Oregon has expanded free health insurance that mirrors Medicaid to all residents who qualify, regardless of their immigration status. The move took effect July 1. It marks an expansion of a Medicaid-type program for immigrants last year for residents who don’t qualify for the Oregon Health Plan because of their immigration status.
Getting around Ashland will become a lot easier on Monday when a new neighborhood bus route begins operation. Route 17, the newest route offered by Rogue Valley Transportation District, will circulate every hour through previously unserved streets to connect with Southern Oregon University, schools and shopping centers.
The union that represents more than 22,000 state government employees on Thursday asked its members to commit to a potential strike as negotiations continue for a new contract. Service Employees International Union Local 503, which represents about half the state workforce, is behind that push and negotiating for a new contract for state workers.
Rotary Club of Ashland Lithia Springs on June 1 awarded a total of $28,000 in scholarships to seven Ashland High School students to help them pay for career and technical education.
A watered-down version of a proposal meant to prevent a repeat of the nearly 15% rent hikes allowed this year cleared a Senate committee Thursday. Oregon’s 2019 statewide rent control law caps increases on many buildings to no more than 7% plus inflation. Last year’s high inflation cleared the way for landlords to hike rents by 14.6%.
A bill that would allow Oregonians to pump their own gas anywhere in the state edged closer to passage this week with its second public hearing in the Legislature. The proposal would allow all gas stations statewide to offer self-serve gas at all hours while requiring an attendant for anyone who might want to be served.
A brand new bus route will circulate every hour in Ashland beginning June 26. Rogue Valley Transportation District will unveil Route 17 to provide local residents with a new way to get around town.
The Southern Oregon University Board of Trustees on Friday unanimously approved “Securing SOU’s Future by Embracing a New Fiscal Paradigm,” also known as the Strategic Realignment Plan. The plan will eliminate the equivalent of almost 82 full-time positions, about 24 of which will result in current employees losing their jobs.
Southern Oregon University trustees are slated to cast a weighty vote during their on-campus meeting Friday afternoon. The university’s realignment plan, “SOU Forward,” cuts two dozen full-time positions as one part of an effort to bring the university’s fiscal model into balance in coming years.
Half of Americans live in a child care desert, with only one available child care spot for every three children in need of care. On a recent Saturday afternoon, a small group of local parents and day care providers came together at Peace House to talk with Oregon Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, about the gaping child care needs of Ashland families.
Mt. Ashland Ski Area’s first new chairlift in more than three decades will open this weekend. The Lithia Chair will open at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, giving skiers and snowboarders greater access to easy and intermediate slopes, according to a release issued Tuesday from the nonprofit ski area.
Review: This year’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” playing at the CTP and directed by Tommy Statler, is original, imaginative and lighter than last year’s production of the same. The story of the miserly curmudgeon who finds redemption in the meaning of Christmas keeps with the spirit of the season.
The Salvation Army in Jackson and Josephine counties is pleading for volunteers to help ring in the holidays during the annual Red Kettle donations campaign as the organization faces a critical shortage of staff. “We are sounding the alarm,” said Capt. Yohani Ortiz with The Salvation Army Grants Pass.
Obituary: It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Patricia “Patti” Ann Metz (Seely), a devoted mother, friend, and pillar of the Rogue Valley community in Southern Oregon for the past 44 years. On Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, Patti left us at the age of 86, after a long illness, leaving behind a legacy of love, kindness, and unwavering dedication to those she cherished.
Real Estate Corner: I’ve been noticing an interesting trend. There’s movement both ways — people discovering Ashland as their dream destination and others leaving for the next chapter in their lives. So, what’s driving these shifts? Let’s examine why people are moving to (and from) our fantastic town.
Ashland’s TC Chevy has shifted into high gear on sustainability, becoming a shining example of clean energy innovation with the addition of three new Stracker solar arrays to its existing five units. The dealership now is in a position to run entirely on sun power, achieving net-zero status and proving that the road to a greener future starts at home.
(It’s free)