Rachael McDonald

The leader of a Eugene-based advocacy group is urging changes to the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s policies toward predator animals after a bobcat was killed this week.

Three Democrats have declared they’re running for Oregon Secretary of State in 2020, Springfield raises flags to celebrate Indegenous People’s Day, The University of Oregon opens its new Black Student Union, Eugene holds coffin races this month, Great Oregon Shake-Out

Those stories and more in this edition of the Northwest Passage podcast. Join KLCC's News Director Rachael McDonald, Morning Edition host Anni Katz, and reporters Elizabeth Gabriel and Brian Bull. 

Lane County plans for a new Housing First Apartment complex for people who've been chronically homeless. We debrief KLCC's recent Community Conversation on racism, hate, Oregon's history, and the media. Those topics and more on the Northwest Passage podcast with KLCC's News Director Rachael McDonald, Morning Edition host Anni Katz, and reporter Melorie Begay.

While his colleagues move ahead on impeachment proceedings against President Trump, Oregon Democratic Representative Peter DeFazio is leading a separate investigation. It has to do with the Trump Hotel in Washington D.C. 

As of Tuesday, October 1st, Eugene residents can put food scraps in their curbside yard waste bins for composting. The hope is to reduce the amount of food that goes into the landfill.

Classes started Monday at Lane Community College. The school has experienced big drops in enrollment since the recession. But, there’s a slight uptick this fall. 

Oregon’s only Republican member of Congress, Greg Walden, says the impeachment process hasn’t begun the way it should.

Oregon Pushes forward with an action plan on climate change. Classified staff at the state’s Public Universities prepare to go on strike. And scientific evidence shows cats actually can form bonds with people.Those stories and more in this edition of the Northwest Passage podcast.

Sandi Mann is among three people who have so far filed to run for the Lane County Board of Commissioners position 3 in May. 

Public University workers  in Oregon have voted to authorize a strike just as students prepare to go back to class. Eugene holds an emergency preparedness fair. And we remember NPR and ABC reporter and commentator Cokie Roberts who passed away this week.

On Friday, people around the world plan to march and rally to call for action on climate change. There are Global Climate Strikes planned in Eugene, Corvallis, Cottage Grove and other Oregon cities. 

University of Oregon literature professor Ernesto Javier Martinez wrote a children's book called "When You Love Someone You Sing To Them".  

Nationally, there’ve been 6 deaths traced to vaping including one in Oregon. Opioid addiction is leading to overflows at a dusk to dawn homeless camp in Eugene. And an update on the case of 400 cats on a Veneta property

Laurie Trieger filed Thursday to run for the district 3 seat on the Board of Lane County Commissioners. The incumbent, Pete Sorenson, has decided not to run for re-election in 2020.

Local composers and performers will be featured at a concert this weekend at the Wildish Theater in Springfield. Local Sounds, Local Stories features the Delgani String Quartet and the work of six Eugene-area composers. 

Eugene residents will soon be able to put food scraps in their curbside bin along with yard waste for composting. The city-wide program starts October 1st, 2019.

Eugene residents are fortunate to get their water from the clean, cool McKenzie River. But the city could lose that access in the event of a major disaster. The threat of climate change has also created challenges.