Pushed by new mayor, Yachats council begins discussion on how to address longstanding concerns over water supply

January 19, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews YACHATS – Every city councilor for the past five years has agreed that Yachats needs to find a source of water for the lean summer months and to meet future demand. But agreeing on the first steps toward doing so has proven a challenge. Yachats’ new mayor Craig Berdie said during the city council’s second meeting of

Bluegrass music will break out all around Florence next week as resurrected Winter Music Festival lights up town

January 19, 2023

By SUSAN PALMER/YachatsNews If you visit Florence at the end of January, be prepared for music, lots of it, breaking out spontaneously almost anywhere. That’s what happens when bluegrass musicians come to town. The Florence Winter Music Festival, celebrating its 20th anniversary, gets underway Thursday, Jan. 26, kicking off with a daytime concert for area students and an open

Both Lincoln County legislators optimistic about cooperation and issues as 2023 session begins in Salem

January 19, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews Lincoln County’s legislators are optimistic about cooperation in Salem as they head to the Capitol to tackle ambitious goals for the 2023 session. Gov. Tina Kotek and both Democrats and Republicans in the Oregon Legislature have identified priorities for this year’s legislative session that, in many areas, overlap. Solutions differ, but on everyone’s list are the

King tides make last appearance of the season this weekend

January 19, 2023

The last in the three-month series of king tides returns to the Oregon coast this weekend. In Oregon, king tides occur three months in the winter and three times during the summer when the Earth, moon and sun align to produce the highest tides of the year – ranging from 9 to 12 feet on the central Oregon coast.

Lincoln County lawmaker introduces legislation to address concerns about conditions at OHSU’s primate center

January 19, 2023

Deaths at the Oregon Health & Science University’s primate center in Beaverton have included rhesus macaques and other animals. File photo from 2008. (Oregon Health & Science University) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — A state lawmaker is calling for more transparency and accountability at the Oregon National Primate Research Center, which conducts medical research for human benefits and

New state audit calls on Oregon Health Authority to fix problems with BM 110 addiction program rollout

January 19, 2023

Measure 110 is supposed to help people suffering from addiction and mental health problems. A state audit found it’s too early to tell if the program will be successful. (Getty Images) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon’s first-in-the-nation initiative to address the state’s drug addiction crisis with treatment instead of jail had a rocky start, but it’s too soon to

Yachats’ financial situation continues to improve with strong lodging tax revenue, urban renewal money and slow spending on projects

January 19, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews YACHATS – The city of Yachats may be in its strongest financial position in years because of better-than-forecasted revenue from lodging taxes, money from a urban renewal district and lack of spending on many budgeted items or projects for several years. Now, after two years of inactivity, the city has revived its dormant Finance Committee and

Oregon nurses union, hospital association gear up for fight over proposed legislation on staffing levels

January 18, 2023

Emergency room nurses attend to a patient at Oregon Health & Science University. The Oregon Legislature will consider hospital nurse staffing legislation this session. (Christine Torres Hicks/Oregon Health & Science University) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon’s largest nurses union and the hospital industry are gearing up for a push – and potential fight – in the Legislature

Housing, semiconductors, budget take center stage as Oregon legislators hope for bipartisan session

January 18, 2023

The Oregon Legislature began its 2023 session on Tuesday. JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Housing, homelessness, behavioral health and expanding Oregon’s semiconductor industry will take center stage in the 2023 legislative session against the backdrop of a challenging budget. Senate Democrats and House leaders from both parties laid out the broad strokes of their plans for the session in

Yachats Chamber of Commerce reboots with new director, new events and push for new members

January 18, 2023

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews YACHATS — In a scant four months, the new head of the Yachats Chamber of Commerce is making things happen. Since Bobbi Price started her job as executive director of the chamber last fall, she can tick off these boxes: A new Chamber website to support local small businesses, promote membership and schedule events; The first