Cape Perpetua marine reserves seeks comments on plans for research and conservation

February 13, 2020

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews.com Efforts to include Cape Perpetua among Oregon’s state-protected coastal sanctuaries took more than a decade. Now, after even more years of planning, the first management plan addressing scientific research and conservation goals for the 34-square-mile Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve is nearly ready for roll out. A draft of the plan is available for review from the

Vacation rental supporters, opponents fill hearing room Thursday night to weigh in on county regulations

February 13, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com NEWPORT — Friends and foes of vacation rentals filled a Lincoln County courthouse hearing room Thursday night to defend and bemoan the proliferation of homes turned into short-term rentals in unincorporated parts of the county. To applause of agreement, supporters and owners of short-term rentals said they provided steady jobs, supported local businesses and generated millions

Oregon lawmakers make adjustments to greenhouse gas bill to ease impact on rural areas

February 13, 2020

By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Lawmakers revealed changes Wednesday to the plan to cut back on the state’s greenhouse gas emissions that would ease the impact on rural Oregon and adopt elements proposed by Timber Unity. The revisions are part of the continuing effort of Democratic sponsors to drive a policy that has greater statewide acceptance. The proposed

Legislation to put more Oregon State Police on the road getting support — for now

February 13, 2020

By JAKE THOMAS/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Parts of the state with sparse police presence could see more state troopers on the highway under a bill advancing through the Oregon Legislature. If passed, Senate Bill 1545 would put hundreds more state troopers on the state’s highways over the next decade. During a recent committee hearing, State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton

New state audit critical of Travel Oregon executive salaries and control over contractors

February 13, 2020

By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — The semi-independent Oregon agency overseeing tourism initiatives should be more transparent about managers’ pay and strengthen controls on contracting, Secretary of State Bev Clarno said in an audit report released Thursday. The Oregon Tourism Commission — also known as Travel Oregon — is a small agency that is supposed to help boost

Anti-poverty group wants to study, connect low-income Lincoln County residents with enticement of pay

February 12, 2020

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com A national anti-poverty program offering to pay low-income residents of Lincoln County for information about their lives, is off to a slow start despite trying to recruit people since last fall. The Family Independence Initiative is seeking 900 participants from Oregon’s Lincoln and Jefferson counties, the only two counties in the state picked for the pilot research

Oregon State Police/Newport: Activity log Feb. 10-11

February 12, 2020

DAILY MEDIA/DESK LOG SP20042832 02/10/2020 17:01 Officer #52129 LARSON, ERIC Crash – Non-injury Location 101, Mile post 152 152, LINCOLN OR USA Narrative Summary ***E-CRASH*** On the evening of February 10, 2020, the Oregon State Police was dispatched to a non-injury, non-blocking four vehicle crash on Hwy 101 near mile post 152, just south of Seal Rock. The crash investigation found Unit # 3

Yachats fire board approves cost-of-living raises for professional staff

February 12, 2020

After going two years without raises, firefighters, paramedics and other non-management employees of the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District are getting cost-of-living bumps in their pay. The fire district board on Monday approved cost-of-living raises of 3.5 percent for 2018 and then 2.9 percent for 2019. It will go to staff who are still with the district. The district did

More than 1,000 rally Tuesday at Oregon Capitol in support of climate change legislation

February 11, 2020

By SAM STITES and CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Activists seeking to clean Oregon’s environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions turned out by the hundreds Tuesday, pushing legislators to move ahead with a cap and trade policy. Demonstrators ranged from Salem-area teenagers who took time out from school to middle-aged Wasco County residents. All told, organizers say that

Oregon Coast CC wins accreditation as independent institution

February 10, 2020

After six years of work, Oregon Coast Community College is now an independently accredited institution. Birgitte Ryslinge The college received news of the decision by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities on Feb. 4, it announced in a news release. The 33-year-old college serves Lincoln County through its locations in Newport, Waldport, and Lincoln City. OCCC students pursue health