Benton County says proposal to expand regional landfill at Coffin Butte needs more work

August 20, 2024

By TRACY LOEW/Salem Statesman Journal CORVALLIS — Republic Services’ application to expand Coffin Butte Landfill is incomplete, Benton County officials have told the company. The county on Friday gave Republic Services until Jan. 15 to provide additional information, including more information about potential impacts on the landfill’s neighbors. Company officials say there is less than one year of space left in

Oregon Sea Grant hires sociologist to help coastal communities

August 20, 2024

Oregon Sea Grant and the Oregon State University Extension Service have hired an environmental sociologist to help coastal communities enhance their understanding of critical social and environmental issues and help them create locally relevant solutions. Valerie Berseth, most recently a postdoctoral fellow at Carleton University in Canada, will start her new position as an Oregon Sea Grant’s Extension specialist in

While brown pelican population is strong, does die-off along California coast point to bigger issue?

August 20, 2024

By DINO GRANDONI/The Washington Post They started showing up in odd places far from the ocean: in the middle of roads, backyards, even a major league baseball game. The wayward marine birds were cold, disoriented, anemic. The stomach of one that veterinary surgeon Rebecca Duerr opened up was full of feathers and wood chips. Up and down the coast, something

State Land Board will vote on Elliott State Forest plan to put 83,000 acres into fighting climate change

August 20, 2024

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon’s oldest state forest could soon join just a few state forests in the nation that are managed to combat climate change and earn money from selling carbon credits. The 83,000-acre Elliott State Research Forest near Coos Bay was intensively logged for much of the last century to provide revenue for Oregon schools before

New covid vaccines for summer variants slated for FDA approval late this week

August 20, 2024

By FENIT NIRAPPIL and LENA H. SUN/The Washington Post Federal authorities are preparing to approve updated coronavirus vaccines targeting the latest virus variants late this week, a move that could make shots available before Labor Day, according to a federal health official and a person familiar with the plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a confidential process. The

New state report shows solid year for commercial fishing in Oregon, Lincoln County-based fleet

August 20, 2024

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews Oregon’s commercial fishing industry had a solid, if not record-breaking, year in 2023, according to a new report from the state Employment Department. Statistics covering everything from pounds of seafood landed, revenues from individual fisheries and total employment showed strong signs of at least keeping up with historical averages, said the report’s author, Shaun Barrick, a

COCF&R board seeks new member to finish Akin’s term

August 19, 2024

WALDPORT – The Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue board is looking for someone to replace Zach Akin, who resigned Thursday because he moved to Central Oregon. Akin, who had worked as a Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy, was appointed to the board in June 2022 after two board members were recalled. He was elected in May 2023 to a two-year

Sheriff’s annual “Shred Day” is Saturday, Sept. 7 in Newport

August 19, 2024

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting its annual “Shred Day” at the Lincoln County Courthouse parking from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 7. The event is an effort to combat identity theft and financial fraud and assist in protecting their personal privacy. Shred Day is a free event for the public but not intended for significant amounts of shredding for

Port of Alsea seeking applicants for a part-time manager

August 19, 2024

WALDPORT – The Port of Alsea is once again seeking applicants for the position of port of manager. The part-time position is 24 hours a week 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday during the winter and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday during the summer. The starting salary, after a $19-an-hour training period, is $40,000 to

Shifting rainfall forces state parks to cut hundreds of trees at Beverly Beach during 11-month renovation

August 19, 2024

By APRIL EHRLICH/Oregon Public Broadcasting For years, the towering spruce trees at Beverly Beach State Park just north of Newport have been getting sick and dying, threatening to drop limbs on any of the 278 campsites below. “Best case scenario, it would damage a vehicle or somebody’s camper tent,” said Oregon state forester Nick Morris. “And worst case scenario,