Medford, OR – More than 40 members of Congress, including Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, have filed a friend-of-the-court brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to revive the landmark climate lawsuit, Juliana v. United States. The lawsuit, filed nearly a decade ago by 21 young Americans, argues that the federal government’s continued support for fossil fuel production and its failure to address the worst effects of climate change violate the constitutional right of the plaintiffs, including 11 Oregonians, to a livable environment. Merkley and Wyden, along with other Democratic lawmakers and independent U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, have expressed…
Author: Sarah Prescott
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — A new program designed to assist businesses in Jackson County affected by the 2020 Labor Day fires is set to launch, offering a unique approach to economic recovery. The PIER (Planning, Infrastructure, and Economic Revitalization) Program is the first of its kind in Oregon, focusing on economic revitalization as a method of disaster recovery. The program, which has been years in the making, will provide grants and loans to businesses in Jackson County to help them rebuild. Businesses affected by the fires can apply for grants of up to $15,000, while microenterprises are eligible for loans…
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – A school bus accident occurred this morning on Richey Road near West Gregory Road in rural Central Point. The incident, reported at approximately 7:50 a.m., involved deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) and firefighters from Jackson County Fire District 3. According to the JCSO, one student sustained minor injuries in the crash and was transported to a local hospital in Medford for treatment. No other injuries were reported among the bus’s occupants, who were primarily children on their way to school. Preliminary investigations suggest that dense fog and icy road conditions contributed to the…
Medford, OR – Hillcrest Road, located between Foothill Road and Urano Lane, is closed to through traffic from January 14 through March 9, as part of a significant road reconstruction project. The closure will also facilitate the installation of a new storm drainage system, which aims to improve infrastructure in the area. During the closure, drivers will be directed to detour routes via North Phoenix Road and Stanford Road. Access to local businesses along Hillcrest Road will remain open and will be clearly marked with signage throughout the construction period. Motorists are advised to anticipate delays, particularly during peak travel…
Medford, Ore. – Southern Oregon University (SOU) is playing an integral role in the development of a new wildlife crossing that will be built through the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, just south of Ashland. The project, which is funded by federal resources, aims to improve wildlife movement across a busy stretch of the I-5 highway, specifically near the Siskiyou Summit. The wildlife crossing, set to be completed between late 2028 and early 2029, is part of a broader initiative to mitigate the dangers wildlife face when attempting to cross highways in the region. SOU’s involvement has been key, with 14 undergraduate…
MEDFORD, Ore. – Firefighters from the Rogue Valley are currently working tirelessly to combat the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area, as part of a specialized strike team. This team, made up of 20 firefighters and five fire engines, represents several local fire districts, including the Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD), Medford Fire, Ashland Fire and Rescue, Jackson County Fire District 3, and Chiloquin Fire and Rescue. The team, which began its third 24-hour shift on Tuesday, is focused on the fires in the Topanga Canyon area. With the fire already stretching over 23,000 acres, the Rogue Valley firefighters…
MEDFORD, OR– A car crashed through the front doors of Great Clips on Biddle Road in Medford just before the salon was set to open Monday morning. The incident occurred around 9:50 a.m., moments before the salon was ready to welcome customers. Amber Garrett, an employee at the salon, was inside at the time of the crash. She described the terrifying moment, saying she was counting the till when she suddenly felt glass shatter around her, and the desk was pushed down to the floor as the vehicle entered the building. “I was opening the shop today and I saw…
MEDFORD, OR – A significant milestone was reached this weekend in the push for a casino in Medford, as the U.S. Department of the Interior issued a record of decision approving the Coquille Tribe’s request to move forward with plans to build a casino in the city. The Coquille Tribe, based in Coos County, has owned the land on South Pacific Highway in South Medford for more than a decade. In addition to the land, the tribe also owns the nearby Bear Creek golf center and the Compass by Margaritaville hotel. The tribe’s existing operation, the Mill Casino in North…
MEDFORD, OR– Nurses represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) have returned to the picket lines at Providence Medford Medical Center, marking the second strike in less than a year. The strike, which began on January 14, 2025, follows over a year of contentious contract negotiations between ONA and Providence Health & Services. The current contract expired in March 2024, and the primary issues fueling the strike include safe staffing levels, employee benefits, and competitive wages. Providence Health & Services has stated that it is prepared to resume negotiations with ONA at six hospital locations across Oregon, including Providence Medford,…
Medford, OR – In her 2025 State of the State address on Monday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek outlined several key initiatives she hopes will define her leadership in the coming year. The Governor focused on a range of pressing issues, including homelessness, mental health and addiction care, education reform, and climate resilience. Kotek’s message emphasized a collaborative effort to tackle these challenges head-on. Homelessness and Housing Governor Kotek began by addressing the ongoing homelessness crisis, stating that by July 2025, actions tied to her homelessness state of emergency are expected to rehouse 3,300 households and prevent another 24,000 households from…