Karen Richards

The first day of school looked a bit different for staff and students in Eugene today [Friday], but after 18 months of changing protocols, teachers are well prepared.

Many of us are still dealing with poor air quality this week. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an alert through Thursday afternoon for Central and Southern Oregon and the Willamette Valley.

Summer is also roadwork season in Oregon. The City of Eugene is taking on some big repairs this year.

Oregon’s farm production depends on field workers to tend and harvest the crops. New technology could affect farmworkers for better or worse.  

Growing crops is already a field with a lot of inherent risk. Add Oregon’s increasing heat waves and wildfire smoke, as well as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s obvious farm workers are on the front line in multiple ways. KLCC’s Karen Richards has this report on the future of farm work, the first in our series, “Workin’ It.”

For many Olympic track and field athletes, the next stop after Tokyo will be Eugene. The Prefontaine Classic is August 20th and 21st at Hayward Field.

Pending approval, federal funding is on its way to Civic Park in Eugene to help the venue build an audience.

The World Athletics Championships will come to the United States for the first time in 2022. With just under a year until the 10-day competition at Hayward Field in Eugene, preparations are speeding up.

Eugene and Springfield residents can now get back to the stacks and browse books. Local public libraries opened their doors this month.

The U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials brought extra shoppers and diners to Eugene. Then, Oregon’s COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, allowing for greater capacity. But it’s still a long haul back to normal for some businesses.

While there won't be a free festival area outside Hayward at the Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, there will be a food court for ticketed fans. KLCC checked in with one company that jumped at the chance to be there.  

Day One of the NCAA Track and Field Championships was the first chance for many out-of-town fans and coaches to experience the new Hayward Field. Here's an audio postcard.

A woodworking class at Springfield High School stepped up to build a Japanese arch for the race walk at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June.

With no fans at sporting events, the past year has been lean for hotels and restaurants near the University of Oregon. Businesses expect a boost from two big track and field meets in June, but there are also challenges.

A bond that would have helped rebuild the McKenzie School District’s 70-year-old elementary school failed to pass in Tuesday’s special election.

Voters turned down a Lane Fire Authority levy last November. Advocates hope a smaller levy and better messaging will help them pass a property tax increase May 18th.

The Eugene Ballet moved to its new location at 16th and Pearl about two months ago. As KLCC’s Karen Richards reports, it’s artfully stretching into a place designed for its needs.

The Eugene 4J School Board has a suite of candidates vying for three positions on the May 18th ballot.

A new report from the Ocean Conservancy said nearly 100 percent of volunteers found PPE at coastal cleanup sites, including in Oregon, with face masks the most common item. 

The Eugene Public Library may soon be lending the internet. KLCC has more on a campaign to raise money for portable wifi hotspots.

The CDC and the Oregon Health Authority recently announced classrooms can reduce physical distancing from six feet to three. Decisions now fall to each district whether and how to change in-person learning.

The new Hayward Field has been ready and set for quite a while; now, it’s nearly “go” time. The University of Oregon announced today (Wednesday) the venue will host its first invitational meet, the Hayward Premiere, on April 2nd and 3rd.