Lookout PM: ER changes at PeaceHealth

Good evening,

PeaceHealth is making a change at its emergency rooms at RiverBend, Cottage Grove and Florence. It is ending a longstanding contract with a Eugene group that has provided emergency doctors and physician assistants, and instead hiring a national company based in Georgia. Ashli Blow has the story.

Some parents at Camas Ridge elementary school were upset to hear the school’s principal, Hobie Blackhorn, would be removed if the 4J school board decides to go ahead with a plan to move the Family School, an alternative “choice” school, into the same building as Camas Ridge. Lilly St. Angelo reports.

Expect a question on your May ballot about whether you are willing to increase the property tax levy that supports Oregon State University Extension Service programs in Lane County. The county commissioners voted Tuesday to put the question on the ballot. Ben Botkin explains.

There was some good news for lawmakers as the “short” legislative session gets underway: the amount of revenue coming in to Oregon coffers was higher than projected, meaning expected budget cuts won’t be as bad as some had feared. We have the story from our partner, Oregon Capital Chronicle.

Details were sketchy, but Springfield police officials are asking for help from anyone with information about a person who was hit by a vehicle on 58th Street in Springfield, near Thurston High School, and who sustained “significant injury.”

In our opinion section:

A letter-writer says a recall effort against members of the Springfield school board probably isn’t going to do anything to help regarding the district’s budget cuts.

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DAILY DIGEST

PeaceHealth ends contract with local emergency physicians group

By Ashli Blow

RiverBend’s emergency department, along with PeaceHealth ERs in Cottage Grove and Florence, will no longer be served by Eugene Emergency Physicians. The hospital network has instead hired a national company based in Georgia. Hospital leaders say the decision was based in part on ER wait times. Some nurses are concerns about the change.

Some parents unhappy with plans to change principal at Camas Ridge school

By Lilly St. Angelo

Camas Ridge Community School parents who have children of color were upset to learn that principal Hobie Blackhorn might be replaced at the end of the year. They are concerned about their children losing representation.