The socially distant festival, which runs through Saturday, suggests several self-guided activities around the river that connects Eugene and Springfield ..read more

The Trump administration said Monday that it would begin the process of auctioning off leases for oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a potential first-of-its-kind opening of the pristine wilderness that will be challenged in court.The Interior Department announced the leasing program as President Donald Trump prepared to counter the Democratic National Convention with a weeklong tour of battleground states.While the government is moving forward ..read more

The Springfield City Council on Monday night directed city staff to put the mayoral question on the budget when they return from recess on Sept. 8 ..read more

Ohio’s former Gov. John Kasich, a Republican presidential contender four years ago, joined Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, on Monday in calling for voters across the political spectrum to unite against President Donald Trump. Their urgent warning demonstrated the breadth of Joe Biden's coalition on the opening night of the Democratic Party's 2020 National Convention ..read more

WASHINGTON — A federal judge blocked the Trump administration on Monday from enforcing a new regulation that would roll back health care protections for transgender people.Finalized days after the Supreme Court barred sex discrimination against LGBT individuals on the job, the regulation from the federal Department of Health and Human Services was to have taken effect Tuesday.Monday's preliminary injunction from U.S. District Court Judge Frederic Block in Brooklyn ..read more

Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez said Monday that this year's handful of presidential caucuses should be the last the party ever holds."I think by 2024 we ought to have everyone being a primary state," Perez told The Associated Press in an interview on the opening day of the Democratic National Convention.The chairman didn't specifically name Iowa, which for decades has led off the nominating calendar, but his position could represent a seismic shift in the ..read more

Eugene police are searching for a suspect in a rape reported early Monday morning off Oakway Road.At 5:17 a.m. Monday, police responded to a report of an unknown problem after a female called 911 and the line was disconnected, according to news release from the Eugene Police Department.The alleged victim called back and reported being raped by a male she did not know in the 200 block of Oakway Center, the release said.The suspect is described as a male adult ..read more

Protesters punched and kicked a man to the ground in Portland after he crashed his truck onto the sidewalk on Sunday night near otherwise peaceful demonstrations.Portland police said they received a report around 10:30 p.m. of protesters chasing a truck a few blocks from the downtown federal courthouse. The driver crashed and was then assaulted, authorities said.Video posted online of the incident showed the man sitting in the street next to the truck. A crowd gathered ..read more

A wildfire burning in the scenic Columbia River Gorge that has destroyed dozens of structures is 65% contained, according to authorities.KOIN reports that some evacuation orders were downgraded as of Monday because of the containment progress. The fire has burned nearly 1,000 acres and fire officials don't believe they'll have the blaze fully contained until the end of the month.The Oregon Department of Forestry says 36 structures have been destroyed and about 660 ..read more

Gov. Kate Brown has appointed circuit court judges in Lane and Klamath counties, filling the positions of retired judges Maurice Merten and Roxanne Osborne, respectively.Public Defense Services’ criminal defense attorney Amit Kapoor’s appointment will be effective Sept. 1 for Lane County. Criminal defense attorney Alycia Kersey’s appointment will be effective immediately for Klamath County Circuit Court."I am pleased to appoint these thoughtful and ..read more