabs) be responsible for the ultimate demise of one of the 20th century’s great American heroes? As researchers make their way to the remote Pacific island of Nikumaroro in search of the famed aviator Amelia Earhart, they’ll contend...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘That moment had me hooked’
On a clear morning on the Oregon Coast, Julie Conrad usually has her binoculars pointed at the horizon. Maybe she checks her phone intermittently, looking for updates about whale sightings near Newport or Yachats. If an orca pod surfaces, she might...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Major recognition
For Nate Jackson, the accolades and awards meant a lot, but the biggest reward remains the impact in the classroom that comes with teaching his students. ● Jackson, a Willamette High School social studies teacher, won Oregon Teacher of the Year for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Loud sounds have hidden health risks
The human body is remarkably good at getting used to the environment around it. You’ve probably experienced this if you’ve ever gone to a matinee and emerged from the dark theater into sunshine. Your eyes sting, so you squint and shield your face until...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pumpkin patches, orchards and hayrides open near Eugene
Fall leaf lovers, apple cider fanatics and pumpkin carvers look no further. Eugene and the surrounding area hosts plenty of orchards and pumpkin patches to explore with family, friends or on your own. From pumpkin catapults to apple cider donuts, each...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Power of the Pink at Autzen
The Power of Pink walk at Autzen Stadium on Oct. 4 was organized by Men Wear Pink of Lane County to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. The event brought together survivors, community partners, UO sports teams, the band and cheer squad. The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Lawmakers seek ban on plate readers
Standing near Flock cameras at the Clackamas County Town Center, Rep. Willy Chotzen, D-Portland, said he was optimistic that state lawmakers would pass legislation he and Rep. Alek Skarlatos, R-Winston, will introduce in January to implement a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘MIGHTY DUCK’ NOT ‘SITTING DUCK’
Following five reported sexual assaults on or near the University of Oregon, nearly 100 students and community members marched through campus, calling for accountability and more protections. News of a lawsuit filed by a former Cornell University...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘IT COULD HAVE CHANGED EVERYTHING’
Editor’s note: The following story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of selfharm, help is available by calling or texting 988 or chatting at 988lifeline.org. Eva Wilnau first discovered her 19year-old son died...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Roadblocks hindering plan for handling waste
In 2023, Lane County Commissioners voted to pursue a project that promised to revolutionize how the county handles waste. Now, a pair of roadblocks leave the county unable to move forward as planned and obligated to pick up millions in sunk costs and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
HEAD TO HEAD
In a nearly full room at the University of Oregon, students, Eugene City Club members and other gathered to watch the first debate between Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and Republican State Sen. Christine Drazan in Eugene Oct. 1. Members of the watch...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Sen. Drazan speaks with business owners
EUGENE — Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, who also is chair of the Republican Governors Association, joined Oregon gubernatorial candidate Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, in Eugene Sept. 30 to meet with business owners and support her candidacy. Gianforte...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Justifying spending
This story was originally published by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for Dispatches, a newsletter that spotlights wrongdoing around the country, to receive stories in your inbox every week. Two Oregon...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘When we fight, we win’
In an all-day mediation session that went just past midnight on Sept. 28, the Service Employees International Union Local 503 and Oregon’s seven public universities came to a tentative agreement, narrowly avoiding a massive strike and winning...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
PUMPING THE BRAKES
Tech companies have built gigantic data centers in Oregon for over 20 years. Now, even the rumor of a new data center coming to a community leads to packed city council meetings, rallies against their construction and calls for moratoriums on new...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Art for art’s sake
The streets of downtown Eugene shimmered and shined beyond the hourlong BRiGHT Parade on Sept. 26. Hours before the parade, glow sticks and battery-powered string lights began dotting the sidewalks as parade-viewing spots were scouted and last-minute...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Oregon blocks scrutiny of subsidized spending
This story was originally published by ProPublica alongside Oregon Public Broadcasting and The Oregonian/OregonLive. ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for Dispatches, a newsletter that spotlights wrongdoing...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Plenty to do downtown this weekend
Hannarose McGuinness Downtown Eugene is preparing for a jam-packed day of musical performances, market events, a walkable food and beverage tour and more culminating in the city’s fourth annual Bright Parade on Sept. 26. If $5 bites from almost 30...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New programs, building
The University of Oregon will establish the Knight College of Engineering thanks to a record-breaking $1 billion commitment from Phil and Penny Knight. Although it’s still “early days,” UO Vice President and Executive Director of the Phil and Penny...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Gourmet burger chefs are showcasing their best at new restaurant
Frothing up lemon foam and cutting drink menus were on the list of last-minute preparations before Seasoned opened to friends and family in early September. Owners Garrett and Felicia Kirsch flitted around the small dining and backroom spaces in their...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Westmoreland Park shelter is closing
The shelter site by Westmoreland Park in Eugene is set to close by the end of October as its operator, Community Supported Shelters (CSS), consolidates its shelter operations. The closure of the 20-unit site has been underway for weeks, according to a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Dive right in!
