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Lincoln County, Oregon
Homeland Security wants Newport ICE lawsuit dismissed JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is asking a federal court to dismiss the City of Newport’s lawsuit against the federal agency concerning the development of an immigration detention facility at the Newport Airport. In the February 27 court filing, the DHS states: “Environmental compliance activities had only just begun when USCG withdrew the Newport AIRFAC site from consideration. No construction has taken place and there had been no irretrievable commitment of resources during their initial assessment of the site. ICE has made no decision to begin construction of a temporary holding/processing facility. At present, ICE has no plan or intention to begin construction or to open a temporary holding/ processing facility in or around the City of Newport, Oregon or anywhere within Lincoln County, Oregon.” Following the court filing,
Newport Mayor Jan Kaplan at a January news conference with U/S/ Sen. Ron Wyden (left), Lincoln County Commissioner Walter Chuck and Newport Fishermen’s Wives representative Taunette Dixon in the background, at Newport City Hall. (Jeremy C. Ruark / Lincoln Country Leader) Newport Mayor Jan Kaplan said he wants assurances that ICE will not establish an immigration facility in Newport. “While this statement rep-
resents a positive step for our community, we must remain vigilant and carefully consider its language. Previously, ICE offered only that it would not
build a detention facility in Newport or at the Newport Municipal Airport before May 2026,” Kaplan said. “We have not yet received assurances that
ICE will not attempt to establish a facility in our community in the future. That’s why we are pursuing further assurances that ICE will not construct any detention facility, temporary or permanent. Kaplan explained that for months, ICE has left the community in a state of uncertainty. “We will remain actively engaged until ICE has made a decision, and we will only be satisfied when that decision is to make a permanent commitment not to establish a detention facility in Newport,” he said. “I am deeply proud of our community for vigorously defending our values… but our work does not stop here. Given the continued lack of transparency and communication from DHS and ICE with the city, we will continue our litigation until we secure sufficient guarantees that they will take no action, now or in the future, that threatens the well-being of our community.” As the Lincoln County Leader previously reported, Oregon See ICE, page A7
List narrowed to fill vacant commission post After walkouts, budget woes, tensions over Trump, Oregon lawmakers end 2026 session JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
The two current Lincoln County Commissioners could finally reach a decision in selecting a candidate to fill the vacant County Board of Commissioners position. Commissioner Walter Chuck has narrowed his choices to Matthew Harwell and Cristen Don. Harwell, a Newport resident, is a scientist and retired Environmental Protection Department employee. Don is a South Beach resident and former Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife employee. Commissioner Casey Miller has selected Lincoln City Councilor Marci Baker and Chris Chandler of Newport, an Oregon Coast Community College Board member and the former executive director of the Lincoln County Economic Development Association. WHY APPLY? In her application, Baker said she applied because she “cares deeply about Lincoln County.” “I have consistently stepped forward when my communi-
ty has needed steady, capable leadership, and I am willing to do the work required to serve well. Across business ownership, volunteer service, and elected office, I have shown up where responsibility was needed, taken on complex challenges, and followed through with care, discipline, and respect for institutional process,” Baker states in her application. Chandler applied stating he was “passionate about Lincoln County and serving its residents, including businesses and those who are marginalized.” “As an OCCC Board member, I’ve been an integral part of hiring two excellent college presidents - Dr. Birgitte Ryslinge (while I was chair) and now Dr. Marshall Meece Roache. I believe my experience could be useful to the County in its search for and evaluation of an Administrator, public entities, in economic development, health care, nonprofits helping children, education, and more,” Chandler wrote. In his application, Matthew Harwell said he is interested in the position because he can “serve as a force multiplier” for
