15neighborhoods group endorses Gomberg and Miller in Nov. 8 vote

October 24, 2022

To the editor: It is rare for a group as diverse as 15neighborhoods to reach a consensus on things outside the short-term rental issue but with Rep. David Gomberg and Lincoln County commission candidate Casey Miller, 15neighborhoods is a resounding “yes” vote for both. David Gomberg is an amazing person in and out of Salem. He is a rare politician,

Oregon Measure 114 is not the first proposal to trigger gun debate, but is first on a statewide ballot in more than 20 years

October 24, 2022

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau Measure 114 is not the first proposed gun regulation to prompt a public debate in Oregon. But it is the first on a statewide ballot in more than 20 years, since voters in 2000 approved criminal background checks for purchasers at gun shows. The Legislature has passed several bills in the past eight years,

Protesters in Eugene clash Sunday outside Old Nick’s Pub show over 11-year-old drag queen performer

October 24, 2022

By LOUIS KRAUS/Eugene Register-Guard EUGENE — Fighting broke out after several hours of tense protests in front of Old Nick’s Pub in Eugene on Sunday, with division over defending or attacking the pub for hosting a drag story time event with an 11-year-old performer. Some 250 people lined the sidewalks next to the pub on Washington Street to support the

Oregon school performance craters relative to national averages, elementary and middle school math scores rank 6th worst in U.S.

October 24, 2022

By BETSY HAMMOND/Oregonian/OregonLive In the latest sign that Oregon children have been failed by leaders and need an intensive educational rescue, new federal test results indicate that the nation’s students experienced staggering instructional setbacks during the pandemic – yet Oregon’s bore an even worse brunt. Scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the only standardized achievement test given to a representative sample of students

Class action lawsuit against Pacific Power for Echo Mountain and three other 2020 wildfires now scheduled for April

October 24, 2022

By ZACH URNESS/Salem Statesman-Journal The trial date for a high-stakes class action lawsuit that blames Pacific Power for igniting four of Oregon’s Labor Day fires is set for next April. Plaintiffs include owners of 300 properties burned in the Echo Mountain fire in Otis, the 2,500 properties burned in the Beachie Creek and Santiam Canyon fires, along with 242

Berdie’s attributes make him best choice for Yachats mayor

October 23, 2022

To the editor: I am writing this letter to state my strong support for Craig Berdie as the next mayor of the city of Yachats. Craig Berdie thoroughly understands the many pressing needs our city such as drinking water sustainability, housing availability for all ages and incomes, pedestrian and bicycle safety, disaster preparedness, and critical infrastructure upgrades and system back-ups.

The Oregon governor’s race: Three candidates offer three different approaches to climate-related issues

October 22, 2022

By ALEX POWERS/Albany Democrat-Herald Oregon’s gubernatorial race pits three candidates with two climate philosophies and asks one policy question to voters in November: How green is green enough? Wildfires loom, groundwater is disappearing and the tenor of Oregon’s response to the most destructive symptoms of human-caused climate change hinges on a tight contest for the governor’s chair. Whoever wins

The Oregon governor’s race: Kotek and Johnson differ widely from Drazen on abortion rights

October 21, 2022

By VICKIE ALDOUS/Medford Mail Tribune Voters have a choice this November between abortion rights-backers Betsy Johnson and Tina Kotek for Oregon governor, or anti-abortion candidate Christine Drazan. The long-simmering topic of abortion erupted into a major political issue in June when the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion.

Lincoln County Democrats endorse three in non-partisan races Nov. 8

October 20, 2022

To the editor: While the campaigns for state and federal offices have figured most visibly into Democratic Party endorsements, Lincoln County progressives are keenly aware of the impacts of local government officials on the functioning of our county and our cities and the consequences that decisions made on local levels have on our everyday lives. That’s why Lincoln County Democrats

Real market property values in Lincoln County jump 24 percent, but most property tax bills will see a 3-5 percent increase

October 20, 2022

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The Lincoln County assessor has put into cold, hard figures what anyone who owns or is looking for real estate is thinking about property values. Wow. The market value of real estate – especially single-family homes – in Lincoln County increased a whopping 24 percent in 2022 – double the increase from 2021. The increase is