Lincoln Chronicle enters last days of annual fundraising campaign in effort to use full “matching” donation

July 1, 2025

The Lincoln Chronicle is in the last stretch of its annual local, reader fundraising campaign that has been extended a few more days until Monday, July 7. Because of dozens and dozens of generous supporters, the Chronicle, which is published by the 6½-year-old 501c3 nonprofit YachatsNews, reached $31,000 in its campaign as of Tuesday. With a promised

Newport outlines procedure for filling city council vacancy

July 1, 2025

NEWPORT – The city of Newport is accepting applications for a vacant city position after Councilor Ryan Parker resigned in May. The application period opened Tuesday and closes at 5 p.m. Aug. 13. Newport’s city council consists of six councilors and a mayor – all of which are volunteer positions. The term of the vacant position will expire in January

ODOT director calls 2025 Legislature’s transportation bill failure ‘shocking’ and warns of 700 layoffs

July 1, 2025

By MIA MALDANADO/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — The Oregon Department of Transportation plans to lay off up to 700 employees as soon as the week of July 7, with layoffs taking effect by the end of the month, according to emails from agency leadership obtained by the Oregon Capital Chronicle. The move comes after the Oregon Legislature adjourned for the

Out-of-state visitors to Oregon parks will now pay 25 percent more

July 1, 2025

Travelers from outside Oregon will soon be paying a little extra to visit a state park. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission has approved a new rule that will increase camping and parking fees by 25 percent for out-of-state visitors, effective Tuesday, July 1. The new proposal comes on top of the department’s recent cost increase for all park users, which went into effect at

Lincoln County paying $325 a month for small office that banned commissioner does not plan to use

July 1, 2025

By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle Lincoln County is paying $325 a month for a small, away-from-the-courthouse office for a county commissioner who has no intention of using it. Commissioner Casey Miller has been instructed not to use his courthouse office after allegations last September that he bullied employees and created a toxic work environment. An investigation later cleared Miller of

Oregon begins massive curbside recycling changes — but Lincoln County residents will have to wait a bit longer

July 1, 2025

By GARRET JAROS/Lincoln Chronicle The good news for residents of Lincoln County who have curbside recycling pickup is that they will soon be able to add yogurt and margarine tubs, milk cartons made of paper – even the ones with plastic pour spouts — soup boxes, buckets for cat food and litter and twist off caps. But hold on.

Despite the bans, July 4th fireworks at the coast overrun police agencies, who say they’ll focus on critical calls

July 1, 2025

By GARRET JAROS/Lincoln Chronicle Just to be clear — all fireworks but smoke bombs and sparklers are banned across all of Lincoln County with the exception of Siletz and Toledo — where fireworks legally sold in Oregon will be allowed. Again, except for those exceptions — whether on beaches, in campgrounds, state parks, forests, public lands, backyard barbeques, private

The long Independence Day weekend for local residents and thousands of visitors begins Thursday in Waldport and ends Sunday in Yachats

July 1, 2025

By SHAYLA ESCUDERO and CHERYL ROMANO/Lincoln Chronicle The motels and vacation rentals are booked. The campgrounds are full. Hamburgers and hotdogs are ready for the grill. The weather forecast is good. Everything is as ready as possible for the thousands of visitors expected to swarm the central Oregon coast for the long July 4th holiday. Many of those visitors

Minimum wage in Lincoln County increases to $15.05 per hour Tuesday

June 30, 2025

Oregon’s minimum wage rises by 35 cents an hour Tuesday, with Lincoln County’s increasing to $15.05 per hour. The state raises the minimum wage each July 1. This year’s standard increase is 2.4 percent — the smallest since 2015. That was the year before the Oregon Legislature approved seven annual increases in the minimum wage and mandated further increases

July 4 fireworks on Washington’s ocean beaches ignite debate over tradition, tourism and damage

June 30, 2025

By GREGORY SCRUGGS/Seattle Times LONG BEACH, Wash. — Like the opening salvo of the First Gulf War. That’s how Long Beach Police Chief Flint Wright describes the annual Independence Day scene that plays out on the beach in front of this Pacific County seaside town. Tens of thousands of Northwesterners descend on the Long Beach Peninsula annually because the public can