The Register-Guard
In order to read, these Eugene elementary schoolers walk the walk
Eliana Villanueva and Houston Mills were beaming about their “graduation” in the new literacy program at McCornack Elementary. The second graders recently advanced to a higher-level reading group after they spent a couple of months leaving their...
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Challenging fire season ahead, officials warn
Officials on May 5 warned of a potentially severe and difficult wildfire season ahead, as Oregon faces drought, a warm winter, low snowpack and El Niño conditions, and urged Oregonians to take steps to prevent human-caused fires in the months...
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Inside a Lane County restaurant inspection
Every week, The Register-Guard publishes the most recently scored restaurants in Lane County Health’s semi-annual restaurant inspections. These scores help readers make informed choices about where they eat and shine a light on a restaurant’s...
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COMPLETELY ‘DUCKED OUT’
Sad restaurant news came to Eugene at the end of April. Izakaya Meiji and The Davis, two Eugene food scene staples, announced their closure. Both spots fostered community and served great food to the city for over 15 years, solidifying them as some of...
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‘It’s time for me to have my own life again’
Tiny hands held giant scissors to cut the ribbon at Ollie Court’s grand opening in Eugene April 30. The event signaled the merging of two of Oregon’s top priorities — affordable housing and childcare — in the same building for the first time. The...
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University of Oregon’s top-paid administrators
The University of Oregon is the second-largest employer in Lane County and generates billions of dollars every year across the state’s economy. But who’s paid the most at UO? ● Eight employees made over $1 million in fiscal year 2025, all of whom work...
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IZAKAYA MEIJI CLOSES ITS DOORS
A Eugene fine dining staple has permanently closed. Izakaya Meiji owners announced the restaurant’s April 30 closure with a sign in the window of the Whiteaker establishment. According to social media posts on Reddit and Facebook, the entire staff of...
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Construction begins on fence around Federal Building
Contractors began erecting a fence in front of the Eugene Federal Building on April 29. The fence work began two days after the City of Eugene approved a right-ofway permit for the federal government to fence off lanes of two city streets to restrict...
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No more second helpings at Eugene 4J
Eugene 4J students will have more limited meal options as district leaders look to trim $30 million from next year’s budget. A nutrition services employee presented two meal trays during a recent budget committee meeting to illustrate the disparity:...
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‘A different kind of community’
In a flurry of newsie caps, suspenders, nun habits and loose newspapers, students rush around the Sheldon High School auditorium as they prepare for their production of “Newsies.” Sheldon High’s musical is 107 students strong. Dozens are in the cast,...
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Feds seeking permit to fence off Federal Building
The federal government has applied for a permit needed to build a fence around the Eugene Federal Building. City staff are processing that permit and are installing an alternate sidewalk on Pearl Street which will serve as the pedestrian path once...
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THOUSANDS HIT STREETS FOR EUGENE MARATHON
Thousands pounded the pavement on April 26 for the annual Eugene Marathon. The event, which also included a half marathon and an April 25 5K and Duck Dash, is a major draw for runners and sold out this year. See more photos and results at...
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Republicans vie for party nomination
A large field of Republican hopefuls are looking to do something no one in their party has accomplished in more than four decades: become Oregon’s governor. To do that, they’ll have to prevail in the May 19 primary election and best the Democratic...
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Score special deals with marathon bib
The Eugene Marathon has come to town again, and folks from all over are showing up to support in different ways. Runners who have been training all year for the event can pick up their bibs and unlock a world of possibilities. That's right: A Eugene...
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University of Oregon opens new $320M Knight Campus building
The newest addition to the University of Oregon will see labs refine bioengineered 3D printed biomedical tissue, serve as an incubator for startups and support the next generation of researchers. The Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating...
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FALLEN EPD OFFICER CHRIS KILCULLEN REMEMBERED
On the 15th anniversary of Chris Kilcullen’s death, his family members and local police attended a roadside gathering to remember the Eugene Police Department officer killed in the line of duty. Kilcullen, a 12-year veteran of the department, was 43...
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Springfield’s LDS temple is 3rd in OR
Over the next two and a half weeks, EugeneSpringfield area residents can visit the new Willamette Valley Oregon Temple, the third of its kind in Oregon. Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints announced plans for the temple in 2021....
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Creative matcha lattes, new food spot in VRC
This week’s restaurant round-up picked up news bits from all over Eugene’s restaurant scene, bringing you interesting bits and bobs from some of Eugene’s beloved restauranteurs and newbies to the business. What’s your favorite matcha spot in town? If...
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Ranking Lane County’s Top 15 best schools
As the end of the school year approaches, parents and guardians of middle schoolers may be wondering which local high schools will offer their children the best education. U.S. News & World Report ranks high schools nationwide and in each state every...
