Major Oregon newspaper chain lays off staff, cuts five papers and seeks potential buyer or nonprofit model

June 4, 2024

By Mike Rogoway | The Oregonian/OregonLive EO Media Group, which publishes a dozen newspapers across Oregon, said Monday it will scale back publication of several papers in July, lay off 28 staffers and seek a new owner. The small chain will also cut back the hours of 19 other employees as it ratchets back publication. It’s a shocking reversal for the

Lincoln County district attorney Danforth announces June 21 resignation, asks for state help to staff office

June 4, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews Lincoln County’s embattled district attorney announced Monday she will resign June 21 and that she has asked the Oregon Department of Justice to come in and help run the office. Danforth announced her resignation and request for state help in an email Monday to her staff and local law enforcement officials. The announcement came two weeks

Yachats affordable housing developer finishes 24-unit Florence complex, plans two more projects

June 4, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews A Yachats developer has completed a $10.9 million affordable rental housing project in Florence and has plans on the drawing board for two more projects totaling $22 million. Our Coastal Village, led by Layne Morrill of Yachats, will celebrate the opening of the 24-unit Oak Manor apartments during a ceremony June 13 featuring Andrea Bell, executive

May’s rain was a bit above average, but month gave us a rare sky show and ushered in big storm Sunday

June 4, 2024

Rainfall in May was slightly above average in the Yachats area – but the first days of June saw a doozy of a rainstorm. The Sunday storm dropped 2.26 inches of rain in downtown Yachats, according to YachatsNews’ weather watchers, and nearly 4 inches farther east in the Yachats River valley. “Anybody got a snorkel?” asked Jim Adler, who

Oregon lawmakers will seek community feedback as they plan a transportation package

June 3, 2024

By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon lawmakers are mapping out a transportation package for the 2025 legislative session to address the state’s long-term needs, from sustainable funding to new projects so Oregonians can safely travel throughout the state. As an initial step, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation is planning a dozen meetings from June to September in communities throughout

Senate approves controversial appointments to Oregon water department, forestry board

June 3, 2024

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Despite pushback, the Oregon Senate approved two controversial candidates to serve on the state Board of Forestry and as the director of the Oregon Water Resources Department. Heath Curtiss and Ivan Gall were among dozens of Oregonians confirmed Friday to a litany of governor-appointed positions on state boards and councils, as well as

Newport crabbers provide Hatfield visitor center with new giant Pacific octopus

June 3, 2024

By RACHAEL McDONALD/KLCC News There’s a new giant Pacific octopus at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport — thanks to a local crab boat. Hatfield Marine Science Center put the word out last winter asking local fishermen to alert them if an octopus attached itself to a crab pot. Jaimie Hart, the senior aquarist at Hatfield, said they got

State agency begins monitoring of seven Lincoln County beaches

June 2, 2024

The Oregon Health Authority has started its beach monitoring program for the summer and fall by announcing the list of 24 coastal recreation areas it will be keeping an eye on for bacteria. The beaches on the list that the agency is monitoring includes some of the most frequently visited beaches in Oregon. It also includes beaches where the program

OSU and two California universities will research potential impacts of offshore wind energy projects

June 2, 2024

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle Three West Coast universities located near future offshore wind energy sites are joining forces to undertake research and to help inform the public about the benefits and potential impacts of the new industry. An auction expected to take place later this year for two wind energy sites off the southern Oregon coast has stirred