Medford, OR – In a unanimous decision, Oregon lawmakers voted on Tuesday to add digitally created or altered images to the state’s “revenge porn” law, marking a significant step toward addressing the growing issue of AI-generated and digitally manipulated explicit content. The bill, known as House Bill 2299, was approved by a 56-0 vote in the Oregon House and now heads to the state Senate for further consideration. The bill seeks to make it illegal to create or distribute digitally altered images—particularly those involving nudity or sexually explicit content—without the subject’s consent. If passed, Oregon will become the 32nd state…
Author: Sarah Prescott
Grants Pass, Ore. – In a move aimed at addressing the city’s growing homelessness crisis, the Grants Pass City Council voted six to two on Wednesday night to approve the addition of two new resting sites for unhoused individuals. The new sites, located at 714 NW 6th St and 711 NW 6th St, are set to expand the city’s existing network of designated spaces for people experiencing homelessness. These two new sites, which will add 55 and 44 spaces respectively, are situated adjacent to the current site at 704 NW 6th St. While all three sites will remain separate, their proximity…
ASHLAND, Ore. – A 34-year-old Ashland man, James David Lee Hergett, is currently in the Jackson County Jail following a series of violent incidents this month that left multiple individuals injured and led to several serious charges. Hergett was indicted by the Jackson County Grand Jury on Thursday, facing a slew of charges including first- and second-degree kidnapping, coercion with a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing domestic violence, second-degree attempted assault, harassment, and first- and third-degree sex abuse. The first incident occurred on April 8, when the Ashland Police Department (APD) received a report alleging that Hergett had…
Medford, Ore. — A proposed bill in the Oregon Legislature, Senate Bill 238, is reigniting a contentious debate between law enforcement and civil rights groups over the balance between public safety and privacy. The bill, which has already passed through the state Senate, would significantly expand the use of drones by law enforcement in the state, allowing police to deploy drones in response to any 911 call or emergency situation deemed a threat to public safety, without the need for a warrant in many cases. Under the current law, drones are primarily used by police to assist with active crime…
GRANTS PASS, Ore. – A Grants Pass man is facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with a March incident that left another man with significant head trauma. The victim, a 57-year-old man, was transported to a local hospital on March 4 after sustaining the injuries. According to Grants Pass police, the man’s condition deteriorated over the following weeks, ultimately leading to his death. As a result, the case was handed over to the Major Crimes Unit for further investigation, and it was later reclassified as a homicide. After weeks of investigation, authorities identified 30-year-old James Ross as a suspect…
GRANTS PASS, Ore. – A 30-year-old man has been arrested in connection to the death of 57-year-old Roy Harvey, who died after being repeatedly struck with a shovel in a violent attack last month. The arrest was made on Sunday, April 13, at the Robertson Bridge Boat Landing in Josephine County. According to court documents, Harvey was discovered on March 4 along Rogue River Highway with severe head trauma. He was immediately transported to a medical facility but ultimately succumbed to his injuries on March 26. Investigators from the Major Crimes Unit quickly identified James Ross as the suspect in…
Medford, Ore. – The University of Oregon has filed a lawsuit against former assistant football coach Carlos Locklyn after he abruptly left his position as running backs coach in April 2024, just two months after signing a two-year contract with the Ducks. The university is seeking $400,000 from Locklyn, which it claims is the amount stipulated in his contract for breaching the agreement. Locklyn, who had previously served two seasons with the Ducks under head coach Dan Lanning, was hired in February 2024 to remain with the team for two more years. However, in April 2024, he left for a…
MEDFORD, Ore. – The Medford Police Department announced Wednesday evening that Crater Lake Avenue will be closed for an extended period of time between Alpine Court and Temple Drive due to a serious crash involving a motorcycle and another vehicle. The crash, which occurred earlier in the evening, resulted in the motorcyclist sustaining serious injuries. Emergency responders transported the individual to the hospital for treatment. In response to the incident, the Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) team has been dispatched to investigate the crash. The team is working to determine the exact cause of the collision, though details remain limited…
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – A Jacksonville man has been arrested on multiple charges after allegedly using Snapchat to attempt to lure a minor into a sexual encounter. Anthony Wheeler, 39, was taken into custody on March 26 following an undercover investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Wheeler has been charged with four offenses, including first-degree and second-degree online sexual corruption of a child, as well as two counts of luring a minor. He appeared in court for a pre-trial conference on Monday, April 14, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. The investigation, which led to Wheeler’s arrest,…
MEDFORD, Ore. — The Medford Fire Department (MFD) responded to a structure fire at the Medford Plaza Apartments on Tuesday, April 15. Firefighters arrived at the scene and swiftly contained the blaze, which was isolated to a laundry room appliance within the building. According to MFD, the fire was reported early in the afternoon and was quickly brought under control, preventing any further damage to the structure. Authorities confirmed that the fire did not spread beyond the laundry room area. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and all residents were safely evacuated as a precaution. The cause of the fire remains…