OSU study of whales off central Oregon coast finds they’re eating millions of microplastics and fibers each day

June 27, 2023

By SEAN NEALON/OSU News Service NEWPORT — Oregon State University researchers estimate that gray whales feeding off the Oregon coast consume up to 21 million microparticles per day, a finding informed in part by poop from the whales. Microparticle pollution includes microplastics and other human-sourced materials, including fibers from clothing. The finding, just published in the journal Frontiers in Marine

‘It’s crazy out there’: The reasons behind Oregon’s deepening drug crisis. An OPB special report

June 27, 2023

Some of the drugs, guns and cash confiscated by law enforcement in Oregon and Western Washington in a single month – April 2023. Drugs, especially fentanyl, are coming into the state in unprecedented quantities. Story by CONRAD WILSON photos by KRISTYNA WENTZ-GRAFF/Oregon Public Broadcasting For years, Oregonians have reported some of the highest rates of substance use disorder in

Oregon lawmakers passed array of criminal justice bills in tumultuous session

June 26, 2023

Oregon lawmakers passed a range of public safety bills in the 2023 legislative session that target a variety of crimes. By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon lawmakers passed bills this session that crack down on a mix of crimes. They voted to expand the statute of limitations from 12 to 20 years for prosecutors to file rape charges

A Yachats woman discovers the support of a community with the death of her husband and search for beloved cat

June 26, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews YACHATS – Yes, it can appear trivial. Even Marty Woodruff agrees. But not when you learn about her past two years. After that, please be on the lookout for her cat, Charles. Most of all, Woodruff says, relish the community where you live. Let’s start at the beginning. Marty and Nathan Woodruff married in 2006, moved

2023 session of the Oregon Legislature ends Sunday, with lots of new laws, lots of money — and lots of acrimony

June 25, 2023

By DIRK VANDERHART and LAUREN DRAKE/Oregon Public Broadcasting SALEM — The Capitol this year felt like a tale of two legislative sessions. It was the best of times: In the first three months, lawmakers quickly and smoothly passed bipartisan bills to pave the way for more housing and attract new semiconductor activity. It was the worst of times: Fractured over

Federal agency considering sea otter re-introduction on the Oregon coast wraps up eight public open houses

June 23, 2023

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews Federal wildlife officials floating the idea of returning sea otters to the Oregon coast in an effort to re-establish their historic range are also hoping they might help combat the devastation sea urchins are reaping on the underwater ecosystem. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service notes there is currently a 900 mile gap in sea otter

The first — and smallest — of four Klamath River dams started coming down this week

June 23, 2023

By LEE JUILLERAT for the Rogue Valley Times The first step in the removal of four Klamath River dams is underway. Deconstruction of Copco No. 2, the smallest of the four hydroelectric dams being removed from the Klamath River, started this week with the removal of gates, a walkway and two of the five bays down to the spillway. “While

Oregon lawmakers approve $40 million toward Port of Coos Bay development

June 23, 2023

A video still from the Port of Coos Bay’s YouTube channel shows the coastal area where developers want to facilitate traffic for large container ships. By BRIAN BULL/KLCC SALEM — Efforts to make the Port of Coos Bay a major shipping facility got help from the Oregon Legislature this week. Lawmakers in both chambers approved the allocation of $40 million

Week No. 4 of YachatsNews’ local fundraising campaign: With your donations we want to do more and better

June 22, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews This week on YachatsNews you can read about the long-awaited work by Yachats volunteers and the city to finally get two small “pocket parks” underway. Or about actions taken by city councils in Waldport and Yachats, or scenes from Waldport’s big Beachcomber Days event. There are also stories about Lincoln County government – an email phishing scheme

Lincoln County loses more than $100,000 in scam that used fake invoices for OSU work; FBI investigating

June 22, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews The FBI is investigating a computer fraud that cost Lincoln County more than $100,000 after an employee paid invoices thought to be for Oregon State University but instead ended up in a scammer’s bank account somewhere else. The fake OSU invoices were paid Jan. 27, but the fraud was not discovered until April when OSU asked