At the first gubernatorial debate of 2026, Gov. Tina Kotek and Republican challenger Christine Drazan both said they believe Oregonians are struggling but for different reasons — with the incumbent blaming President Donald Trump and the state senator blaming her opponent. The post Gov. Tina Kotek and state Sen. Christine Drazan trade barbs in first gubernatorial debate appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Elise and Finn are winging their way from the Oregon coast on a 7,000-mile trek to South America. That’s remarkable, but not unusual. But for the first time, as the two coastal Purple Martins head to southeastern Brazil, new tracking devices monitored in Yachats are detailing their progress. The post Will Elise and Finn make it from coast to Brazil? Tiny birds’ tiny transmitters monitor their migration appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

There was a federal Indian boarding school in Siletz from the 1870s to 1908 as part of a national system trying to assimilate Native American children. On Wednesday, the Siletz community used Orange Shirt Day to remember those lost in such schools. The post Siletz community, families and tribal members use Orange Shirt Day to remember horrors of Indian boarding schools appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The League of Women Voters of Lincoln County is holding two candidate forums online via Zoom next week – including a special one for city of Waldport candidates. The post Online forums are Monday for Waldport candidates, Thursday for county candidates appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Worries about rising costs, high taxes, entrenched homelessness and poor leadership are major factors for Oregonians — and helping drive a neck-and-neck governor’s race this year that shows no sign of breaking decisively for either candidate. The post OPB poll shows Oregon governor’s race virtually deadlocked appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The push to kill one kind of owl to save another has reached Oregon’s Elliott State Research Forest: Beginning Thursday, contractors will begin shooting invasive barred owls inside the 83,000-acre state-owned territory, to protect northern spotted owls. The post Oregon begins killing barred owls in push to save the northern spotted owl appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced it has awarded a $9.4 million contract to Bristol Design Build Services of Anchorage, Alaska for major maintenance and repairs to 16 single-family homes at Station Yaquina Bay in Newport. The post Coast Guard to repair 16 homes for its service members in Newport appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Lane County commissioners have accepted a $1.3 million grant from state opioid settlement funds to pay for a clinic in Florence that will treat people for drug addiction. The clinic will provide medication-assisted treatment through methadone, a treatment not available anywhere along the coast between Coos Bay and Seaside. The post Lane County using $1.3 million grant to open one of coast’s only methadone clinics in Florence appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has scheduled four public meetings Oct. 5-8 along the coast to get comments on the 2027 recreational bottomfish and Pacific halibut seasons. The post ODFW will discuss bottomfish, halibut seasons in Oct. 5-8 meetings appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The performances, which start Friday, Oct. 2 and run through Sunday, Oct. 4, will include veteran performers and new faces with pianist Taylor Eigsti, bassist and vocalist Katie Thiroux, drummer Jeff Hamilton and Grammy-winning bassist John Clayton featured as prominent players as musicians mix it up The post The Oregon Coast Jazz Party takes place this weekend in Newport, featuring top talent and a mix of performances appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

From turning garden-grown indigo into paint to using learning about gilding techniques, the Newport Visual Arts Center is offering a series of workshops and training sessions starting this Saturday, Oct. 4, and running into December. The post Newport Visual Arts Center offers workshops, after-school sessions, open studios starting Saturday appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

For Oregonians on Medicare, pay attention to your mail this fall: Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans will be notifying members about changes to their 2027 coverage ahead of Medicare’s annual open enrollment period, which begins Oct. 15. The post On Medicare in Oregon? Check your mail for 2027 coverage changes. appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Firewood cutting permits for the Siuslaw National Forest will be available Oct. 15 at the agency’s Central Coast Ranger station in Waldport. The post Firewood permits will be available Oct. 15 for Siuslaw National Forest appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Manulife Investment Management has closed access to some of the 18,000 acres of timberland it manages in Lincoln County to protect the property from abuse and as part of a new program to lease lands to individuals for recreational use, including hunting. The post Forest manager closes access or privately leases some of its 18,000 acres of property in Lincoln County appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

When Eugene-based nonprofit St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County bought Saginaw Mobile Home Park in 2017, it was in pretty rough shape, but the society has been able to replace homes for about half the cost of homes elsewhere, which experts say is a gamechanger. The post St. Vincent de Paul adds 10 HOPE homes to its Cottage Grove mobile home park, each costing less than $100,000 appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

