Southern Oregon health care insurer urges state lawmakers to address homelessness crisis in rural areas

March 28, 2024

By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle A Medicaid insurer released a report this week on homelessness in southern Oregon that exposes the roots of the problem in rural communities. Based on its findings, AllCare is urging Oregon lawmakers to ease zoning restrictions so that it’s easier for rural communities with fewer than 10,000 people to build affordable housing. AllCare provides health

April watercolor show in Yachats features the work of 103-year-old Waldport artist

March 28, 2024

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews When an important art group stages its annual convention and exhibit in Yachats next week it will feature the work of a notable artist from Waldport. John Bradley is notable not just because his work titled “Painted Hills” made the final cut for the event, but because he’s been painting for 33 of his 103 years.

PeaceHealth gets state’s OK to build $72 million rehab hospital in Springfield

March 27, 2024

By TIFFANY ECKERT/KLCC News SPRINGFIELD — PeaceHealth has received the green light from the Oregon Health Authority to construct a 67,000-square foot rehabilitation hospital in Springfield. The facility will include the region’s first brain injury unit. The new inpatient rehab hospital will provide physical, speech and occupational therapies for people who’ve experienced a catastrophic medical event, such as car accident

USGS reports 5 earthquakes off southern Oregon coast Tuesday night

March 27, 2024

A series of earthquakes occurred Tuesday night off the southern Oregon coast, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 3.9 to magnitude 5.7 rumbled in the Pacific Ocean just over 100 miles west-southwest of Port Orford between about 7:20 p.m. and 9 p.m. Such earthquakes in the region are common. No one has reported to the

5 Questions and a Secret: Seal Rock couple’s passion for quirky T-shirts leads to Nye Beach shop

March 27, 2024

By KATHLEEN O’CONNOR/YachatsNews One of the best vacation souvenirs is a T-shirt or sweatshirt that you keep wearing long after the trip is over because it’s so comfortable, unique and brings back memories. Tania and Kevin Lewis of Seal Rock, owners of PNW Life, have set out to create those kinds of T-shirts and sweatshirts for central Oregon coast

Newport Farmers Market has now embarked on a long season full of 65 vendors every Saturday

March 27, 2024

By LESLIE O’DONNELL/Oregon Coast TODAY People carrying bags full of pastries, cut flowers, eggs, one-of-a-kind handmade crafts and early vegetables are a sure sign that spring has arrived — and that the Newport Farmers Market is open for the season. The market is now open every Saturday for a season that runs until early December. Vendors offer something for

Conservation group says it plans to sue Forest Service for endangering coastal martens in dune areas

March 26, 2024

By NATHAN WILK/KLCC News A conservation group says it’s going to sue the U.S. Forest Service for failing to protect a rare and endangered species in Oregon. There are fewer than 400 coastal martens in the wild, according to estimates from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The small, weasel-like animal was federally recognized as a threatened species in 2020. Coastal martens have been

Small Clatsop County school district School sues state in attempt to undo forest habitat conservation plan

March 26, 2024

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle One of the smallest school districts in Oregon is suing the state in an attempt to send a landmark forest habitat conservation plan back to the drawing board. On behalf of the Jewell School District in the heart of the Clatsop State Forest in northwest Oregon, a Portland law firm filed the suit on March 20 against

Yachats still accepting applications for city council vacancy

March 26, 2024

YACHATS — The city of Yachats is seeking applicants for a vacancy on the city council that was created with the February announcement that Greg Scott will resign in April. Applications to serve the remainder of the term, which ends Dec. 31, are due by May 31. Applicants must be registered to vote in Oregon and have lived in Yachats

Kotek’s wife gets aide, office space as governor considers creating ‘Office of the First Spouse’

March 25, 2024

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Gov. Tina Kotek is hiring a temporary aide to assist her wife, Aimee Kotek Wilson, as the governor considers expanding Kotek Wilson’s role and creating a new “Office of the First Spouse.” Kotek spokeswoman Elisabeth Shepard confirmed that Meliah Masiba, the legislative director for the Department of Administrative Services, joined the governor’s office