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Lincoln County, Oregon
One-on-One with Depoe Bay Mayor Valeria Sovern JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
Senator Ron Wyden, left, listens to Newport Mayor Jan Kaplan speaking at the news conference with Lincoln County Commissioner Walker Chuck and Newport Fishermen’s Wives representative Taunette Dixon in the background. (Jeremy C. Ruark / Lincoln County Leader)
‘We are not going to have an airport Alcatraz in Oregon,’ Wyden says JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
Oregon U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said he
continues efforts to stop the federal government from establishing an immigration center at the Newport airport.
“As long as I am in this position, we are not going to have an airport See WYDEN, page A7
Valerie Sovern is the new mayor in Depoe Bay. Sovern was appointed by the Depoe Bay City Council Jan. 6 following Mayor Kathy Short’s resignation. Sovern has served as city councilor since 2023 after being elected through a write-in campaign. The Leader reached out to Sovern for insight into her priorities as mayor. Lincoln County Leader: What do you see as Depoe Bay’s priorities going into 2026 and what are your suggestions to council about navigating through those challenges? Sovern: I told folks at See MAYOR, page A7
Depoe Bay Mayor Valerie Sovern with her dog Ozzie, the Aussie. (Courtesy photo)
Northern Lights captured along the Central Oregon Coast JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
Depoe Bay resident Cecille Kennedy was up early on the morning of Jan. 20, looking up. Kennedy, armed with camera, captured amazing photos of the Northern Lights. A combination of a strong geomagnetic storm and the local clear, cold, weather produced the chance for the Northern Lights to extend south over Oregon. The surge of charged particles from the sun interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field, causing the sky show. According to NOAA, best viewing point is to find a place where you can see to the north, or south if you are in the southern hemisphere. Given the right vantage See LIGHTS, page A6
The sky show above Boiler Bay. (Courtesy photo from Cecille Kennedy)
Oregon Democratic leaders push to move transportation referendum to May MIA MALDONADO Oregon Capital Chronicle
Democratic leaders in the Oregon Legislature want to move a statewide vote on transportation taxes from November to May. After submitting enough signatures to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, petitioners with the Republican-led No Tx Oregon campaign
blocked hikes to the gas tax, vehicle registration and title fees and payroll tax included in a 2025 transportation law from taking effect pending a statewide vote in the November general election — thus delaying $791.2 million in revenue for the Oregon Department of Transportation in the 2025-27 budget cycle. However, House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene and Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego announced late Wednesday that they will introduce legislation to set the date of the referendum for the
statewide primary election on May 19. “Voters were clear that they want to have a say on this bill, and legislators and our local partners need to know the transportation funding landscape so meaningful conversations can continue,” Wagner said in a statement. “Setting the election date for May achieves both these goals.” But Republicans vowed to fight the effort to reschedule a vote. Rep. Ed Diehl, a Scio Republican and one of the leaders behind the referendum campaign See LEADERS, page A7
Elizabeth Camara, a No Kings rally counterprotester holds a sign protesting against the transportation package Democratic lawmakers passed during a special session earlier this year in Salem, Oregon. Mia Maldonado / Oregon Capital Chronicle