Unaffiliated Oregon gubernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson officially qualifies for Nov. 8 ballot

August 26, 2022

By GARRETT ANDREWS/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Longtime Oregon lawmaker Betsy Johnson has qualified to appear on the November ballot as a nonaffiliated candidate for governor. On Thursday afternoon, the Oregon Elections Division notified Johnson that enough signatures on her nominating petitions had been verified to qualify her as a candidate, and that her name would be printed on the

Oregon Geographic Names Board hears proposal to change name of Swastika Mountain in Lane County

August 26, 2022

By ADAM DUVERNAY/Eugene Register-Guard EUGENE — Several pieces of Oregon’s landscape may soon leave behind their now-offensive names, including a mountain in Lane County called by a word more commonly associated with the Nazi Party than its ancient religious meaning. The Oregon Geographic Names Board, which is responsible for reviewing name change proposals brought by residents and suggesting if they should

Oregon State Police/Newport activity log Aug. 18-22

August 24, 2022

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP22216009 08/18/2022 09:12 Officer #53141 SEVERSON, SCOTT DUII – Controlled Substance Location 101, Mile post 138 138 NB, LINCOLN OR USA Narrative Summary On 8/18/22 at approximately 9:12AM a driving complaint was reported near milepost 122 of US Highway 101. Caller reported a subject in a gray Jeep was southbound, speeding and passed on a double yellow line

Central Coast Chorale looking to add members during auditions this week

August 20, 2022

The Central Coast Chorale is looking for a few people who want to sing. Chorale artistic director Rhodd Caldwell is scheduling private, individual auditions for Wednesday, Aug, 24 or Saturday, Aug, 27 at First Presbyterian Church of Newport, 227 N.E. 12th St. “This is the sort of activity you’ve been missing for the past three years,” says Caldwell. “We’re creating

Two top $199,000-a-year Oregon Lottery officials now work remotely from states with no income tax

August 19, 2022

By NIGEL JAQUISS/Willamette Week There’s some grumbling around the water cooler at Oregon Lottery headquarters in Salem. The source of their discontent is a matter of public record — two of the agency’s top employees have moved permanently to sunnier climes far from Oregon — and to states where there’s no personal income tax. Oregon’s rate tops out at 9.9

Central Oregon Coast fire board votes unanimously to ask voters Nov. 8 to raise operating levy by 10 cents

August 18, 2022

WALDPORT – Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue will ask voters to increase one of its two operating levies by 10 cents per $1,000 assessed property value in the November general election. The district’s board voted unanimously Thursday night to ask voters to replace a 10-year old levy of 25 cents per $1,000 assessed value with a 35 cent

Have guitar, will travel. Musicians at coastal restaurants perform to their own beat and just for the fun of it

August 18, 2022

By JORDAN ESSOE/YachatsNews.com Few people show up specifically to hear you play. But there’s a microphone and an audience. Sometimes no one claps. Sometimes no one really looks at you. But the tip jar catches a handful of bills. And if you step outside for a cigarette break by your van, you can hear the ocean. It’s a version

Beach “get-to-know-you” bonfires ignites idea of connecting Yachats residents with the area’s many newcomers

August 18, 2022

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com YACHATS — For pre-pandemic newcomers to Yachats, the small city always seemed to kick up a big tide of social and civic affairs. There were art and crafts fairs, pie socials, concerts, solstice celebrations, a major music festival, civic and trails projects, crab and pancake feeds and even meetings. All in person, face-to-face. Those events gave

Port of Alsea ends Shrimp Daddy’s lease at port-owned building, but gives owner six additional months to move

August 18, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com WALDPORT – The Port of Alsea board voted Wednesday to end the lease of a small shop it rents to a commercial sand shrimp processor, saying it needed the space for its own operations. But the board gave Shrimp Daddy’s owner Mike Gatens of Waldport until March 31 to move — six more months than originally

Renown OSU marine biologist Jane Lubchenco sanctioned by scientific organization for errors in fisheries paper

August 18, 2022

By TODD MILBOURN/Oregon Public Broadcasting A prestigious scientific organization has sanctioned a renowned Oregon State University marine biologist and White House climate adviser for errors in a published paper she edited in 2020. The National Academy of Sciences has barred Jane Lubchenco from publishing in its acclaimed journal and participating in group activities for five years. The move relates to