Jackson County Fire District 5’s financial crisis deepened this week with the discovery of a previously unknown $1.4 million FEMA loan, pushing the district’s total debt to $9.6 million. The district is exploring options, including possible loan forgiveness.
Herbert Rothschild: A culture of peace exists in a community when mutual care and respect characterize the relationships among all its people and between them and the environment on which they depend.
This week’s theme: a 2025 Fall special event and 3 camps at scienceworksmuseum.org. Solve it in your browser or download and print. Next Friday’s Crossword: Grin and Bear It #03
As the sun rose over Lithia Park on Sept. 14, families gathered to welcome weary runners crossing the finish line of the Pine to Palm 100 — a legendary 100-mile ultramarathon ending its final chapter. Among them was Tim Smith, an Ashland pharmacist who ran to honor his late daughter, pushing through pain, grief, and 25,000 feet of elevation.
Whodunnit? Find out when the Oregon Cabaret Theatre offers “Murder for Two,” a comedic musical that features 15 original songs and more than a dozen characters played by two versatile, piano-playing performers.
Law enforcement officials released limited footage of a single figure approaching the vehicle of an Ashland man who was shot and killed early on Sept. 7.
An anonymous $890,000 donation to the Ashland Schools Foundation not only helped ease the district’s budget crisis — it sparked a wave of gratitude that caught national attention. The community’s response, especially from students, led to a feature on the Kelly Clarkson Show, set to air on Oct. 16.
Jim Hatton: There are countless definitions and uses of the word love…. Here is my definition: Love is what is created when God-Source sees itself within its own creation.
The Ashland City Council approved the first reading of an amended ordinance that would make it easier for law enforcement to ban from downtown areas for negative behavior.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association will host an opening party, barbecue, and ribbon cutting for “their most significant trail to date,” according to President Ryan Hawk. The association — funded by donors and fueled by volunteers — creates, maintains and supports hundreds of mountain bike trails from Grants Pass to Ashland.
This year’s Ashland Mystery Festival is scheduled to run Oct. 16 through 19, and will be headquartered at the Historic Ashland Armory.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is warning people about a phishing scam involving fake emails that appear to come from the official Jackson Alerts system.
Throughout October, 12 female professionals from across the country and Australia — organized by Ashland-based nonprofit Keeping All Women Safe (KAWS) — will offer “valuable information” to help women and men cultivate safer, healthier and more empowering lives and relationships.
The Oregon Senate on Monday passed the long-awaited transportation bill to update the state’s funding sources for road maintenance and operations. The bill would raise taxes and fees, including a gas tax increase from $0.40 to $0.46, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Once a vibrant hub for local produce and community gathering, the Ashland Growers Market is now, some say, struggling with shrinking sales and dwindling attendance. Longtime vendors report drops of up to two-thirds in revenue, while people voice frustrations over pricing, location and atmosphere.
A former civil rights attorney said that the Trump administration’s lawsuit demanding that Oregon turn over voter information to investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud is unprecedented.
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