Progressive groups withdraw endorsements of Oregon’s ballot measure 118

October 21, 2024

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle At least four progressive organizations that previously backed an Oregon ballot measure to hike taxes on businesses and divide proceeds among all Oregonians have withdrawn their support. Voters will decide Nov. 5 whether to approve Measure 118, which proponents say would give about $1,600 annually to all Oregonians by making corporations pay more. Opponents across

Coast Guard recovers body of man from near Depoe Bay harbor Sunday

October 21, 2024

On Sunday, 10/20/2024, members of the United States Coast Guard in Depoe Bay reported to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office that they saw a body floating in the area of the Depoe Bay harbor. The unidentified male body was recovered from the water with the assistance of the Coast Guard and the Depoe Bay Fire District. The remains appear to

Lincoln City police shoot, kill man during arrest attempt Saturday

October 19, 2024

LINCOLN CITY – Lincoln City police shot and killed a man shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday when officers went to a domestic disturbance call at a motel and the suspect reached for guns in his waistband, Oregon State Police said in a news release late Saturday. State police are taking the lead role in investigating the shooting that occurred at

Record number of ballots are in the mail to Lincoln County voters; Nov. 5 turnout expected to hit 80 percent

October 18, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews A record number of 41,178 ballots were dropped in the mail to Lincoln County voters on Wednesday and should begin arriving in mailboxes Friday and Saturday. When ballots are returned by the 8 p.m. Nov. 5 deadline, county clerk Amy Southwell expects 33,000 of them – also a record — to be counted if there’s the

Two weeks of election stories on YachatsNews shows why its important to support local journalism efforts

October 17, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews I’m sure you’ve noticed that it’s election season around the country, Oregon and Lincoln County – including a package of countywide stories today on YachatsNews. Next week there will be more, including stories on mayor/council races in Waldport and Yachats and two fire department levy requests. And that means news folks – including the

Lincoln County commissioner and Nov. 5 challenger have stark differences in philosophies, approach

October 17, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews In the lone race for one of three seats on the Lincoln County board of commissioners the differences are clear – a five-term incumbent with a carefully curated list of accomplishments being challenged by a self-described “disrupter.” The question that will be answered in the Nov. 5 general election is whether voters are satisfied with incumbent

Incumbency and big lead in campaign cash gives Anderson path to Senate District 5 re-election

October 17, 2024

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews The size and shape of a district covering several coastal counties has changed since the last time voters went to the polls in 2020, but the outcome of the Oregon Senate District 5 race could still be as close as ever. Or not, depending on who is making the predictions. A single percentage point decided the

Yachats council OKs offers of $77,000 and $75,000 to stop 20-acre clearcut just south of city

October 17, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews YACHATS – With an independent timber appraisal in hand, the Yachats city council on Tuesday approved making offers totaling nearly $152,000 to stop an impending clearcut in the in the middle of one of Yachats’ post card views. Based on the appraisal, the offer would pay the property owner $76,667 and the logging contractor who owns

Lincoln County property tax statements arriving soon; market value increases are less than last three years

October 17, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews It may not feel like it when you write the check, but property values in Lincoln County rose substantially less than they have the past three years. Property tax statements were mailed Thursday to 47,261 accounts, meaning homeowners and businesses should see them in their mailboxes early next week. More than 9,500 of the statements were

Oregon elections officials close phone lines Thursday after a flood of Trump-related conspiracy calls

October 17, 2024

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon’s state elections office has shut down its phone lines for the day because of a deluge of threatening calls from out-of-state callers sharing misinformation about Republican President Donald Trump, who chose not to submit a statement to the state-issued Voters’ Pamphlet. Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, are on