An Oregon weekly newspaper has had to lay off its entire staff and halt print because its funds were embezzled. The Eugene Weekly's editor, Camilla Mortensen, says a former employee who was involved with the paper's finances used its bank account to pay themselves $90,000. Mortensen also says the paper knows of at least $100,000 in unpaid bills. Established in 1982, the alternative weekly printed 30,000 copies each week to distribute for free in Eugene, home to the University of Oregon. Media experts in Eugene say the paper was critical for the community at a time of widening gaps in local news coverage.
