Ocean researchers in Newport find that upwelling, heat waves are biggest factors in whale entanglement in crab gear

April 4, 2023

By SEAN NEALON/OSU News Service NEWPORT – New research by an Oregon State University-led team is beginning to unravel the times of year and locations where whales are at greatest danger of entanglement in fishing gear on the Oregon Coast. “We’ve been able to geographically locate some areas where the risk of entanglement for whales is higher,” said Solene

Oregon starts review of 1.5 million people on Medicaid to determine who qualifies for free coverage

April 3, 2023

By LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle The Oregon Health Authority starts a months-long review of the state’s 1.5 million Medicaid members this week to determine who still qualifies for the health insurance. Normally, states review the financial eligibility of members annually, but during the pandemic, the federal government expanded benefits to states that kept members insured. Medicaid, known as the Oregon

Amid a judicial crisis, Oregon lawmakers consider reshaping public defender system

April 3, 2023

A legislative proposal would boost rates and put some public defenders on state staff to bolster their ranks. More are sorely needed to represent hundreds of people facing criminal charges who can’t afford a lawyer. (Getty Images) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon lawmakers are working on a plan to address the state’s dire need for public defenders

Trash can fire disrupts classes Monday at Crestview Heights School

April 3, 2023

WALDPORT — A trash can fire led to the evacuation of Crestview Heights School on Monday, and residual smoke forced students and teachers to resume the school day in the cafeteria and gymnasium. The school reported that the fire was found in a trash can shortly after 11 a.m., and staff immediately pulled a fire alarm to evacuate the building.

DEQ fines Pacific Seafood plant for violating permit; company will appeal

April 3, 2023

NEWPORT — One of Pacific Seafood’s five processing plants on the Newport bayfront has been fined by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for exceeding its permitted levels of waste discharged into Yaquina Bay. The DEQ levied an $8,500 fine against Pacific Surimi, which uses processed Pacific whiting to make imitation crab and other seafood products, for three alleged

Oregon’s mandatory mask requirement for health facilities ends Monday

April 2, 2023

A state requirement that for nearly two years mandated that people wear face masks in public health facilities ends Monday, April 3. The rule had applied to workers, patients and visitors in healthcare settings including but not limited to hospitals, mobile clinics, ambulances, outpatient facilities, dental offices, urgent care centers, long term care facilities, counseling offices, school-based health centers and

Dozens of speakers urge Oregon legislative committee to beef up funding for fish and wildlife agency

March 31, 2023

By IAN ROSE/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — In her proposed budget to the Legislature, Gov. Tina Kotek called for nearly $500 million in funding for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. That sum would mark a 2.5% increase in the department’s budget – but it falls short of the more than $550 million the department requested. Without that extra

OSU’s Marine Science Day returns to day-long in-person affair Saturday at Hatfield Center

March 31, 2023

NEWPORT – After two years of going online because of the pandemic, Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center will host its annual science fair and open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Marine Science Day is a free, family-friendly event showcasing the diverse marine research occurring at Hatfield. It was held virtually during the pandemic but

Landslide work will disrupt travel on Oregon Highway 18 for two weeks

March 31, 2023

LINCOLN CITY – Travelers on Oregon Highway 18 east of Lincoln City will face some lane closures and detours the first two weeks of April as Oregon Department of Transportation crews make repairs from a landslide during February’s wind, snow and rainstorms. ODOT will be removing rock from a landslide that had closed Highway 18 two miles east of U.S.

Help Wanted! Employers of all types still seek workers following turmoil of the coronavirus pandemic

March 30, 2023

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews A new state economic report lays out two clear themes in describing workforce challenges on Oregon’s central coast — and both are very much on employers’ minds these days as they craft new approaches to finding the workers they need. The first is that it’s a great time to be out looking for a job, due