Shayla Escudero

The city of Newport helped fend off an effort by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to land Oregon’s first and only immigration detention center at its airport.

The Lincoln County commission could have a new look in January as one incumbent was being knocked off in Tuesday’s historic primary election and another is fighting for his political life as vote-counting proceeds over the next week.

After two summers of paid parking meters at Newport’s Bayfront, the city is expanding the program to Nye Beach starting May 1.

Siletz Valley School could close in June for not complying with its charter agreement.

The Lincoln County School District is facing a $5 million shortfall in the estimated $86 million general fund budget that it will have to balance with an anticipated 19 staff reductions. It would be the district’s largest round of reductions in more than a decade.

Newport officials say the fight isn’t over until Immigration and Customs Enforcement can permanently promise that no detention center is coming to Newport.

The ban does not affect the city’s July 4 commercial fireworks show over Yaquina Bay.

Twenty-two people applied to fill Claire Hall’s position on the Lincoln County commission, but five weeks after her death the two remaining members still can’t agree on a single one to interview.

A crowd of more than 250 people packed the Hatfield Marine Science Center’s auditorium for late Lincoln County Commissioner Claire Hall’s memorial on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.

The start of Lincoln County’s first commission meeting of the year was somber as two commissioners recognized the sudden death Sunday of their colleague, Claire Hall.