Lane County

The opponents of the 'Lane County Watersheds Bill of Rights' initiative have raised around 10 times more money than the supporters, as of Monday.

A local option tax for the Dexter Rural Fire Protection District is up for renewal on next month’s ballot.

Incumbent David Loveall and Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon are vying to represent Lane County Commissioner District 2 in next month’s election. The district includes Springfield and some surrounding areas.

Lane County has taken emergency action to address deterioration of two covered bridges near Cottage Grove; the Currin Bridge which spans the Row River and the Stewart Bridge which crosses Mosby Creek.

East Lane County Commissioner Heather Buch is facing two challengers in her bid for re-election: political consultant Jake Pelroy and forest management advocate Bob Zybach.

Incumbent Ryan Ceniga said he’s seeking another term to advocate for housing and rural communities. He’s challenged by Thomas Hiura, who said local government needs to include voices that haven’t always felt welcome at the county level.

Rural Lane County residents say they’re frustrated about public safety: a handful of deputies patrol a sprawling unincorporated area, and there is very little followup when they call. KLCC spoke to several residents of an unincorporated area near Florence, where there's been a rash of burglaries.

Lane County Commissioner David Loveall is under investigation by the Oregon Ethics Commission. Allegations reviewed by the commission accuse Loveall of improperly using the State of the County address in January to promote businesses he owns and improperly filling out ethics paperwork.

Lane County’s efforts to build a food waste diversion facility south of Eugene were rejected for a second time Wednesday. The Oregon Court of Appeals upheld a previous zoning denial from the state’s land use board.

The state’s highest court threw out internet activity logs gathered by a third party, stating that the accused had a right to privacy.

A measure on the Lane County ballot this May aims to combat pollution by creating a "Watersheds Bill of Rights." But it's drawn fierce debate over how the law would impact local businesses and services.

Lane County says it has lost more than $5 million in fees from waste hauler Sanipac exporting waste to its parent company’s southern Oregon landfill. That’s left the county short on the funds it needs to operate its 15 transfer stations.