Tiffany Eckert

3 weeks ago | klcc.org | Tiffany Eckert

Lane Community College has announced that its Licensed Practical Nursing program will close this year, impacting nearly 40 hopeful applicants on track to become front line caregivers. On May 29, just one week before acceptance notifications were due to arrive, prospective nursing students were informed by email that the Practical Nursing cohort for Fall 2025 has been suspended. No reason was given.

4 weeks ago | klcc.org | Tiffany Eckert

Each year, counties across Oregon conduct a Point In Time count to try to get a sense of how many people are experiencing homelessness on a given night. The 2025 results for Lane County were released Thursday. It was very cold on Jan. 29, when the count was underway. The Lane County Human Services Division, along with many partnering agencies, counted 3,509 unhoused people. That’s a 14% increase over last year. One part of that increase includes 237 unaccompanied youth.

1 month ago | klcc.org | Tiffany Eckert

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced plans to drop recommendations for pregnant women and healthy children to get COVID-19 vaccines. The decision has Lane County’s Senior Public Health Officer noting some discrepancies. Dr. Patrick Luedtke said the vaccine decision made by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., conflicts with what the Food and Drug Administration data show. “The available science we have hasn’t changed in the last 6 to 12 months," Luedtke said.

1 month ago | klcc.org | Tiffany Eckert

Oregon Coast Community College in Newport has been approved to offer its own four-year degree in nursing. The opportunity comes at a time when demand for nurses is high, particularly in rural places. OCCC already has a successful nursing program, running through about 90 registered nursing students each year. Now, the only community college in Lincoln County is upping its game with a comprehensive Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

1 month ago | klcc.org | Tiffany Eckert

As summer draws near, blood banks tend to see a significant drop in donations. It’s a serious problem as we head into the time of year when the demand for medical blood is at its peak. "We are approaching what’s called the “100 deadliest days,” said Jordan Hardman with the Eugene Center of Bloodworks Northwest. "It runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. That’s when we see an increase in accidents, especially in teens.