Oregon agency seeks public comment on which coastal beaches it should monitor for pollution issues this summer

April 22, 2021

The public has until early next week to weigh in on the 18 stretches of beach that the state of Oregon is proposing to monitor this summer for high bacteria counts and other potential pollution concerns. The proposed monitoring sites stretch from Seaside Beach in Clatsop County south to Mill Beach in Brookings. Five of the 18 beaches –

Lawmakers on Oregon House committee ponder linking firearms storage, narrower ban

April 21, 2021

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau Legislation that combines proposed requirements for firearms locks and safe storage with a narrower ban on firearms in public buildings is gaining political momentum in the Oregon House. The House Rules Committee heard a proposal to combine elements of two bills, one awaiting a vote of the full House and a second that has already

Oregon coronavirus report for Wednesday, April 21: 989 new cases, none in Lincoln County; 39,882 vaccinations, 6 new deaths

April 21, 2021

Oregon reports 989 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 2,466, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Oregon Health Authority reported 989 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, bringing the state total

Police arrest Clackamas County couple after theft spree in Lincoln City area

April 21, 2021

Downloadable file: wright_larsen.png On Sunday, April 18, 2021, Lincoln City Police, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and Oregon State Police arrested two subjects for various charges relating to theft, identity theft, unauthorized entry to motor vehicles, fraudulent use of credit card, and criminal mischief. During the investigation of some of the reported criminal activity, a description of the involved subjects and the

As COVID-19 numbers rise and vaccinations go begging, Lincoln County opens three clinics to walk-ins without appointments

April 20, 2021

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com On the day that anyone 16 and over became eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine, Lincoln County threw open clinic doors to people who can get shots without an appointment. The change Monday came as the county said there were 600 openings for first doses this week, that it had the highest vaccination rate in the

Another COVID-19 case shuts down Oregon House for a third time Tuesday

April 20, 2021

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau Another person infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus has prompted yet another shutdown of floor sessions of the Oregon House. The House on Tuesday canceled sessions for the rest of the week. The next scheduled session is Monday, April 26. Committees, which have been meeting online since the start of the 2021 session, will continue their

Oregon coronavirus report for Tuesday, April 20: 580 new cases, none in Lincoln County; 26,051 vaccinations, one more death

April 20, 2021

Oregon reports 580 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 1 new death PORTLAND — There is one new COVID-19 related death in Oregon, and the state’s death toll remains at 2,460 because of a data correction from a previously reported death, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Oregon Health Authority reported 580 new confirmed and presumptive cases

COVID-19 infections rise across Oregon but not all county risk levels are going up Friday

April 20, 2021

By GARY A. WARNER/Oregon Capital Bureau COVID-19 infections are rising in Oregon, putting two-thirds of all counties into what, for now, is the highest possible level of restrictions, Gov. Kate Brown said Tuesday. The new county risk levels announced Tuesday include nearly a dozen special waivers granted under Brown to keep counties from going into the most severe set of

Lincoln County adds 240 jobs in March, but unemployment rate stuck at 8 percent

April 20, 2021

Lincoln County added 240 jobs in March, but the area’s unemployment rate was stuck at 8 percent, among the highest in Oregon. The Oregon Employment Department on Tuesday said the private sector added 240 jobs and government employment rose by 40, making a total of 16,860 people on Lincoln County payrolls. The leisure and hospitality sector added 250 jobs and

Lincoln County commissioners to see revised short-term rental proposals next month

April 20, 2021

Lincoln County commissioners will have a lot of work to do next month to meet a self-imposed deadline of June 1 to complete work on new short-term rental regulations. County counsel Wayne Belmont told commissioners Monday that he and staff are still working through tweaks of proposed regulations following two workshops this year. The first was in January, when 177