The waters of the Oregon Coast may look turbid as waves crash into the rocky coastline, but Michael Hollingshead and Ron Vearrier have had remarkable experiences with wildlife while diving, and they’re eager to prepare others for similar underwater...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DIGITAL DETOX
A trove of recent articles bemoan the collapse in recreational reading among younger Americans, with COVID-19 pandemic-related reading declines, artificial intelligence and social media often described as causes. But as the authors of “How Gen Z...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Legacy celebrated with time capsule opening
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 | REGISTERGUARD.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Miranda Cyr COTTAGE GROVE — Rich history exists not just in the memories of former students and longtime staff members at Bohemia Elementary School, but it also manifests...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Prescribed burns clear invasive vegetation
Lane County Parks officials intentionally set fire to 25 acres of land in the Howard Buford Recreation Area near Mt. Pisgah on Sept. 16. The prescribed burn is expected to restore native grasses and wildflowers in the North Bottomlands, a former...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Poverty rate dips to lowest on record
WASHINGTON – The U.S. poverty rate edged down to the lowest on record in 2025, while median household income hit a record high, the Census Bureau said on Sept. 15. There were 34.5 million people in poverty in 2025, according to the agency. The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Residents oppose Eugene data centers
Hannarose McGuinness A replica of a guillotine stood outside City Hall Sept. 14 as Eugene residents showed up in droves to voice opposition to local data center development during a packed city council meeting. About 50 people made their disapproval...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A LITTLE MORE
Owning the car of your dreams is more attainable than you think, thanks to a local vendor well stocked with Bentleys, Bugattis and BMWs. However, the vehicle will probably be 64 times smaller than the real deal. “Some guys, obviously, can’t afford a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Park upgrades almost complete at North Jetty
Fall on the Oregon Coast can be a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of back-to-school season and visitors to North Jetty Beach in Florence can soon enjoy updates that have been in progress since May. Parking lot upgrades have been underway at...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Plenty of fish in the sea?
The smell of fish and squid bait cuts through the air as the four-man crew of the Michelle Ann hauls 50 pots on deck. Each pot hoisted from the roiling Pacific to the fishing boat brings up about a dozen black cod, totaling 3,000 to 5,000 pounds of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Springfield Block Party returns with music and fun
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2026 | REGISTERGUARD.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Haleigh Kochanski The community is expected to gather in downtown Springfield Sept. 12 for the city's seventh annual celebration. Springfield’s “The Block Party” will...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Crisis counselor reflects on her work at Ground Zero
The first time Tina Morgan set foot in New York City was eight days after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. She remembered flying into John F. Kennedy Airport on what she imagined was one of the first flights following the nationwide “ground stop”...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Floral Hill backlash
Leaders of a Eugene neighborhood association laid out their case against an affordable housing project planned in the east hills at a packed meeting Sept. 2. The planned Floral Hill Terrace development would subdivide a 3.9-acre lot off Floral Hill...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
All smiles on first day at Danebo Elementary
After a rainy weekend in Lane County, the sun peeked out Sept. 8 just in time for the first day of school. Parents at Danebo Elementary in the Bethel district walked their children into their classrooms, where students said they were excited to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
UP FOR SALE
Cornucopia listed its downtown Eugene location for sale weeks after shutting the doors on its Springfield restaurant. Cornucopia will remain open on Fifth Avenue for the time being. Cornucopia, a small local chain of restaurants known for its artisan...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Who’s that principal?
