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Lighthouse vandalized................................... PAGE 6 Wild salmon harvest....................................... PAGE 4

June 27, 2023

Lincoln City’s Largest and Most Trusted News Source Since 1927

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RV goes up in flames JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

Smoke from a recreational vehicle (RV) fire could be seen from blocks as North Lincoln Fire & Rescue (NLFR) crews rushed to the SE 3rd Street location just east of Highway 101. As crews arrived shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday, June 22, they spotted a fully engulfed RV in the parking lot

just north of 3rd Street. Crews were able to knock down the blaze within minutes. It appeared that the RV was not occupied. The cause of the fire and estimated damages were not immediately available. There were no reported injuries.

Follow developments at thenewsguard.com and in the Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc. Tuesday print editions of The Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc. Flames spread quickly through the RV. News Guard. Crews move in to put out the fire.

Should sea otters return to Oregon waters?

Fish and Wildlife Service officials asks Oregonians for their input ALEX BAUMHARDT Oregon Capital Chronicle News Guard Guest Article

Photo courtesy from Lilian Carswell / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service A young southern sea otter grooming itself on the California Coast.

Federal officials want Oregonians and Californians to weigh in on the potential return of threatened sea otters to their historic home. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is held eight open houses along the Oregon Coast this past week to share a proposal for reintroducing

southern sea otters — one of three subspecies of sea otter — to the Pacific Coast from San Francisco and up through northern Oregon. The otters have been mostly absent for more than a century, and Oregon is the only state on the Pacific Coast that has no southern sea otters, according to a news release from the federal agency. See OTTERS, Page 12

$153M to address Oregon’s behavioral health crisis STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc. Oregon legislative leaders have announced the$153 million Behavioral Health Care Delivery Budget Framework. The investments will help strengthen the state’s behavioral health workforce, stabilize mobile crisis funding, and support response and recovery resources to ensure access to high-quality, affordable services for everyone who needs them, according to the legislative leaders. Part of the framework is House Bill 2757, which passed out of the House Revenue Committee June 20. The bill will expand and build on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and programming for 9-8-8, the national suicide prevention hotline number launched in Oregon in summer 2022—a critical resource for Oregonians experiencing mental health crises, the legislative leaders said.

The 2023-2025 Behavioral Health Budget framework builds from the $1.3 billion down payment the legislature made in the 2021-2022 biennium. “To respond to the needs in our behavioral health system we must invest in community-based services for Oregonians with acute needs,” Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber (D - Beaverton and SW Portland) said. “Expanding access requires a continued commitment to improving infrastructure, bolstering successful community models and expanding the workforce.” “Oregonians were clear that we need to get people the appropriate, high quality, and affordable care they need, Representative Rob Nosse (D - Inner SE & Inner NE Portland said. “Behavioral health is not one-size-fits-all, and there is no one way to approach it. But with this amazing budget package, we’re investing in key parts of Or-

Fast Fact The Behavioral Health Care Delivery Budget framework builds on 2021-2022 investments, stabilizes mobile crisis response funding and coordination between care centers and response systems egon’s infrastructure to meet people where they are.” The investments include: $2.6 million for recovery schools (House Bill 2767) $37.1 million for Oregon Health Authority programming (SB 5525), including: $15 million for construction of additional substance use disorder (SUD) facility capacity $7 million for Civil commitment services through Community Mental Health (CMHP) Programs $6 million for transitional case management services for houseless patients released from the Oregon State Hospital $6 million to expand the Health Care Provider Incentive Program (HCPIP)

Sandra Fraser-Dust

$3.1 million to advance training opportunities for pediatricians and child psychiatrists House Bill 2757 – dedicating funding for the 9-8-8, the suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline House Bill 5026 – Higher Education Coordinating Commission $5.4 million – OHSU Mission Control for behavioral health $10 million through the Criminal Justice Commission to fund justice-involved mental health or substance abuse disorders (IMPACTS) grants (Senate Bill 5506) $4.9 million to Oregon Health Authority to fund jail diversion through CMHPs (Senate Bill 5506)

$3 million for Department of Administrative Services to resource the Community Based Mental Health Services Risk Pool (Senate Bill 5506) $50 million to build out physical and provider capacity within the behavioral health system $40 million Other Funds limitation for opioid settlement investment in the 202325 biennium The legislative leaders said several of the bills have already passed the floor or are part of various policy bundles, highlighting the intersectionality of the legislature’s work to address the behavioral health crisis from multiple angles this session. “As a Registered Nurse, I have seen people of all different backgrounds, needs, and states come into care centers,” said “This budget means we can get people individualized, equitable care no matter who they are, where they live, or how much they make,” Rep-

Meet the Artists

resentative Travis Nelson (D N & NE Portland), vice chair of the Behavioral Health and Healthcare Committee and a State Hospital Board Member said. Additional funding will be set aside for increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral health services to support the rising costs and high demand for care, with the goal of increasing access to high-quality services throughout Oregon. By leveraging an existing and steady stream of funding, the legislative leaders said the can ensure certainty for providers, and in turn, for patients and their families. “Oregonians are calling out for greater investment in behavioral health,” Senator Winsvey Campos (D - Aloha) said. “This package will provide meaningful relief to Oregonians with behavioral health needs and their families, by improving access to life saving and life changing care.”

Ken Dust

Saturday, July 1 at 2 p.m. 6119 Southwest Highway 101 Lincoln City, OR 97367 541.994.5600 Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. www.freedgallery.com

Find out what abstract art, wildlife art and a trip to the moon have in common. TheNewsGuard.com

WEATHER

INDEX Police Blotter ............ 3 Opinion ...................... 5

Classifieds.................. 7 Comics ...................... 11

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