Oregon State University’s new president officially begins her work, interested in growing online programs, student success

September 12, 2022

By MEERAH POWELL/Oregon Public Broadcasting CORVALLIS — Jayathi Murthy plans to focus on improving Oregon State University’s graduation rates, furthering research and continuing to grow what is already the state’s largest university — including its online enrollment. The new university president says she’s received a warm welcome from the OSU campus community as she steps into her role as the

Shortly before embarking on political career, Oregon congressional candidate Alek Skarlatos joked about choking women

September 12, 2022

Alek Skarlatos, left, smiles after quipping about a man whose girlfriend suffocated during sex. Skarlatos, now running for Congress, appeared on a podcast hosted by Ross Patterson, right, in 2018. By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Alek Skarlatos, a Republican candidate for Congress in a competitive Oregon district, repeatedly “liked” photos of underage girls in bikinis on Instagram and joked about

Friday night collision on Highway 101 kills Lincoln City woman

September 11, 2022

GLENEDEN BEACH – Alcohol is being investigated as a contributing factor in a collision on U.S. Highway 101 that killed a 74-year-old Lincoln City woman Friday night, according to Oregon State Police. State police said Kendra L. Peracca, 57, of Gleneden Beach was driving south on Highway 101 just north of Gleneden Beach in her Toyota FJ Cruiser when she

Smoldering rags in Drift Inn’s laundry results in Highway 101 closure for 45 minutes Friday

September 9, 2022

YACHATS – U.S. Highway 101 in downtown Yachats was closed for 45 minutes Friday afternoon as firefighters sought to find the source of a strong, smoky odor at the Drift Inn’s motel. The source turned out to be smoldering, oily rags left in a large plastic container in the motel’s laundry and storage area. Crews from the Yachats Rural

Unsolved mysteries: How a former Maryland policeman living in Yachats is trying to bring closure to Eugene cold cases

September 8, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com YACHATS – At every 5:30 a.m. every Thursday, Drew Tracy jumps into his truck and begins the 98-mile drive to the Eugene Police Department for an 8 o’clock meeting. Once there, Tracy and three other retired law enforcement officials gather to sort out their chores for that day and the next week to help chip away

Strong east winds, dry conditions put Lincoln County fire officials on edge; Pacific Power may cut electricity to Otis area by 10 a.m. Friday

September 8, 2022

BY QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The utility that provides electricity to rural communities in north Lincoln County says it may cut power to customers there by 10 a.m. Friday as a precaution to lower the chance of wildfires in the Salmon River canyon. Changing from a warning on Wednesday, Pacific Power said Thursday it may cut electricity to 12,000 customers stretching

After years of complaints, turmoil and work, the Alsea River community of Tidewater finally gets its fire station

September 8, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com TIDEWATER – It may not have firefighters on duty and a steady supply of water may be months away, but this community of nearly 900 people will have a functioning fire station beginning Saturday. Like any new construction, there are still some small things to get done. But after years of neglect and then some political

Oregon’s unaffiliated voters are more partisan than you think and might not shift the outcomes of November’s elections

September 8, 2022

By RANDY STAPILUS/Oregon Capital Chronicle If Oregon’s registered Democrats vote Democratic in this November’s general election, and the Republicans vote Republican, those numbers alone won’t come close to settling the deal. A big reason: The largest group of voters in Oregon are the NAVs – those who register as “nonaffiliated.” (Disclosure: I’m one of them.) But what does that mean for the outcome

Siletz develops tribal curriculum for use in Oregon schools and by public

September 8, 2022

SILETZ — The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians has released its first set of tribally developed K-12 curriculum for use in Oregon schools. The curriculum includes lessons for students in grades K-1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 11, and covers an array of topics related to tribal history, culture, science and governance. Together, the lessons are designed to

Public meeting on Yachats’ homeless issues draws 45 people for information, questions and a search for solutions

September 8, 2022

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com YACHATS — How big an issue is homelessness in Yachats? You might gauge its scope by the turnout for a public meeting on the topic — 45 people, streaming into the Commons Pavilion for a session led by City Manager Heide Lambert. “This is a difficult topic that we’re not going to fix today,” said Lambert