Good morning, Eugene.

Construction is underway at University Park as the playground is doubled in size and an ADA-accessible sidewalk is added to ease a steep hill.

City officials said the project—guided by community feedback—will improve access and safety for families and local groups.

Eugene True Value Hardware, a family-run store on Willamette Street known for its friendly service and unique history, will hold a three-day centennial event from Oct.

3 to 5—featuring a community celebration with cookies and cake on Oct. 4.

Community members in Eugene are invited to attend the NAACP multimedia event on Black resilience and cultural heritage at WOW Hall on Oct.

9 with doors opening at 6 p.m. and films beginning at 7 p.m.—tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 day of.

Books With Pictures in Eugene is celebrating its five-year anniversary by hosting Comic Art Festival of Eugene on Oct.

4—where 40 independent artists will lead panel discussions and workshops at 5th Street Market Alley. The free festival will give the community a chance to enjoy visual storytelling and support local independent comics.

Officials reported that the Emigrant Fire near Oakridge burned 33,097 acres and was 51% contained as of Oct.1 with 272 personnel on scene, and crews transitioned command at 6 p.m. Wednesday—rainfall reduced fire behavior even as cleanup work continued.

On October 1, protestors gathered outside the ICE field office at the Federal Building in Eugene to speak out against detentions and call for the release of Army veteran Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry—several demonstrators also questioned Rep. Hoyle's claims about the agency’s focus on detaining criminals, saying the evidence told a different story.

The Lane County Elections Office urged residents to register by Oct.

14 for the Nov. 4 Special Election—voters can register online by 11:59 p.m., drop off forms by 5 p.m., or mail registrations with an Oct. 14 postmark.

The Oregon DHS announced today that federally required SNAP changes under H.R.

1 will reduce benefits for over 313,000 households, affecting utility assistance recipients, able-bodied adults, and certain lawfully present immigrants — households will get mailed notices around Oct. 15 and see changes, like benefit reductions or case closures, starting on Nov. 1.

On September 30, Oregon Department of Administrative Services published the maximum rent increases allowed for 2026—small facilities may raise rents by up to 9.5% while larger ones are capped at 6%.

The changes under House Bill 3054 factor property size and cost-of-living adjustments to protect tenants, and only one increase is allowed every 12 months.

Enterprise Information Services and the state of Oregon announced their participation in Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October — the state government will promote the Core 4 practices including strong passwords, multifactor authentication, software updates and phishing vigilance to reduce cyber risks and support a global initiative.

City of Eugene officials say repairs to the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path in Alton Baker Park will close parts near the DeFazio Pedestrian Bridge and Boat Launch starting next Monday—detours will be set and the work is expected to last 10 days.

First Friday ArtWalk: New Music Festival Kick-Off

5:30-10 p.m. — Downtown Athletic Club — Free admission — Experience innovative music performances paired with captivating visual projections.

Noam Pikelny & Friends

7-9 p.m. — Hult Center for the Performing Arts — Ticket prices vary — Experience the virtuoso banjo sounds of Noam Pikelny and his ensemble.

Morrissey Live in Concert

8-9:30 p.m. — Hult Center for the Performing Arts — Ticket price includes all fees — Experience the iconic music of Morrissey, a legendary figure with a profound lyrical legacy.

Elton Dan & The Rocket Band: Tribute to Elton John

8-11 p.m. — WOW Hall — Ticket info available — Experience a high-energy tribute to Elton John's music with costumes and multimedia presentations.

Elmo and Friends Say Hello

6:00-7:30 p.m. — Hult Center for the Performing Arts — Price includes all fees — Sing, dance, and play along with your favorite Sesame Street friends in a delightful celebration.

Lane County Home Improvement Show

9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. — WinCo Foods — Entry fee varies — Discover the latest in home and garden innovations at this premier trade show.

Gaelic Storm Live Concert

7-9 p.m. — Hult Center for the Performing Arts — Ticket prices include all fees — Experience the energetic Celtic tunes of Gaelic Storm after two decades of captivating performances.

Stereophonic

1 PM — Hult Center for the Performing Arts — Ticket prices vary — Experience the most Tony Award-winning show of the year, exploring the pressures of a rock band on the brink of superstardom.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

7-9 p.m. — Hult Center for the Performing Arts — $15 – $120 — Experience a wickedly funny dance-theater twist on the classic ghost story this Halloween season.

FunaCon 2025

11 a.m.-11 p.m. (Fri-Sat), 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sun) — Lane Events Center — Day Pass: $20, 3 Day Pass: $50 — A three-day extravaganza featuring epic gaming tournaments and contests with exciting prizes.