The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Oregon Beach Weather
The last King Tide of the season is almost here! From January 1–4, the earth, moon, and sun align to create the highest water levels of the year. King Tides aren’t always the biggest waves (those come from wind), but when the two stack up, conditions can get dangerous. During these tides, stay high and dry: watch from windows, bluff tops, or other elevated spots. Avoid low beach areas and steer clear of logs — fast-moving waves can turn waterlogged driftwood into serious hazards.
Winter is here! Here’s the overview of our winter outlook, but be sure to check out what we’re predicting in your area: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/extended-forecast
The Quadrantid Meteor Shower and The Full Moon on January 3rd
To see the Quadrantid meteor shower, look to the northeast sky after midnight until dawn, ideally with the moon at your back, finding a spot far from city lights and lying on your back with feet pointed northeast to see meteors streak across the sky in all directions. This Northern Hemisphere shower peaks with its radiant near the Big Dipper, producing bright fireballs and best viewed during its sharp peak in early January, especially the morning of January 4th.
The Quadrantid meteor shower is active (and visible) between Dec. 28 and Jan. 12, and will peak overnight Jan. 3-4.
To best see the Quadrantid meteor shower, go to the darkest possible location, lean back and relax. You don’t need equipment like telescopes or binoculars as the secret is to take in as much sky as possible and allow about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark.
The next full moon will be on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. It will officially reach its full moon phase at 5:03 a.m. EST (1003 GMT), but local moonrise times vary depending on location.The moon will still appear full the night before and after its peak to the casual stargazer.
Most of the time, the full moon isn’t perfectly full. We always see the same side of the moon, but part of it is in shadow, due to the moon’s rotation. Only when the moon, Earth and the sun are perfectly aligned is the moon 100% full.
- Best Time: Look toward the eastern horizon at sunset on January 2nd or 4th for the moonrise, or the western horizon at sunrise on January 3rd for the moonset.
- The “Moon Illusion”: Watching the moon rise or set near familiar objects makes it seem dramatically larger.
The Wolf Moon is the traditional name for the full moon in January, named because wolves were often heard howling at this time during the harsh winter, though it’s now known they howl for communication, not just hunger. This name, originating from Native American and European traditions, signifies the middle of winter, with other names like the Cold Moon or Freeze-Up Moon reflecting the season’s severity. The first Wolf Moon of 2026 is also a supermoon, appearing slightly larger and brighter, and occurs around January 3rd, coinciding with the Quadrantid meteor shower, though the bright moonlight might obscure many meteors.
please remember to always be respectful to our vets & pets who may have sensitivities to fireworks!
We offer our New Year’s Eve playlist with some very wise advice. If you’re celebrating tonight, please know your limits and plan ahead. Choose a designated driver and never get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking or using substances.
Hosts, look out for your guests — offer a safe place to stay or help arrange a ride home instead of handing over car keys to someone who isn’t fit to drive.
As we close out the year and welcome a new one, let’s all commit to driving safely and staying sober every day.
Deputies will be conducting targeted DUI enforcement on state grant-funded overtime. Please don’t be their next traffic stop! – Plan your safe ride home ahead of time – If you drink or use drugs, do not drive for any reason – If you know someone has been drinking or using drugs, don’t let them drive – If you host a party with alcohol, make sure all guests leave with a sober driver – And please, always wear your seatbelt! Drive safe this holiday season!
Holiday Lights at Shore Acres State Park in New Years Eve
Don’t have a reservation?!! Don’t worry! Take the FREE Holiday Lights Santa Shuttle from the Charleston Marina (Guano Rock Lane & Crossline Road) to Shore Acres State Park! The shuttle runs every 20 minutes, 4:15pm to 8:10pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, plus Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & New Year’s Eve!
