Is it time for a sales tax in Oregon?

You can join Oregon's fight for universal healthcare | Letter to the editor

Our healthcare should not be up for debate every four years. Decisions about our health should come from doctors, not corporations looking to make a profit. Families shouldn’t go bankrupt because someone gets injured or sick. People in rural communities should have access to the same care at the same price as people who live […]

Assuming a sports team is male in articles does a disservice to fans who support equality | Letter to the editor

My niece wrote me recently that the new thing to say at Portland Fire games is the MNBA – Men’s National Basketball Association, not the NBA. Since the WNBA has a W, she’s saying that men need a gender label too. The headline of Lookout’s article about Sporting Cascades FC said “Eugene’s upcoming pro soccer club.” Since […]

Why I love public art: It's always there | Letter to the editor

The Arts & Business Alliance of Eugene recently described public art as civic infrastructure, as essential to a thriving city as roads and sidewalks. I agree. And there’s something underneath that idea worth saying out loud: public art is always there, waiting for you. That is what I love about it. You round a corner […]

A wildfire expert assessed my backyard: the good, the bad and the flammable

An environmental journalist shares her firsthand account of receiving a “defensible space” assessment of her own backyard by a deputy state fire marshal. It challenged some common assumptions about wildfire preparedness and helped her understand what it means to reduce risk.

Eagles Rest: Get out of town for a hike — without traveling too far

If you are ever looking to get out of town without driving too far, here’s an ideal hike that’s good for a simple picnic or watching the sunset. About 30 miles southwest of Eugene, a forest trail leads to the beautiful mountain overlook at Eagles Rest. The trail begins at a gravel parking area off […]