Nicole Comstock

Local & Regional Video of chief sparks police employee investigations (Video)

By Nicole Comstock Published: Jun 12, 2013 at 6:46 PM PDT Last Updated: Jun 13, 2013 at 10:31 AM PDT

After allegations of misconduct surfaced around the retirement of former Springfield Police Chief Jerry Smith, the city opened an investigation into two other Springfield PD employees.

Local & Regional Video of career-ending kiss: City knows who got it, not who shot it (Video)

By Nicole Comstock Published: Jun 10, 2013 at 4:50 PM PDT Last Updated: Jun 18, 2013 at 2:42 PM PDT

The question remains: Who was behind the camera when the former chief of police in Springfield, Oregon, kissed a subordinate?

Local & Regional Arming campus PD: 'They have the authority from the state to carry weapons' (Video)

By Nicole Comstock Published: Jun 8, 2013 at 6:26 PM PDT Last Updated: Jun 8, 2013 at 8:39 PM PDT

The University of Oregon recently asked the State Board of Education for permission to arm campus officers.

Local & Regional Students try skirting 'social host' fines with private security (Video)

By Nicole Comstock Published: Jun 5, 2013 at 7:30 PM PDT Last Updated: Jun 5, 2013 at 10:23 PM PDT

Some University of Oregon students are hiring private security to cover the door at their house parties, hoping to avoid the up to $1,000 fine from the social host ordinance.

Local & Regional REACH pilots train for new routes: 'We're entering our busy season' (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock reporting with Loren Ruark, News Photographer - KVAL News Published: May 31, 2013 at 4:32 PM PDT Last Updated: May 31, 2013 at 8:46 PM PDT

REACH pilots spent Friday running new GPS routes and approaches that are aimed at giving the medical crews more time to save lives.

Business Man takes his motor repair biz to new green level (Photo Gallery)

By Nicole Comstock KVAL News Published: May 31, 2013 at 10:22 AM PDT Last Updated: May 31, 2013 at 10:22 AM PDT

With everyone talking about 'going green,' a local man has taken it in a whole new direction with an unexpected business.

Local & Regional Finding family for Memorial Day: 'There are a lot of stories out here' (Photo Gallery)

By Nicole Comstock and KVAL News Published: May 26, 2013 at 1:41 PM PDT Last Updated: May 26, 2013 at 2:39 PM PDT

One of the oldest pioneer cemeteries in the Willamette Valley is open Memorial Day weekend, giving people a glimpse into the region’s rich history.

Business Bicycle hearse offers 'one last ride' to final resting place (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock Published: May 16, 2013 at 4:15 PM PDT Last Updated: May 17, 2013 at 9:47 AM PDT

Wade Lind sketched out his plans for a bicycle hearse on a napkin at McDonald's. "It doesn't handle like a regular bicycle," the funeral director said.

Local & Regional Kids accuse middle school teacher of bullying students in class (Video)

By Nicole Comstock KVAL News and KVAL.com staff Published: May 9, 2013 at 3:27 PM PDT Last Updated: May 9, 2013 at 3:32 PM PDT

Students say their middle school teacher bullies students, opening class recently by saying "let's see how mean I can be today."

Local & Regional Unique truffle-hunting team: 'Connie's got a superhuman nose' (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock KVAL News with KVAL.com staff Published: May 2, 2013 at 3:07 PM PDT Last Updated: May 2, 2013 at 4:14 PM PDT

John Getz has been truffle hunting with his Labrador Retriever Chloe for 3 years. But it's his wife Connie, who is legally blind, whose nose knows quality truffles from quantity.

Local & Regional Good dog: Canine hits paydirt foraging for truffles (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock KVAL News with KVAL.com staff Published: May 1, 2013 at 12:40 PM PDT Last Updated: May 2, 2013 at 4:42 PM PDT

After Ilsa struck paydirt, Kris Jacobson had to scratch the surface to see just what she had in her hand. If the scratch reveals the distinct black and white pattern beneath the dirty exterior, you've got something. These rare delicacies sell for $1,500 per pound.

Local & Regional 'It was extremely important for us to honor it as much as we could' (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock and KVAL News Published: Apr 28, 2013 at 6:21 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 29, 2013 at 8:15 AM PDT

Thousands of runners made up the stream of neon shirts and shoes that cut across Track Town USA in 26.2 or 13.1 mile treks to the finish line of the 7th Eugene Marathon.

Business Arcade takes downtown corner to next level (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock KVAL News with KVAL.com staff Published: Apr 12, 2013 at 4:31 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 12, 2013 at 4:47 PM PDT

Level Up arcade turns 1 this Saturday. The family friendly "barcade" transformed a corner of downtown from a rowdy nightclub into a social hub.

