Catty Corner: Studies have revealed the importance of companion animals to those in the unhoused community, and — whether cats, dogs, birds or other animals — an Ashland shelter is committed to keeping families together.
Heather Yandell: “We deserve better than spending the rest of our lives in a tent. The thought of dying on the street terrifies me, and so I am doing everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Lovell enjoyed meeting Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White: “Vanna came in while we were still prepping for the day and getting everything taken care of. She was just in her sweats but she’s gorgeous regardless…. Ryan is very funny and gracious. He’s a character, really silly in between the takes.”
Thompson lost the use of her legs in an accident. Her mountain bike has a hefty little motor, three wheels and hand controls. Its seat allows Thompson’s legs to be extended and strapped in. And with all that, the bike is wider than most mountain bike trails.
Jessica Sage: “Starting RTC from scratch was both exhilarating and, honestly, overwhelming. Without infrastructure or a roadmap, I personally financed the company for the first two years.”
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, suffering the loss of a second distinguished alumnus in the span of little more than a week, flew its flag at half-mast in honor of the two men. James Edmondson, an actor, director, and educator with more than 38 seasons at OSF, born in Montrose, Colorado, on June 29, 1938, died at home in Ashland on April 2, eight days after the death of Tony-nominated and fellow OSF veteran Denis Arndt.
The Ashland Independent Film Festival is set to honor one of Ashland’s most beloved artists with the Oregon premiere of “I Know Catherine, the Log Lady,” a deeply personal documentary celebrating the life and legacy of Catherine E. Coulson.
Denis Arndt, a distinguished stage and screen actor whose decades-long career spanned Shakespearean classics, Broadway triumphs, Hollywood roles, and 15 seasons with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, died unexpectedly on March 25, 2025, at his home in Ashland. He was 85.
Ashland author Reg Spittle will give a talk, “All Paths Lead From Santiago,” at the Phoenix Library, 510 W. 1st St., at 6:30 p.m. April 8. He will describe his experience as a reluctant pilgrim on Spain’s Camino de Santiago trail and how it led to a 30-day High Sierra adventure on California’s John Muir Trail.
For a Ukrainian family who fled their war-torn nation to settle in Ashland, the Trump administration’s decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine is more than just a foreign policy decision. It is a question of national survival.
The Oregon Legislature is meeting this week to consider some major cuts to current spending levels as a large revenue deficit looms. That’s because the state’s tax code automatically replicates new federal tax cuts, including ones passed by Congressional Republicans this summer that will reduce state revenue
Michael O’Looney: Trump and the Texas Legislature are responsible for a partisan power grab that has unleashed bitterness and partisan vindictiveness, all in an effort to subvert an electoral system for partisan ends.
Councilor Bob Kaplan: While the cost of delivering kilowatt-hours to our homes has risen, Ashland Electric has been able to hold our rates steady with just one increase of 5.1% in 2021. I’m sorry to say we’re due for an increase, but fortunately it’s not likely to match recent increases elsewhere.
An estimate for the cost to abate asbestos found in the shuttered Lincoln School recently should be available as early as sometime this week, according to Steve Mitzel, operations director for Ashland School District. The cost to remove asbestos would be separate from the as yet-unknown cost for structural repair.
“We are still here” was the theme for Saturday’s Native American Heritage Celebration at Southern Oregon University, hosted by the SOU Native American Student Union (NASU) and SOU Native Nations Liaison Kenwanicahee (Kenwani) Kravitz (Madesi Bandi, Pit River Nation Winnemem, Nomtipom and Nomsus Bands Northern Wintu).
As Oregon lawmakers stare down a deficit of at least $373 million over the next two years — and brace for the possibility of a bigger shortfall in the state’s next quarterly revenue — they asked state agencies to create lists of ways to cut 5% of their approved budgets.
(It’s free)
