Gov. Kotek calls Senate Republicans ‘disrespectful’ after closed-door meetings Monday in 14th day of walkout

May 22, 2023

A sign for the Office of the Senate President at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. Gov. Tina Kotek met with Republican and Democratic senators on Monday in separate meetings on the GOP-led Senate walkout continued. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Gov. Tina Kotek spent about two hours listening

Samaritan sells its medical equipment business to Idaho company

May 22, 2023

Samaritan Health Services has completed the sale of its durable medical equipment business Samaritan Medical Supplies to Norco Medical of Boise, a 75-year-old provider of high-quality home medical supplies. “We chose Norco for several reasons, but primarily because they are a well-established family- and employee-owned company based in the Northwest that is highly focused on the customers and its employees

Here’s what Oregon’s controversial abortion, gender-affirming care bill would do as Republican Senate walkout continues

May 22, 2023

Supporters of Republican senators rally at the Oregon Capitol on May 15 to voice opposition to House Bill 2002, an abortion and gender-affirming health care bill. The GOP-led walkout prevented the Senate from conducting business for a 10th day. By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Senate Republicans are more than two weeks into a quorum-denying walkout that’s partially intended

OSU’s new ocean research vessel headed to Newport next year has been successfully launched in Louisiana

May 22, 2023

By MICHELLE KLAMPE/OSU News Service A new 200-foot research vessel headed to the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport was successfully launched last week at a shipyard in Louisiana. The ship, R/V Taani, is being constructed as part of a project, led by Oregon State University and funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, to provide scientists with valuable

Major Newport organization providing homeless services in Lincoln County announces it will shut down in mid June

May 21, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews One of the major service providers to the homeless in Lincoln County is closing next month due to the poor health of its founder, money issues and a dwindling number of volunteers. Grace Wins Haven, which operates out of a building on Northeast First Street in Newport, plans to close June 15. The four-member board of

Lincoln County district attorney files lawsuit against commissioners in disagreement over blocked promotion of deputy

May 21, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews Lincoln County district attorney Lanee Danforth has gone to court seeking to prohibit county commissioners from preventing her from creating a second chief deputy’s position and promoting someone to fill it. It’s the second public, personnel fight involving Danforth, who took office in 2021, and county commissioners in the past 18 months. Danforth filed suit

Florence woman dies in crash Wednesday east of Reedsport

May 19, 2023

REEDSPORT – A 79-year-old Florence woman died about noon Wednesday, May 17, when her car left Oregon Highway 38 about eight miles east of Reedsport and crashed into a tree. Oregon State Police said their preliminary investigation indicated a Chrysler PT Cruiser operated by Betty Ann Hodges of Florence was headed west on Highway 38 when it left the road

Lincoln City police arrest Otis man during child luring sting

May 19, 2023

News Release from Lincoln City Police Posted on FlashAlert: May 19th, 2023 12:21 PM During the months of April and May, Lincoln City police officers conducted several online child-luring investigations. Posing as underage children on various social media platforms, the undercover officers went online and were subsequently contacted by adults who offered to meet for sex with a person they

Owe Oregon taxes? Better pay up by July 14 or be on publicly published list

May 19, 2023

By The Oregonian/OregonLive People and businesses who fail to pay significant amounts of Oregon taxes could soon see their names plastered publicly on the state’s website. The Oregon Department of Revenue on July 14 will begin publishing a list of delinquent taxpayers who owe at least $50,000 in state taxes. The department plans to begin notifying affected taxpayers next week. Those who respond by paying their

Habitat for Humanity wins $360,000 state grant to help it build two more houses in Waldport for low-income families

May 18, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews WALDPORT – Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln County has received a $360,000 grant from a statewide housing organization to help build two homes on property it owns in downtown Waldport. The two houses will be on lots next to two homes the organization built in 2013 and 2015 at Northwest Fayette and Commercial streets. Habitat for