A majority of Jackson County Library District employees have signed union authorization cards, marking the formal start of a process toward collective bargaining.
On Monday, economic and political leaders pitched their vision for a path forward to steer the state’s economy back to relative stability, when they gathered for the annual Oregon Leadership Summit. This year’s event comes as near-stagnant population and economic growth have pressured state leaders to attract more business opportunities to Oregon.
The city of Ashland on Thursday said officials are reviewing a 2013 agreement between the city and Asante and will monitor the Ashland hospital’s transition to a satellite of Rogue Regional Medical Center in May as announced by Asante on Wednesday, according to a city news release issued late afternoon Thursday.
Asante Ashland Community Hospital’s birthing center and inpatient surgery will close by spring 2026, leaving only the emergency room and outpatient services, according to plans shared with staff Wednesday, Dec. 3, by Asante, the Medford-based health care provider serving Southern Oregon and Northern California.
Oregon has expanded access to birth workers, shown to improve the wellbeing of parents, opening up Medicaid to doulas in 2014 and to lactation consultants in 2020. But years into that effort, professionals say their inability to get paid remains one of the most persistent obstacles to providing care to low-income families
A state audit released Nov. 20 found the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries in “crisis,” with thousands of wage, hour, and civil rights complaints stalled for years due to mismanagement and understaffing. Auditors cited major backlogs across all programs and said outdated or missing policies hindered the agency’s ability to protect workers.
A coalition of Democratic states are suing the U.S. Department of Education to stop new eligibility restrictions for the program that allows student loan forgiveness for government and nonprofit employees after 10 years of service pursuant to President Trump’s March executive order.
One of Southern Oregon University’s most elite programs – its Honors College – is on its way out as part of $10 million in cost cuts detailed in the Resiliency Plan approved by the Board of Trustees in September.
The drive-through and lobby of the Walker Avenue Starbucks in Ashland bustled during the lunch hour and into the afternoon on Friday, with customers of all ages picking up drink and food orders, many staying to dine inside. On Sunday, the espresso machines at the only brick-and-mortar Starbucks location in Ashland will be quiet as it is among more than 500 stores in the U.S. and Canada set to close for good.
The state’s $100 billion public pension fund is under fire for selling $4.5 billion in private equity holdings without disclosing details.
Oregon’s fourth-grade reading scores have plummeted to last place in the nation, even as education spending has surged. Meanwhile, Mississippi, known for its underfunded schools, now leads the country after embracing the “science of reading.”
More than 60 people turned out for a look at the proposed Ashland Mill mega-project during an open house Wednesday night at the Historic Ashland Armory. Planned on the former Croman Mill site on 60-plus acres of the city’s southeast side, what’s now known as the Ashland Mill project represents the largest development proposal in the city’s history, with more than 550 housing units and 200,000 square feet of retail and commercial spaces, as well as pathways, small parks and open spaces.
Janai Mestrovich: That day, two drunk, homeless strangers became my unexpected protectors. In my heart, I still call them my “drunkles” (my drunk uncles) because in that shaky New York afternoon, they cared for me as gently as family.
Ashland school officials greenlit an 18-month road map to explore restructuring the district amid declining enrollment. While emphasizing that no school closures are being proposed, district Superintendent Joseph Hattrick outlined an approach to the plan that focuses on data analysis, public input, and long-term planning. Changes are not expected until 2027 or later. The plan aims to curb anxiety about school closures, particularly at Bellview Elementary.
Obituary: Longtime Ashland resident Judith “Judy” Ellen Greifer Benjamin passed away on Jan. 14, 2024. She was 91. A former president of the local League of Women Voters, Judy lived a life “filled with curiosity, creativity, and global adventure.” A graveside internment of ashes and memorial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15, at the Jacksonville Cemetery. At 2 p.m., a memorial celebration of life will be held at the family home.
A majority of Jackson County Library District employees have signed union authorization cards, marking the formal start of a process toward collective bargaining.
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