Lookout PM: Autzen goes bananas

Good evening,

Is it baseball? Is it a variety show? I don’t know, but it’s happening at Autzen Stadium this Saturday and Sunday, as UO tries to get a little more use out of one of the largest buildings in town. Autzen, in recent history anyway, has butts in the seats only a handful of days per year. Tyson Alger writes that the UO sees some opportunity here, and that’s part of the reason it booked the Savannah Bananas to come play in Eugene. Fans evidently think it’s a good idea too, as both — uh, games? shows? whatever — are sold out.

A new count of unhoused people in Lane County shows the population has declined slightly from last year. County officials say efforts to get people moved in to housing are working, but homelessness is still a crisis. Ben Botkin has the story and breaks down some of the new data.

The city of Eugene is working up a pilot project that would offer grants up to $250,000 to businesses and property owners to fix up or renovate downtown buildings. The goal is to boost business and reduce vacancies downtown. Grace Chinowsky explains how the program would work. The City Council still needs to give it final approval.

A new report says the Eugene-Springfield metro area has the fourth-highest rate of alcohol-induced deaths in the U.S., according to a story from our partners at the Oregon Journalism Project. Roseburg and Medford are also in the top five. Experts say low taxes on alcohol in Oregon and poor access to healthcare and treatment are parts of the problem.

A 16-year-old boy with autism drowned in a pool at a Eugene fitness center, possibly after he had a seizure, his family said.

Who’s in our Community Voices section today?

James K. Newton of Eugene has a guest op/ed today, suggesting that a law enforcement officer who wears a mask surely looks like a person who has something to hide.

What’s on your mind? Send us a letter to the editor (350 words or less, please): lte@lookoutlocal.com

Have a news tip on something we should cover: newsroom@lookoutlocal.com

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DAILY DIGEST

How it came to be that Autzen Stadium is going Bananas

By Tyson Alger

The Savannah Bananas bring their sold-out baseball spectacle to Eugene this weekend. It’s a new look for UO’s football stadium.

Lane County homeless count declines, but homelessness still a ‘crisis,’ officials say

By Ben Botkin

Lane County’s unhoused population has gone down slightly, according to new data, as the county doubles down on efforts to quickly house people. But thousands of residents are homeless, living in emergency shelters or on the streets.

Eugene working on grant program to boost businesses, reduce vacancies downtown

By Grace Chinowsky

City councilors directed staff to draft detailed rules for the $2 million pilot program. It would offer financial help to property owners and businesses that want to make improvements to buildings in the city center.