"Eugene Weekly Halts Print and Lays Off Staff Amid Embezzlement Scandal"
The Eugene Weekly, an Oregon-based newspaper, was forced to lay off its entire staff and cease its print edition after discovering that a former employee embezzled $90,000 and left the paper with over $100,000 in unpaid bills. The financial crimes unit is investigating, while the paper's staff continues to work unpaid to maintain the website and has started a GoFundMe campaign to revive the publication. The incident highlights the broader issue of local news outlets closing across the U.S., impacting community connections and contributing to political polarization.