Surfrider Foundation presses city of Newport to enhance water quality testing at popular Nye Beach

The city of Newport has announced plans to address high bacteria levels at its stormwater outfall at the popular Nye Beach. While encouraged by the news, the local Surfrider Foundation chapter has lingering questions on a site it has been monitoring for decades.

Waldport city council looks to rein in towing companies to protect vehicle owners from too-high charges

October 10, 2026

Newport’s lawyers say feds using “Dog ate my homework” excuse for not reaching detention center settlement

October 9, 2026

General election ballots go in the mail Wednesday — but be sure to check a few details first

October 8, 2026

Community News

Commissioner Casey Miller and Lincoln County agree to settle his federal civil rights lawsuit

October 8, 2026

Lincoln County and Commissioner Casey Miller have settled his federal whistleblower lawsuit with Miller agreeing to drop claims against two top county employees and a fellow commissioner. In return for dropping any current or future claims against the county, its insurance provider will pay Miller’s attorney fees of $64,000.

County commissioners approve $6 million more in bonds for now-$36 million Commons project

October 8, 2026

The price tag for the new Lincoln County Commons in Newport continues to go up as architects and contractors work through proposed designs and costs. Two county commissioners on Wednesday agreed with a recommendation to increase by $6 million the amount of bonds the county will sell to pay for the recommended design to rebuild and modernize the former fairgrounds

Lincoln County sheriff says hiring for patrol, contract deputies and jail staff is filling empty positions

October 8, 2026

Lincoln County Sheriff Adam Shanks, his command staff and contract deputies met for coffee Wednesday with Yachats residents, bringing them up to speed on hiring deputies for patrols and staff in the county jail, both of which had suffered because of hard-to-fill vacancies.

Lincoln Chronicle adds third day to its newsletters — and offers reminder on election letters

October 8, 2026

The Lincoln Chronicle is now sending newsletters of its top stories to readers (who sign up for them) three times a week -- Monday evenings and Wednesday and Friday mornings. And, we're also reminding readers about letters to the editor.

120 Samaritan Health primary care providers voting whether to form union to bargain over working conditions

October 8, 2026

Voting is underway at a few dozen Samaritan Health Services clinics in Lincoln, Benton and Linn counties with nearly 120 primary care providers eligible to decide whether to unionize and then bargain over working conditions and patient care.

Creating Vietnam Memorial obelisk in Newport helped sculptor come full circle with feelings on war, veterans

October 7, 2026

Lincoln City sculptor Frank Boyden will share the story of how his Sundial artwork and other pieces along the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Walkway in Newport came to be. It’s part of “What’s New in Newport,” a celebration of the city’s newest art hosted by the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts with the city, the Newport Public Arts Advisory Committee,

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News Briefs

Lincoln County’s transit director retires after three decades of work

October 11, 2026

Lincoln County’s first and only transit director retired Friday. Cynda Bruce's career in public transportation spans more than three decades, beginning in 1988 as a volunteer with the Council on Aging, which ran limited transit service with funding from the county.

Get ready to shake it out at 10:15 a.m. Thursday for disaster preparedness

October 10, 2026

The city of Newport is encouraging residents, schools, businesses, community organizations – and anyone who can -- to participate in this year’s Great Oregon ShakeOut earthquake drill at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15.

Deputies rescue Waldport man from car in the Alsea River on Thursday

October 8, 2026

Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies rowed a small boat they found along the Alsea River on Thursday to rescue an elderly man trapped in his car 40 feet from shore.

Little Log Church Museum in Yachats looking for volunteers

October 8, 2026

The Little Log Church Museum is looking for friendly, community-minded volunteers to welcome visitors and share the history of Yachats.

Siletz tribe wins $11.7 million federal grant to expand internet access

October 7, 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded an $11.7 million grant to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians to expand high-speed internet access in rural Lincoln County.

Annual auction of colorful Yachats banners is Sunday evening, Oct. 11

October 7, 2026

Now that their work brightening downtown Yachats is done, the colorful banners that hung on city lamp poles will be auctioned off on Sunday, Oct. 11. There will be both live and silent auctions to find new homes for the unique artwork from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Yachats Commons.

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Quick Links

Oregon Coast Today

Performing Arts Center offering two operas and a theater performance on its big screen Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday

The Newport Performing Arts Center is keeping its main auditorium and screen busy this weekend and into next week by showing two performances of the Metropolitan Opera and one from the National Theater Live.

Annual Beach Bark fundraiser takes place in Lincoln City on Saturday, Oct. 10 for dogs and their people

The annual event will bring people, their dogs and plenty of community spirit to the beach for a fundraiser for the Beach Bark Fund, which helps provide emergency veterinary care for animals in need, including pets whose owners cannot afford an unexpected veterinary bill.

Coastal Events and Entertainment

Looking for something to do, some place to go, something to learn, something to enjoy? Inside this section are public events for the next seven days on the central Oregon coast as part of a partnership between the Lincoln Chronicle and Oregon Coast TODAY.

Go here for events

5 Questions and a Secret

Artist Liz Birdwell finds a home on the coast, landing residencies at Hatfield center and Yaquina Head

The Lincoln Chronicle's bi-monthly 5 Questions and a Secret feature is on artist Liz Birdwell, who fell in love with the Oregon coast and years later finally made her way to Newport where she is holding two artist in residency programs.

Oregon/NW News

Progressive groups, unions announce wealth tax initiative aimed at 2028 Oregon ballot

October 11, 2026

Aiming to make up for lost revenue from federal benefit cuts, a coalition of powerful Oregon advocacy groups have announced they will launch a signature-gathering campaign for the November 2028 election to approve a wealth tax on some of the state’s richest households while cutting taxes for low-income residents.

Voters describe Oregon as growing harder to afford, and harder to trust

October 11, 2026

In a recent survey of 600 Oregonians, nearly 30% said that economic worries were their top concern, and nearly as many cited poor leadership and government mismanagement as being major issues heading into the election.

State housing agency regularly exceeds benchmark for construction costs

October 11, 2026

The Oregon Housing and Community Services' benchmark for the cost of building affordable housing is that it should not exceed the national average, but for the past three years, the agency has failed to meet that standard — by a wide margin.

2 Oregon state-backed rail projects cost more than $70 million. They’re still mostly idle.

October 10, 2026

It's been nearly 10 years since the Oregon Legislature approved $50 million to build two rail shipping centers in the Willamette Valley and eastern Oregon that promised to reduce truck emissions, boost agricultural exports and save farmers money. But they continue to sit mostly idle, with those promises unfulfilled.

Medford moves toward taking over former hotel that housed wildfire survivors

October 10, 2026

The Medford City Council has authorized eminent domain proceedings to acquire the Loring, a former Ramada Inn that city officials say has become unsafe. Councilors also approved hiring private security to clear and secure the property.

More Oregon news

Letters from readers

Former Lincoln County commissioner endorses Cathie Rigby

October 9, 2026

Wahlke’s experience leading Lincoln City deserves support

October 9, 2026

Roumagoux is best choice as Newport’s mayor — once again

October 8, 2026

Let’s stop shopping at stores with digital price tags

October 8, 2026

Newport city councilors urge “yes” vote on infrastructure bond

October 6, 2026

Susan Wahlke’s leadership skills are evident as Lincoln City’s mayor

October 5, 2026

More letters

Lincoln County Real Estate Sales

Want to know more about real estate sales in Lincoln County? What sold when, where and for how much? The Lincoln Chronicle is now offering weekly real estate sales data and brief stories based on all property sales in Lincoln County. This information is gathered from public, registered real estate sales records.

View real estate sales