Democrats in Oregon Legislature warn of lost opportunities as Senate walkout persists; GOP says Dems need to compromise

June 7, 2023

Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, speaks during a press conference about the Senate Republican walkout on Tuesday. By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregonians have much to lose if the legislative session ends by June 25 without a functioning Senate that can vote on bills, Democrats warned Tuesday. The GOP-led Senate walkout is preventing votes on bills intended to

Oregon Shakespeare Festival board chair says new director will look at all aspects of the struggling organization

June 7, 2023

By HOLLY DILLEMUTH/Ashland.news ASHLAND — Oregon Shakespeare Festival board chair Diane Yu, who lives in New York and has a second residence in Ashland, has much to say about the future of the festival, its leadership, and fundraising goals leading up to its 90th anniversary in 2025. Yu, a volunteer board member, spoke with Ashland.news via phone about the the

Toledo’s waterfront market on Thursdays has flourished for 20 years with support from visitors and locals

June 7, 2023

By ANDREA McCABE/Oregon Coast TODAY TOLEDO — The Toledo Waterfront Market has flourished due to the continued support from locals and visitors for more than 20 years. Whether stopping by for a sweet treat or browsing the many handmade products, the Thursday market provides a sense of community among the closely placed stands. Market manager Kathy Crane also serves

Federal agencies announce $2.6 billion program to help coastal communities to deal with climate change, conservation

June 6, 2023

By NOLAN STOUT/Courthouse News Service The U.S. Department of Commerce will allocate $2.6 billion to support coastal areas dealing with the effects of climate change and to support conservation and restoration of fish habitats, federal officials announced Tuesday. Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other agencies unveiled the framework for this “coastal climate resilience” package in a

Duane Snider of Waldport, prolific collector of Oregon art, died May 26

June 6, 2023

WALDPORT — Duane Snider of Waldport, who began to build an impressive collection of works by contemporary Oregon artists 40 years ago while he was working as a modestly paid eyeglass lens technician in Portland, died May 26 following a lingering illness. “My darling husband, Duane Snider, passed over on Friday afternoon, May 26, 2023,” his wife, Linda Dies Snider,

Seal Rock Garden Club has been a horticultural resource on the central Oregon coast for 75 years, starting with a $306 shed.

June 6, 2023

Members of the Seal Rock Garden Club attribute the longevity of their club to their little yellow clubhouse purchased in 1950. Story and photos by KRISTAN FODEN-VENCIL/Oregon Public Broadcasting SEAL ROCK — At 83, retired teacher Jean Turner still loves to get down and dirty in the garden. Her yard is an oasis of apple blossoms, birds and daffodils.

Fines not deterring absent Republican senators as walkout persists in 2023 Oregon Legislature

June 5, 2023

Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, presides over the Senate on May 31 as the GOP-led walkout entered its 19th day. Fines did not encourage senators to end the walkout on Monday. By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — So far, $325 daily fines are not swaying Republican senators to return to floor sessions and end their walkout. Last Thursday,

Federal trial on lawsuit seeking to overturn Oregon gun control Measure 114 begins Monday

June 5, 2023

A federal judge will start hearing arguments on Monday in a case that seeks to overturn Measure 114, which puts more gun ownership requirements in place for Oregon. Tick Licker Firearms in Salem sells semiautomatic firearms, high-capacity magazines and other weapons. (Connor Radnovich/Oregon Capital Chronicle) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle A federal judge will start hearing arguments Monday in a

Siuslaw National Forest names new leader from BLM

June 5, 2023

CORVALLIS – A U.S. Bureau of Land Management official from Springfield has been named supervisor of the Siuslaw National Forest. Rebecca Brooke, who has served as the BLM’s upper Willamette field manager the past five years, replaces Robert Sanchez who led held the Siuslaw’s supervisor job since 2018. Sanchez recently accepted a position as deputy regional forester for the Pacific

PacifiCorps rests its case in trial over September 2020 wildfires, defending precautions around Otis

June 4, 2023

By TED SICKINGER/The Oregonian, OregonLive PacifiCorp doesn’t dispute that its equipment ignited some of the fires that burned in Oregon on Labor Day 2020, but it has denied responsibility for most of the catastrophic destruction claimed by victims in a $1.6 billion class action lawsuit currently playing out in Multnomah County Circuit Court. In more than two weeks of testimony by experts,