Good morning, Eugene.

Nightingale Hosted Shelters' outdoor facility in south Eugene now has electricity, running water, and sewage services that let it build an indoor kitchen and full bathrooms for 20 Conestoga huts (near Hilyard Street).

The board will hand control over to Community Supported Shelters and the shelter will reopen for new residents in the next few weeks.

University of Oregon police are asking the public for help identifying the driver of a suspected black Nissan Rogue involved in a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a 65-year-old bicyclist on May 9 at the intersection of Franklin Boulevard and Agate Street—anyone with information should contact police immediately.

Eugene police intercepted a vehicle on I-5 near Cottage Grove and seized 49 pounds of meth after a drug-sniffing K9 detected controlled substances — 40-year-old Nicholas Anthony Speck and 38-year-old Jill Marie Souvannakhot were charged with possession and delivery.

State economists reported that Oregon will have $500 million less to spend in the 2025-27 budget cycle than anticipated due to slow growth and trade tensions that lowered key tax revenues.

Lawmakers will face tough trade-offs for funding in housing, education and health — the revised forecast may force spending cuts — as federal policies and recession worries persist.

In February 2024, the school board approved Superintendent Andy Dey’s plan to buy a vacant Wells Fargo building for the district’s offices, but a Portland firm, NMDM LLC, quickly flipped the property and may have earned up to $600,000 in profit—details of the secret deal remain unclear. The board later canceled expensive remodeling plans and put the building up for sale.

About 100 Eugene Parks and Open Space staff worked from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday morning to weed, mulch, prune and plant across from Riverfront Park in preparation for a new plaza that will have a tree grove, water feature and event space; the plaza is set to open in July—largely funded by a $5 million grant.

The Eugene City Council is weighing a replacement to the fire fee amid budget cuts; they are considering a draft ordinance that would bring in either $6 or $8 million (over four years) to preserve key city services.

The council will review the draft on May 21 and hold a public hearing on May 28 before deciding whether to let voters decide in November.

Plastics Recycling Round-up

5-7:30 p.m. — 870 Berntzen Rd, Eugene, OR — Free — Help clean up the community by recycling plastics that waste companies don't take.

Bark in the Park – 32nd Annual Run/Walk

7 a.m. – 1 p.m. — Alton Baker Park — Registration $40 with bandana, $55 with shirt — A pawsitively fun day with running/walking events for dogs and their humans to support animal care.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Concert

7:30-9 p.m. — Hult Center for the Performing Arts — Tickets starting from $132 — Experience the soulful sounds of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit in an intimate setting.

Field Tour of Fire Histories

9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. — Hult Dam & Reservoir — Free entry — Explore the interconnections of dendrochronology, fire histories, and Indigenous stewardship through a guided forest tour.

Mental Health Awareness Night with Eugene Emeralds

6:30-8:30 p.m. — PK Park — Ticket purchase required — A night supporting mental health awareness alongside the Eugene Emeralds baseball game.

Terrapin Flyer Concert

8:00-11:55 p.m. — WOW Hall — $27.94 — Enjoy a night of music with Terrapin Flyer in a vibrant local venue.

Eugene Tea Festival

10 AM – 4 PM — Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza — $10 entry with free options — Celebrate local tea culture with tastings and engaging workshops.

Miles on Memorial Race

9 a.m. — Alton Baker Park — $20-$80 — Participate in a variety of chip-timed race distances including a relay to honor and celebrate local community spirit.

The Wallflowers Concert

7:00-9:30 p.m. — McDonald Theatre — Last-minute tickets available — Experience the unforgettable sounds of The Wallflowers live in Eugene.

Neurodivergent Art and Performance Expo

3-9 p.m. — Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza — Free entry — Celebrate artistic diversity within the neurodivergent community with installations, food trucks, and performances.