Lookout PM: Newsroom video on PeaceHealth ER dispute

Happy Friday,

First, a public service announcement for people who — like the guy writing this newsletter — tend to forget things that later come back to haunt them: Sunday is Mother’s Day, yo! Plan to do something nice for someone who’s a mother.

Onto the news:

Our visual journalist Isaac Wasserman put together a 12-minute video featuring Lookout reporter Ashli Blow explaining the PeaceHealth-ApolloMD emergency room controversy and talking a bit about how things played out behind the scenes.

Jeannae Marjorie Mackay, 31, of Cheshire has been charged in a Junction City knife attack — and also with subsequently spitting in the face of a deputy as she was being booked in jail. Jaime Adame reports.

In the government world it’s budget season:

The Springfield school district Budget Committee yesterday gave initial approval to next school year’s budget, cutting 34 positions — on the heels of 27 teachers laid off in the middle of this school year. Education reporter Lilly St. Angelo has the story.

And the city of Springfield’s Budget Committee yesterday advanced a budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1, cutting 2.4 positions from the city’s public library and using $450,000 of reserve funds. It next goes to the City Council for a public hearing and final approval. Springfield reporter Lillian Schrock-Clevenger has all the details.

In our opinion section today, lots of thoughts about the election:

First, we have a guest column from Rob Dickinson, one of the chief supporters of the Lane County Watershed Bill of Rights, who says Lookout’s “no” endorsement on the measure reveals a shallowness and lack of diligence in the editorial board’s research.

And many letters today:

Kate Geiser says it’s time to stand up to corporations that pollute, and she urges votes to support the Watersheds Bill of Rights measure.
Jim Cupples says voters in the Springfield county commissioner district should vote to force a runoff in November to give citizens more time.
Katrina Bowser of Eugene says Sean VanGordon and Heather Buch are the best choices for county commissioners.
Creswell Mayor Nicholas Smith supports David Loveall for Lane County commissioner.
Andrew Verner of Eugene urges voters to support paying a few extra dollars a year to support Eugene Public Library.
Nicholas Hadley of Eugene supports Jasmine Hatmaker for Eugene Ward 5 councilor.
Declan Zupo says Jennifer Smith should be the students’ choice for Eugene Ward 3 city councilor.

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

PeaceHealth ER dispute in 12 minutes: a video with reporter Ashli Blow

By Isaac Wasserman and Ashli Blow

Reporter Ashli Blow distills her three months of reporting on PeaceHealth’s emergency department staffing into an easy-to-understand format.

Springfield Budget Committee OKs 2026-27 spending plan with no changes

By Lillian Schrock-Clevenger

The proposed budget, which cuts library positions and uses reserves to balance the general fund, next goes to the City Council for a public hearing and adoption.