DeFazio endorses Oregon labor commissioner Hoyle to succeed him in 4th congressional district

January 17, 2022

By the Oregon Capital Chronicle Retiring U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio has declared Oregon Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle as his preferred successor, as other candidates entered or bowed out of races for Oregon’s open congressional seats. Hoyle, a Democrat, represented the Eugene area in the state House for eight years before she was elected labor commissioner in 2018. She announced her

Small tsunami surge Saturday on the Oregon coast is not what would happen if there was a sudden Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake

January 16, 2022

By JAMIE HALE/The Oregonian/OregonLive The tsunami that rippled across the Pacific Ocean on Saturday may have been a good test run for the Pacific Northwest’s emergency alert systems, but it’s not yet clear how useful the experience will be in preparing Oregonians for a major disaster. Caused not by an earthquake but a massive eruption of an undersea volcano

Five people have already filed to succeed Doug Hunt on Lincoln County commission

January 16, 2022

NEWPORT – The race to see who will replace Lincoln County Commissioner Doug Hunt got crowded even before he officially announced his retirement last week. Hunt announced at the end of last week’s commission meeting that he would retire in December after 10 years – two years as an appointee and eight years as elected – on the three-member commission.

Man accused of killing former Yachats man has hearing postponed to March

January 16, 2022

SAN DIEGO — A court date for the man being held in the fatal assault on former Yachats resident Martin Baker last year has been moved from Jan. 13 to March 16. Baker, a formerly homeless man who found shelter and friendship through the Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, died a few days after the February 2021 attack in Borrego Springs,

Oregon Capitol to start bag searches, use of metal detectors

January 16, 2022

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Oregon will join 33 other states in requiring visitors, elected officials and staff to pass through metal detectors and submit to bag checks when they enter the Capitol. The enhanced security in Salem will start Jan. 27. Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek said in a statement that it will

Waldport begins work on $385,000 project to replace 1,400 water meters

January 16, 2022

WALDPORT — Contractors have begun installing radio towers to begin the city of Waldport’s $385,000 project to replace 1,400 water meters. The project was authorized last spring by the city council. The new system will use radio signals to communicate with the meters remotely, so that they can be read from City Hall. “We currently spend days manually reading meters

In 54-page legal brief Friday, would-be gubernatorial candidate Kristof defends residency to Oregon Supreme Court

January 16, 2022

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nick Kristof asserted Friday he paid Oregon income taxes as a full-year resident beginning in 2020, answering a question raised about whether he is qualified to run. He made the disclosure in a lengthy court filing urging the Oregon Supreme Court to restore him to the ballot. The 54-page legal brief filed Friday night

New recommendations limit contact tracing in Oregon schools to exposure in cafeterias, band, sports

January 16, 2022

By the Oregon Capital Chronicle New guidance from the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education could end contract tracing when a student tests positive and was in close proximity to other students as long as all were wearing masks. In an email sent Friday, the director of the state Education Department, Colt Gill, advised schools that they

Key lawmakers say the Oregon Legislature is unlikely to make major housing production reforms this year

January 14, 2022

By JIM REDDEN/Oregon Capital Bureau Oregon elected officials and community leaders agree the state has a housing shortage that is fueling homelessness and an affordable housing crisis. But the Legislature will not consider a comprehensive proposal to significantly increase housing production until 2023 at the soonest. That was one takeaway from the 2022 Housing Economic Summit held online Thursday. Rep

Oregon announces Thursday it will add nearly 2,000 new contract professionals to help ease overburdened hospitals

January 13, 2022

The temporary personnel will enable hospitals to discharge hundreds of patients who been stuck in a bed they didn’t need because a long-term care or other facility didn’t have enough stuff to accept them The state is contracting with staffing agencies to bring in 1,800 more health care workers to help overburdened hospitals. (Lynne Terry/Oregon Capital Chronicle) By LYNNE TERRY