Last week, PeaceHealth reversed a controversial decision to rely upon Georgia-based ApolloMD for emergency department services at its Lane County hospitals.

Correspondent Ashli Blow broke the story following months of reporting on the issue. 

The reversal means PeaceHealth plans to renew its contract with Eugene Emergency Physicians after nearly three months of the local doctors group fighting to keep emergency department staffing from shifting to ApolloMD.

PeaceHealth’s decision to not renew its 35-year contracted relationship with EEP quickly met resistance and created an outcry from the community and elected officials. EEP filed a lawsuit, alleging the arrangement violated Oregon’s corporate medicine practice law, Senate Bill 951. 

The case marked the first courtroom test for Senate Bill 951, which state lawmakers passed in 2025. The plaintiffs who took PeaceHealth to court say the outcome shows the law “has teeth.” 

As doctors ramped up pressure locally and in the courtroom, elected officials, including Gov. Tina Kotek and House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, pushed hard for PeaceHealth to reconsider or at least delay its plans. This story looks at those efforts. 

We’ll continue to cover PeaceHealth’s work, as the health care provider’s executives now say they need to rebuild trust among hospital staff and the community. 

Hearing for stabilization center, EWEB election, LTD worker’s job

Stabilization center: Lane County continues to press forward with plans for a stabilization center to aid people in behavioral health crises. Here’s a look at what’s still needed before construction starts.

EWEB election: Two mechanical engineers are running in the election for the citywide at-large seat on the Eugene Water & Electric Board. Here’s what each would bring to the utility. 

Koski corners: We also take you behind the scenes for a look at the work of Sarah Koski, Lane Transit District’s community resource liaison. Koski works with Lane County’s homeless population and people in other vulnerable situations. 

— Ben Botkin

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Inside Eugene City hall with Grace chinowsky

New biz coming to town: A chain auto body repair shop, Gerber Collision & Glass, plans to open along Highway 99 by December. And Hobby Lobby, the chain craft store, hopes to open its first Eugene location, in the Bethel area, in early 2027. Neither business has yet formally announced its expansions.

City budget: Long-range financial planning will take center stage at tonight’s Eugene City Council work session. Aligning the city’s strategic plan with its two-year budget cycle is an area of focus. Check out the agenda here.

Judgment day? The city manager has recommended that the council approves land-use changes proposed by the University of Oregon for the East Campus area, which will raise building height limits in parts of the Fairmount neighborhood. The council will take its vote during its 7:30 p.m. meeting today. Here’s our latest reporting.

Checking in on Springfield With lillian Schrock-Clevenger

City budget: The Springfield Budget Committee approved City Manager Nancy Newton’s proposed budget last week without recommending any changes. The proposal, which next goes to the City Council for a public hearing and adoption, cuts library positions, leading to a reduction in programs and hours. 

Wildfire season: Legislators and wildfire experts met in Springfield last week to discuss the upcoming wildfire season and preparations for significant fire potential in Oregon this summer, following a warm, dry winter. 

Summer fun: Willamalane Park and Recreation District and Eugene Recreation on Friday began selling 1Pass cards, which allow kids to access summer activities throughout the area for a one-time cost of $60.

beyond lane county

An interesting connection: The Oregon Journalism Project broke a story about an Oregon Court of Appeals judge who sided with PacifiCorp in a lawsuit over damages from the 2020 Labor Day wildfires. Among the judge’s former clients while she was in private legal practice? You guessed it, PacifiCorp.

OSP sued: Oregon State Police faces a lawsuit from Cottage Grove-based Rural Organizing Project. It alleges OSP is violating the state’s sanctuary protections and sharing data illegally with federal agencies who do immigration enforcement.

SNAP benefits: The Oregon Capital Chronicle has a look at an existing state program that could help Oregonians stay on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, when federal work requirements start. The challenge: The state program has a very limited number of slots.

Public Meetings this week

Monday

  • The Springfield City Council will meet for a work session at 6 p.m. to hear from Travel Lane County about a proposed indoor multiuse sports facility.
  • The Springfield Economic Development Agency will hold a regular meeting at 7 p.m. to review currently owned properties.

Tuesday

  • Lane County commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. 
  • The Springfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m.
  • The Springfield Arts Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday

  • The Lane Community College Budget Committee meets at 5 p.m. 
  • The Willamalane Park and Recreation District Board of Directors will hold a regular meeting at 6 p.m. to review the district’s five-year general fund projections.
  • The Springfield Utility Board of Directors will meet for a work session at 4:45 p.m. and a regular meeting at 6 p.m.

Do you have story ideas or tips? Send them our way: ben@lookoutlocal.com | grace@lookoutlocal.com | lilliansc@lookoutlocal.com

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Ben Botkin covers politics and policy in Lane County. He has worked as a journalist since 2003, most recently at the Oregon Capital Chronicle, where he covered justice, health and human services and documented regional efforts to combat fentanyl addiction. Botkin has worked in statehouses in Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma and, of course, Oregon. When he's not working, you'll find him road tripping across the West, hiking or surfing along the Oregon Coast.

Grace Chinowsky graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in journalism. She served as metro editor, senior news editor and editor in chief of the university’s independent student newspaper, The GW Hatchet, and interned at CNN and MSNBC. Grace covers Eugene’s city government and the University of Oregon.