Yachats audience voices strong support Thursday night for continued use of Commons as a community center open and available to all

February 9, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews YACHATS – During the two-year Covid pandemic many people in the Yachats community wrung their hands over what might happen to the shuttered Yachats Commons when activities returned to normal. The newly refurbished sign outside even pronounces it the “Heart of the community.” As the past three months indicate, the Yachats Commons is back to its

Oregon shifts toward normalcy after three years of Covid pandemic and public emergencies

February 9, 2023

By LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon is moving toward normalcy after three years of the pandemic but some masking requirements are likely to remain in place for months, a state health official said Thursday. Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state epidemiologist with the Oregon Health Authority, told the media during the authority’s monthly briefing that hospitalizations for viral respiratory infections in the

Newport-based crabbers return to sea after informal work stoppage due to low prices, high volume of early-season Dungeness

February 9, 2023

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews There are many factors that fishermen can’t control – the weather, the price of fuel, and oftentimes the price of Dungeness crab. One thing they have absolute control over, however, is whether to fish at all. And that’s what a significant portion of the Newport fleet chose not to do for nearly two weeks recently in

Oregon Supreme Court upholds order blocking state’s new voter-approved gun laws pending hearing in Harney County

February 9, 2023

By JONATHAN LEVINSON/Oregon Public Broadcasting The Oregon Supreme Court has denied a petition to overturn a lower court ruling blocking the state’s new gun laws from taking effect. Ballot Measure 114′s provisions remain blocked in their entirety pending a lower court hearing on the measure’s constitutionality. “We recognize that the legal status of Measure 114 is of significant concern to

Leader of sea otter re-introduction group will speak next week at OSU Extension in Newport

February 9, 2023

By Gretchen Ammerman/Oregon Coast TODAY February is the month that puts a microscope on relationships: are you in one at all, are you in a good one, could you do better? But it’s a different type of relationship that Robert Bailey, board president of the Elakha Alliance, will be talking about at the Oregon State University Extension office in

Oregon cities, counties say Measure 110 blew a hole in their budgets, ask legislators to divert some treatment money

February 9, 2023

By DIRK VANDERHART/Oregon Public Broadcasting SALEM — Addiction service providers who’ve seen their funding swell under the state’s pioneering drug decriminalization law are rushing this year to fend off a proposal that would siphon tens of millions of dollars away from their efforts. The drastically expanded slate of resources available to addicts around the state — housing, peer mentorship, low-barrier

Oregon Coast CC names new director of small business center

February 9, 2023

The Small Business Development Center at Oregon Coast Community College has named a Lincoln County native its new director. Gregory Price of The Dalles is taking the reins at its business advisory center from Dave Price, the college’s vice president of engagement. The two men are not related. The new director grew up in Depoe Bay and graduated from Taft

Oregon Coast CC and Lincoln County School District hold career-tech expo Wednesday

February 9, 2023

By Oregon Coast TODAY Career Technology Education is an ever-growing part of educational curriculums across the country. On Wednesday, Feb. 15, Oregon Coast Community College and the Lincoln County School District will show the opportunities available through their own CTE programs at the Career Technology Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the college’s main campus in Newport.. The

Waldport and Toledo high schools win seven-year, $1.2 million grant to help students go to college or get training

February 9, 2023

Waldport and Toledo high schools are getting $1.2 million to increase their graduates’ participation in college or training programs over the next seven years. The two Lincoln County school are the recipients of more than a third of the $3.5 million in federal funds coming to the Oregon GEAR UP program, administered by Oregon State University. The GEAR UP

Kotek seeks dismissals after internal investigation reveals ethical violations at Oregon Liquor commission

February 8, 2023

By LAUREN DRAKE/Oregon Public Broadcasting Top executives and managers at the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission employees have diverted specialty bourbons away from public consumption for their own personal use for years, according to an internal OLCC document released to OPB on Wednesday. The internal investigation, prompted by an OLCC employee complaint, revealed the longstanding practice of OLCC staff, including