Oregon State Police/Newport activity report for March 24-29

March 31, 2021

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP21074721 03/24/2021 15:06 Officer #41619 FITCH, BRYAN Crash – Non-injury Location 101 and LILLIAN LN, OR USA Narrative Summary Unit #1, a semi truck and trailer were southbound on Hwy 101 near MP 129 when it approached a crash scene and could not slow. It drove into the oncoming lane to avoid crashing into the stopped traffic ahead.

Oregon’s billion-dollar marijuana economy faces new challenges of increased taxes, slowing sales after pandemic

March 31, 2021

By ZANE SPARLING/Oregon Capital Bureau They’ve never been higher. Oregon recreational marijuana sales have climbed to record highs, but some say the industry’s woes also have reached an apex. The difficulties range from an unfavorable federal tax code to a dangerous crime wave, wildfires, and cities and counties hungry for a larger slice of the tax pie. “Businesses are still

Pay college athletes? Oregon lawmakers are taking up the issue again

March 31, 2021

KEVIN HARDEN/Oregon Capital Bureau New legislation that has landed in the Oregon Senate could allow some college student-athletes to be paid. Senate Bill 5, introduced March 24 by Senate President Peter Courtney of Salem and Sen. James Manning Jr., D-Eugene, whose district includes the University of Oregon, allows student-athletes to “earn compensation for use of their name, image or likeness.”

Oregon House votes 41-12 Wednesday to ease conversion of motels for low-cost housing, now goes to Senate

March 31, 2021

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau The conversion of hotels and motels to emergency shelters and low-cost housing would be eased under a bill that is halfway through the Oregon Legislature. The House voted 41-12 on Wednesday to send the bill to the Senate. House Bill 3261 would exclude the conversion of hotels and motels purchased for emergency shelters or low-cost

Oregon coronavirus report for Wednesday, March 31: 441 new cases, 3 in Lincoln County, 38,373 vaccinations, 2 more deaths

March 31, 2021

Oregon reports 441 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 2 new deaths PORTLAND — There are two new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,383, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Oregon Health Authority reported 441 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, bringing the state total

Lincoln County vaccinators get state’s permission to give doses to thousands of front-line workers five days ahead of schedule

March 31, 2021

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com After racing ahead to get a majority of Lincoln County residents vaccinated, the state Wednesday gave the county’s health care providers permission to immediately begin offering COVID-19 vaccines to thousands of front-line workers, five days earlier than scheduled. Lincoln County Public Health sought permission to jump ahead on the schedule Tuesday after hundreds of appointments remained

Lincoln County’s unemployment rate drops slightly to 8 percent in February

March 31, 2021

Lincoln County had an unemployment rate of 8 percent in February, down slightly from the 8.5 percent rate in January, the Oregon Employment Department said Tuesday Still, because of restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic, the rate is much higher than the 3.8 percent unemployment rate in February a year earlier. Oregon’s unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in February; the national

Oregon coronavirus report for Tuesday, March 30: 415 new cases, 1 in Lincoln County; 31,616 vaccinations, 6 more deaths

March 30, 2021

Oregon reports 415 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 6 new deaths PORTLAND — There are six new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,381, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Oregon Health Authority reported 415 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, bringing the state total

Republicans in Oregon House promise to not delay budget bills

March 30, 2021

By GARY A. WARNER/Oregon Capital Bureau Oregon House Republicans said Tuesday that they will not use delaying tactics on budget bills when they come up for a vote. House Minority Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby, issued a statement that the Republicans would drop their delaying strategy of requiring bills to be read in full when it came time to consider the

Yachats Ladies Club offering crafts — and all kinds of goodies — this Saturday and next

March 30, 2021

In the market for hand-knitted hats, scarves, shawls and even doggie coats? How about whole pies, cookies and other goodies? There will be lots to buy — and all for good causes — Saturday, April 3 and Saturday, April 10 at a mini-bazaar sponsored by the Yachats Ladies Club. Social distancing and mask-wearing will be the rule from 10 a.m.