Waldport gains possession of Kendall Field from school district, hopes to make improvements with help of sports association

July 20, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com WALDPORT – The city of Waldport has some new, old baseball and softball fields. The Lincoln County School District has deeded over 3.58 acres of property containing Kendall Field to the city with the idea that it and the Waldport Junior League Sports Association will do more to care and improve them. “It just makes

New state report says health care in Oregon becoming increasingly expensive

July 19, 2022

BY LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregonians are increasingly paying a bigger share of their income for health care, the latest state report on health care costs shows. The Oregon Health Authority said in the report, published Tuesday, that Oregonians saw an increase of nearly 50% in health care costs between 2013 and 2019. That’s an average of nearly 7% a year.

Measure to ban large capacity gun magazines and require licenses will appear on Oregon ballots in November

July 19, 2022

By the Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregonians will have the chance to decide in November whether the state should ban large ammunition magazines and require licenses for all gun owners, the Secretary of State’s Office confirmed Tuesday. Backers of Initiative Petition 17 submitted more than 160,000 signatures from Oregon voters who supported the proposed law earlier this month. State election officials

Oregon Rep. Kurt Schrader again bucks Democratic party to endorse Betsy Johnson for governor

July 19, 2022

Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, has endorsed nonaffiliated candidate for governor Betsy Johnson. (Wikimedia Commons) By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Outgoing Congressman Kurt Schrader bucked the Democratic party again on Tuesday, announcing his endorsement of nonaffiliated gubernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson. Schrader, who was trounced in his May primary by Terrebonne attorney Jamie McLeod-Skinner, said in a statement shared by the Johnson

Covid limits access to Yachats city hall, public asked to use drive-through window

July 19, 2022

YACHATS – Yachats city manager Heide Lambert is asking residents needing to do business at city hall this week use only the drive-through window until a wave of Covid-19 cases affecting staff runs its course. Lambert said for the last three weeks the city has had employees out with Covid-19 cases “so as a precaution we are asking people to

Survey finds most Oregonians favor stricter gun control laws at state and federal level

July 19, 2022

According to a new poll, Oregonians support tighter gun control regulations at the state and federal levels. (Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images) By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle Across geography, age, race and gender, a majority of Oregonians favor tighter gun control laws at the state and national level, according to a recent survey. The nonpartisan Oregon Values and Beliefs Center in Portland

Community college, Newport chamber offer 10-month leadership program

July 19, 2022

Oregon Coast Community College and the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce are teaming up to offer Leadership Lincoln, a 10-month leadership development program. Now in its 30th year, this program develops individual leadership skills while informing participants about the people and organizations that make up Lincoln County. The class meets once a month, September through June, with the goal to

Siuslaw Forest managers seek comments on four wilderness areas

July 19, 2022

WALDPORT — The Siuslaw National Forest is seeking public comment on uses, values, and interests relating to its four designated wilderness areas. Public comments on the wilderness areas will help guide an upcoming amendment to the Siuslaw’s current land and resource management plan, which will steer future wilderness management decisions on recreation, wildlife habitat, and a range of other topics.

Ruptured pipe spills 340,000 gallons of sewage into Yaquina Bay

July 19, 2022

NEWPORT — A ruptured sewer pipe spilled approximately 340,000 gallons of raw sewage into Yaquina Bay on Friday and Saturday. The city said the rupture occurred at the Bayfront Pump Station at 198 S.E. Bay Boulevard. The spill began at 1:13 p.m. Friday and was not repaired until 4:37 p.m. Saturday. The city of Newport has placed health hazard warning

ODFW says dead orca was tangled in unmarked recreational crab gear, reminds owners they must have ID on floats

July 19, 2022

The discovery of a dead orca found tangled in recreational crabbing gear 25 miles off Newport in June is prompting a reminder from state officials that crabbers need to properly mark their equipment under a 2-year-old Oregon law. The carcass of the approximately 16-foot-long orca was first spotted and photographed June 27 by a fisherman about 25 miles west of Newport