For the first time in years, Oregon landlords governed by the state’s rent stabilization law can’t hand out double-digit rent increases. The Department of Administrative Services announced Tuesday that the maximum allowed rent increase in 2026 will be 9.5%.
This year’s Ashland Mystery Festival is scheduled to run Oct. 16 through 19, and will be headquartered at the Historic Ashland Armory.
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.
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.
Looming federal cuts related to over and underpayment errors in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are estimated to drain roughly $500 million every two years from the human services department, part of the largest chunk of cuts expected to impact the state agency.
A crowd of riders — some local and some from as far as the Bay Area and Northern Washington — came out to Mount Ashland on Saturday to celebrate the debut of Mt. A-Line, a 1-mile, machine-built jump trail boasting 50 jumps, a 40-foot gap and a beginner-friendly track. The project is being hailed as a potential game-changer for Ashland’s outdoor tourism.
A century after the Ashland Springs Hotel opened its doors, the hotel invited a couple dozen guests to mark its 100th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 20.
The state’s $100 billion public pension fund is under fire for selling $4.5 billion in private equity holdings without disclosing details.
Victra, a Verizon-authorized retailer announced the opening of its newest store at 1678 Ashland St. The Verizon store will be the new store front to what was formerly Ashland Electric Bikes in the Ashland Shopping Center. Verizon will offer a lineup of services and mobile plans.
As of Nov. 3, Ashland Community Food Bank has a new director at the reins. Catie Mahoney will serve in the role with guidance from outgoing director Amey Broeker, who will officially retire on Dec. 31 after serving in the food bank role since 2022.
The Ashland City Council will review a proposal from a potential provider to oversee its extreme weather shelter during its regular business meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
The Ashland Independent Film Festival has added a second screening showcasing Indigenous filmmakers on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Three and a half years into the war with Russia, Ashland violinist and longtime music teacher Faina Podolnaya is still finding ways to help Ukrainian refugees.
Herbert Rothschild: As the number of ads in The New Yorker has shrunk, it seems as if the wealth of its readership has concentrated, just as one might concentrate the flavor of a sauce by reducing it on the stovetop.
Local artist MaryAnn Shank will share the thoughts behind her newest novel “Sor Juana, My Beloved” at Bloomsbury Books Jan. 26. Shank is a finalist of The Isabel Allende Most Inspirational Book of the Year 2025 award, awarded by the International Latino Book Association.
(It’s free)
