12th Yachats Agate Festival this weekend offers everything from precious rocks to expert talks

January 14, 2025

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews YACHATS — The Yachats Agate Festival rolls into its 12th big year this weekend with two buildings full of rocks, expert talks and demonstrations. On Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 18-19, there’ll be a mother lode of agates, gems, fossils crystals and jewelry on display and for sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in both the

In first State of the State speech on Monday, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek calls for resilience, optimism

January 13, 2025

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek struck notes of frustration with the enormous problems facing Oregon and optimism that the state can fix them in an address to the Legislature focused on resilience on Monday. Kotek’s first State of the State address was delivered to a joint session of the House and Senate, with

New Oregon legislators sworn into office Monday in mostly ceremonial start to Jan. 21 session

January 13, 2025

By BEN BOTKIN and JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon lawmakers got to work Monday with largely ceremonial activities in preparation for the upcoming long session that will focus on transportation funding, affordable housing and other needs across the state. Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice Meagan Flynn swore in more than a dozen new members, and legislators officially elected

Police arrest Toledo man for murder after finding body of Newport car dealer missing for three years

January 13, 2025

By YachatsNews NEWPORT — Police have arrested a 54-year-old Toledo man and charged him with the murder of a Newport used car dealer who has been missing for three years. Police arrested Murphy C. Henry II on Thursday, Jan. 9, the day after investigators recovered the body believed to be that of Ryan Staggs from a shallow grave in

Interior Department approves plans for tribal casino in Medford but Wyden, other tribes promise to fight it

January 13, 2025

By NIGEL JAQUISS/Willamette Week The U.S. Department of the Interior signed a record of decision Friday, the final step in a lengthy approval process to approve the development of the Coquille Indian Tribe’s proposed casino in Medford. “Today the Biden Administration sent a clear message: it stands with Indian Country and intends to honor its commitments to tribal sovereignty,” Brenda

Cape Perpetua group schedules 12th land-sea symposium Jan. 31

January 13, 2025

YACHATS — Cape Perpetua is not just a very scenic section of the central Oregon coast, it also has protections in place to help it stay that way. The Cape Perpetua Collaborative has scheduled its 12th annual Land-Sea Symposium for 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31 in the Yachats Commons, featuring experts on fisheries, social science, the night sky, tide pools

Lincoln County Commissioner Kaety Jacobson resigning next month with two years left in term

January 12, 2025

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews Lincoln County Commissioner Kaety Jacobson, a popular and hardworking community leader and politician, announced Friday she is resigning from the commission Feb. 14 with two years left in her term. Jacobson announced her decision late in the day via a letter to colleagues and the community. Jacobson was not available for further comment Friday night, but

Portland-area program for homeless teenagers expands to Lincoln County because of the high numbers here

January 12, 2025

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews Jeffrey Fleming is searching for a few good homes which, it turns out, can make all the difference whether homeless Lincoln County teenagers graduate from high school. Fleming is the home provider coordinator for a new program in Lincoln County called Second Home. His goal right now is finding safe and secure homes for the hundreds

Flooring replacement at Newport hospital delays some surgeries until March

January 12, 2025

NEWPORT – A massive flooring replacement project at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital has moved into the surgery department and as a result some elective surgeries and procedures are being delayed to March. The hospital has four operating rooms and 14 pre-op admitting rooms. Facility director Jon Conner said workers will seal off half of the surgery department to replace the

OSU scientist predicts “well behaved” volcano 300 miles off Oregon coast could erupt this year

January 12, 2025

By GOSIA WOZNIACKIA/The Oregonian/Oregon Live An undersea volcano off Oregon’s coast will likely erupt this year, scientists say. Known as Axial Seamount, it’s the most active volcano in the Pacific Northwest – although one most people haven’t heard of because it lies about 300 miles offshore and just under a mile beneath the ocean surface. Its eruption won’t trigger