County commissioners vote unanimously to name road east of Waldport after black homesteader, Louis Southworth

December 22, 2022

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews A unanimous vote by Lincoln County commissioners to change the racist name of a road four miles east of Waldport brought applause from a handful of people in the audience at their meeting Wednesday, their second on the topic. Commissioners last week held a hearing on whether to change the name of the short U.S. Forest

Center director urges end-of-year giving to Oregon Cultural Trust

December 21, 2022

To the editor: A single piece of artwork – “Celebrate Oregon!” – honors and respects the diverse people and cultures of Oregon. It’s featured on the new cultural license plate and on murals that welcome passengers in airports across the state. Created by Liza Mana Burns of Eugene, it’s a vibrant tapestry of Oregon landscapes featuring 127 cultural symbols of our

Lincoln County jobless rate continues to increase, reaching 5.5 percent

December 21, 2022

Lincoln County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to rise, reaching 5.5 percent in November – a full percentage point higher than the statewide rate and almost 2 points higher than the national rate. The county’s unemployment rate is up from 5 percent in September and 5.2 percent in October. A year ago, the county’s unemployment rate was 5.7 percent. The

New audit says commission in charge of Oregon’s 17 community colleges needs to improve student achievement and access

December 20, 2022

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — The commission tasked with overseeing Oregon’s 17 community colleges must do more to increase student performance, achievement and access, according to an audit by the Secretary of State’s Office. In its report published Wednesday, auditors said the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, or HECC, had done a good job of helping to narrow equity gaps in

Second set of King Tides return this week just in time for Christmas

December 20, 2022

The second round of the highest tides of the winter – called king tides – occur again this week along the Oregon coast. In Oregon, king tides occur three months in the winter and three times during the summer when the Earth, moon and sun align to produce the highest tides of the year – ranging from 9 to

Oregon commission votes Monday to prohibit sale of new, gasoline-powered cars by 2035

December 19, 2022

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle All new cars sold in Oregon by 2035 must be considered zero-emissions vehicles. On Monday, Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission voted unanimously to adopt the Advanced Clean Cars II Rule, requiring auto manufacturers to begin producing and delivering a growing number of zero-emission vehicles to Oregon beginning in 2026, so that they make up 100% of

Waldport city council takes first step in cleaning up codes regulating vehicle parking, drops garage requirement

December 19, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews WALDPORT – The city of Waldport thinks the town has some parking issues. Such as: Cars or other vehicles parked all over some front yards, or on the street right-of-way in front of the property; Signs outside businesses that incorrectly say parking spots are reserved for customers only; Or, just the opposite – large parking lots downtown

Marines get heroes’ welcome along Highway 20 as they arrive in Newport and end their 3,365 mile trek from Boston

December 15, 2022

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews Three veterans are nearing completion of a self-assigned rescue mission. The trio of former Marines will arrive in Newport on foot Saturday, 10 days after the anniversary of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, and six months after leaving Boston Harbor on the anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy. Their trek across 3,365 miles of U.S.

County commissioners and residents along Forest Service road east of Waldport advocate changing racist name

December 15, 2022

By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews Almost 20 years after Lincoln County commissioners declined to change a racist road name east of Waldport, the county now appears poised to rename it for a former slave who lived there 140 years ago. As far as the U.S. Forest Service is concerned, the half-mile stretch of fern- and tree-lined road it owns on the

The Mystery of the Entangled Oregon Orca: Search for killer whale carcass leads to an answer hidden in its DNA

December 15, 2022

By MICHAEL MILSTEIN/NOAA Fisheries The black-and-white pattern of a killer whale stood out to an Oregon fisherman 30 miles southwest of Newport. He spotted it at 1:47 p.m. June 26. The whale was belly up — and dead. A lone gull stood atop the carcass, which had a turquoise and yellow rope wound tightly around its body above its