Rachael McDonald

Oregon's minimum wage will go up 15 cents in January to $8.95 an hour. State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian made the announcement Monday in Springfield.

The former dean of the University of Oregon School of Music was killed Friday along with her boyfriend. Lane County Sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call at their home south of Eugene and found Anne Dhu McLucas and James Gillette.

A Springfield, Ore., man who was imprisoned in Sudan has been released, and is trying to get home to his pregnant wife.

A Springfield man who was arrested in Sudan last month has been re-arrested on unknown charges. His pregnant wife is concerned for his safety.

A Lane Community College student was arrested last month in Sudan during a peaceful student protest. The President of LCC is urging public support to help get him out of prison and back home to Oregon.

This week, the Lane County Sheriff released nearly 100 prisoners from jail, including three homicide suspects. Friday nearly 30 sheriff's employees were laid off. The District Attorney has to lay off at least 14 from his office. The county has a bare bones budget due to loss of timber funding and low property tax revenue.

Nearly 100 inmates of the Lane County Jail will be released this week. Not because they've served their time, but because the county can't afford to keep them. This after commissioners cut nearly $100 million from the general fund.

Two Eugene-based athletes competing in the Olympic Track and Field Trials, which start this week, are also entrepreneurs. Lauren Fleshman and fellow runner Stephanie Rothstein have a two-year-old business making dairy and gluten free energy bars.

The State Board of Higher Education has formally hired Michael Gottfredson to lead the University of Oregon. He was appointed president Friday.

Dr. Gottfredson has been a senior administrator at the University of California, Irvine for 12 Years. He says his first order of business is to get to know the University of Oregon better.

“There’s one overwhelming impression, great enthusiasm for the University of Oregon from every quarter: faculty, students, community," Gottfredson says. "I had very high expectations and they have been exceeded in every way.”

Dr. Michael Gottfredson has been selected as the finalist for the new president of the University of Oregon.

Gottfredson has served as Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost at the University of California Irvine since 2000. He is an expert in criminology. Oregon University System Chancellor George Pernsteiner calls Gottfredson an academic leader of distinction.

"That's a great combination for Oregon," Pernsteiner says. "Somebody who is committed to higher education and has a track record of real success and is able to work collaboratively with the other elements of education in this state for the betterment of the state and its citizens."