2026 16th Annual New Year’s Day Peace Hike
View the Future Announces the 16th Annual New Year’s Day Peace Hike: A Community Commemoration of Resilience and Remembrance –Yachats, Oregon
View the Future is proud to announce the 2026 16th Annual Peace Hike, an honored community tradition that brings residents, visitors, Tribal members, and partners together in reflection, unity, and hope for the year ahead.
Held each January, the Peace Hike commemorates the cultural history and enduring resilience of the Tribal peoples who once lived in the lands we now call home. This year’s event continues that legacy, honoring stories of remembrance while celebrating the strength of community stewardship.Participants are invited to join the hike, learn from cultural speakers, and stand together in honor of the past, present, and future. Community members, families, and visitors are all welcome.
Event Details
- Event: 16th Annual New Year’s Day Peace Hike
- Date: January 1, 2026 – 8:30am-1pm
- Location: Yachats, Oregon
For additional information including the schedule of events and ways to get involved, please visit: https://www.viewthefuture.org/2026-16th-annual-peace-hike
About View the Future — View the Future is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting natural lands, restoring ecosystems, and ensuring long-term community resilience. Through conservation work, public education, and meaningful partnerships, View the Future strives to safeguard the places we love for generations to come.
Guided First Day Hikes set for New Year’s Day in 25 Oregon State Parks
Whether you prefer a moderate hike through a desert landscape or a paved wooded trail inside city limits, Oregon State Parks has a First Day Hike for you on New Year’s Day, Thursday Jan. 1.
Rangers and volunteers will lead guided First Day Hikes at 25 parks around the state with distances ranging from a quarter-mile stroll to a 5-mile trek. Hikes are free, but a day-use parking permit is required at some parks. Permits cost $10 per day for Oregon Residents or $12 for non-residents; annual permits are also sold online or at park offices.
America’s State Parks sponsors the First Day Hikes program nationwide to encourage everyone to start the year outside and connect with nature. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) has participated since 2012.
“Across Oregon, First Day Hikes have grown into a beloved New Year’s tradition for visitors and staff alike. On January 1st, park rangers and volunteers share stories of park history, geology, wildlife, and plants, as families and friends kick off the year together with an engaging outdoor adventure,” said Lisa Sumption, director of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
Visit the Oregon First Day Hikes web page to see the list of parks hosting hikes. Additional hike information such as hike times, meet-up locations and trail terrain are available via the park links on the web page. A few hikes require registration including Deschutes River, Elijah Bristow, Emigrant Springs, LaPine, Lukiamute, Oswald West, Sitka Sedge, and Smith Rock.
For any questions about accessibility or to request reasonable accommodations needed to participate in a hike, please see the contact information on each hike’s webpage.
Remember to plan for winter weather, dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes, bring water and carry binoculars for viewing wildlife.
Share photos of First Day Hikes via X and Instagram by using the hashtag #ORfirstdayhikes or tagging “Oregon State Parks” on Facebook.
Free First Day Hike at Heceta Head Lighthouse Jan. 1, 2026
FLORENCE, Ore. – Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is hosting free self-guided First Day Hike at Heceta Head Lighthouse on New Year’s Day, Thursday, Jan. 1.
It’s part of the annual First Day Hikes event at 25 Oregon State Parks held in partnership with America’s State Parks on New Year’s Day.
Visitors are welcome to explore the first floor of the Heceta Head Lighthouse and learn about the lives of lighthouse keepers and their families from over 130 years ago. Hikers can also enjoy miles of trails leading to several scenic overlooks.
Hike hosted at Heceta Head Lighthouse:
- Enjoy a scenic half-mile self-guided hike from the parking lot to Oregon’s most photographed lighthouse. Volunteers will be on-site to provide historical information and answer any questions. Visitors can also observe several native animal species and explore coastal plant life atop the stunning Heceta Head.
- Guests can access the first floor of the lighthouse from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to learn about the life of lighthouse keepers and their families.
- There are numerous photo opportunities where the forest meets the sea. Hikers can also explore miles of additional trails from the lighthouse to several scenic overlooks.
