Oregon State Police/Newport: Activity log for Feb. 12-13

February 16, 2020

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP20044697 02/12/2020 15:20 Officer #41617 ESKRIDGE, BRIAN FICS – Felon/Other Prohibited Persons Location 800 SE 101, LINCOLN CITY, LINCOLN OR USA 97367 Narrative Summary On 02/12/2020 at approximately 15:20 PM, the Oregon State Police responded to the Lincoln City Sporting Goods store to investigate a firearms purchase denial. The purchase denial was the result of a background check

“Historic” forest agreement may add pressure on GOP senators to stay in session, not walk out

February 15, 2020

By SAM STITES/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM – The deal between the timber industry and environmentalists is intended to end the war in the woods that has beset Oregon forestry issues for decades. But not everyone is cheering what Gov. Kate Brown described as a “historic” deal between timber and environmental groups. But critics now suspect something is more at

Oregon legislators push ahead with climate bill without knowing its economic impact

February 14, 2020

By DICK HUGHES/For YachatsNews.com Oregon lawmakers are acting on a climate bill without knowing its economic impact. The Legislature’s 12 Republican senators recently asked for an economic analysis of SB 1530, the main carbon cap and trade legislation, and SB 1574, which is Gov. Kate Brown‘s version. In an email, which I obtained through a public records request, Legislative Revenue

Cape Perpetua marine reserves seeks comments on plans for research and conservation

February 13, 2020

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews.com Efforts to include Cape Perpetua among Oregon’s state-protected coastal sanctuaries took more than a decade. Now, after even more years of planning, the first management plan addressing scientific research and conservation goals for the 34-square-mile Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve is nearly ready for roll out. A draft of the plan is available for review from the

Vacation rental supporters, opponents fill hearing room Thursday night to weigh in on county regulations

February 13, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com NEWPORT — Friends and foes of vacation rentals filled a Lincoln County courthouse hearing room Thursday night to defend and bemoan the proliferation of homes turned into short-term rentals in unincorporated parts of the county. To applause of agreement, supporters and owners of short-term rentals said they provided steady jobs, supported local businesses and generated millions

Oregon lawmakers make adjustments to greenhouse gas bill to ease impact on rural areas

February 13, 2020

By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Lawmakers revealed changes Wednesday to the plan to cut back on the state’s greenhouse gas emissions that would ease the impact on rural Oregon and adopt elements proposed by Timber Unity. The revisions are part of the continuing effort of Democratic sponsors to drive a policy that has greater statewide acceptance. The proposed

Legislation to put more Oregon State Police on the road getting support — for now

February 13, 2020

By JAKE THOMAS/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Parts of the state with sparse police presence could see more state troopers on the highway under a bill advancing through the Oregon Legislature. If passed, Senate Bill 1545 would put hundreds more state troopers on the state’s highways over the next decade. During a recent committee hearing, State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton

New state audit critical of Travel Oregon executive salaries and control over contractors

February 13, 2020

By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — The semi-independent Oregon agency overseeing tourism initiatives should be more transparent about managers’ pay and strengthen controls on contracting, Secretary of State Bev Clarno said in an audit report released Thursday. The Oregon Tourism Commission — also known as Travel Oregon — is a small agency that is supposed to help boost

Anti-poverty group wants to study, connect low-income Lincoln County residents with enticement of pay

February 12, 2020

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com A national anti-poverty program offering to pay low-income residents of Lincoln County for information about their lives, is off to a slow start despite trying to recruit people since last fall. The Family Independence Initiative is seeking 900 participants from Oregon’s Lincoln and Jefferson counties, the only two counties in the state picked for the pilot research

Oregon State Police/Newport: Activity log Feb. 10-11

February 12, 2020

DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP20042832 02/10/2020 17:01 Officer #52129 LARSON, ERIC Crash – Non-injury Location 101, Mile post 152 152, LINCOLN OR USA Narrative Summary ***E-CRASH*** On the evening of February 10, 2020, the Oregon State Police was dispatched to a non-injury, non-blocking four vehicle crash on Hwy 101 near mile post 152, just south of Seal Rock. The crash investigation found Unit # 3