Author: Tony Cooper

Oregon State Police says that a pedestrian was struck and killedby two vehicles along I-5 in Medford on Monday morning. According to the agency, 26-year-old Sidney De La Cruz of Ashland was driving southbound on I-5 in a Mazda sedan just before 12:30 a.m. when she hit a pedestrian walking in the lanes of traffic. A second driver in a Ford utility work truck, identified as 49-year-old Shawn Child of Molalla, also hit the pedestrian. OSP said that the pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. Both drivers were unhurt. I-5 was closed for over two hours following the crash.…

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Grocery stores across the Rogue Valley are seeing a demand for small Thanksgiving turkeys as people plan to host smaller gatherings. Store director Jared Mulhollen says a lot of customers are looking for 12 to 14 pound birds, rather than 20 pound ones. He says they have a lot of turkeys in stock, which is great for last-minute shoppers. “Frozen birds are not a problem,” Mulhollen said. “By Wednesday evening they’re pretty much gone. So if you want a fresh bird, you know, come on in and we’ll take care of you.” Governor Kate Brown is calling for Oregonians to…

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Medford Police have a 35-year-old robbery suspect in custody after a standoff that lasted for hours on Thursday night. Medford Police say they went to the 2000 block of Brookhurst Street in Medford to conduct a search in a home invasion robbery investigation. When police arrived, the male suspect attempted to run away through the back of the apartment before retreating back inside and barricading himself in. Police say they set up a perimeter around the house and were able to get a look at the suspect in the house on several occasions. Police then noticed the man carrying a…

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It can be difficult to brew a sustainable cup of coffee at home. While we recommend finding coffee that is ethically sourced and packaged sustainably, unfortunately, it’s not always possible. But don’t feel guilty if you end up with a plastic coffee container every now and again. Sure, you can always turn to the coffee beans in the bulk section of your local grocery store or opt for reusable K-cup pods if you’re brewing in a Keurig. But for those unexpected moments where you find yourself reaching for a plastic coffee container – whether it’s accidentally or out of necessity because your other…

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Southern Oregon University says that it is investigating after stickers promoting a white nationalist group were recently placed around the campus. Though SOU said that the stickers were “attributable to a group espousing white nationalism,” the school has opted not to publicize the group’s name in order to avoid giving them any notoriety. According to Joe Mosley, SOU’s director of Community and Media Relations, several of the stickers were discovered over the weekend in the central campus area. Another was found on Wednesday near Churchill Hall, but Mosley said that it was likely put there at the same time as…

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As of Wednesday morning, Avamere at Three Fountains had 113 cases of coronavirus among its residents and staff. That’s dozens more than any similar facility in Oregon. The facility with the second-most cases is Maryville Memory Care in Washington County with 74 cases, according to weekly state data released by the Oregon Health Authority on Wednesday. Some of the information in OHA’s weekly report isn’t as up-to-date as local data from county governments. On Wednesday, Jackson County Public Health reported that the Three Fountains facility had 113 cases, while the state reported 95 cases. The county also listed Avamere’s Health…

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There’s another reason to celebrate this holiday season — later this month you can attend a virtual party that’s all about Oregon cheese. The Winter Wedge includes an at-home tasting kit with 13 unique Oregon artisan cheeses. Katie Bray with the Oregon Cheese Guild joined AM Extra to dish out all the cheesy details.

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– A Gold Hill man says he contracted coronavirus after picking up his step-father-in-law from Avamere Three Fountains in Medford. Joel Clark’s 90-year-old step-father-in-law Melvin Olson, who lives in Prineville, Oregon was in a car accident on Highway 62 near Prospect. He was transported to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center Emergency where he learned that he had two fractured ribs and a fractured wrist. The doctors were concerned that once released from the hospital he would need rehab for his ribs in order to avoid pneumonia. Three days later, Clark was informed that two staff at Avamere had tested positive for…

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The Salvation Army of Jackson County and Toys for Tots have teamed up this year to provide for families in need, but COVID-19 and other impacts mean that the need has never been greater. The Salvation Army said on Thursday that the organization is providing for 1,500 families this year — 1,000 more than in previous years. As a result, the organization and Toys for Tots are leaning on more generosity from the community than ever before. “The Salvation Army has taken the lead in the combined collaboration with toys for Tots this year in order to ensure that more…

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A man suspected of at least two local home invasion robberies is behind bars following a 5-1/2-hour standoff Thursday night at an east Medford apartment complex, according to a Friday press release from Medford police. Police said Aynsley John Alexander Hand, 35, was a suspect in two Medford robberies that occurred Sept. 23 and Sept. 27, and one in Ashland. On Sept. 23, Hand allegedly showed up at a home in the 600 block of Beatty Street armed with a handgun, threatened the home’s residents and demanded keys to a victim’s vehicle. At about 5 a.m. Sept. 27, Hand allegedly stormed a home…

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