The Oregon governor’s race: Three candidates offer three different approaches to climate-related issues

October 22, 2022

By ALEX POWERS/Albany Democrat-Herald Oregon’s gubernatorial race pits three candidates with two climate philosophies and asks one policy question to voters in November: How green is green enough? Wildfires loom, groundwater is disappearing and the tenor of Oregon’s response to the most destructive symptoms of human-caused climate change hinges on a tight contest for the governor’s chair. Whoever wins

The Oregon governor’s race: Kotek and Johnson differ widely from Drazen on abortion rights

October 21, 2022

By VICKIE ALDOUS/Medford Mail Tribune Voters have a choice this November between abortion rights-backers Betsy Johnson and Tina Kotek for Oregon governor, or anti-abortion candidate Christine Drazan. The long-simmering topic of abortion erupted into a major political issue in June when the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion.

Lincoln County Democrats endorse three in non-partisan races Nov. 8

October 20, 2022

To the editor: While the campaigns for state and federal offices have figured most visibly into Democratic Party endorsements, Lincoln County progressives are keenly aware of the impacts of local government officials on the functioning of our county and our cities and the consequences that decisions made on local levels have on our everyday lives. That’s why Lincoln County Democrats

Real market property values in Lincoln County jump 24 percent, but most property tax bills will see a 3-5 percent increase

October 20, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The Lincoln County assessor has put into cold, hard figures what anyone who owns or is looking for real estate is thinking about property values. Wow. The market value of real estate – especially single-family homes – in Lincoln County increased a whopping 24 percent in 2022 – double the increase from 2021. The increase is

Councilor, commission chair seeking Yachats mayor position have similar thoughts on issues but different approach to solutions

October 20, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com YACHATS – A Yachats city councilor who sought the mayor’s office four years ago is facing off against the chair of a city commission frustrated by the council’s inaction on a number of issues the past two years. But whether Councilor Ann Stott or Parks & Commons Commission chair Craig Berdie is elected Yachats

Ask YRFPD board for more financial details before approving levy

October 20, 2022

To the editor: In the past couple of days, I have been able to peruse a couple of Yachats Facebook sites. Some of the comments I have seen on Measure 21-214 – the local option levy for the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District — make no sense. What some people have indicated is they plan to vote yes on this

Two appointees and one commission member vying for two seats on five-member Yachats city council

October 20, 2022

YACHATS – While not quite as crowded a field as two years ago, there are choices for city of Yachats voters Nov. 8 when it comes to electing two council members. Two councilors appointed in 2020 and 2021 – Mary Ellen O’Shaugnessey and Anthony Muirhead — are seeking their first election. Catherine Whitten-Carey, a member of the city’s Parks &

New engineering study of Little Log Church Museum gives Yachats council hope that it can be repaired next year

October 20, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com YACHATS – The Yachats city council may finally have found an engineering report and estimate to repair its shuttered Little Log Church Museum that it likes. A Newport engineering company that regularly works with the city presented a 32-page report to the council Wednesday, outlining what it found needed work – and what did not –

Oregon student attendance, graduation rates down since pandemic, new state analysis finds

October 20, 2022

A new analysis of data from Oregon schools during the 2021-22 school year shows statewide school staffing levels are rebounding from pandemic declines, but on-time graduation rates have dropped and chronic absenteeism remains a problem. (Rachel Parsons/Malheur Enterprise) By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle A new analysis of data from Oregon schools during the 2021-22 school year shows statewide school staffing

The Oregon governor’s race: Candidates have different views on how to improve mental health care

October 20, 2022

By HOLLY DILLEMUTH/Ashland.news With a recent national report putting Oregon 50th in the nation for mental health care, major candidates for governor advocate divergent ways to improve the situation: Tina Kotek sees implementing Measure 110 as part of the solution, Betsy Johnson wants local agencies to find fixes the state can back, and Christine Drazan is ready to suspend