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BORN IN OREGON
Woven into the fabric of Oregon’s history is the legacy of a brand born out of a desire to improve the performance of track athletes. Years' worth of tinkering, a few broken waffle irons and decades later, Nike has stamped its footprint on the sports...
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Snow drought presents climate stress test
Across much of the Western United States, winter 2026 was the year the snow never came. Many ski resorts got by with snowmaking but shut down their winter operations early. Fire officials and water supply managers are worried about summer. Where I...
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Sheldon football coach has been on leave for 6 weeks
Sheldon’s football players are rallying in support of their head coach. It is unclear why, however, they have been prompted to come to his defense. Dozens of students and parents showed support for Tyler Martell, head football coach and math teacher...
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TAKING THE STAGE
The 2026-27 Broadway in Eugene season includes an acclaimed show that debuted in 2025, a classic that has been on stage for two decades and everything in between. ● Shakespeare meets pop in the 2022 Broadway hit “& Juliet” to kick off the new season....
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State of the County nod gets pushback
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission opened an investigation into whether Lane County Commissioner David Loveall used his position to promote his business, and whether he properly disclosed his business interests, at the board’s April 10...
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Crafting a comeback Eugene Makerspace reopening in bigger space with more tools
Tinkerers, crafters and handy-folk of all walks of life can rejoice: Eugene Makerspace is reopening. It’s taken about a year and a half for the nonprofit to relocated and rebuild after a fire in mid-September of 2024. Eugene Makerspace was founded in...
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Park now $90K away from new mountain bike system
A series of mountain bike trails and a skills park are being developed in Suzanne Arlie Park, the largest in Eugene’s parks system. The master vision for the bike park and trail system includes 11 trails with varying difficulties and three hubs...
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The risk of floods
Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps determine which property owners will be required to carry expensive flood insurance and help communities plan for development along waterways. FEMA is nearing the end of its process to re-evaluate the...
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EYES ON ORCA
The city of Florence was abuzz with energy and excitement the morning of April 8. Whale watchers donned their cameras and brought out their binoculars, heading toward the mouth of the Siuslaw River where a killer whale was spotted swimming upriver....
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Springfield sends librarian layoff notice amid budget talks
The City of Springfield has sent a layoff letter to one of its librarians, has closed another position, and likely will close the library on Mondays, according to people familiar with the situation. According to library volunteers Jim Lauinger and...
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‘IT’S SAFER NOT TO BE AFRAID’
An abundance of delighted — and frightened — shrieks filled the Walterville Elementary School gymnasium on April 3 as students watched box after box filled with critters be revealed. K-5 students crowded around “Oregon Reptile Man” Richard Ritchey as...
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From chili crisp to the whole sando
Eugene’s hottest new sandwich shop isn’t a shop at all. Hidden away in an industrial area of West Eugene, there is a commissary kitchen. Ben Maude and Ginger McCabe spend many hours there working on Chili Royale, their chili crisp oil business. But a...
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STEAM PLANT TO DREAM PLANT
For decades, the Standby Steam Plant, located in Eugene’s developing downtown riverfront neighborhood, has sat vacant. Years of vandalism have broken dozens of windows and graffiti scrawls across the interior walls of the dilapidated building. Now,...
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PeaceHealth’s new inpatient rehab facility taking shape
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can impact how a person moves, thinks and acts. These injuries, usually caused by outside forces, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, can lead to severe and permanent disability and...
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Huge plans for EXPANSION
Even as sections of the former PeaceHealth University District hospital are demolished, one part of the campus is getting a second life. ● Bushnell University acquired two former PeaceHealth buildings along 11th Avenue in November. ● The monster,...
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CONVICTED
A Lane County jury convicted Scott Stolarczyk, 52, of second-degree manslaughter and driving under the influence on April 2 in connection with a car crash that killed 79-year-old Sharon Schuman in South Eugene last year. The verdict was announced at...
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DevNW’s Floral Hill project to offer 40 affordable homes
A rundown fixer with stained carpets and no chance at financing. A home with a shop in need of electrical work and a yard filled with trash. An empty lot. Eugene’s real estate listings priced below $275,000 are slim picking. But a new Laurel Hill...
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A SNEAK PEEK AT CHARRED
The foodies of Eugene and Springfield have missed Charred. The restaurant has been on hiatus since owners Terry McKay and David Lucht closed up shop inside the Washburne Cafe to focus on getting their new property ready for business. Lucht and McKay...
