Oregon State Police/Newport activity log for Feb. 7-8

February 9, 2022

OREGON STATE POLICE DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP22030965 02/07/2022 09:39 Officer #44704 KATSIKIS, KELLY DUII – Controlled Substance Location 101, Mile post 139, NEWPORT, LINCOLN Narrative Summary On 2/7/2022 a red 2013 Ford Escape was stopped for a traffic violation on US-101 around milepost 139. After an investigation the driver was arrested for DUII Controlled Substance. The vehicle was towed incident to arrest by Rowley’s

Proposed legislation to pay overtime to 86,000 Oregon’s farmworkers faces strong industry opposition

February 8, 2022

A legislative bill would give Oregon farmworkers overtime pay. (Yadira Lopez/Malheur Enterprise) By LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — A big fight is brewing in the Oregon Legislature over a proposal to give farmworkers overtime pay after 40 hours a week. Democratic supporters say the change is long overdue and that extending overtime pay to a group of essential workers

Is self-service gasoline on its way to more of Oregon? Bill in 2022 Legislature may open doors to it

February 8, 2022

By JAEL CALLOWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregonians throughout the state would have the option to pump their own gas under provisions of House Bill 4151. The bill, introduced in the 2022 Legislature, isn’t expected to affect the price of gas and is meant to address labor shortages, with self-service allowing stations to open earlier and close later. Chief sponsors are

Remember conservative activist Bill Sizemore? The convicted tax evader says he’s seeking the GOP nomination for Oregon governor

February 8, 2022

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Anti-tax activist Bill Sizemore entered the race for Oregon governor on Monday, marking his third attempt at Oregon’s top job. Sizemore, 70, was the Republican Party nominee for governor in 1998 and announced a campaign in 2009 before he was indicted on tax evasion charges. He told the Oregon Capital Chronicle he decided after looking

Faced with permit issues, Seashore Family Literacy prepares to return its main building in downtown Waldport to the Lincoln County School District

February 8, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com WALDPORT – Seashore Family Literacy, which has been operating in a former school cafeteria and gymnasium in downtown Waldport for eight years without any city, county or state permits, has stopped using it and is preparing to return the property to the Lincoln County School District. A formal notice by Seashore to the school district that

In sudden about-face Monday, Oregon Health Authority says it will drop indoor mask mandate by end of March

February 7, 2022

By LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle In a sudden turnaround, the Oregon Health Authority announced Monday it will lift the state’s mask requirements by the end of March for indoor public places, including schools. The announcement came on the same day that the agency filed a permanent state rule requiring masks indoors in public buildings with the Secretary of State’s Office.

Oregon legislators propose big boost in their pay – and they have some support from minority and business organizations

February 7, 2022

By COLE SINANIAN and LES ZAITZ/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM – Oregon legislators would get a significant pay increase and qualify for $1,000 a month for child care under a proposal supported by minority advocates, a leading state union and a Portland business group as a way to increase diversity in the Oregon Legislature. Under provisions of Senate Bill 1566, the base

Addiction to drugs, alcohol deepens in Oregon, according to new, federal report

February 7, 2022

The state’s addiction crisis has worsened since the pandemic hit, according to a federal survey, and critics point finger at governor’s office Oregon had the highest drug addiction rate in the country in 2020. (Getty Images) By LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon has the worst drug addiction rate in the country, federal data show. The latest National Survey on Drug Use

The 2022 legislative session may finally yield a solution for Elliott State Forest in Douglas and Coos counties

February 7, 2022

By BRADLEY PARKS/Oregon Public Broadcasting SALEM — The yearslong saga over the fate of Oregon’s Elliott State Forest may soon come to a close. During this year’s short legislative session, Oregon state lawmakers are considering a bill to convert the 91,000-acre forest in Douglas and Coos counties into a “living laboratory” to study forest management, habitat conservation, carbon sequestration and more. The

OSU marine researchers find little genetic link for some sea stars staying healthy amid deadly wasting syndrome

February 7, 2022

By STEVE LUNDEBERG/OSU News Service Healthy-looking ochre sea stars have minimal genetic difference from those displaying symptoms of sea star wasting syndrome, say Oregon State University researchers who examined whether genetic variation was the reason some animals went unaffected during an epidemic of the deadly disease. Without genes promoting resistance to wasting syndrome, the iconic Pacific Ocean sea star’s