Oregon DOJ says no criminal charges in OLCC bourbon scandal, but ethics probe proceeds

May 13, 2024

By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — The Oregon Department of Justice concluded that no criminal charges are warranted for the six former Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission employees who set aside bottles of in-demand bourbon for their personal use. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum on Monday announced the conclusion of the investigation, which started in February 2023, in a

Leaders of Oregon’s largest school districts ask state to address “education funding crisis”

May 13, 2024

By ALEX BAUNHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle Superintendents in four Oregon school districts, including the two largest in Portland and Salem, are calling on state leaders to boost funding for public education, calling the state of school funding a “crisis.” In a video posted to district YouTube accounts on Monday, the leaders of Portland, Salem-Keizer, Bend-La Pine and Medford school districts made

Legislators say Optum will let Eugene doctors who left Oregon Medical Group treat local patients

May 13, 2024

By JAKE THOMAS/The Lund Report A pair of Eugene lawmakers say that health care giant Optum, Inc. has agreed to release its former doctors from non-compete contracts that critics said had blocked area patients from receiving needed care. Rep. Nancy Nathanson and Floyd Prozanski announced Thursday that physicians and other clinicians previously employed by Optum subsidiary Oregon Medical Group would

Warm Springs tribe asks ODFW to repeal licensing agreement with Grand Ronde over Willamette Falls issue

May 13, 2024

By NIKA BARTOO-SMITH/Underscore News The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs is asking the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to repeal a state agreement with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. In August, the Oregon Department of Wildlife approved an agreement affirming the right of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to issue hunting and fishing licenses to its citizens. Other Native

Tidewater woman killed Saturday in Highway 20 crash near Blodgett

May 13, 2024

BLODGETT – The Benton County Sheriff’s Office says it is investigating the cause of a two-car collision Saturday on U.S. Highway 20 that killed a Tidewater woman driving one car and a passenger in the second vehicle. Sheriff’s investigators said Elizabeth L. O’Neill, 52, of Tidewater died about 11 a.m. Saturday when her eastbound Ford Fusion was struck by a

Waldport council OKs seeking contractor to install specialty (and costly) playground surface at Southworth Park

May 13, 2024

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews WALDPORT – The city of Waldport is taking another small but expensive step to develop the playground centerpiece of Louis Southworth Park. The city council last week authorized city manager Dann Cutter to seek contractors to purchase and install a surface specially designed to go underneath a massive playground structure in the center of the new

ODFW commission selects deputy director over city of Portland staffer to head agency

May 12, 2024

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — About 50 years after the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife hired its first female field biologist, it will be led by one. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has appointed Debbie Colbert, a biologist, oceanographer and the current deputy director of the agency, to its top leadership position following the April

Yachats budget committee wades through — and OKs — much of 2024-25 city spending plan

May 12, 2024

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews YACHATS – The city of Yachats’ finances are in good shape with several long-awaited projects about to begin and future plans – including a possible contract deputy from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s office – accounted for in the proposed 2024-25 spending plan that its 10-member Budget Committee reviewed Thursday. In a marathon of a meeting that

Oregon Coast CC opens applications for medical assistant program

May 10, 2024

Applications for Oregon Coast Community College’s medical assistant program for the 2024-25 academic year are now open. The comprehensive, entry-level program offers students a foundation to begin their journey into the health care industry. Designed for aspiring health care professionals, the medical assistant certificate program provides training in clinical and administrative skills including patient care, medical office procedures, phlebotomy, and

Pioneer Connect solicits applications for $5,000 grants

May 10, 2024

Pioneer Connect is soliciting applications from community organizations to apply for grants of up to $5,000 via its partnership with The Foundation for Rural Service. This program identifies and supports projects that build and sustain a high quality of life in communities Pioneer’s service area, which stretches from the central Oregon coast to the mid-Willamette Valley. The four eligible categories