Tiffany Eckert

Lane County voters will soon be asked to decide the outcome on STAR voting Measure 20-290. The initiative proposes a change in the voting method for non-partisan elections.

On the November ballot, Lane County voters will be asked to decide whether or not to institute a new voting method, called STAR voting, for non-partisan elections.

Issues over redistricting came up at a City Club of Eugene forum Friday with candidates for Oregon House District 14.

Eugene’s White Bird Clinic was founded in 1970 with a mission to help the homeless and indigent with a variety of human services. The agency offers drug and alcohol counseling, crisis support and medical services. White Bird just purchased a new building to expand its dental program. For thousands of people, this clinic may be their only contact with a dentist.

For nearly 50 years, White Bird Clinic has helped under-served populations in and around Eugene with crisis counseling, medical and-- since 1995--dental programs. The need for this service has continued to grow, prompting the agency to expand in size and scope.

The firefighter-- who was the victim of a hit and run near the Terwilliger fire camp - remains in hospital following four major surgeries.  The investigation to find the driver continues.

On September 3rd, a fireman on the Terwilliger Fire near Blue River was hit while crossing Highway 126. The driver did not stop. KLCC’s Tiffany Eckert brings us this update on the firefighter’s injuries and what his future holds.

Every three days, an Oregon veteran commits suicide. The problem has reached critical mass, prompting the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and Governor Kate Brown to make veteran suicide prevention a top priority.

The rate of suicide in Lane County is 50 percent greater than the national average. In a new comprehensive suicide report, Lane County Public Health details circumstances of suicide deaths.

Oregon’s 2019 Teacher of the Year was named at an impromptu pep assembly in Eugene Tuesday. A popular Churchill High School educator received the honor from Governor Kate Brown.

The firefighter who was critically injured in a hit-and-run collision earlier this month remains in hospital and medical costs are mounting. A grassroots effort is underway to help a stranger who came to fight the Terwilliger Fire.

A person caught drinking and driving can face jail time and the loss of license. But what about cannabis? Since Oregon legalized recreational pot in 2015, police have had to figure out how to determine impairment by the drug. In Eugene, it comes down to a cop’s trained perception.

Eugene-based Centro Latino Americano has received a grant to help people sign up for health insurance. The agency has committed to providing equity and access to underserved populations.  

Hear an extended interview with Tyler Whitmire, field representative for the Oregon School Employees Association who negotiated a labor contract for Eugene 4J classified employees. The agreement was ratified by classified employees on Tuesday, Sept 4 and approved by the 4J Board of Education on Wednesday (09/05/18) night.

Wednesday night, the Eugene 4-J School Board finalized a contract agreement with the classified employee’s union.

The Terwilliger Fire has burned over 9,500 acres and containment on Wednesday is at 35%. In addition to the crews fighting and analyzing fire behavior, there are those assigned to perform structural assessments of area homes and businesses.

Monday night, a member of Terwilliger Fire suppression personnel was the victim of a hit and run.

Oregon state police troopers responded to a report that a vehicle struck a pedestrian on Highway 126, near the entrance of the base camp for the Terwilliger Fire.  

The Terwilliger Fire in the Willamette National Forest doubled in size. It is now over 3,200 acres and 1% contained. Officials report the fire has burned through a popular recreation site known as Cougar Hot Springs.

The Terwilliger Fire, near Blue River, has doubled in size. The blaze now burns over 3200 acres, on both sides of Cougar Reservoir.

The Terwilliger Fire in the Willamette National Forest is more than 1,200 acres and only one-percent contained. It’s burning near Blue River on both sides of Cougar Reservoir.

The Board of Trustees of Oregon State University has approved a new program- at their OSU-Cascades Branch- for licensed registered nurses to get a Bachelor of Science degree—online. The program is geared toward nurses in Central Oregon and the greater Bend area, where the need is greatest.

The Oregon Food Bank has funded a fix for what could have been a loss of access for low-income people to farmer’s markets in the state.

Nine major wildfires continue to produce new smoke and spew particulates, making air quality in Southern Oregon the *worst in the nation.

A group of artists, musicians and tech-types have transformed an old-school video game into a larger-than-life, interactive experience in downtown Eugene. At sundown, on every last Tuesday of summer months, people are invited to play the game—PONG—with a super-sized twist. 

The Trump administration’s recent attempt to undermine the Affordable Care Act has prompted some state leaders to speak out. Oregon Governor Kate Brown met with patients at a health clinic in Eugene Tuesday and spoke on the need to protect health care coverage for all, especially those with pre-existing conditions.

Health care professionals representing all major labor unions at PeaceHealth RiverBend and University District hospitals rallied Thursday to stop a plan to outsource physician services, increase shift hours, and lay off staff. KLCC’s Tiffany Eckert asked one of the hospital physicians to explain the current dispute.