Medford, Ore. — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, in collaboration with State Representative Pam Marsh, is championing House Bill 3644, a new piece of legislation designed to overhaul the state’s homeless shelter system. The bill, introduced this week, seeks to establish consistent standards for shelters across the state and secure crucial funding to sustain shelter programs. Governor Kotek testified before lawmakers on Monday afternoon, outlining the goals of the bill. She explained that the legislation would create a more structured system by implementing uniform shelter program standards and ensuring long-term sustainability through dedicated funding. Currently, Oregon’s homeless shelter system is described…
Author: Sarah Prescott
Medford, OR – The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has unveiled a new set of guidelines aimed at enhancing literacy instruction for middle and high school students. The Adolescent Literacy Framework, which follows a similar framework introduced for elementary school students in 2023, seeks to foster confident and competent readers and writers across grade levels. ODE officials stress the importance of literacy as a foundational skill essential for academic success, regardless of the subject. Angelica Cruz, the department’s Director of Literacy, explained the importance of this shift in focus. “We spend those early years learning to read and then we…
ROGUE RIVER, Ore. – A suspect wanted for attempted murder in Los Angeles County, California, was apprehended earlier this month in Rogue River after evading authorities for more than a year. Darryl Sears, 36, was arrested on February 16, 2025, during a routine traffic stop by the Rogue River Police Department. The arrest stems from a hit-and-run incident that occurred on July 12, 2023, which left a victim with severe injuries. California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigators believe the crash was a deliberate act, with Sears intentionally striking the victim and leaving them to die. The incident prompted an immediate search…
MEDFORD, Ore. – The Medford community is grappling with concerns over the potential return of a convicted sex offender, former youth pastor Donald Biggs, who was arrested in 2015 for child pornography-related charges. Biggs, who secretly filmed young girls during church events and trips without their consent, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in 2018. However, recent developments have raised alarm among residents, particularly the victims’ families. Kevin Smith, the father of two of Biggs’s victims, revealed that Biggs was initially scheduled for release in 2030, but a change in sentencing guidelines has led to…
MEDFORD, Ore. — The Medford School Board has approved a resolution allowing for exemptions to standard bid requirements, enabling the district to move quickly with the demolition and stabilization of the North Medford High School gym. The decision, made during a special session, comes after the gym’s collapse, which authorities believe was partly caused by heavy snow, although the full cause remains under investigation. Resolution #2025-1 permits the district to bypass typical bidding procedures during the emergency phase of the demolition. The resolution designates Bret Champion and/or Brad Earl as authorized staff members to approve bids and purchases related to…
White City, Ore. — A public town hall meeting will be held in White City on March 8 to discuss the repeal of Oregon’s statewide wildfire hazard map, with local leaders and experts addressing concerns from residents. The meeting will take place just two days before the March 10 appeals deadline, making it a critical opportunity for those opposed to the map to voice their opinions. The event will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at White Mountain Middle School, located at 550 Wilson Way. Among those attending will be Bob Hart, a retired land consultant who has…
VALLEY FALLS, Ore. – Ranchers in Lake County, Oregon, are grappling with significant challenges this winter as a federally protected wolf, OR158, has begun preying on livestock, raising concerns for both ranchers’ safety and the future of their businesses. The presence of OR158, which was collared by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), marks a new and unsettling chapter for ranchers in the region. Tom Flynn, a rancher at T7 Cattle Ranch, recounted his first encounter with the wolf, describing its large paw prints, which he said were the size of his own hand. After following the tracks,…
Medford, OR – After a prolonged 46-day strike, nurses across eight Providence hospitals in Oregon have voted to ratify a tentative agreement, officially ending the work stoppage. All eight RN bargaining units represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) voted in favor of the new contracts on Monday, February 24. This marks the end of a challenging dispute that began in mid-January. The hospitals involved in the strike include Providence St. Vincent, Providence Portland, Providence Milwaukie, Providence Willamette Falls, Providence Newberg, Providence Hood River, Providence Seaside, and Providence Medford. The ratification vote comes after nurses at these facilities extended the…
MEDFORD, Ore. – Medford Police successfully used advanced vehicle identification technology to track down suspects involved in a shots fired incident on Saturday, February 22. Two arrests were made following the use of in-car video and automatic license plate readers. According to a statement from the Medford Police Department (MPD), officers responded to reports of gunfire around 11:58 p.m. on the 800 block of Archer Drive. Upon arrival, police found bullet impacts on a home but confirmed no injuries had occurred. Using vehicle identification tools, officers were able to identify the suspect vehicle as a Chevrolet Impala. The vehicle’s information…
Medford, OR – Recent findings from a study led by Dan Jaffe, Haebum Lee, Daniel Goldberg, and Katelyn O’Dell have revealed troubling news for residents of Oregon. The study, which focused on the period from 2019 to 2023, found that the three smokiest cities in the United States were all located in Oregon—Medford, Bend, and Grants Pass. Among them, Medford was ranked as the most smoke-affected city in the country. The research, which utilized an advanced algorithm, aimed to measure the impact of wildfire smoke with a speed and precision not previously seen. By analyzing satellite imagery and particulate matter…