News

A Redmond-based concrete company has been barred from any public works contracts for the next three years. The company failed to pay a group of employees a prevailing wage. 

Portland songwriter Anne Weiss has merged folk with the blues and other influences, while Texas native  Beth Wood has brought her own songs to Eugene in recent years. Together, they joined Eric Alan in the KLCC studios on the last day of KLCC's spring fund drive, before also performing together at Tsunami Books in Eugene, on Friday April 11th.

There will be end-of-season parties at at least nine Northwest ski resorts this weekend (4/12-13). But some other Cascade ski areas will welcome skiers and snowboarders well past Easter. That's thanks to late-season snow that fell at many area resorts. Timing means everything for the bottom line of these resort companies. Correspondent Tom Banse explains how a strong finish doesn't necessarily make up for a late start like we saw this season.

The Battlefield Band merges traditional Scottish music with their own modern, original compositions, into a blend that’s won them many awards over the years. That recently includes “Album of the Year” at last year’s Scots Trad Music Awards, for their most recent release Room Enough for All. They were previously named “Scottish Folk Band of the Year” there as well. They joined Eric Alan  live in the KLCC studios, before performing at the Jaqua Concert Hall of the John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts in Eugene on April 10th.

A small group of volunteers are touring the Willamette River this weekend to highlight work that needs to be done to improve its health.

The Willamette River Blitz starts Friday in Eugene at Whitley Landing. Volunteers will paddle down the river stopping in Corvallis and Salem and ending in Portland Monday. Travis Williams is the Executive Director for the environmental group “Willamette Riverkeeper.” He says the purpose of the trip is to focus on needed improvements and to monitor habitat restoration.

The annual Shy Persons Talent Show will coax secret performers of all ages out onto the stage at Sam Bond's Garage in Eugene starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 12th. It's a benefit for paralyzed activist David Oaks. Eric Alan talks with the talent show's originator, Buck Mueller, and Margo Schaefer about the event.

Early spring in Western Oregon is often wet, cold and windy.  As soon as temperatures begin to warm you can almost feel the rush to grow and claim sunlight in the riparian forest.

The Eugene City Council voted today [Wednesday] to withdraw a proposed rest-stop location for homeless people near the Science Factory and Cuthbert Amphitheater. Last Friday, Eugene police shut down an illegal homeless camp near downtown called Whoville.  

City Councilor Chris Pryor made the move to withdraw the rest-stop because it's problematic for the Science Factory, Nearby Nature and a car-camping program. Councilor George Brown bemoaned the fact that Whoville was closed before another site was made available for its residents.

The city of Eugene is considering a sick leave ordinance modeled after one recently passed in Portland. They discussed it at their meeting Wednesday. Not all councilors think it’s a good idea.

Councilor Mike Clark says a citywide sick leave ordinance would be great in an ideal world but…

Clark: "My concern here revolves around the fact that this will cost, in the real world, this will cost our community hundreds and hundreds of jobs."

The University of Oregon softball team hit a milestone this week.  For the first time in school history, they are the number one team in the country.

The top ranking comes after the Ducks won two in a three-game series against then-number-one UCLA.  After the final game Sunday, senior utility player Kailee Cuico told Oregon Sports Network the series showed what the team could do.