Oregon State Parks will increase all camping charges next May, add daily parking fees at 21 sites in October

August 4, 2025

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, staring down a looming budget shortfall to the tune of roughly $30 million, has announced it will once again implement new fees to help fund the state park system.

Secretary of State opens investigation of Umpqua Public Transit district’s response to May election

August 3, 2025

The Oregon Secretary of State's elections division has opened an investigation of the Umpqua Public Transit District’s response to a hotly contested May election result.

No rain in July continues to put Yachats-area in tougher drought conditions

August 3, 2025

Yes, it’s dry as everyone knows. How dry? Just ask the weather watchers who send monthly rain and weather reports to the Lincoln Chronicle.

Judge in PacifiCorp’s 2020 wildfire trials wants to quadruple the court’s pace as many victims still await resolution

August 3, 2025

A Multnomah County circuit judge has adopted an ambitious new schedule to speed up a class action lawsuit PacifiCorp faces over Oregon’s 2020 wildfires, including for victims of the Echo Mountain Fire that swept through Otis in north Lincoln County.

Thompson’s garbage truck now sporting the art of two Newport High students

August 3, 2025

Two Newport High School students are better off by $500 and will be seeing their artwork traveling around town for years on the side of a Thompson’s Sanitary Service garbage truck. The Newport company last March approached the Lincoln County School District with an idea to have the school’s commercial art class students create designs for the sides of

Consultant’s report gives insights and offers direction for Samaritan Health’s future operations

August 3, 2025

Consultants hired by Corvallis-based Samaritan Health Services has delivered encouraging news to the three-county health system -- it doesn’t need a partner to survive but should execute a two-phase plan to cut expenses and increase revenues.

Three kayakers, paddleboarders object to new state fee and begin process to ask voters to end it

August 3, 2025

By NIGEL JAQUISS/Oregon Journalism Project A trio of petitioners aims to repeal a new law that would require paddle-boarders and flatwater kayakers to pay state permit fees starting in January. “I think it goes against our constitutional rights,” says Angela Epperson of Hermiston enjoys kayaking on the Columbia and Umatilla rivers. “I just think they’ve gone too far.” In 2025

Oregon judge gives first “certificate of innocence” for wrongful conviction in Coos County death

August 2, 2025

For the first time in state history, an Oregon judge has granted a certificate of innocence to a man who was falsely imprisoned.

After two objections, Kotek threatens to veto $45 million for tribal land acquisition at Willamette Falls

August 1, 2025

Gov. Tina Kotek has announced she is considering vetoing a controversial $45 million appropriation for the Willamette Falls Trust, which seeks to buy 60 acres of property at the iconic waterfall between Oregon City and West Linn.

State issues heath advisory for Eckman Lake just east of Waldport

August 1, 2025

WALDPORT – The Oregon Health Authority issued a recreational-use health advisory Thursday for Eckman Lake due to a cyanobacteria bloom. The agency said the bacteria poses a danger to human and animal health and that people should avoid swimming and other water activities where blooms are present. Risk of illness is most often caused by ingesting affected waters but people