- Participants should dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes, and bring water and snacks, as well as a camera or binoculars for wildlife viewing.
- For more information, call 541-547-3416.
If you have questions about access or need any reasonable accommodations for your participation, please contact the park office at 541- 547-3416. Requests must be submitted at least three days before January 1.
All activities are free, but a day-use parking permit is required. Permits cost $10 per day for Oregon Residents or $12 for non-residents; annual permits are also sold at the park.
Share photos of First Day Hikes via social media by using the hashtag #ORfirstdayhikes.
First Day Hikes is a national initiative to welcome the coming year in the outdoors, promote exercise and encourage connecting with nature. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has participated since 2012.
Oregon Food Bank · Find free food sites near you using OregonFoodFinder.org.
If you can’t make it to a food location, someone else can pick up food for you.You will just need to print and fill out the Authorized Representative form at https://lnkd.in/dsskUpkQ, and have them take it with them to the food sites. You can find step-by-step instructions at https://lnkd.in/dVBRxn-A.
Worried about recent changes or losing assistance?
Here are resources that can help:
211Info: Dial 2-1-1 or visit the211Info food webpagefor information and referrals to more than 1,500 food resources across Oregon.
Oregon Food Bank: Use the Oregon Food Bank’s Food Finder Mapto find over 100 food pantries, free food markets or hot meal programs near you.
Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon (ADRC): Call 855-673-2372 or visit the ADRC food webpage to find local meal programs and food boxes in your area.
If someone pressures you, claims a family member is in trouble, sends you an overpayment check, or says your computer is hacked and you must act “right now,” that’s a giant red flag.
Protect yourself by learning more about scams at https://www.doj.state.or.us/consumer-protection/
The Ducks are officially in sunny Miami for a matchup against Texas Tech at the Orange Bowl!Heads up, holiday travelers: Drivers are advised to exercise caution and check TripCheck.com for road conditions before traveling.
It’s the holiday season, when families gather, parties are scheduled and travel spikes. Safety should be top of mind. Following is tried-and-true advice to ensure your family remains safe and injury-free throughout the season.
Be Prepared
If you’re traveling this year, be sure your vehicle is in good running condition, get plenty of rest and be prepared for any emergency. Traveling by car during the holidays has the highest fatality rate of any major form of transportation based on fatalities per passenger mile. Hundreds of people die every year in crashes on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, according to Injury Facts. Alcohol impairment is involved in about a third of these fatalities.
Stay safe on the roads over the holidays — and every day:
● Prepare your car for winter and keep an emergency kit with you
● Get a good night’s sleep before departing and avoid drowsy driving
● Leave early, planning ahead for heavy traffic
● Make sure every person in the vehicle is properly buckled up no matter how long or short the distance traveled
● Put that cell phone away; many distractions occur while driving, but cell phones are the main culprit
● Practice defensive driving
● Designate a sober driver to ensure guests make it home safely after a holiday party; alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription and illegal drugs can cause impairment
Check Conditions Before You Go
- Expect delays and allow extra travel time. Rushed drivers are unsafe drivers.
- Fill up your gas tank. Be prepared for taking longer detours or remaining idle for an extended periods of time due to traffic jams by having plenty of gas in your tank.
- Visit TripCheck.com or call 511 for real‑time road conditions, chain requirements, and incident updates.
- Make sure you have Wireless Emergency Alerts activated on your phone and are Signed up for emergency alerts for the area in Oregon you are visiting by going to ORAlert.gov and typing in your destination’s zip code.
- If you are visiting another state, search for that state’s Department of Emergency Management and look for their instructions on how to receive alerts.
- If you end up stuck in snow, keep your car running as much as possible to stay warm, but keep the area around your exhaust pipe clear.
Give Snowplows Space
- Never pass a snowplow.
- Maintain a safe following distance—plows often create clouds of snow that reduce visibility.
