Congress names U.S. Highway 20 from Newport to Boston as “National Medal of Honor Highway”

December 10, 2024

From wire and YachatsNews reports U.S. Highway 20, the nation’s longest road whose western end is in Newport, will be designated the “National Medal of Honor Highway” under legislation approved this week by the U.S. House of Representatives. The western terminus of the 3,365 mile road is in Newport at its junction with U.S. Highway 101 and its eastern end

Community band brings concerts to Yachats and Florence this weekend

December 10, 2024

The Pacific Coast Wind Ensemble, a community band, will offer its annual seasonal celebration concerts in Yachats on Saturday, Dec. 14 and in Florence on Sunday, Dec. 15. The Yachats event begins at 2 p.m. at the Commons’ multipurpose room. The Florence concert begins at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Community Church, 3996 U.S. Highway 101. Admission is free for

Motel-to-shelter projects – including two in Lincoln County – house thousands as Oregon tries to build more homes

December 10, 2024

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Just before a tour of an Astoria homeless shelter late last month, Gov. Tina Kotek met with a single father living there with his children. He’d been paying rent for five years in nearby Seaside when his landlord terminated his lease without giving a reason. The father and his children were homeless, in a

Gov. Kotek, Oregon lawmakers say state needs to keep focus on housing, education, mental health

December 9, 2024

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle PORTLAND — Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek doubled down Monday on her requests for more funding and more attention for housing, homelessness, behavioral health and education ahead of a legislative session likely to be dominated by transportation debates. Kotek said that people — including some of the business leaders listening to her at the Oregon Leadership

OPB study: Oregon’s shrinking news industry making it harder to find reliable information

December 9, 2024

By TONY SCHICK and RYAN HAAS/Oregon Public Broadcasting The amount of reporting produced in Oregon has been declining for decades — a fact that is likely unsurprising to Oregonians who have seen their newspapers thin and local coverage shrink. It’s a trend that has been playing out across the country as the business of producing journalism has faltered alongside the

Yachats council praises manager after first year; awards 5 percent raise

December 8, 2024

YACHATS – City manager Bobbi Price received high praise from the Yachats city council Friday and a five percent pay raise for her performance one year into the job. Price, the former director of the Yachats Area Chamber of Commerce, had no previous city manager experience when she was chosen over two other candidates to lead the city in October

Greater Idaho movement asks Trump for support to move some eastern Oregon counties to that state

December 8, 2024

By MIKE McINALLY/Oregon Capital Chronicle The leaders of the Greater Idaho movement have asked President-elect Donald Trump to support their efforts to have counties in eastern Oregon join Idaho – a state they say is more in tune with them politically, economically and culturally. “Unlike typical politicians, you have a unique ability as a practical problem-solver to get

OSU graduate workers and administration reach tentative deal, could go back to class Monday

December 7, 2024

By TIFFANY CAMHI/Oregon Public Broadcasting Hundreds of graduate student workers at Oregon State University are set to go back to work on Monday, just in time for the blitz of exams, closing projects and grading associated with finals week. At a mediation session Friday, university administration and OSU’s Coalition of Graduate Employees agreed on a tentative contract deal and terms

Bill offering Oregon 2020 wildfire survivors relief from settlement taxes and fees finally passes Congress

December 7, 2024

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle After more than five years of waiting in some cases, wildfire survivors across the West will be relieved of paying federal income taxes on their recovery settlements and lawyers fees. The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act passed the Senate on Wednesday night, about six months after it was approved by the House of Representatives

Newport’s big crab fleet gets another Dec. 16 Dungeness opener after near-record 2023-24 season

December 5, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews NEWPORT – Fishermen with callused hands and vise-like grips worked steadily along Newport’s docks this week to prepare boats and gear in a final push before the opening of Oregon’s 2024-25 commercial Dungeness crab season. It is all-hands-on-deck as crews finish engine repairs, prepare bait jars and make ready the last of the crab pots –