Agencies end response to coastal tar balls, still don’t know origin

June 8, 2024

Nearly three weeks after oil coated and killed several birds on the Oregon and southern Washington coasts, officials say they still don’t know where the sticky petroleum product came from. But they say they’ve done their best to clean up the beaches that were affected by the mysterious balls of tar and they’ve ended an effort that brought together multiple

A wandering wolverine is back on the coast — and caught (then released) in a trap on the beach

June 8, 2024

By KAREN RICHARDS/KLCC News There was yet another wolverine encounter on the Oregon coast late last week – and this time visiting the beach where it was caught in a foot-hold trap. Wolverines are rare in Oregon, but a year ago there were several sightings along the Columbia River, and this spring sightings along the central Oregon coast and

This week’s YachatsNews’ stories shows why local reporting is important — and why more is needed

June 6, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews This week’s news report by YachatsNews provides a clear example of why Lincoln County needs a vibrant local news organization. The question is if YachatsNews can help provide that – and why the 501c3 nonprofit is asking for your help this month to expand and improve its work. Here’s some of the backstory on this

Months before tourist’s death in Lincoln City, police warned attacker was “hearing voices telling him to kill someone”

June 6, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews The father of a man charged with stomping a tourist to death outside a Lincoln City motel last month had warned police months earlier that his son had become “very violent” and was hearing voices telling him to kill someone. Roland Evans-Freke, 30, is accused of second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault and robbery in the death of

State expands shellfish closures to all of Oregon coast Thursday

June 6, 2024

Two state agencies announced Thursday they had closed the entire Oregon coast to all razor and bay clam harvesting because of historic high levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning. However, crab harvesting remains open along the entire coast. The coastwide closure expands on a partial closure announced in late May by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of

Waldport/Yachats contract for sheriff’s deputies inches closer to agreement — but commissioners want to pin down cost

June 6, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews Whether Yachats will have a dedicated Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy in the upcoming year – tied to Waldport receiving a significant discount if it continues with its two-deputy contract – remains an open question. Lincoln County commissioners, who must approve any agreement, deferred making a decision at their Wednesday meeting after listening to a presentation by

PacifiCorp and many victims of 2020 Echo Mountain wildfire in Otis settle claims for $178 million

June 6, 2024

By ZACH URNESS/Salem Statesman-Journal PacifiCorp reached a $178 million settlement with 403 victims of the 2020 Labor Day fires, the company announced this week, while hitting an impasse with thousands of others. Oregon’s second-largest utility will pay an average of $442,000 per person to a group that mostly includes victims of the Echo Mountain Fire, which burned in Otis

Owner of seaweed harvesting company offers seminar on how to identify ocean’s bounty

June 6, 2024

By GRETCHEN AMMERMAN/Oregon Coast TODAY Alanna Kieffer digs seaweed. Or, more accurately, she cuts pieces of it off with scissors, leaving intact the “hold fast” and the lower part of the leaf so that it can regrow. A teacher, culinary explorer and cultivator with a background in marine science, Kieffer has a true passion for sea vegetables, especially kelp.

Tibetan monks from India return to Newport for a week of educational, spiritual offerings

June 6, 2024

By Oregon Coast TODAY The Tibetan monks of the Gaden Shartse Monastery in southern India have been on tour for more than a year and will return to Newport from Saturday, June 8, through Saturday, June 15. The weeklong visit will feature a full range of colorful, entertaining, enlightening and participatory public events, including ceremonies, talks, workshops, pet blessings,

Federal appeals court ruling allows hospitals’ mental health lawsuit against Oregon to continue

June 5, 2024

By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle A federal lawsuit that four hospital systems filed against the Oregon Health Authority for failing to adequately care for people experiencing mental illness can continue at the district court level, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday. The appeals court’s ruling sent the case back to the U.S. District Court of Oregon, which