- Crews need room to operate safely; your patience helps keep everyone on the road safer.
- For more safe winter driving tips visit the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Winter Driving Safety webpage, or read this article on Getting Ready for Winter Driving.
Pack an Emergency Car Kit
OEM recommends every vehicle carry:
- Warm clothing and blankets
- Water and non‑perishable food
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Chains and traction devices
- Ice scraper and shovel
- First‑aid supplies
- Phone charger and backup power
- Sand or kitty litter for traction
- Back up phone charger and hand cracked weather radio.
New consumer protection laws go into effect Jan. 1, 2026
Several new consumer protection laws take effect immediately when the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, 2026. The Division of Financial Regulation (DFR), part of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services – the state’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency – is releasing an easy-to-follow guide on the new laws.
Here’s a look at what’s coming in January:
Senate Bill 605 prohibits health care providers from reporting medical debt to consumer reporting agencies and prohibits consumer reporting agencies from including medical debt on credit reports.
SB 692 requires the Oregon Health Plan and commercial health benefit plans to cover perinatal services, including services provided by doulas, lactation consultants, and lactation educators.
SB 699 expands an existing requirement for health insurance companies to cover prosthetic and orthotic devices in a variety of ways, such as by requiring coverage of devices medically necessary to perform physical exercises to maximize full-body function, including running, biking, swimming, and strength training.
SB 822 strengthens Oregon’s protections for access to health care services under a health benefit plan in a number of ways. It establishes quantifiable and enforceable standards for access to in-network covered services without unreasonable delay, requires that health plan networks account for the needs of diverse communities, and expands the existing law’s protections to cover state-regulated health benefit plans offered by large employers.
SB 1137 requires health benefit plans to cover autologous breast reconstruction procedures. These procedures use the patient’s own tissue either instead of or in addition to implants. The legislation also requires health insurance companies to cover these services out of network if in-network access is inadequate.
House Bill 2130 makes a variety of updates to the laws governing the Oregon Insurance Guaranty Association, which helps cover claims in the event of insurer insolvency when the insurance company no longer has enough funds to meet its obligations. Most significantly for consumers, the law doubles the limit for covered claims from $300,000 to $600,000, which will substantially reduce the risk of uncovered losses in the rare event of a claim against an insolvent insurer.
HB 2564 enhances Oregon’s health insurance rate review process for individual and small group health benefit plans by requiring health insurance companies to include a consumer-friendly summary document as part of their rate filings, to better enable public engagement with the rate review process. It also streamlines the process by removing unnecessary and redundant administrative steps.
HB 3064 requires health benefit plan coverage for a range of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies to treat the symptoms of perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
HB 3243 is intended to prevent surprise out-of-network ambulance bills. It prohibits ground ambulance service providers from balance billing an enrollee for covered ground ambulance services if the enrollee has paid the in-network cost-sharing amount. In turn, health benefit plans are required to reimburse ground ambulance services organizations at specified rates.
### About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.
Oregon’s Missing Persons
Many times you’ll see postings without case numbers or police contact. There is rarely a nefarious reason why (the nefarious ones are pretty obvious). Usually the loved one tried to call to report their missing person and they are either refused or told to wait a day or two by people who are unaware of SB 351 and the laws that they are bound to when answering the phone. Many people don’t bother calling LE if their loved one is homeless or in transition because they believe LE won’t care. The biggest myth is the 24 hour rule.
In Oregon we don’t have those rules and an officer or person answering the phone is not allowed to decide. The law decides. We have Senate Bill 351 and it states that the police CANNOT refuse a request for any reason and they must begin working on it within 12 hours. The person making the report does not have to be related to missing person either.
Here is SB 351 written by families of the missing here in Oregon in conjunction with Oregon law enforcement officers. This should be common knowledge, please make it this way. https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/…/SB351/Introduced
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Have a Safe and Happy New Year’s
We’ll be back in the office on Monday, January 5, 2026
