Morning Lookout: Election security, PeaceHealth update, Marathon wrap

Good morning, Lookout Eugene-Springfield,

Before we get started, I want to say thank you to all the members who joined us Friday at the Farmers Market Pavilion to celebrate one year of Lookout Eugene-Springfield. It was good to celebrate — not just Lookout, but all the people who made this possible. Here’s to the future of local news in Lane County!

Election security has been a hot topic nationally, especially with the Trump administration’s assaults on vote by mail. Ever wonder how Lane County ensures the local vote is safe and secure? Ben Botkin spent time with Lane County Clerk Tommy Gong to explain how voting in the county works.

Ashli Blow continues to cover all things PeaceHealth. Her latest examines the federal case that could determine if PeaceHealth’s plan to replace Eugene Emergency Physicians with ApolloMD violates Oregon’s corporate practice of medicine law.

It was a big weekend for runners in Eugene with races Saturday, and the main event marathon and half marathon taking the streets Sunday. Isaac Wasserman was at Hayward Field both days, documenting everything from Flap Jack and Flap Jill to Jackson Siddall setting a new marathon course record. Grace Chinowsky has the Sunday report.

Home improvement projects test a homeowner’s resolve as much as any skill. One of my early attempts was to replace a garbage disposal in my Virginia condo. It was a major fail, but luckily, I had a good friend who came and bailed me out — both from the mess I made and the wrath of my wife who warned me ahead of time about trying to do it myself.

Today, Bob Welch talks about a home improvement project that didn’t go according to plan, costing far more time and money than anticipated, but the end result appears — from his photo — to be a pretty inviting walkway.

Tyson Alger was at Autzen Stadium for the annual University of Oregon spring game that you might say was a defensive struggle including 10 sacks and a 17-10 final score. Isaac was there as well and has all the images.

Other headlines you mgiht have missed over the weekend …

From a blackout-darkened Cuba, I saw pain, joy and resilience

Behind in GOP gubernatorial race, Dudley adjusts his view on abortion

From planes to pickleball: The noisy history of Westmoreland Park

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Local students spend significantly less time in school than national average

By Lilly St. Angelo

New data from educational advocacy group Stand for Children and research firm ECOnorthwest shows Oregon students get varying numbers of hours in school due to local control laws. Most receive less than the national average, however, including students from Eugene 4J, Bethel and Springfield school districts.