Karen Richards

Eugene

Reporter and Host at KLCC-FM (Eugene, OR)

Journalist at Freelance

Articles

Public comment period open for McDonald-Dunn Forest plan

1 week ago | klcc.org | Karen Richards

The Oregon State University College of Forestry has drafted a new management plan for the McDonald-Dunn Forest. The 11,500-acre area northwest of Corvallis is primarily used for research, but its 35 miles of trails are open to the public. Holly Ober, the college’s Associate Dean for Extension and Outreach, said the last plan came out in 2005.
UO, OSU, and LCC graduation ceremonies are set for Saturday and Monday

2 weeks ago | klcc.org | Karen Richards

It’s college graduation weekend in Oregon. Oregon State University and Lane Community College will hold graduation ceremonies Saturday, and the University of Oregon’s commencement is on Monday. OSU reports a record number of graduates this spring—more than 8,000 students earned a degree, either on the Corvallis campus, the OSU-Cascades campus in Bend, or through its e-campus.
Oregon athletes are grateful to compete at home for this week’s NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships

2 weeks ago | klcc.org | Karen Richards

This week, Eugene hosts the biggest college track and field meet of the year. The NCAA Division I Championship meet spans four days, with men competing Wednesday and Friday, and women on Thursday and Saturday. Although the Oregon women won this year’s NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, they come into this meet ranked 5th.
Expanded recycling options are coming soon for Oregonians

3 weeks ago | klcc.org | Karen Richards

Hold onto your yogurt containers: Good news for recyclers is just weeks away. Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act, passed in 2021, takes effect next month. Starting July 1, residential recycling will look much like it did before 2018, when East Asian facilities stopped accepting U.S. materials.
Steve Prefontaine: His allure runs strong, 50 years later

1 month ago | klcc.org | Karen Richards

Early in the morning of May 30, 1975, hours after winning a 5K race against Olympic gold medalist Frank Shorter, legendary Oregon distance runner Steve Prefontaine rolled his car on a narrow, winding street near Eugene’s Hendricks Park. He was pinned underneath his vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. At age 24, the Coos Bay native—often called simply "Pre"—was already a hero.
Eugene is set to host the Big Ten Conference Track and Field Championships this weekend

1 month ago | klcc.org | Karen Richards

For the first time ever, Hayward Field is the site of the Big Ten Track and Field Championships. Starting Friday, the Ducks and 16 other Big Ten teams will compete. There are 18 Big Ten schools, but Northwestern doesn’t have an outdoor track and field team this year. The University of Oregon has held conference championships before, but this three-day event is poised to overshadow the Pac-12 meet. “If every school brings the number of athletes that they can," said J. B.
The Friends of Hendricks Park are prepared for a busy Mother’s Day holiday

1 month ago | klcc.org | Karen Richards

Eugene’s oldest city park is a favorite place to visit on Mother’s Day. Hendricks Park draws crowds because of the colorful blooms there in early May. Beth Copeland, a member of the Friends of Hendricks Park, said there are many colorful blooms right now, from ground-level native plants to rhododendrons (or "rhodies"), and a large clematis vine in a tree on the upper lawn. She told KLCC the park is accessible for Mother’s Day visitors.
Allergy season is accelerating in the Willamette Valley

1 month ago | opb.org | Karen Richards

Mountain meadow carpeted with wildflowers near the East Lostine River in Oregon’s Eagle Cap Wilderness, Aug. 8, 2023. Grass pollen season typically runs from late May to July, but rain preceding that season can impact allergy sufferers. After a wet April, this year’s allergy season in the Willamette Valley seemed like it might be delayed. But now that we’ve had a few sunny weeks, some pollen counts are ahead of normal.
Allergy season is accelerating in the Willamette Valley

1 month ago | klcc.org | Karen Richards

After a wet April, this year’s allergy season in the Willamette Valley seemed like it might be delayed. But now that we've had a few sunny weeks, some pollen counts are ahead of normal. Pollen counts are in the moderate range this week for trees and grass, according to Dr. Kraig Jacobson with Oregon Allergy Associates. He said warm, dry weather has sped up deciduous tree development. “The tree pollens usually finish by the end of May and we're seeing them taper off pretty rapidly here," he said.
Central Linn School District aims to pass its first bond measure since 1996

1 month ago | klcc.org | Karen Richards

Central Linn School District hasn’t passed a bond in nearly 30 years. District leaders said this spring’s $34 million initiative follows a volunteer-run community advisory committee’s recommendations. Located in Halsey, the district has an elementary school, and a junior and senior high school. Business Manager Celeste Van Cleave said the secondary school, in particular, is suffering. “We’re one infrastructure failure away from complete shutdown," she told KLCC.