Hillsboro, hub of Oregon semiconductor industry, seeks more manufacturing land as Legislature debates land-use laws

February 28, 2023

Construction is ongoing near Hillsboro’s urban growth boundary on Feb. 27, 2023. The city of Hillsboro is seeking state approval to allow the semiconductor industry to build outside the urban growth boundary. (Jordan Gale/Oregon Capital Chronicle) JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle HILLSBORO — Hillsboro city leaders can picture a new semiconductor facility on the hundreds of acres of land now planted

“He came out to help his friends, and he ended up saving a community.” How Tidewater neighborhood weathered the storm

February 27, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews TIDEWATER — Everyone agrees on one point about the Wednesday night snow and wind storm — the falling trees sounded like constant gunfire. Although power has been restored to most, Oregon Highway 34 and connecting roads still bear the evidence. Twenty-three miles of the highway and dozens of Alsea Valley secondary roads were closed by trees

1st Security Bank officially takes over Columbia branches in Waldport, Newport

February 27, 2023

WALDPORT – A regional bank based in the Puget Sound area of Washington officially took over operations Monday of Columbia Bank branches in Waldport and Newport. In addition to the two Lincoln County branches, 1st Security Bank of Mountlake Terrace, Wash. bought Columbia’s former branches in Manzanita, Tillamook and Ontario in Oregon and in White Salmon and Goldendale, Wash.

Body of missing Bandon man recovered from Cape Perpetua area

February 27, 2023

YACHATS – Oregon State Police recovered the body of a missing 72-year-old Bandon man Friday, Feb. 24 on the shoreline rocks below Cape Perpetua. The family of Dennis D. Strader of Bandon had been looking for him since Tuesday. Oregon State Police said a hiker had reported Thursday seeing a body on the rocks between Devils Churn and Thor’s Well

UO, OSU researchers say endangered sunflower sea stars can help protect West Coast kelp forests from voracious urchins

February 27, 2023

By UO Communications/OSU News Service Your average sunflower sea star can munch through almost five purple sea urchins in a week, and they don’t seem to be picky about the quality of their food. That’s good news — and valuable data — for efforts to reintroduce these now-endangered predators to coastal ecosystems along the west coast of North America.

Nurses union and Oregon hospitals square off Tuesday in Legislature over stricter staffing standards

February 27, 2023

Oregon nurses are asking state lawmakers to put minimum hospital staffing standards in place amid a shortage of nurses.(Christine Torres Hicks/OHSU) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon nurses want lawmakers to put minimum staffing standards in place for hospitals, saying it’s critical as the nursing workforce faces burnout, staff shortages and unsafe conditions for patients. The push

1,000 residents of Alsea River valley’s Tidewater community fend for themselves and neighbors during epic snow storm

February 24, 2023

KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews TIDEWATER — In one of the hardest hit areas in Lincoln County, residents in a 20-mile stretch of the lower Alsea River valley are having to fend for themselves and neighbors through a rare snow storm as they wait the reopening of roads and return of electrical service. By 8 o’clock Wednesday night, the Oregon Department of

In Newport, homeless organizations help St. Stephen Episcopal Church open its doors for shelter from the cold

February 24, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews NEWPORT — Once potentially deadly weather struck the region Wednesday evening, a church in downtown Newport has been letting unhoused people sleep in its sanctuary and make use of its community room, kitchen and bathrooms 24 hours a day. It’s the first time in three years that Lincoln County’s largest city has had a communal shelter.

Oregon lawmakers share details of $200 million housing package, which should reach House floor in early March

February 23, 2023

The Oregon Legislature is working on a $200 million spending package and policy changes to hasten home construction. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon lawmakers plan to spend nearly $200 million within the next few weeks to address housing and homelessness, describing it as a “down payment” with more to come. A trio of Democratic

Late winter storm drops 5-12 inches of snow on much of Lincoln County, downing trees, closing roads, schools and businesses

February 23, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP and QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews The central Oregon coast was shut down Thursday by a surprisingly cold, strong storm that dropped 5 inches of snow in Newport and a foot or more in coastal valleys, knocking out power to thousands, closing schools and businesses and stopping highway travel to the Willamette Valley. Emergency service officials are worried that