Medford, OR – Several schools across Southern Oregon and Northern California are closing or delaying their schedules Friday, February 7, as a winter storm continues to impact the region. With snow and hazardous conditions expected to persist throughout the day, school officials have made the decision to prioritize student and staff safety by adjusting their operations. Schools Closed on Friday, February 7: College of the Siskiyous Klamath County School District Klamath Falls City Schools Pinehurst School District Ashland School District In addition to these closures, a number of schools are implementing delayed start times for Friday. Schools with Delayed Openings:…
Author: Sarah Prescott
Medford, OR – Pacific Power announced that 97% of customers who lost power during this week’s winter storms in southern Oregon have had their service restored. Over 300 field crews and support staff have been working around the clock to repair the damage caused by snow accumulation and fallen trees, which knocked down power lines and damaged electrical equipment. The utility company reported that its crews are focused on the hardest-hit areas, including the Medford, Grants Pass, and Klamath Falls districts. These regions have seen extensive damage, with more than 200 spans of downed power lines, broken utility poles, and…
Medford, OR – Traffic in southern Oregon has been severely impacted following the closure of Interstate 5 (I-5) earlier today. While the closure has since been lifted, significant delays persist as both northbound and southbound traffic struggle to move over Siskiyou Summit. Motorists are being urged to avoid the area if possible as congestion continues to build. Currently, the only remaining closure is on OR-273, which is shut down between mileposts 0 and 12. In addition, OR-66 is facing a conditional closure between mileposts 6.5 and 50.6, though it remains open under certain conditions. In Medford, hazardous driving conditions are…
GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Two teenage boys, aged 14 and 15, are in custody at the Josephine County Juvenile Justice Center after being arrested on a series of serious felony charges. The arrests occurred following a search warrant served by Grants Pass Police detectives and patrol officers in the northwest part of the city on Thursday. The boys face a range of charges, including first-degree kidnapping, strangulation, second- and third-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, menacing, and criminal conspiracy. Authorities have not released the identities of the suspects, as they are minors, and the…
Medford, OR – This evening, emergency crews responded to a dramatic structural collapse in the area after a carport buckled under the weight of heavy snow, trapping a man beneath it. The incident occurred when the snow accumulation caused the carport to give way, leaving the man trapped under the debris. A quick-thinking neighbor heard the man’s calls for help and immediately dialed 911, prompting a swift response from emergency services. Engine 15, Heavy Rescue 14, and Squad 14 were first to arrive on the scene, equipped with specialized technical rescue tools and training. Using their expertise, the rescue teams…
Medford, OR. – After a week of intense mediation, the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) and Providence Oregon have reached a tentative agreement, bringing an end to a tense labor dispute that had lasted for weeks. The agreement affects all eight registered bargaining units across several Providence hospitals in Oregon, including Providence St. Vincent, Providence Portland Medical Center, Providence Medford Medical Center, Providence Newberg, Providence Willamette Falls, Providence Milwaukie, Providence Hood River, and Providence Seaside. However, negotiations are still ongoing with the hospitalists at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. The tentative agreement was reached after seven days of mediation, following a…
MEDFORD, Ore. – Rogue Valley International Medford Airport is working to return to full operational capacity after a significant snowstorm disrupted flights earlier this week. The storm, which struck on Monday, brought 6 to 7 inches of snow to the area, forcing airport crews to perform extensive snow removal across runways, taxiways, and other key areas. Amber Judd, Airport Director, explained that safety remained the airport’s top priority, which led to the decision to halt all flights on Monday. “No planes took off or landed due to the accumulation of snow, which required immediate attention,” Judd said. “We understand the…
Medford, OR – Firefighters in Medford have been working tirelessly to address a significant increase in emergency calls due to severe weather conditions. In addition to the usual fire and medical emergencies, crews have been responding to a series of power line problems and other weather-related incidents throughout the region. In response to the elevated demand for services, Medford Fire Department has bolstered its staffing by upstaffing a Type 6 unit equipped with 4-wheel drive capabilities. This strategic move aims to provide additional support in navigating the challenging weather conditions, which have caused hazardous driving and complicated rescue efforts. The…
MEDFORD, Ore. – The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) responded to several crashes across the county on Sunday, including a school bus collision on Griffin Creek Road in Medford. The incident occurred when the school bus, which was empty of passengers at the time, slid into a ditch. Moments later, a passing car struck the bus. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the crash, and authorities confirmed that no children were aboard the bus during the incident. JCSO officials also reported hazardous road conditions throughout the county, citing slick surfaces and fallen trees that have knocked down power lines. With…
MEDFORD, Ore. – A winter storm swept through Medford Monday, causing major traffic disruptions and prompting the city’s Public Works department to mobilize its snowplows and sanders early in the day. As of 9:10 p.m., significant road closures were reported, with Stanford Avenue between Cherry and Hillcrest blocked due to multiple spun-out vehicles. Additionally, the westbound lane of Hillcrest Road from McAndrews to Urano remained closed due to hazardous conditions. Though snowplows are not frequently needed in Medford, city crews were on the move by 3:00 a.m. to address the inclement weather. Public Works Director John Vial emphasized that priority…