December 31, 2025

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Culture

Ashland makes holiday merry, bright at annual Festival of Light

An estimated 15,000 people came out for Ashland’s 33rd annual Festival of Light on Friday to kick off the holiday season. There were people walking around dressed in Santa hats, Christmas tree outfits, green and red tinsel pom poms in hair, glitter sparkly as snow dusting eyes and rosy cheeks, candy cane stripe stockings, Christmas light necklaces, antler headbands, a few Grinches — and, of course, Santa’s reindeer moseying about.

December 1, 2025

County Government

Solar energy project on north side of Ashland goes to county hearing Monday

A six-acre, 1.4 megawatt (MW) solar energy development proposal just outside the north end of Ashland on the east side of Highway 99 is set for public hearing at the county on Monday, Dec. 1. The proposed project on one parcel of a much larger area owned by Medella Bison Ranch, was initially denied approval by county planning staff based primarily on impacts to agricultural lands.

November 28, 2025

Events

Full spirits, full bellies at 10th annual Thanksgiving Peace Meal

Eighty volunteers prepared and distributed approximately 300 meals on Thursday for the 10th annual Thanksgiving Community Peace Meal organized by Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice. This year’s gathering was the largest yet, with meal deliveries doubling compared to last year.

November 28, 2025

Food

Oregon emergency office not just focused on natural disasters, but food insecurity

State employees packed boxes of food to be distributed throughout the state to help low-income Oregonians. But it’s not just to give out immediate food aid, it’s an exercise the Office of Resilience and Emergency Management will use to prepare agencies to help respond to major emergencies.

November 28, 2025

Federal government

Oregon co-leads suit against USDA over cuts to food assistance for refugees, asylum seekers

Oregon is co-leading a group of Democratic attorneys general in suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its leader Brooke Rollins over abrupt cuts to food assistance for refugees and asylum seekers. The cuts could affect up to 3,000 Oregonians who rely on SNAP.

November 28, 2025

Fire & Smoke

Three takeaways from the 2025 Oregon fire season

Despite early forecasts of a punishing 2025 wildfire season, Oregon escaped relatively unscathed. Less than 400,000 acres burned in 2025, only one-fifth of the 2 million acres ravaged the year before and well below the 10-year average of 680,000.

November 27, 2025

City Government

Former Ashland City Councilor files complaint over bike trail

Former Ashland City Councilor and Trails Advisory Committee member Stefani Seffinger has filed ethics complaints with both the city and the state, arguing the committee acted unlawfully when it voted Nov. 19 to recommend a new beginner bike trail on the uphill side of Lithia Park. The city issued a 50-page rebuttal Monday, disputing her claims and forwarding the response to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. The proposed 1-mile Dormouse Trail would be the first designated bike trail through the park.

November 26, 2025

City Government

Ashland winter shelter to open Friday, Dec. 5, at 2200 Ashland St.

The city’s severe weather winter shelter at 2200 Ashland St. will open at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, four days later than originally planned, to allow for a final cleanup and safety walk-throughs of the renovated facility. A severe weather shelter will be open Friday through Sunday nights, Nov. 28 through 30, at the OHRA facility at 2350 Ashland St.

November 26, 2025

Events

Britt announces first season under new maestro Norman Huynh

The Britt Festival Orchestra’s 64th season next summer features a lineup of classical masterworks and world-renowned guest artists under the direction of new music director Norman Huynh.

November 25, 2025

Events

Music, theater and comedy fill Rogue Valley’s holiday season

The Rogue Valley is tuning up for its most spirited time of year, with December bringing a full spectrum of concerts, plays and celebrations to Ashland and its neighboring communities.

November 25, 2025

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Latest posts

Wanda Olsrud dies at 100, remembered as ‘transformational’ and ‘leader in philanthropy’

December 31, 2025

Wanda Petzold Olsrud, known for her quiet but steadfast generosity and the decades she and her late husband Sherm spent supporting community organizations from medical facilities to youth programs, died on Monday at the age of 100.

After brief opening, Mt. Ashland Ski Area ski operations pausing indefinitely

December 31, 2025

The likelihood of rain and the already low snowpack have resulted in the Mt. Ashland Ski Area pausing ski operations indefinitely as of Thursday, New Year’s Day. In a press release Wednesday afternoon, ski area officials said the New Year’s Day forecast calls for rain with a high near 38 degrees and south-southeast winds around 18 mph with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Letter: What if Kaiser Permanente could offer health care in Southern Oregon

December 31, 2025

Nancy Dahl: When I read about the hospital’s closing of services, I couldn’t help but wonder if the facility might provide an opportunity for Kaiser to expand to the Medford area.

How federal and state changes to fair housing laws affect Oregonians

December 30, 2025

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.

Viewpoint: Cutting hospital services is a blow to patient care and quality of life in Ashland

December 30, 2025

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.

Oregon saw at least 1,100 immigration arrests in 2025

December 29, 2025

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

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