the county he loves. “Looking to make a greater impact and accomplish more through collaborative leadership. My philosophy of leading with empathy, compassion, and inclusion, my many years of governmental-, personnel-, and strategic planning leadership, and my advancing critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and calm decision-making skills will be valuable in tackling the challenges of our time,” Harwell wrote in his application. Cristen Don said Lincoln County has been her home for 22 years. “I care about contributing to the place that has shaped my life. I bring experience in government administration, budgeting, and practical problem-solving that I’m ready to put to work for the County. I’m interested in serving to help move important work forward and support effective local government for the people who call Lincoln County home,” Don states in her application. Miller said the tentative plan is to interview all four candidates during a public meeting March See POSITION, page A7
Finders Keepers creates special moments for family visiting Lincoln City JEREMY C. RUARK Lincoln County Leader
The iconic Lincoln City Finders Keepers promotion offers anyone a chance to find a hidden glass float along the city’s beaches. Finders Keepers volunteers, called float fairies, place thousands of the floats along the beach each year for folks to discover. The theme is, “You find it, You Keep it” Finders Keepers has been featured over the years in publications and news programs around the world. Most recently on Portland’s KOIN TV News featuring a Sheridan woman, Leslie Lindquist battling kidney cancer, See FLOATS, page A3
Leslie Lundquist with her glass float found on the beach in Lincoln City. (Courtesy photo from Ashley Brunner)
SHAANTH NANGUNERI MIA MALDONADO JULIA SHUMWAY ALEX BAUMHARDT Oregon Capital Chronicle
For the first time in years, Oregon lawmakers in Salem’s newly-reopened Capitol streamed out of the chamber floors into the rotunda to cap the end of a short legislative session that had both Republicans and Democrats claiming victories. Responding to the federal government’s aggressive deportation campaign, safeguarding access to and funding for reproductive and gender-affirming care and filling a budget hole caused by federal tax and spending changes topped the Democratic majority’s agenda this year. “Senate Democrats have a simple focus: protect Oregonians’ values from Donald Trump’s administration, lower costs for working families and keep the economy moving. I’m proud to report that what we did together was amazing,” said Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama, D-Portland, in a Friday, March 6, news conference following the end of the session. Republicans, meanwhile, touted their success in gutting a wide-ranging gun bill and delaying, though not blocking, a bill to reschedule a statewide vote on transportation taxes. “I can stand here today and say the thing I’m most proud of is that the Republicans stood strong, and we stood united as a caucus,” said House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville. “In my four short years here, I haven’t seen us do that as well as we did this short session.” Lawmakers also experimented with Oregon’s legal authority to strengthen the state’s decades-old, first-in-the-nation protections for immigrants, passing legislation to prevent law enforcement from wearing masks, safekeep sensitive data and empower individuals to sue officers who enter their homes without a judicial warrant.
In the meantime, Oregon legislators confronted at the beginning of the session a $650 million budget shortfall, in part due to tax cuts passed under last year’s GOP signature tax and spending law. Oregon is among a handful of states that automatically replicate federal tax provisions in state taxes. The practice left Democrats facing backlash from dueling business and progressive groups who sparred over whether to leave those tax breaks in place or completely end the practice of automatic connection. The avalanche of complex legislation left lawmakers on both sides of the aisle frustrated and confused about their priorities by the end of the five-week session, despite adjourning two days before a constitutionally-mandated deadline. Leadership in Salem again failed to limit the number of bills lawmakers could reintroduce, watered down an ambitious gun control bill and revealed their highly-anticipated plan to temporarily keep the Oregon Department of Transportation afloat just ahead of the last week of the session. “There might have been a little bit of confusion about what’s going on, but really it was just our ability to come together,” said Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, of his colleagues in leadership. “I think the four of us as leaders, being able to have really good communication, understand that it’s important to put those values out there and see where you can come together.” Legislators blew past a Feb. 25 recommended deadline from Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read to sign into law legislation rescheduling a controversial gas tax referendum from November to May. While Democrats ultimately passed the rescheduling measure, opponents quickly filed separate state and federal lawsuits and it’s unclear when the vote will ultimately take place. An effort to readjust the state’s campaign finance laws See LAWMAKERS, page A7