Entertainment Video 'trailer' helps promote new Oregon children's book (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock KVAL News with KVAL.com staff Published: Apr 5, 2013 at 12:38 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 at 12:13 PM PDT

Judi Li spent her life studying insects and ecosystems. When she decided to write her first children's book, the retired Oregon State professor spent time doing extra research.

Local & Regional Spay and neuter clinic hits 25,000 mark: 'She’s a big milestone!' (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock and KVAL News Published: Mar 29, 2013 at 7:56 PM PDT Last Updated: Mar 30, 2013 at 8:34 AM PDT

The Willamette Animal Guild hit a milestone in the effort to prevent unwanted animals from hitting the streets Friday morning by accepting their 25,000 animal to be spayed or neutered at their volunteer clinic.

Local & Regional ‘I cant believe they wouldn't let me check out a book’ (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock and KVAL News Published: Mar 27, 2013 at 6:54 PM PDT Last Updated: Mar 28, 2013 at 11:36 AM PDT

One alternative to the $120 yearly fees for non-Eugene residents visiting the Eugene Public Library is the River Road Volunteer Library, which gives thousands of residents in the 97404 ZIP Code a place to borrow books for free.

Local & Regional How derby bumps transfer bacteria: 'It's a study about cooties' (Video)

By Nicole Comstock and KVAL News Published: Mar 14, 2013 at 7:56 PM PDT Last Updated: Mar 15, 2013 at 12:57 PM PDT

UO biology researchers turned the roller derby rink for help with a gross, but fascinating science experiment on how skin-to-skin contact transfers bacteria.

Local & Regional 'A sad commentary on how the kids of today are behaving' (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock KVAL News with KVAL.com staff Published: Feb 28, 2013 at 5:44 PM PDT Last Updated: Mar 1, 2013 at 7:33 AM PDT

Residents are used to people coming in from off the street and posing for a picture with Doorman Duck, so they didn't think twice when they saw two young men walk right in - until one of them stole the Duck's hat.

Politics Ban teens under 18 from tanning beds? Oregon bill advances (Video)

By Nicole Comstock KVAL News with KVAL.com staff Published: Feb 28, 2013 at 11:48 AM PDT Last Updated: Feb 28, 2013 at 1:20 PM PDT

A House committee on Health Care voted unanimously Wednesday in support of House Bill 2896. The legilsation that would bar anyone under 18 from using tanning beds.

Local & Regional Cash for companionship: 'Shouldn't that be illegal?' (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock KVAL News with KVAL.com staff Published: Feb 25, 2013 at 3:31 PM PDT Last Updated: Feb 27, 2013 at 5:59 PM PDT

SeekingArrangement.com proposes a bargain between men and women: cash for companionship. The company said the number of University of Oregon students using the site doubled in the last year.

Local & Regional Police find IED on elementary school playground (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock KVAL News with KVAL.com staff Published: Feb 21, 2013 at 10:56 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 at 11:14 AM PDT

A Gatorade bottle on a playground might not sound suspicious, but Albany Police suspect the one they found at Periwinkle Elementary on Monday was an improvised explosive device.

Local & Regional Asian Celebration: 'All of these groups under one roof to celebrate' (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock and KVAL News Published: Feb 16, 2013 at 8:22 PM PDT Last Updated: Feb 16, 2013 at 9:28 PM PDT

The annual Asian Celebration is the largest Asian cultural event between Seattle and San Francisco. “What makes our event unique is we're a culmination of the Filipino, the Chinese, the Koreans, Taiwanese… all of these groups under one roof to celebrate one big event,” said Tam.

Local & Regional Carter's Courier: Connecting clients day after day for a decade (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock KVAL News with KVAL.com staff Published: Feb 14, 2013 at 3:18 PM PDT Last Updated: Feb 14, 2013 at 6:00 PM PDT

In 1 route, he visits 10 buildings. In 4 hours, he travels 20 miles. In 10 years on the job, he's missed zero days of work.

Business Credit score dating: Trading 'I love you' for 'over 700' (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Nicole Comstock KVAL News with KVAL.com staff Published: Feb 13, 2013 at 3:08 PM PDT Last Updated: Feb 13, 2013 at 5:40 PM PDT

Can a credit score help you find that special someone?

Local & Regional 'It doesn't necessarily mean that it's little green men from another world' (Video)

By Nicole Comstock KVAL News with KVAL.com staff Published: Feb 11, 2013 at 2:36 PM PDT Last Updated: Feb 15, 2013 at 10:06 AM PDT

A late-night run to the store got a little strange for Jacob Buttram on Saturday when his wife spotted three orange lights in the sky.