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Carmen-Smith rec area is reopening
The Eugene Water and Electric Board is reopening the Carmen-Smith recreation area. It has been closed for nine years. EWEB’s Carmen-Smith Hydro-electric project is a network of three dams and reservoirs and two power-generating plants near the source...
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University District hospital demolished
The shuttered PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center University District hospital and ancillary building are being demolished at 1255 Hilyard St. in Eugene, according to Joseph Waltasi, PeaceHealth spokesperson. The hospital closed in 2023 due to...
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Eugene-Springfield protests Trump policies
Thousands of people gathered outside Springfield City Hall on March 28 for a No Kings protest, themed “No Thrones, No Crowns, No Kings.” The gathering, which began at 11 a.m., is the latest in a series of mass demonstrations across the U.S., in cities...
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Will Oregon enter new era amid logging push?
Editor’s note: In honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Statesman Journal and its sister publication, The Register-Guard, are embarking on a yearlong project exploring the history and culture that define...
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What happened to Manuel Bayya?
The family of Manuel “Manny” Bayya, a Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians member who went missing from Elmira in 2022, hosted a rally in downtown Eugene on March 27 to bring awareness to his disappearance. “I’ve never planned anything like this...
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Federal audit of MacLaren praises staff effort
Federal auditors praised the staff of MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility, Oregon’s largest juvenile detention center in Woodburn, for working swiftly to protect residents from harassment or inappropriate comments. The Prison Rape Elimination Act (or...
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One-wheel wonders
Have you ever seen 75 elementary schoolers unicycling in unison? Probably not, if you haven’t had the pleasure of watching McCornack Elementary School’s Unicycle Club in action. This atypical extracurricular activity is a longtime tradition at...
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UP IN THE AIR
Travelers across the United States face significant disruptions as Transportation Security Administration agents skip work rather than work without pay amid the ongoing partial government shutdown. In response, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security...
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What’s UpDog?
Inside a remodeled sprinter van, wet noses, wagging tails and panting smiles from dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds are abundant. UpDog Mobile Dog Gym brings a dog’s favorite activity to owners’ doorsteps with its roving facility dedicated to...
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‘We’ve had to do some creative financing’
A historic fire truck shortage and extensive manufacturing delays are leaving fire departments across the U.S. with aging fleets. ● Eugene Springfield Fire is no exception. ● The department ordered new engines and trucks three years ago and has yet to...
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WHAT TO KNOW FOR CHERRY BLOSSOM DAY
The Oregon State Capitol Mall's Akebono cherry trees are approaching peak bloom just in time for the annual Cherry Blossom Day. Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 146 in 2017, establishing Cherry Blossom Day in Salem on the third Saturday in March every...
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‘When you follow your heart, good things happen’
In February of 2026, Peggy Starr got off the train in Eugene. She had packed her bags in Wisconsin, tired of the snow and feeling trapped in her retirement community, and headed to the town she spent many years of her life in. After two days of travel,...
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Are park goers feeding coyotes at Mt. Pisgah?
Wildlife sightings at Mount Pisgah Arboretum, a park located within the greater Howard Buford Recreation Area, are common. In 2026, sightings of coyotes have been more common than usual. Frequency of coyote sightings in the park has increased...
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Oregon logging could quadruple
The Bureau of Land Management wants to increase logging in western Oregon and public comment is open on the proposal. The “Oregon and California Revested Railroad Lands Act” from 1937 gives the BLM authority to govern 2.46 million acres of federal...
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What’s next for crisis response?
Two organizations have put forward very different plans for what services they would provide if awarded the contract city officials have described as Eugene’s replacement for the CAHOOTS community response program. In late January, Eugene invited...
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Rumored ICE facilities on coast prompt protest
A few dozen protesters gathered at the Eugene Federal Building on March 14 to protest against the federal government’s pursuit of building new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in Oregon. The demonstration was put on by Indivisible...
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CARE IN CRISIS
After United Healthcare group Optum acquired Oregon Medical Group, prompting an exodus of doctors from Eugene-Springfield, state lawmakers took action. The state passed legislation in 2025 to prevent management services organizations, or businesses...
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A LESSON IN PERSISTENCE
Amidst a financial scandal, loss of educators and a huge enrollment drop, South Hills Montessori School, which occupies the former Far Horizons Montessori School, is trying to bounce back. The private school was thrust into turmoil in summer 2025,...
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EVERY 15 MINUTES
Editor’s note: This article contains depictions of fake blood and injuries as part of an educational simulation. Law enforcement bustled around to put finishing touches on the scene, applying fake blood and shoving empty beer cans in the door of a...
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BUILDING UP
The University of Oregon modified its request to build more dorms along the east edge of campus, and public comment is now open on the proposal. UO requested Eugene City Council loosen city land use code so the university can build a series of...
