Medford, OR – Heavy snow and icy conditions have prompted road closures and chain requirements across southern Oregon and northern California. Motorists traveling through Jackson, Klamath, and Lake counties in Oregon, as well as Siskiyou County in California, are urged to exercise caution as winter weather continues to impact travel in the region. Jackson County, Oregon: Travelers on Interstate 5 at the Siskiyou Summit are required to use chains, as snow accumulation has made the road conditions treacherous. Additionally, OR-273 (from mileposts 1 to 12) remains fully closed due to unsafe conditions. Klamath County, Oregon: On ORE62 between mileposts 55…
Author: Sarah Prescott
MEDFORD, Ore. — A snowstorm that swept through the region on Monday has caused widespread flight disruptions at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport. Numerous flights departing from the airport have been canceled, with more cancellations expected throughout the day on Tuesday. Affected flights include routes to major cities such as Seattle, Portland, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Phoenix. The storm’s impact has primarily been felt by outbound flights, though arrivals into Medford have largely remained on time or experienced only minor delays. Travelers planning to fly out of the airport on Tuesday should expect continued uncertainty, as some early…
GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Hundreds of concerned residents filled a town hall hosted by the Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Thursday to discuss the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) newly released Wildfire Hazard Map. Earlier this month, many local property owners received notifications from the ODF, indicating that their properties were classified as being in high wildfire hazard zones. This has sparked significant concern among residents, especially regarding the potential impact on home insurance rates and property values. At the town hall, these financial concerns were front and center. Several community members expressed their frustration, fearing that the new…
GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Volunteers with the Josephine County Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program are teaming up with the Josephine Community Library to offer free tax help to local residents. Starting February 4, community members can receive assistance in filing both federal and state taxes, with services running every Tuesday and Friday through April 11. VITA volunteers will be available at the Grants Pass Library from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on these days. On Tuesdays, individuals can schedule an appointment for a tax preparer to file their taxes on their behalf. Fridays are dedicated to helping individuals who…
KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. – The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning to residents about an ongoing Bitcoin and investment scam targeting local individuals. According to the sheriff’s office, scammers have been posing as law enforcement officials, government representatives, or tech support agents to pressure victims into buying Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies under false pretenses. The scammers reportedly claim that purchasing cryptocurrencies is necessary for security reasons or to protect the victim’s funds. In some cases, the perpetrators have threatened their victims with arrest or other legal action if they do not comply with the demands. The Klamath County…
Medford, OR – As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to make inroads into the healthcare industry, some states are beginning to take action to ensure patient safety and preserve the roles of healthcare professionals. In Oregon, state Rep. Travis Nelson, a nurse and Portland Democrat, is spearheading an effort to prevent AI systems from assuming the title of “nurse.” His proposed legislation, House Bill 2748, would ban any nonhuman entity, including AI, from using this title in the state. The bill comes at a time of increasing concern within the nursing community about AI technologies that threaten to replace or devalue…
Medford, Ore. – A local woman has become the first beneficiary of the ReOregon Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP), moving into a newly purchased home thanks to the program’s funding. Joan, whose identity has been protected for privacy reasons, now resides in a three-bedroom house made possible by the assistance of HARP. Launched in 2024, the program was established in response to the devastation caused by the 2020 Labor Day wildfires that impacted communities across Oregon. The initiative is funded by the federal $422 million Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, aimed at helping homeowners who lost their properties…
ROGUE RIVER, Ore. — A 40-year-old man from Rogue River is facing multiple charges after allegedly striking a woman with his vehicle while she was walking along Queens Branch Road on the evening of January 26. According to a press release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the woman was attempting to gain control of her horse when the car collided with her. The impact caused major injuries, and the woman was transported to a local hospital. Thankfully, she remains in stable condition. The horse, however, was uninjured in the crash. The driver, later identified as Jason Allan Baker, reportedly…
GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Two teenage boys, aged 14 and 15, are in juvenile detention after being arrested on multiple felony charges, including kidnapping, following a search warrant executed by Grants Pass Police on Thursday. The arrests stem from an ongoing investigation, with the suspects facing a range of serious charges. These include first-degree kidnapping, strangulation, second- and third-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, menacing, and criminal conspiracy. Detectives and patrol officers served the search warrant in the northwest part of the city. Both boys have been lodged in the Josephine County Juvenile Justice…
GRANTS PASS, Ore. — As the temperatures in Grants Pass remain above freezing this weekend, one of the few resources for the city’s unhoused population may have to close its doors overnight due to a lack of capacity. The Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT) severe weather shelter has been overwhelmed with demand in recent weeks. The shelter, which operates under city rules allowing it to open when temperatures fall to 30 degrees or less, has seen a significant increase in the number of individuals seeking shelter since the closure of a large camping site on city-owned property on J Street.…