Morning Lookout: Election day, at last

Good morning, Lookout Eugene-Springfield,

At long last, Oregon’s spring election is here. Ben Botkin has a summary of what’s at stake locally. Lookout’s reporters will be busy tonight. Check in after 8 p.m. to see where things stand.

One of the races: to fill the Ward 3 seat of Alan Zelenka, who is stepping down from the Eugene City Council after 20 years. Grace Chinowsky has this profile of Zelenka.

Grace also reports on a grant to expand downtown Eugene’s Red Hats program, which helps downtown businesses and their employees with safety and property maintenance issues. Red Hats is partnering with Everyone Village for the summer pilot program.

Oregon’s top youth musical theater kids will descend upon Eugene this summer for the Hult High School Musical Theatre Awards, and local high schools have several nominees. Annie Aguiar reports.

In case you missed these stories published Monday:
• UO sues former Ducks football player who left team before ’25 season ended
• Out of compliance: State rules some Springfield elementary instructional materials do not meet standards
• To fight hunger in Lane County, help the farmer

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It’s Election day: Still time to drop your ballot; early returns after 8 p.m.

By Ben Botkin

Lookout has assembled a guide if you still need to fill out your ballot. And we’ll be tracking results after voting ends at 8 p.m.

Private donor funds hiring of more red-hatted downtown helpers

By Grace Chinowsky

The summer pilot project will add 10 more people to the crew, from the transitional shelter Everyone Village. They will work to “make downtown feel more orderly, more beautiful, and more welcoming.”