Morning Lookout: Eugene City Council Ward 5 voter guide

Good morning, Lookout Eugene-Springfield,

Happy Eugene Marathon weekend.

Our 2026 Voter Guide continues today as Grace Chinowsky dives into the Ward 5 race between incumbent Mike Clark and challengers Jasmine Hatmaker and Athena Aguiar. Ben Botkin, meanwhile, has the details on the local race for Congress where incumbent Val Hoyle faces two challengers in the Democratic primary, while two face off for the Republican spot on the November ballot.

In January, three Springfield residents filed recall petitions against three members of the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education. As Lilly St. Angelo reports, those petitions are dead after two were withdrawn and the third did not gather enough signatures to make the ballot.

Lilly also writes that as part of budget cuts next year in Eugene School District 4J, schools will eliminate scratch-cooking, switching back to mainly premade food bought from outside vendors, and limit students to one serving of free breakfast and lunch a day

A great story lede often makes you stop reading while at the same time, makes you want to read more. Writing a great lede is hard, but when you read one, you know it. Today, Annie Aguiar wrote one of those ledes. I won’t spoil it, but trust me, it’s gooood! What’s the story? It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the play “Radium Girls,” being staged at the University of Oregon.

The University of Oregon Ducks are likely to count on some major offensive speed this season in the form of freshman Gatlin Bair. Tyson Alger looks at the wide receiver from Idaho who returns to the field after a two-year hiatus to complete his Mormon mission.

Stories you might have missed Thursday …

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4J to eliminate scratch cooking, limit free meals to one serving next year

By Lilly St. Angelo

Budget cuts next year will reduce kitchen staff and move the school district back to premade meals. Previously, the district funded 32% of the nutrition services budget to supplement what the district received in federal and state money.