On Thanksgiving Day, state reports another COVID-19 related death in Lincoln County as three-day case total this week reaches 45

November 24, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The Oregon Health Authority on Thursday announced that a 72-year-old Lincoln County woman tested positive for COVID-19 last week, one day after her death. The woman had underlying health issues and died Nov. 16 at her residence, the OHA said. Tests revealed the virus the next day. It was the second COVID-19 related death from last

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Tuesday, Nov. 24; state sets one-day record for deaths, Lincoln County cases spike by 23

November 24, 2020

Oregon reports 1,011 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 21 new deaths PORTLAND — COVID-19 has claimed 21 more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 847, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. The total number of Oregonians hospitalized with COVID-19 also increased, along with the number of people with the virus who are in

October jobless rate drops in Lincoln County, but it’s still the highest in Oregon

November 24, 2020

After seven months reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Lincoln County’s unemployment rate dropped into the single digits in October. But the county – which relies heavily on the hospitality industry for jobs – still has the highest jobless rate in Oregon. And all of that came before Gov. Kate Brown announced a two-week freeze on many social

Demand for pre-Thanksgiving COVID-19 tests overwhelms Portland-area’s drive-through testing sites

November 24, 2020

By ERIN ROSS/Oregon Public Broadcasting Massive numbers of Oregonians are trying to get tested for COVID-19 with Thanksgiving now only days away. There are only two places in the Portland area that offer regular drop-in COVID-19 testing: the Oregon Convention Center and Hillsboro Stadium, both run by the Oregon Health and Science University. Wait times at those locations can be hours long. Among

Pandemic pushes many Oregonians from biggest private health insurers onto Oregon Health Plan, new filings show

November 24, 2020

By CHRISTIAN WIHTOL/The Lund Report In the turbulence of the pandemic, some of Oregon’s biggest health insurance companies are facing marked drops in membership, while a couple have seen gains, their latest financial filings show. The membership drops through Sept. 30 appear due in part to steep job losses in the state, and the loss of company health insurance plans

Oregon lawmakers scramble to head off end of rent moratorium on Dec. 31, but special session unlikely

November 24, 2020

By GARY A. WARNER/Oregon Capital Bureau Oregon’s ban on evicting tenants from their homes expires at the end of the year unless the Legislature can go into special session amid a deadly pandemic. A bipartisan bill extending the moratorium through June 2021 has been written. It also creates a $100 million fund to reimburse landlords for some of their tenants’

After motels’ objection to proposed marine lighting ban, Yachats council sends ordinance back to Planning Commission for work, possible compromise

November 24, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The Yachats City Council has sent a proposed lighting ordinance back to the Planning Commission for more work after pushback from two large motels upset about a suggested ban on marine lighting. If such lights were banned, Adobe Motel general manager Anthony Muirhead told the council last week that for safety reasons the owners would build a

Oregon State Police/Newport activity log for Nov. 20-22

November 23, 2020

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP20327548 11/20/2020 10:56 Officer #53141 SEVERSON, SCOTT Crash – Non-injury Location 229 HWY, Mile post 7.5 7.5, LINCOLN OR USA Narrative Summary **eCrash Report** On 11/20/20 at approximately 10:46 PM, Unit #1, a white 2014 Volkswagen Jetta, was southbound on SR-229 near milepost 7.5. The driver was distracted by scenery and failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Monday, Nov. 23; 1,174 new cases statewide, 3 more in Lincoln County

November 23, 2020

Oregon reports 1,174 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 6 new deaths PORTLAND — COVID-19 has claimed six more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 826, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Monday. Oregon Health Authority reported 1,174 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Monday, bringing the state total to

There’s no evidence connecting vacation rentals in Lincoln County with the spread of COVID-19

November 23, 2020

To the editor: This is in response to the letter asking Lincoln County commissioners to close down short-term rentals to protect the county from the spread of COVID-19. It is good that it was a letter to the editor (meaning one person’s opinion) and not an actual news article that would be expected to adhere to the facts. The proposals