News in Astoria
City approves pilot program to help with water, sewer bills
A new program to help people in Astoria pay their utility bills is officially accepting applications. At a meeting this week, the Astoria City Council approved the six month pilot program which will be administered in partnership with Clatsop Community Action. Over the next six…
City councilor to resign because of housing
An Astoria city councilor who made housing his top priority says he will need to resign because he can’t afford to continue living in the district he represents. At a meeting on Monday, Vance Lump declined to reveal personal details about his situation but told the Astoria City…
As hospital construction continues, federal money still in question
Columbia Memorial Hospital is about to jump into the next phase of construction for a major expansion project at its Astoria campus even though federal funding for key parts of that work remains in limbo. Hospital leaders aren’t sure if the push forward will jeopardize access to…
Local arborists help save historic Oregon tree
The cause of a fire at one of the tallest coastal Douglas fir trees in the world is still under investigation. The Doerner Fir Tree in Oregon’s Southern Coast Range is black from its bottom to its top following a mysterious fire first reported in its canopy in mid-August.…
Community asks for changes to warning signs after death at waterfall
A small red and white sign bolted to a metal post warns: “Danger. Do not jump from rocks.” Above it, a larger brown sign tells people not to camp or park overnight. The signs are posted in the gravel parking lot for the popular Youngs River Falls recreational site outside of…
Prepare and practice: emergency managers say distant tsunami event holds lessons for the coast
Last week, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia produced a tsunami that spread across the Pacific Ocean and triggered a tsunami advisory on the West Coast. For communities on Oregon’s North Coast and in Southwest Washington, it didn’t amount to much. Emergency…
Astoria City Council plans new look at camping ordinance
Still struggling with how to address issues tied to homelessness in downtown Astoria, city leaders say they plan to take another look at Astoria’s camping ordinances. This comes on the heels of the failure of another ordinance that would have temporarily banned people from…
Tsunami advisory cancelled for Oregon, Washington
A tsunami advisory has been cancelled for the coastal areas of Oregon and Washington state following an 8.8 magnitude earthquake Tuesday off the coast of Russia. Earlier Wednesday morning the Pacific County Emergency Management Agency confirmed they were seeing wave heights that…
Tsunami advisory remains in effect this morning
A tsunami advisory remains in effect this morning for the coastal areas of Oregon and Washington state following an 8.8 magnitude earthquake yesterday off the coast of Russia. While this does not mean massive flooding or a full tsunami for the area, local emergency management…
Tsunami advisory in effect for West Coast
A tsunami watch for the coastal areas of California, Oregon and Washington state as well as British Columbia and Alaska has been upgraded to a tsunami advisory. Tsunami waves can be expected between 11:40 and 11:55 p.m. Wave heights on Long Beach, Wash., are expected to be less…
Federal funding cuts to impact local radio station
It started with bagpipes. John Goff, a volunteer programmer with KMUN, wandered Exchange Street between 14th and 15th streets, pipes under his arm, to open the community radio station’s block party on Saturday. Along the block, nonprofits set up tents and tables and were prepared…
Astoria officials talk safety concerns on Irving, reveal more details about fatal hit-and-run
In the weeks after a tragic hit-and-run accident in Astoria, there have been calls for city leaders to address safety issues along a tricky and dangerous stretch of Irving Avenue. On Tuesday, the Astoria Planning Commission, acting as the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee,…