A new hemp law that bans the sale of any “hemp-derived cannabinoid product” with more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container, which is most hemp-derived products such as edibles, tinctures and beverages, will have a devastating effect on many businesses in Oregon. The post New federal law puts an end to the hemp industry, Oregon businesses say appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The Lincoln Chronicle's bi-monthly 5 Questions and a Secret feature is on artist Liz Birdwell, who fell in love with the Oregon coast and years later finally made her way to Newport where she is holding two artist in residency programs. The post Artist Liz Birdwell finds a home on the coast, landing residencies at Hatfield center and Yaquina Head appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Seattle-based WaFd is merging with Florida-based EverBank to create a $75 billion-asset bank, the two companies announced this month. WaFd has 36 branches in Oregon and four offices on the coast – in Florence, Waldport, Newport and Lincoln City. The post Washington-based bank with three Lincoln County branches is merging with a Florida company appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Classified workers at Oregon’s seven public universities have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with the state’s higher education institutions. SEIU 503 announced early Monday — just hours before its members were set to picket — that the potential strike was off. The post Oregon’s seven public universities, classified workers narrowly avoid strike Monday with contract settlement appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The Lincoln County parks department has suddenly closed the boat ramp at Moonshine Park on the Siletz River, saying that years of channel changes made launching fishing boats there unsafe. The closure means if will be difficult for fishermen in drift boats or smaller craft to access a popular 12-mile stretch of the Siletz River between Moonshine Park and Twin Bridges Park. The post County closes popular boat ramp on Siletz River, cutting major fishing access to 12 miles of the stream appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

There’s a shadow hanging over the Oregon’s governor’s race: a record $10 million check that a California carpenters union wrote to an affiliated Oregon political action committee Sept. 16 that's likely to go to Democrats. The post $10 million mystery check hangs over governor’s race appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The Lincoln Chronicle is announcing that its newsletters to readers who sign up for them will now be sent out three times a week -- Monday evenings and Wednesday and Thursday mornings. And, there's a reminder about letters to the editor. The post Lincoln Chronicle adding a third day to its newsletters, and a reminder on election season letters appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Most of us don’t hesitate to protect our homes and vehicles with insurance policies. So why not spend some time to help protect your own survival in case of a natural disaster? That's the thrust of the Yachats Emergency Preparedness Fair on Saturday, Oct. 3 -- helping people to "Be 2 Weeks Ready." The post Yachats emergency fair Saturday wants to help coastal residents “Be 2 Weeks Ready” for disasters appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The city of Lincoln City has selected 14 nonprofits to receive $139,000 in grants and will present the checks at 2 p.m. Oct. 8 in council chambers. The post Lincoln City selects 14 nonprofits to receive $139,000 in grants appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

It's been seven years since anyone has been buried in the little-known but 88-year-old Waldport Cemetery along South Crestline Drive. But with nearly all of its former board members deceased, association president Douglas Edgmon is seeking volunteers -- or the city of Waldport -- to step up to help it. The post Little-used, little-known and aging Waldport Cemetery needs help from new volunteers or the city appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

With the arrival of cooler, damper whether, firefighters with the Siuslaw National Forest may begin burning slash piles as early as this week. The post Siuslaw National Forest may begin slash burning this week appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Political analysts don’t expect any of Oregon’s six congressional seats to change hands in the November election, a contrast to the situation four years ago when half of Oregon's candidates for the U.S. house won their seats by slim margins. The post All of Oregon’s congressional districts are considered safe this year. Here’s why. appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

A popular 92-foot waterfall formerly at risk of being closed to the public is closer to becoming a new state recreation area after the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission signed off on buying two Marion County properties. The post Abiqua Falls is one step closer to becoming public land after $2 million sale approved appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The iconic red and white Heceta Head Lightkeeper’s House will be partially under construction for four to six weeks beginning Oct. 5 while its roof and front porch are replaced, Siuslaw National Forest officials have announced. The post Historic Heceta lightkeeper’s house getting new roof and porch appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

It wasn’t a debate, but Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and state Sen. Christine Drazan faced off at a business forum to talk about taxes, tariffs and how to make the state more economically competitive. The post Oregon Gov. Kotek and state Sen. Drazan share a stage in Portland and talk business, taxes, Trump appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

