100 “Random Acts of Kindness” Tuesday from Yachats Ladies and Lions clubs

February 11, 2023

Valentine’s Day will be a little sweeter for 100 local individuals, civic groups and businesses this year, thanks to the Yachats Ladies Club and Yachats Lions. The two groups are teaming up to deliver “Random Acts of Kindness” on Tuesday, Feb. 14 in the form of treat bags containing cookies, cupcakes and other treats to recipients in Yachats and

Tree removal will stop U.S. 20 traffic Wednesday-Thursday three miles east of Newport

February 11, 2023

NEWPORT – Daytime commuters using U.S. Highway 20 between Newport and Toledo should be prepared for traffic delays of 20 minutes or more Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 15-16. The work was moved back by one day because of expected inclement weather Tuesday. Oregon Department of Transportation crews are removing 20 trees at the top of a landslide along the

Oregon Attorney General launches criminal probe into state liquor regulators after reports of diverting rare whiskeys

February 10, 2023

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is launching a criminal investigation into state liquor regulators who diverted rare whiskeys for their own use. Rosenblum announced the criminal investigation Friday, two days after Gov. Tina Kotek asked her office for a civil investigation of ethics violations at the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, which holds

Oregon lawmakers ponder grants for local news, but amended bill won’t include tax credits for donating or subscribing to news outlets

February 9, 2023

Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill to give grants to organizations trying to expand and preserve local news. By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Local news is critical for democracy and needs state support to continue, supporters of a legislative proposal told the Oregon House Rules Committee on Thursday. House Bill 2605 would pay for a resource center to give

Waldport council moves forward with new rules on where, how and when homeless can camp in the city

February 9, 2023

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews WALDPORT — A new law regulating where homeless people can camp in the city of Waldport could be in place in April. During its regular meeting Thursday, the Waldport city council unanimously decided to move forward with an ordinance that would add language defining permissible camping on private and public property. Councilors expressed reticence at making

Yachats audience voices strong support Thursday night for continued use of Commons as a community center open and available to all

February 9, 2023

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews YACHATS – During the two-year Covid pandemic many people in the Yachats community wrung their hands over what might happen to the shuttered Yachats Commons when activities returned to normal. The newly refurbished sign outside even pronounces it the “Heart of the community.” As the past three months indicate, the Yachats Commons is back to its

Oregon shifts toward normalcy after three years of Covid pandemic and public emergencies

February 9, 2023

By LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon is moving toward normalcy after three years of the pandemic but some masking requirements are likely to remain in place for months, a state health official said Thursday. Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state epidemiologist with the Oregon Health Authority, told the media during the authority’s monthly briefing that hospitalizations for viral respiratory infections in the

Newport-based crabbers return to sea after informal work stoppage due to low prices, high volume of early-season Dungeness

February 9, 2023

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews There are many factors that fishermen can’t control – the weather, the price of fuel, and oftentimes the price of Dungeness crab. One thing they have absolute control over, however, is whether to fish at all. And that’s what a significant portion of the Newport fleet chose not to do for nearly two weeks recently in

Oregon Supreme Court upholds order blocking state’s new voter-approved gun laws pending hearing in Harney County

February 9, 2023

By JONATHAN LEVINSON/Oregon Public Broadcasting The Oregon Supreme Court has denied a petition to overturn a lower court ruling blocking the state’s new gun laws from taking effect. Ballot Measure 114′s provisions remain blocked in their entirety pending a lower court hearing on the measure’s constitutionality. “We recognize that the legal status of Measure 114 is of significant concern to

Leader of sea otter re-introduction group will speak next week at OSU Extension in Newport

February 9, 2023

By Gretchen Ammerman/Oregon Coast TODAY February is the month that puts a microscope on relationships: are you in one at all, are you in a good one, could you do better? But it’s a different type of relationship that Robert Bailey, board president of the Elakha Alliance, will be talking about at the Oregon State University Extension office in