ROGUE VALLEY, Ore. – As part of a nationwide effort to curb speeding-related accidents, multiple local law enforcement agencies in the Rogue Valley are participating in Speed Awareness Month this March. The initiative is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) campaign, Speeding Slows You Down, which aims to raise awareness about the dangers of speeding. Throughout the month, local agencies, including the Eagle Point Police Department and the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, will have additional officers patrolling the roads with a specific focus on targeting speed violations. The heightened enforcement is designed to remind drivers of the…
Author: Sarah Prescott
GRANTS PASS, Ore. — A new mobile surveillance trailer, equipped with cameras and a loudspeaker, has been deployed at one of the city’s three designated camping sites for unhoused residents. The trailer, positioned at the corner of NW 6 and A Street, directly across from City Hall, aims to monitor the area, but its presence has raised concerns among those living at the site. The trailer, which features multiple cameras and a loudspeaker, is part of the city’s efforts to regulate its sanctioned camping locations. However, for many residents, the surveillance feels invasive and dehumanizing. Several individuals living in the…
Jackson County, Ore. — Jackson County has officially transitioned to its own Everbridge account this week, rebranding its notification system as Jackson Alerts. This move comes after years of sharing a system with neighboring Josephine County, a practice that began in 2015. In a statement released Monday, the county explained that the switch would provide greater security and more control over the alerting options, features, and alert senders within the system. The decision to separate the two systems was prompted by a shift in Josephine County’s management structure, as the county combined its IT director and emergency manager positions in…
Josephine County, Oregon — Health officials in Josephine County are sounding the alarm as flu cases rise sharply across the region, with hospitalizations increasing and flu activity reaching concerning levels. Public Health officials are urging residents to take immediate precautions to prevent further spread. According to the Josephine County Public Health (JCPH) department, nearly 9% of emergency room visits in the county this flu season have been due to influenza, marking a significant jump from the previous year. This increase in cases has already resulted in higher-than-usual hospitalization rates, prompting public health officials to issue a warning to local residents.…
Medford, OR – Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced a significant settlement with pharmaceutical companies AbbVie and Besins, totaling $9.25 million. The settlement resolves allegations that the companies engaged in anti-competitive practices to maintain a monopoly on testosterone replacement gels, thus keeping prices unnecessarily high for consumers, insurance companies, and Medicaid. The core of the case centers around the companies’ use of “sham patent litigation” to block generic alternatives to their testosterone gel products. By preventing competition in the marketplace, AbbVie and Besins were accused of artificially inflating prices, ultimately leading to higher costs for both patients and public health…
Klamath Falls, Ore. — A devastating fire that broke out early Thursday morning, February 27th, has left a local man severely injured and his beloved dog dead. The blaze, which started around 4 a.m., completely destroyed an RV and caused significant damage to the surrounding area. Neighbors reported hearing popping sounds coming from the RV as the fire began to spread. Rushing outside, they were met with the sight of the entire structure engulfed in flames. Raymond, the man inside at the time, managed to escape the fire but suffered severe burns to his face, shoulders, and hands. He was…
CAVE JUNCTION, Ore. – A 63-year-old man was arrested on DUII charges Wednesday morning after crashing his vehicle into a fire engine at a local gas station. The incident occurred just before noon at the 76 Gas Station, where an Illinois Valley Fire District engine was refueling. According to the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, Alec James Varney was driving a private vehicle when he collided with the fire truck. Deputies responded to the scene and conducted field sobriety tests on Varney, who was reportedly showing signs of intoxication. Following the tests, Varney was arrested and charged with driving under the…
MEDFORD, Ore. — Nurses represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) returned to work at Providence Medford Medical Center on Thursday, bringing an end to what has now become the longest healthcare workers’ strike in Oregon’s history. The strike, which lasted 46 days, concluded following the ratification of new contracts by over 94% of ONA members across eight Providence hospitals in Oregon. The strike began on January 10th, when ONA and Providence were unable to reach an agreement after protracted negotiations centered on issues such as wages, staffing levels, and healthcare benefits. Tensions escalated during the strike, especially after Providence…
Medford, OR – The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has resumed automatic voter registration after a pause that lasted several months. The program had been halted in October 2024 following the discovery of errors that led to nearly 1,600 individuals being mistakenly registered to vote, despite not providing proof of U.S. citizenship. The issue arose from Oregon’s Motor Voter law, which automatically registers individuals to vote when they apply for or renew a driver’s license or state ID. While the law aims to increase voter participation, it inadvertently impacted non-citizens who are eligible for driver’s licenses in Oregon. Following…
CAVE JUNCTION, Ore. – A 63-year-old man was arrested for driving under the influence after crashing into a fire engine at a local gas station on Wednesday, February 26. The incident occurred at approximately 11:47 a.m. at the 76 gas station in Cave Junction, where deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a collision. Upon arrival, they discovered that a car had struck an Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD) engine while it was refueling. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the driver of the car, identified as Alec Varner, appeared to be under the influence of intoxicants.…