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Lawmakers adjourn
Oregon’s 2026 “short” legislative session concluded March 6. Democrats, who hold a supermajority in Oregon’s legislature, largely celebrated the session, saying they succeeded in their goals of responding to President Donald Trump’s immigration...
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TO RESPOND’
The Oregon Legislature passed a bill creating a legal pathway for those convicted on the basis of discredited “junk science” to prove their innocence. Supporters of Senate Bill 1515 B said it will deliver justice to wrongfully convicted Oregonians and...
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Gwen’s Homestyle Kitchen soul food truck debuts
Chef Distro remembers the first meal he made for himself. He was 6 years old, and his mom was going out for the night. She told him to fix his own dinner. “I cooked some pancakes and eggs, and I fried some mush meat in the pan, and then I had some...
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Breweries have been closing doors
When Professor Tom Shellhammer started working in OSU’s Fermentation Science Program in 2001, he remembers there being around 3,000 breweries in the United States. Each fall, when he would teach his Introduction to Wine, Beer and Spirits class, he...
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ICE ON CAMPUS
Student groups and labor unions rejoiced after the Oregon Legislature passed a bill requiring schools and colleges send alerts when federal immigration is present on campus. House Bill 4079 requires public schools and colleges to adopt policies for...
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Dick’s House of Sport coming to Valley River
Eugene’s Valley River Center plans to welcome a new anchor tenant at the shopping mall. Construction for a Dick’s House of Sport, a retail concept from Dick’s Sporting Goods, is expected to begin this spring. Dick’s House of Sport offers handson...
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What happened to Trevor Naughton?
Michael Trevor Naughton, 42, of Eugene, remains missing, according to the Lane County Sheriff ’s Office. ● Naughton’s vehicle was discovered on Feb. 19 in the Gate Creek area, east of Vida off Highway 126. He left the vehicle the day prior to get gas...
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Bill aims to keep suspects in custody
Members of Eugene’s Asian American and Pacific Islander community testified before the House Committee on Rules at the Oregon State Legislature on March 2 in support of a bill that would give magistrate judges the ability to consider primary and...
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‘It’s still getting brighter’
A University of Oregon astrophysicist and her team have made a surprising discovery after years of observing a supermassive black hole. It was 2018 when a peer of UO assistant professor and astronomer Yvette Cendes first observed a supermassive black...
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Healthcare workers, academics join protest
Hundreds of protestors gathered at Eugene’s Park Blocks Feb. 28 for a march and rally coordinated by the Eugene Springfield Solidarity Network that encouraged local labor unions to stand in solidarity against U.S. Immigration and Customs...
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Looking for justice
The family of a man who police shot and killed just after Christmas in 2024 has filed a $12.5 million wrongful death lawsuit against Lane County, the State of Oregon and several law enforcement officers. ● On Dec. 27, 2024, three residents of Prindel...
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CLEAN ENERGY FUND
Local environmental groups have launched a ballot initiative to establish a “Eugene Clean Energy fund,” aimed at getting the biggest companies operating in Eugene to pay for local clean energy projects. The proposal, which proponents filed with the...
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‘Our customers have been asking for this’
REI is almost ready to welcome shoppers to its new location in Eugene’s Oakway Center. The store opens Feb. 27. REI Co-Op announced plans to relocate in January 2025. Since then, the company has been preparing the new location in a former Bed, Bath &...
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Colorful disobedience
On any given Sunday, from 2 to 4 p.m., the Eugene Federal Building is alive with color and action. Protesters riding ducks, frogs, and unicorns rally with flags and megaphones. Passing motorists cheer them on as the characters stand against U.S....
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Red Hat Resistance knits to protest ICE
Craft supply shops across Eugene and Springfield are selling out of red yarn. National yarn suppliers are struggling to keep up with demand. Why? The Red Hat Resistance. “It’s getting harder to find,” said Karen Mortensen, owner of Cozy, located in...
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Daisy CHAIN closes
Eugene’s longtime Daisy CHAIN postpartum nonprofit permanently closed Feb. 20. Since 2012, Daisy CHAIN (Creating Healthy Alliances In New-mothering) provided an array of services for people in the early stages of parenting in Lane County. The...
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255 Madison shuts doors
On Feb. 17, the food trucks outside 255 Madison saw a note taped to their windows. “Due to compliance and licensing issues, we are requiring you to remove your food cart from the property at 255 Madison indefinitely by March 5, 2026.” The owners of...
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Black exclusion laws still impact residents
Editor’s note: In honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Register-Guard and its sister publication, the Statesman Journal, are embarking on a year-long project exploring the history and culture that define...
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