Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Wednesday, Nov. 4

November 4, 2020

OHA posts highest weekly case count The Oregon Health Authority released its COVID-19 Weekly Report today which showed that during the week of Monday, Oct. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 1, OHA recorded 3,542 new cases of COVID-19 infection—up 34% from last week’s tally of 2,642. This is the second consecutive week daily case counts set a record high for the pandemic. The

Oregon State Police/Newport activity log for Oct. 30-Nov. 4

November 4, 2020

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP20308802 10/30/2020 11:36 Officer #53141 SEVERSON, SCOTT Crash – Non-injury Location 101, Mile post 150 150 NB, LINCOLN OR USA Narrative Summary eCrash – On 10/30/20 at approximately 11AM a northbound unit 2 (white van) stopped to turn west onto Ocean Vista Dr in Seal Rock, Oregon. Another northbound, fully-loaded log truck (unit 1 Kenworth) swerved to avoid

Housing stress in Lincoln County would be eased with limits on vacation rentals

November 4, 2020

To the editor: When Dec. 31 arrives, how many Lincoln County residents will be newly unhoused? How many have been living on the edge of disaster for far too long? I fear it is many. Many of our friends and neighbors. Add the recent fires where 300 structures were lost to the stresses many are facing as a result of the pandemic, and

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Tuesday, Nov. 3

November 3, 2020

Oregon reports 495 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 9 new deaths PORTLAND — COVID-19 has claimed nine more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 701, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Oregon Health Authority reported 495 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday bringing the state total to

Oregon voters saying ‘yes’ to ballot measures on campaign finance, tobacco taxes, psilocybin and decriminalizing some hard drugs

November 3, 2020

By NICK BUDNICK/Oregon Capital Bureau All four statewide ballot measures appeared headed for passage in the first round of ballot returns counted Tuesday night. Just past 8 p.m., early returns showed voters supported campaign finance reform, increased tobacco taxes and legalized use of psilocybin, while voting to approve a measure to decriminalize possession of hard drugs such as methamphetamine. In

Democrats — Fagan, Read and Rosenblum — are sweeping all three of Oregon’s statewide races

November 3, 2020

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau Democrats appeared to be sweeping the three statewide offices up for election Tuesday in Oregon. Early returns posted shortly after 8 p.m. showed Democrat state Sen. Shemia Fagan of Portland with 57% of the statewide vote in her bid for Oregon secretary of state. Republican state Sen. Kim Thatcher of Keizer had 36% of the

Longtime Republican legislator from Ontario wins race to replace Greg Walden in Oregon’s 2nd congressional district

November 3, 2020

By GARY A. WARNER/Oregon Capital Bureau Republican Cliff Bentz of Ontario was winning by a wide margin in the race for the open congressional seat representing Central and Eastern Oregon, voting returns showed Tuesday. Early returns in the 2nd Congressional District showed Bentz with 58% of the vote against 39% for Democrat Alex Spenser of Klamath Falls. Libertarian Robert Werch

Two legislative districts on the Oregon coast flip from Democrats to Republicans; Gomberg wins fifth term in House District race

November 3, 2020

Two legislative seats on the Oregon coast — including a closely watched and expensive contest for the Oregon Senate — flipped from Democrats to Republican office holders in Tuesday’s general election. Lincoln City Mayor Dick Anderson, a Republican, has won the Senate District 5 race, beating Coos County Commissioner Melissa Cribbins by 2,000 votes — 37,182 to 35,125, according to

Waldport councilor Greg Holland easily elected mayor, Dunn re-elected to council with Lambert, Morris and Townsend all joining in January

November 3, 2020

WALDPORT — Longtime City Council member Greg Holland was elected mayor Tuesday, easily defeating fellow council member Karun Virtue 882 to 379, according to late returns from the Lincoln County elections office. Holland, a retired attorney from Los Angeles, has lived in Waldport for 15 years and been on the City Council for 12 – but his term is

Vaaler, Stott and Scott win Yachats races for mayor and city council, foreshadowing changes when they take office in January

November 3, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The Yachats City Council will have a new look and likely a lot of new issues starting January, according to returns Tuesday night from the Lincoln County elections department. With 99 percent of the votes counted countywide in Tuesday’s general election, Councilor Leslie Vaaler easily defeated incumbent John Moore 434 to 232 to become the city’s