With a new school year comes new leadership on campuses throughout Eugene and Springfield. The start of the 2026-27 school year will see 25 principals, assistant principals and other district leadership step into new roles in the three...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
South Hills fines top $165K
One month after the disappearance and death of South Hills Rehabilitation Center resident Carol Clove Petitti, a resident with dementia who went missing after leaving the facility in her electric wheelchair July 6 and was found dead July 8, the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Crime Stoppers of Oregon calls it quits after decline in tips, rewards
An Oregon nonprofit known for bridging the gap between anonymous tip reporting for unsolved crimes and local law enforcement investigators, announced Sept. 1 it is dissolving after 43 years. Crime Stoppers of Oregon will conclude operations on Sept....
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Don’t call me Puddles’
The University of Oregon’s beloved Duck mascot has gone through many evolutions over its more than 100-year existence. Before he was The Duck, he was Webfoot. Along the way there were live ducks captured from the Millrace, a handshake deal with Walt...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Room for more laughter
Lexis Shardé wants you to feel at home in Lexy’s Comedy Club. The space is still under construction, but with features like clings applied to exterior windows, the outline of what will be a full-service bar and kitchen and a single toilet installed in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Left in the dark
Bobbie Stevens was never unhoused until she came to Eugene at 50 years old and “got stuck.” During her 12 years living on the streets and in the parks of Eugene, Stevens has lost multiple mobility scooters and wheelchairs. She lived with an open wound...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
OREGON TIGHTENS ITS E-BIKE RULES
Electric bicycles have erupted in popularity, becoming a more affordable and energy efficient option for commuters. As e-bikes become more common, so have additional regulations, injuries and misunderstandings. People for Bikes, a bike advocacy...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Lawsuit says landowner ‘owes more than silence’
Four Lincoln County residents are suing Weyerhaeuser, a timberland company, for negligence after a landslide from a clear-cut slope buried a 1,000foot stretch of Highway 229 between Kernville and Siletz and destroyed homes in the area on Dec. 12,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DOLLY’S TIES TO OREGON
Musician, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton has died at age 80. ● With her larger-than-life personality and signature sparkling style, she was known as the “Queen of Country.” ● Parton’s death was announced in a video message from her family on...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Specially Seasoned
Seasoned is elevating its offerings at the old Bo & Vine location. Since closing their burger joint, Northwest Burgers, last year to branch out their culinary offerings, Garrett and Felicia Kirsch have been hard at work to bring their fine-dining...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Meta to pay Oregon $125M, limit kids’ screen time in settlement
Oregon will receive $125 million out of a “historic” settlement with Meta Platforms out of California federal trial. Meta agreed to pay up to $16.68 billion in a proposed resolution to a years-long, multistate case that claimed the company designed...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Neighborhood loss
Randall and Pamela Fultz routinely walked around their Springfield neighborhood in the evenings, praying for each house and each neighbor around their block on Sixth Street. Randy volunteered his time to a local food coop and the couple sang together...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New parking, trail work and more
The City of Eugene wants to add a parking lot to serve Cuthbert Amphitheater. According to bid documents, the city wants several changes to the venue. The popular outdoor concert venue sits in Alton Baker Park on Day Island Road. The City of Eugene...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Homeless services funding cuts take hold
Eugene lost access to 20 transitional housing beds available to clients with special medical needs after the closure of the Tom Campbell at Chase Commons Safe Sleep Site on June 30. The site opened in March of 2023 at 175 Commons Drive with entry...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘It’s about delicious food made with love’
Fried catfish and chicken adobo live alongside each other on the menu for a small white food truck that sets up shop throughout Eugene. It’s where Lola’s Mahal co-owners Amara Anderson and Dominick Baker work side-by-side to bring steaming hot plates...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Inside why Springfield parents are pulling kids from public schools
After years of frustrations, Courtney Steed made the difficult decision to pull her kids from Springfield Public Schools, quitting her six-figure tech job to start homeschooling this fall. Steed’s choice came from a number of factors, one of which was...
Read Full Story (Page 1)