Oregon DMV caught in massive data breach, likely affecting 3.5 million Oregonians with driver’s licenses

June 15, 2023

By LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — The personal information of 3.5 million Oregonians with driver’s licenses and state identification cards could be affected by an international data breach. The breach, acknowledged by the Oregon Department of Transportation in a news release following a story by The Oregonian/OregonLive, involved a vulnerability in a popular file transfer program called MOVEit. It is

Yachats Fire budget committee, board approve 2023-24 spending plan

June 15, 2023

YACHATS – The budget committee and board of the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District this week approved a general fund budget of $2 million for fiscal 2023-24 that begins July 1. The budget is the first that will take advantage of a new, larger tax levy that voters approved last November. The district will begin receiving funds from the

Dozens of central coast artists open their studios for self-guided tours Friday through Sunday

June 15, 2023

By Oregon Coast TODAY Being on the central Oregon coast is a beautifully immersive experience. Observing the ever-changing ocean, seeing the rich diversity of birds, smelling the Sitka spruce trees — perhaps this is why it serves as such a cradle of inspiration for so many artists. In order to showcase the talent of the coast’s vibrant artistic community

Want to go sailing? Yaquina Bay Yachat Club offering rides Saturday for the curious

June 15, 2023

Looking for a few opportunities to float freely on a body of water? Thanks to the Yaquina Bay Yacht Club and the Port of Toledo, you can sail on the bay or kayak, stand up paddle board and even tour the Yaquina River on a motor boat. Celebrate summer with the Yaquina Bay Yacht Club during Sailstice this Saturday,

Oregon Democrats float proposal on quorums as Senate Republican walkout drags on — but chances of passage are slim

June 14, 2023

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — In November, Oregon voters fed up with what had become an almost annual tradition of Republicans blocking bills from passing by leaving the state Capitol voted overwhelmingly to punish any lawmaker who skipped more than nine days of work. Measure 113, a constitutional amendment to bar lawmakers with 10 or more

After finding PacifiCorp liable for its role in Labor Day 2020 fires, jury Wednesday slaps it with $18 million in punitive damages

June 14, 2023

By TED SICKINGER/The Oregonian/OregonLive A Multnomah County jury slapped PacifiCorp with nearly $18 million in punitive damages Wednesday after determining its conduct during the 2020 Labor Day wildfires was reprehensible and showed a reckless and outrageous indifference to the wellbeing of residents of the communities ravaged by four fires that weekend. The punitive award was 25% of the

Lincoln County awards $300,000 more for child care provider grants

June 14, 2023

Lincoln County commissioners have decided to triple the amount of federal pandemic relief funds it has committed to help increase the availability of local child care. In April, commissioners allotted $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to award grants of up to $15,000 for expanding a current child care business or creating a new one in Lincoln County. That

Yachats Lions Club donates record $42,769 in grants, awards and scholarships

June 14, 2023

YACHATS – The Yachats Lions Club announced $42,769 in grants and scholarships to Lincoln County organizations and students Tuesday night during its annual awards dinner. Fifteen organizations were awarded a total of $28,500, seven programs received $2,849, three students received $1,000 college scholarships, and $8,420 went to Oregon Lions sight and hearing programs. “This is record territory for the Lions,”

Discovery of 25 sunflower sea stars in Yaquina Bay is encouraging, but not necessarily indication of big recovery

June 14, 2023

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews An iconic species of sea star has disappeared in such astonishing numbers along the Oregon coast over the past decade that researchers are now circulating what amounts to a “wanted” poster to help people figure out what to do if they spot one. Researchers estimate that as many as five billion sunflower sea stars have died

After May vote, Clatsop County says it will begin accepting new applications for vacation rental licenses

June 13, 2023

By NICOLE BALES/The Astorian ASTORIA — Clatsop County will accept applications and renew permits for vacation rentals again after voters narrowly rejected a ballot measure in the May election that sought to repeal an ordinance recognizing the use in the development code. Measure 4-221 failed 51% to 49% — by 139 votes — in an election that drew 32% voter turnout.