By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Gov. Tina Kotek is the final stop for a $200 million-plus package that she and lawmakers crafted to aid unhoused people, avert homelessness and lay the groundwork for more housing production in Oregon. The Senate gave final legislative approval to both bills Tuesday night, following House votes on […]
Oregon
Pushback by locals over development of Alsea River park may have state and county agencies re-thinking plans
By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews WALDPORT — State officials say 10-year-old funding agreements require the development of Don Lindly Park to include a launch for motorized boats, but current park users who have taken advantage of its open spaces and unique public access to the Alsea River want to retain its rustic state. No one in […]
Attempt to get Port of Alsea board recall on May ballot fails
WALDPORT — An attempt to get a recall election of four of five Port of Alsea commissioners on the May ballot has failed to gather enough signatures. A recall of port commissioners was first threatened during a meeting last July. Kurt Saindon asked the board to fire port manager Roxie Cuellar because she would not […]
Kotek targets behavioral health system crisis – and plans ahead
Gov. Tina Kotek is asking the Legislature for more behavioral health funding. The money would fund programs for people who need care in other settings besides the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. (Oregon Health Authority) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Gov. Tina Kotek is asking lawmakers to put $74.2 million into behavioral health […]
At $475,000, city of Waldport wins bid for former school property for addition to Southworth Park and community center
By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews WALDPORT – After a five-month on-off-on negotiation process, the city of Waldport will become the new owner of the 2.81-acre Lincoln County School District property in downtown. The city announced Monday that the district and it had agreed on the sale of the property – subject to approval of the city […]
Renters in small Waldport apartment complex search for places to live after new owner says they will become vacation rentals
By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews WALDPORT – One apartment is occupied by a single mother with a 9-year-old. Another apartment is home to a disabled couple. A married couple with three children lived in the third. They all rely on some sort of rent assistance to live in the modest four-unit apartment building on Southwest Corona […]
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown extends pandemic emergency declaration to prepare for surge in omicron variant
By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau Gov. Kate Brown has extended a declaration of emergency as the omicron variant emerges in the coronavirus pandemic. The latest order will remain in effect through June 30, 2022 — more than two years after the first one, at the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 — unless rescinded […]
Governor, health experts brace Oregonians for a serious impact from Omicron by February
By LYNNE TERRY and JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle In the past week, the Covid-19 outlook for Oregon shifted dramatically, with the state now facing the prospect of having the highest surge yet of infections and hospitalizations. A new forecast released Friday by Oregon Health & Science University indicates that more than 3,000 people would need […]
As Oregon crabbers pull their pots this week, prices at the dock should reach more than $4.75 per pound
By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews.com With Oregon’s Dungeness crab season officially opening Wednesday, a number of factors are lining up to push prices to record early-season highs. Last year’s relatively low-yield season has buyers itching to restock their supplies, while the complete cancellation earlier this year of Alaska’s red king crab fishery in the Bering Sea […]