The Ashland ice rink will remain closed this season due to a series of permitting complications triggered by the decision to convert the rink’s canopy from a temporary to a permanent structure. The decision comes as a disappointment to local families and schools, who have long made time on the rink a holiday tradition.
A proposal to create four residential lots on Scenic Drive above Lithia Park won approval from the Ashland Planning Commission this week, despite challenges posed by steep slopes and protected trees. But plans for two new commercial buildings on Ashland Street hit an unexpected delay after the city discovered that required notice of tree removals had been omitted, forcing a continuation of the hearing until January.
Ashland High School may soon face stiffer competition as Oregon’s athletic governing body moves forward with reclassifications that place the school in a new 5A Southern Cascade Conference alongside Crater, Eagle Point, and Henley high schools. AHS officials argue that 4A would be the best fit, citing participation numbers and resource gaps, but OSAA’s committee is preparing to finalize the changes next week.
A piece of New York cultural history — destroyed in the 9/11 attacks — will come back into the world this week through an ambitious digital reconstruction led by an Ashland-based team.
Ashland resident and Almeda Fire survivor Vanessa Houk was awarded $25,000 on Tuesday, Dec. 9, from The Courage Project for her support to the community, particularly individuals facing homelessness and hunger.
Lights on Bikes, the annual Talent holiday bike parade, returns for its 12th year from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Additionally, there will be a competition for “Best Dressed” house as well as a raffle that participants can enter by donating a can of soup to the Talent Food Pantry.
A proposal to improve the walkability of Winburn Way through Lithia Park has been tabled by the Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission. In other parks commission business, several residents voice concern about spraying glycophosphates, a widely used herbicide, that is banned in many other countries.
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.
Public hearings on a pair of projects, one in a quiet residential neighborhood along Scenic Drive and the other in a busy commercial area near Shop’n Kart grocery market are set before the Ashland Planning Commission Tuesday, Dec. 9.
The Ashland City Council on Tuesday, Dec. 2, took steps to repurpose two city-owned properties — the 846-acre Imperatrice property and the 380 Clay St. parcel — as part of a broader effort to rein in city finances.
Recent federal policy changes have weakened fair housing protections nationwide that disproportionately impact minorities, immigrants and rural residents, according to advocates. Oregon has moved to add protections.
Dr. John Maurer: It is my profound sense of community loss that prompts me to pen this article. Please let me know how the loss of our hospital impacts you…. I’m sure it’s a lot more than the inconvenience of driving 12 miles to Medford for your care.
Federal immigration agents arrested at least 1,100 people in Oregon this year, immigration experts estimate — a surge from the 113 arrests recorded in all of 2024. In August, the Trump administration said it would “come after” states like Oregon with laws preventing local law enforcement from coordinating with federal immigration officials
The Historic Ashland Armory is setting up an end-of-year celebration, Elevation New Year’s Eve, to remember with eight local DJs from across the state and Washington performing on two different stages on two different floors and bringing electronic music into the new year.
A suspect was still on the run early Monday afternoon after stealing two vehicles during a chase through Jackson County. Ashland Police Chief Tighe O’Meara said the individual was last seen in Talent shortly before 1 p.m.
Diane Williams: It seems like a significant tragedy to suddenly potentially terminate the careers of some providers and staff as well as to leave two-thirds of the hospital empty.
(It’s free)
