A federal judge on Monday night blocked the closure of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Newport Air Facility , finding Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s actions were arbitrary and violated the law.

U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken issued a temporary restraining order just three days after a Newport nonprofit supporting commercial fishermen joined with Lincoln County and filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to return the Coast Guard’s rescue helicopter to the coastal city before the start of the Dungeness crab fishing season.

The Newport Fishermen’s Wives and Lincoln County filed the suit after they learned the U.S. Coast Guard had either ceased or drastically reduced its operations at the Newport Air Facility and moved its rescue helicopter about 70 miles

See Full Page