Lookout PM: A surveillance policy

Good evening,

Eugene’s City Council returned to the issue of technological surveillance on Wednesday — following up on last year’s uproar over the city’s contract with Flock Safety, a vendor of license-plate recognition cameras. City hall reporter Grace Chinowsky writes that councilors were unanimous in their desire to develop a policy to govern the city’s use of such technologies, though city staff warned them it will take a while to put together.

Eugene School District 4J will start the process of renaming of César Chávez Elementary, Lilly St. Angelo reports. The school board voted unanimously to move ahead, after stories emerged in March that Chávez had sexually abused two young girls and raped activist Dolores Huertas.

Police said they seized meth, fentanyl, psilocybin and cocaine as they arrested three people in a drug operation in Eugene and Lakeside in Coos County. Jaime Adame reports on the yearlong investigation.

Advocates want a bill introduced at the Legislature next year that would require health insurers in Oregon to cover biomarker tests. These tests can help doctors diagnose diseases such as Alzheimer’s and some types of cancer. Our partners at the Oregon Capital Chronicle report.

New York Times features available to some Lookout members

Lookout has partnered with The New York Times to add additional features to certain Lookout memberships. It is possible now to receive complimentary access to NYT Games, NYT Cooking or The Athletic. Our executive editor, Dann Miller, explains how it works.

Who’s in our Community Voices section today?

Steve Hiatt of Eugene responds to a recent story on local access roads — which are not maintained by the city or county — saying the bumpiness that develops on these roads actually has some benefits.
Educator and Eugene resident Mary Leighton takes issue with a recent story questioning how Oregon schools teach reading.

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DAILY DIGEST

Following up on Flock controversy, Eugene council starts work on city surveillance policy

By Grace Chinowsky

Councilors, after initiating a meeting on the topic, agreed that Eugene should develop a policy regulating such technologies.

4J to move ahead with César Chávez Elementary renaming process

By Lilly St. Angelo

The district will form a committee and engage the public before coming to the board with options. The board also heard information on a small Howard Elementary boundary adjustment and cellphone ban feedback.