Oregon emergency board balks at $50 million loan program for rural hospitals, approves other relief programs

April 23, 2020

BY DICK HUGHES/Oregon Capital Bureau Oregon legislators balked Thursday at loaning $50 million in federal money to rural hospitals reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. Members of the Legislative Emergency Board tabled the proposal so it could be reworked to include forgivable loans or straight-out grants. Several legislators said hospitals would be unable to take out loans, even at zero percent

New jobless claims continue to pile up in Lincoln County, go past highest point during 2009 recession

April 23, 2020

Another 430 Lincoln County residents filed unemployment claims last week, bringing the total to 3,246 since statewide COVID-19 restrictions went into place in mid-March. The number of initial claims in Lincoln County for the week ending April 18 was dramatically smaller than the previous two weeks, but still a staggering amount of the county’s total nonfarm workforce of nearly 18,000

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Thursday, April 23

April 23, 2020

Oregon reports 68 new COVID-19 cases; 5 new deaths PORTLAND — COVID-19 has claimed five more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 83, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 8 a.m. Thursday. Oregon Health Authority also reported 68 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 2,127. The new COVID-19 cases reported Thursday are in the

Samaritan Health Services expands testing to more people with COVID-19 symptoms

April 23, 2020

Samaritan Health Services says it has obtained sufficient quantities of testing supplies and personal protective equipment to expand COVID-19 testing in Lincoln, Benton and Linn counties, and is now offering tests for anyone with symptoms of coronavirus — with a clinician’s order. Previously the hospital system limited tests to health care workers, first responders, patients in care facilities or other

Astoria-based Coast Guard cutter returns to Oregon after 65-day narcotic patrol

April 23, 2020

Oregon-based Coast Guard cutter returns home after 65-day counternarcotic patrol, $21.5M in cocaine seized Editors’ Note: Click on images to download high resolution version. ASTORIA, Ore. – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast (WMEC 623) returned home Friday to Astoria following a 65-day counternarcotic patrol to the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The cutter intercepted and boarded five suspected smuggling

Oregon governor not backing off on state collection of new tax to support additional school programs

April 23, 2020

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau Gov. Kate Brown says she will not recommend a suspension of Oregon’s new corporate activity tax, contrary to what groups such as the Portland Business Alliance have asked her to do. Brown made the statement Wednesday in an hour-long video conference arranged by the alliance, which says more than 1,000 people listened in. The governor

Public opinion survey in Oregon finds strong support for governor’s stay-at-home orders

April 22, 2020

By DICK HUGHES/Oregon Capital Bureau Regardless of where they live, most Oregonians support Gov. Kate Brown’s stay at home orders, according to survey results released Wednesday by an independent firm. That support is strong even among the 40 percent of respondents who had suffered job losses, pay cuts or reduced work hours. The survey conducted by Portland-based DHM Research indicated

Oregon Health Authority’s coronavirus report for Wednesday, April 22

April 22, 2020

Oregon reports 57 new COVID-19 cases; no new deaths PORTLAND — Oregon Health Authority reported 57 new cases of COVID-19 as of 8 a.m. Wednesday bringing the state total to 2,059. The new COVID-19 cases reported Wednesday are in the following counties: Clackamas (10), Coos (1), Deschutes (2), Jefferson (1), Linn (1), Marion (7), Multnomah (24), Washington (10) and Yamhill

Former deputy district attorney supports Cable for Lincoln County DA

April 22, 2020

To the editor: Until January, I was a deputy district attorney in Lincoln County. I was responsible for child abuse and sexual assault crimes, chaired the child abuse multi-disciplinary team and sexual assault response team, and was a member of the major crimes team. While working in Lincoln County, I developed a deep love for the area, so I threw

Longer-term thinking and resilience needed for Yachats, not knee-jerk reactions

April 22, 2020

To the editor: I am proud to be living in a place where there are so many people who care about the community and local businesses. We all will continue to do what we can to support our businesses as we have by donating to the funds created by the Presbyterian Church and continuing to make purchases from our local