Plans for $1.09 million remodel, expansion of Yachats Library getting close with possible groundbreaking in late summer

May 3, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews YACHATS – Plans to expand and remodel the 49-year-old Yachats Library are proceeding smoothly – in spite of the turmoil at Yachats city hall — with the hope that ground can be broken in the late summer on a project that could take up to a year. The city — through its Library Commission — has

Despite continued staffing turmoil, proposed Yachats city budget in strong shape — with some projects ready to launch

May 3, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews YACHATS – The city of Yachats’ staffing may be in turmoil, but its finances are strong and several long-awaited projects are ready to launch under a proposed 2023-24 spending plan that its 10-member Budget Committee will first review on Friday. The proposed general fund budget of $1.9 million is fueled by continued strong revenue from lodging

Fall of a rising star: Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan resigns Tuesday over $10,000 a month cannabis side job

May 2, 2023

Shemia Fagan, seen as a rising star in Oregon politics, announced her resignation as Secretary of State on Tuesday. By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Secretary of State Shemia Fagan will resign next Monday, a little more than a week after news broke of her moonlighting for a troubled cannabis company that played a key role in an audit

Oregon House votes along party lines to approve ban on “ghost” guns and limit types of firearms to young people

May 2, 2023

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — The Oregon House split along party lines Tuesday to approve a ban on so-called ghost guns made with untraceable parts. The 35-24 vote sent House Bill 2005 to the Senate, which can only take an up-or-down vote on it. No Democrat voted against it, and no Republican voted for it. One Republican, James

April weather was wet — and coldest in at least 10 years

May 2, 2023

Weather watchers for YachatsNews have confirmed what anyone who lives on the Oregon coast felt about April – it was cold and wet. Rainfall for April was above twice the average in several places and two weather watchers said the average high temperature for the month – just under 52 degrees – was the coldest in 10 years of record

High toxin levels close recreational crabbing on the southern Oregon coast

May 2, 2023

NEWPORT — Two state agencies have ordered the closure of all recreational crabbing in the ocean, bays, and estuaries on the southern Oregon coast from eight miles north of Winchester Bay to Cape Blanco near Port Orford. The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife and Oregon Agriculture Department said Monday that tests show the marine toxin, domoic acid, is above

After 6 hours of emotional debate, Oregon House passes bill Monday night ensuring access to abortion and gender-affirming health care

May 1, 2023

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — The Oregon House, after a six-hour debate that resulted in a lot of emotion but changed no minds, passed legislation that builds on the state’s 2017 law ensuring access to abortion and other reproductive and gender-affirming health care. The vote Monday night, May 1, was 36-23. One Republican, Charlie Conrad of Lowell, joined

Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan apologizes, resigns from her $10,000 a month cannabis consulting job

May 1, 2023

Shemia Fagan told reporters during an online news conference Monday that her $77,000-a-year Secretary of State position is not enough to pay all her bills. By BEN BOTKIN and JULIA SUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan announced Monday she has resigned from her $10,000-a-month consulting side job and tearfully apologized for her “poor judgment” in

Economic development group’s “Fail Fest” hopes entrepreneurs can learn from mistakes

May 1, 2023

It’s OK to fail. Especially if you can recover and learn from it. That’s the lesson the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County hopes to get across to business owners and entrepreneurs during its inaugural “Fail Fest” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11 at the Newport Performing Arts Center. The alliance says the gathering will feature business owners and entrepreneurs

How do you measure non-economic value of Oregon Marine Reserves? ODFW hopes to find out

May 1, 2023

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews Traditional economic surveys are usually very straightforward. If you want to know how workers are employed in Oregon’s salmon-fishing industry, for instance, all you need to do is track down the employers and report the numbers. Now, a first-of-its kind survey is attempting to assess how state residents view the non-economic values and benefits of Oregon’s