Attempt to get Port of Alsea board recall on May ballot fails

March 21, 2023

WALDPORT — An attempt to get a recall election of four of five Port of Alsea commissioners on the May ballot has failed to gather enough signatures. A recall of port commissioners was first threatened during a meeting last July. Kurt Saindon asked the board to fire port manager Roxie Cuellar because she would not change locations for crabbers using

Kotek targets behavioral health system crisis – and plans ahead

March 20, 2023

Gov. Tina Kotek is asking the Legislature for more behavioral health funding. The money would fund programs for people who need care in other settings besides the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. (Oregon Health Authority) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Gov. Tina Kotek is asking lawmakers to put $74.2 million into behavioral health programs in one bill as

At $475,000, city of Waldport wins bid for former school property for addition to Southworth Park and community center

March 20, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews WALDPORT – After a five-month on-off-on negotiation process, the city of Waldport will become the new owner of the 2.81-acre Lincoln County School District property in downtown. The city announced Monday that the district and it had agreed on the sale of the property – subject to approval of the city council at its meeting in

Lincoln County looking for some housing expertise

March 20, 2023

Lincoln County is on the market for a consultant to help it develop housing for all income levels. The county announced Monday it is looking for a team or individual that can help it identify properties to develop as affordable, workforce and market-rate housing. The consultant should also be to perform basic due diligence on properties, identify funding opportunities, court developers

Oregon governor adds Malheur and Clatsop counties to her homeless state of emergency list

March 20, 2023

By THE OREGON CAPITAL CHRONICLE SALEM — Gov. Tina Kotek has added two rural counties to her homelessness state of emergency so a state agency can help coordinate state and local response to the homelessness crisis there. Kotek announced Friday that Malheur County, with about 31,000 residents in southeastern Oregon, will join the primarily urban counties in the state of

Oregon House passes bill to allow Oregonians to pump their own gas; now goes to Senate

March 20, 2023

The Oregon House overwhelmingly supported a plan to allow Oregonians to pump their own gas. (Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle) By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon drivers who for decades have been banned from touching gas pumps could soon have the right to fuel their own cars, under a bill the state House overwhelmingly approved Monday. Only Oregon and

Fish & Wildlife Commission bans use of lighted boats in rapidly growing market squid fishery off Oregon coast

March 20, 2023

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, citing concerns over sustainability, voted unanimously Friday to prohibit independently operated light boats to help catch market squid off the Oregon coast. The unanimous vote, which met with both support and criticism from fishing interests, takes effect immediately. The lights, used for night fishing, transfix the small, fist-sized squid, which

Let state, county agencies know your feelings about Lindly Park plans

March 19, 2023

To the editor: A public meeting was held in Waldport on Thursday to discuss the fate of Don Lindly Park along Oregon Highway 34 on the south side of the Alsea River, across from Canal Creek Road. It is an unpretentious, low impact public space. The public entities involved are the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Marine

Legislative subcommittee advances plan to aid Oregon semiconductor grants

March 19, 2023

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Oregon lawmakers have put forth a plan to aid businesses and others seeking shares of billions available in federal money to encourage the domestic manufacturing of semiconductors. The plan leaves unresolved specific industrial sites that can accommodate fabrication plants and related businesses – and where the money will come from to develop those

Oregon lawmakers propose measures to fight gun violence, stem ‘ghost guns’

March 19, 2023

By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon lawmakers are pursuing a package of firearm bills aimed at preventing gun violence and curbing the proliferation of untraceable guns. They say the proposals are needed to stem gun violence and give law enforcement the necessary tools to address the issue. The Democratic lawmakers have the support of House Speaker Dan Rayfield,