Lookout PM: Florence keeps its Flock

Good evening,

Out in Florence, the mayor cast a tie-breaking vote as the City Council decided, 3-2, to keep the city’s six Flock Safety license-plate reader cameras up and running. Jaime Adame reports.

The Springfield Public Schools superintendent and his top assistant sent a letter announcing their intent to sue their own school district and three members of the school board. Todd Hamilton and David Collins allege defamation, retaliation and whistleblower protection violations. Lilly St. Angelo has the story.

Also in Springfield, the City Council heard more details about how it might use a local payroll tax to help balance the city budget. The tax would be split between employers and employees. A decision to enact the tax, and set the rate, will be up to the council when it revisits the issue in April. Mike McInally has the update.

In our opinion section:

A guest column looks at the circumstances surrounding the recent deaths of two UO students who were hit by cars while riding bikes and questions the city’s efforts to reduce traffic fatalities.
Another guest columnist says the death of Alex Pretti in Minnesota reminds him of the shootings at Kent State University in 1970 — and hopes for a better outcome this time.
A letter-writer urges protesters to protest — but not to be violent.

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

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DAILY DIGEST

Florence will keep Flock Safety cameras after close council vote

By Jaime Adame

While some citizens and half of the City Council said they lacked trust that the vendor of the technology would adequately safeguard data collected by the pole-mounted cameras, the town’s mayor cast a deciding vote to keep the technology in place.

Springfield superintendent and his assistant threaten to sue district and school board members

By Lilly St. Angelo

An attorney representing Superintendent Todd Hamilton and Assistant Superintendent David Collins notified Springfield Public Schools in mid-December of a potential lawsuit against the district and board members Jonathan Light, Amber Langworthy and Ken Kohl. The two administrators allege defamation, retaliation and whistleblower protection violations.

Springfield officials get update on proposed payroll tax

By Mike McInally

Members of the Springfield City Council got details Monday, Feb. 2, about a proposal to launch a payroll tax to help balance the city’s budget — but administrators emphasized that many details remain to be settled before the council takes action.