BMO Financial Group is closing its bank branches in Toledo and Lincoln City next month and asking customers to move their accounts to its main coastal office in Newport. The branches will close Oct. 30. The post BMO Bank closing branches in downtown Toledo and Lincoln City in October appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Students in Oregon’s public schools are having difficulty grasping key subjects and although they’ve made incremental improvement, it’s a slow walk to post-pandemic recovery – and Lincoln County’s schools have especially large gaps to fill. Every grade level except for 11th in Lincoln County schools had proficiency test results below the state average in English, math and science. The post Lincoln County students make small gains in test scores but results still below Oregon’s pre-pandemic level appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The Oregon Department of Education has failed to provide oversight of a $338 million program aimed at boosting high school graduation and has yet to completely fix or address seven issues identified in an audit two years ago, a new state audit finds. The post Oregon Department of Education fails to provide oversight of $338 million program for raising high school graduation, audit finds appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Oregon has begun sending letters to about 600,000 Oregon Health Plan members warning them about new requirements taking effect next year that potentially impact their eligibility for Medicaid benefits. The post New Medicaid work rules are coming. 600,000 Oregon Health Plan members are getting notices. appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

A new, three-year research effort will see what it might take to re-establish sea otters along the Oregon coast. The scientific project is being led by aquariums in Newport and Seattle and two conservation organizations and appropriately coincides with Sea Otter Awareness Week. The post Elakha Alliance, Oregon Coast Aquarium join Seattle groups to study Oregon seafloor for sea otter reintroduction appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

A 61-year-old South Beach man was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the repeated sex abuse of a young family member. The post Three-time sex abuser sentenced Tuesday to life in prison appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

About 150 people crowded the Performing Arts Center on Tuesday evening to listen to Newport’s first state of the city presentation. Council members took turns reading a speech that highlighted Newport’s art programs, street improvements, cultural outreach, challenges and aspirations – and took a moment to plug a $38 million infrastructure bond on the Nov. 3 ballot. The post Newport mayor, councilors tout accomplishments and challenges in first “State of the City” presentation appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

A 41-year-old Portland man was killed Saturday night on U.S. Highway 101 near Salishan after being hit by three vehicles while walking in the road, Oregon State Police said Wednesday. The post Portland man killed near Gleneden Beach while walking in highway appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

A Molalla man who killed his mother in Siletz in 2024 was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday after agreeing to plead guilty to first-degree manslaughter. The post Man who killed mother in Siletz sentenced to 20 years in prison appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The event, which was a big hit last year and is sponsored by Lincoln County School District's gardening program, will include a range of activities for both adults and kids, including garlic braiding, face painting, cupcake walk and a scarecrow building contest. The post Garlicpalooza takes over Toledo’s Memorial Field on Saturday, Sept. 26 appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The festival, which usually takes place at D River Wayside, has been moved this year to the Chinook Winds Casino Resort due to construction on the new Lincoln City Welcome Center. The post Lincoln City Fall Kite Festival takes place this Friday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 27 appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

A Newberg man and a passenger in his car were killed Friday night on Oregon Highway 126 near Walton after his car left the highway and struck a tree, Oregon State Police said Tuesday. The post Two killed Friday night in Highway 126 accident near Walton appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The state’s Employment Relations Board is considering whether members of Oregon State University’s women’s basketball team are school employees with the power to unionize. The post Should college athletes be considered employees? OSU’s women’s basketball players argue ‘yes’ in potentially groundbreaking case. appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Lincoln County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in August, unchanged from July but down from 6.3 percent the year before, the Oregon Employment Department announced Tuesday. Oregon’s statewide unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in August, and the national rate was 4.1 percent. The post Local jobless rate stays at 5.8 percent in August — still higher than Oregon, national averages appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

A Eugene man pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud involving agreements to build townhouses on several vacant lots in Newport that never materialized. The post Eugene contractor pleads guilty to swindling Newport lot owners appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

A longtime flying enthusiast and former Newport council member is missing after his twin-engine plane crashed into the ocean about a mile off the coast early Monday afternoon shortly after taking off from the city's airport. The post Former Newport city councilor missing after his plane goes down in Pacific Ocean just west of city appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The new U.S. attorney for Oregon, Scott Bradford, who was appointed to the top spot in July and has worked in the office for 13 years, has stepped up the focus on cases involving immigrants who lack legal status. The post Can Oregon’s top federal prosecutor balance Trump’s priorities with the law? He says he can. appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

After 43 years of helping to solve cold cases and find missing people, but only clearing eight cases since 2022, Crime Stoppers of Oregon will permanently cease operations at the end of September. The post Crime Stoppers of Oregon sunsets its anonymous tip line after 43 years appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

The inaugural season of the Yachats trolley has come to a close and city officials are hailing it as a success. Ridership tapped out at 3,450 and the overall operating cost, including contracted drivers paid through the city’s visitor amenities fund came in at $50,000. The post Yachats’ jolly green trolley completes first season and city officials are calling it a success appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Amtrak’s sleek, amenity-packed new trains, which can carry 300 passengers, will debut on the Cascades intercity route on Sept. 30. The post Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet between Eugene and Seattle appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.