Foster family urges vote for Amanda Benjamin to circuit court position

September 24, 2020

To the editor: Most people are fortunate enough to not have contact with Lincoln County judges. But in November we will all be voting for one of ours. Before casting your vote, I ask that you listen to those whose lives have been directly impacted by the courts. I am a foster parent in Lincoln County. I see first hand

Wells Fargo tells Judy Cashner of Lincoln City that she’s been dead for a year. She says not quite yet … and fights back

September 23, 2020

“At first I thought they’d just cancel the credit card and it was kind of funny,” said Judy Cashner, who lives in Lincoln City. “But now it’s not funny.” A friend made her this shirt, which references a famous Monty Python comedy line. By MIKE ROGOWAY/The Oregonian Word of Judy Cashner’s death came as quite a shock to Judy Cashner.

Staff, students and wastewater at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center will be tested for coronavirus starting Monday

September 23, 2020

NEWPORT – Staff and students at Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center will be part of weekly voluntary coronavirus prevalence testing starting Monday. OSU officials announced the program Wednesday for its campuses in Corvallis, Bend and Newport. The so-called “TRACE” program will include weekly random prevalence testing of approximately 1,000 staff and students and include twice-a-week wastewater testing at

Forecast for Oregon tax revenue is surprisingly good, economists tell state legislators Wednesday

September 23, 2020

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau Oregon state coffers saw personal and corporate income tax collections go up in the past few months, not down as had been forecast, after the initial shock of the coronavirus pandemic resulted in widespread business shutdowns. Although those gains will ease fears about the current state budget, state economists told lawmakers Wednesday that the downturn

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Wednesday, Sept. 23; Lincoln County has 1 new case

September 23, 2020

Oregon reports 193 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 6 new deaths PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed six more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 537, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Oregon Health Authority reported 193 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday bringing the state total to

First there was the coronavirus pandemic, then wildfires and smoke, but (online) classes finally begin in Lincoln County schools

September 23, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Delayed for a week because of wildfires and smoke, online classes started Monday for middle and high school students in the Lincoln County School District. It was the first day of required attendance – even if it was at the other end of a computer — since March, when Gov. Kate Brown ordered schools closed because

Mukumoto’s forestry expertise make him best candidate for Oregon House District 9

September 22, 2020

To the editor: As recent events have shown, our climate continues to experience a slow but steady increase in temperature. It is essential that our elected representatives in Salem not only acknowledge that, but also have the education and practical knowledge to to work collaboratively with all interest groups for our future. Cal Mukumoto of Coos Bay is the only

Oregon and national psychiatric associations come out in opposition to Measure 109 on Nov. 3 ballot

September 22, 2020

By ELON GLUCKLICH/The Lund Report The backers of a therapeutic psilocybin initiative in Oregon say Measure 109 would create a safe pathway for residents struggling with mental health issues like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder to receive a groundbreaking treatment. But the first vocal public opposition to the measure has sprung up from state and national psychiatric associations, who say

Oregon Health Authority faces hazy COVID-19 outlook after last week’s wildfires

September 22, 2020

By BEN BOTKIN/The Lund Report Oregon’s COVID-19 testing has been massively disrupted by the widespread wildfires, which have scorched more than 1 million acres and forced entire communities to evacuate or shelter in their homes to avoid breathing in haze-filled air. With fewer people tested, the Oregon Health Authority now faces a challenge in determining current COVID-19 trends. Testing

A tale of two coronavirus studies: $6 million OHSU study falls apart; $1.2 million goes to OSU for wastewater tracing

September 22, 2020

By LYNNE TERRY/The Lund Report In April, as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in Oregon, Oregon Health & Science University hashed out a plan to track — and hopefully stem — the spread of the virus. The plan was ambitious: Quickly enlist and monitor the symptoms of 100,000 Oregonians to determine the spread of illness, identify potential hot spots before