Melorie Begay

Since the election of Donald Trump in 2016, there’s been an increase in hate crimes nationally. The public has been shocked by incidents including the killings of 11 Jewish worshipers at a synagogue in Pittsburgh and most recently 22 mostly Latino people at a Walmart in El Paso. But subtler messages have also contributed to the climate of hate. KLCC’s Melorie Begay takes a look at one incident that happened earlier this summer in Eugene.

Clinical research funding for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders remains stagnant compared to the National Institutes of Health’s overall budget, according to a recent study.

The Trump Administration announced changes to immigration regulations on Monday. It would penalize immigrants for using services like SNAP or Medicaid. Lane County’s food bank, however, wants people to know using their services won’t affect their immigration process.

A gun-wielding pro-Trump rally was overwhelmed by counter protestors in downtown Eugene, Saturday. An estimated crowd of 300 people overflowed the Free Speech Plaza onto 8th avenue. Despite one arrest and some heated confrontations, the events remained mostly peaceful.

​More than 80 people showed up to Alton Baker Park in Eugene Tuesday night to commemorate the 74th anniversary of the Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombings in Japan. This year organizers planted a tree of peace. 

A Eugene “God, Guns, and Trump Rally” is stirring controversy after organizers for the event encouraged participants to bring firearms. They plan to gather on Saturday afternoon at the Free Speech Plaza downtown.

A Eugene Church recently broke ground on phase 2 of their housing initiative to help people in need of homes. The project comes a year after the congregation helped change a city land-use code. 

The 20X21EUG Mural Project will surpass its goal of creating 20 art installations in preparation for the 2021 World Track and Field Championships. There are currently 18 murals around Eugene and by the end of next week, there will be 23.

Mobility International USA, a nonprofit based in Eugene, is holding their 2019 Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability. It’s the 9th time they’ve hosted international delegates representing over a dozen countries. The idea is to create synergy among leaders from across the globe to advance disability rights and equity.

It’s been over a year since U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley made his first diplomatic trip to a border facility in McAllen, Texas. Since then, the Oregon Democrat says not much has changed.

Two days after passing a resolution condemning white nationalism and alt-right activities, the Eugene City Council voted to amend it. The councilors unanimously approved the changes on Wednesday. 

The Eugene City Council narrowly passed a resolution condemning white nationalism and alt-right activities and groups. The final vote was 4 to 3.

On Monday the Eugene City Council will consider changing an ordinance on overnight rest stops for the unhoused. The proposal would affect where the sites are located.

A recent study from a home security research group ranked Eugene as the number one city nationally with the biggest increase in hate crimes. But, that report doesn’t tell the whole story. 

A lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Education alleges the state is failing students with disabilities by not providing families with adequate resources. 

About a 200 protesters showed up at the steps of the federal courthouse in Eugene, Saturday. They protested against the detainment of undocumented children by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico Border.

Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement says they will step up efforts to deport undocumented immigrant families. Those families are likely to live in major U.S. cities who've been given orders for removal. 

The Refugee Resettlement Coalition of Lane County will observe World Refugee Day for the 3rd year in a row. The organization will focus on the growing number of asylum seekers at the southern U.S. Border.

The Long Tom Watershed Council designed a new welcome road sign along Highway 126. It recognizes the area as Indigenous homelands.

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is opening a new exhibit this weekend featuring an Iranian woman who does environmental advocacy through art. 

Public comment on a proposal for a Eugene company to bolster cleanup efforts on historic spills, ends Friday. The Department of Environmental Quality wants to mitigate any risk of further contamination.

Multiple swastikas were painted on sidewalks, benches, poles-- and one downtown Eugene business, Wednesday morning. The Eugene Police Department is currently investigating the rash of hate-speech graffiti.