Jackson County Parks took advantage of the dip in visitors to install upgrades such as ADA-compliant restrooms and granite tent pads in the campground. Lambert said the county replaced stairs and sidewalks throughout the park and remodeled the concessions area where waterslides used to be.
A looming fiscal cliff could force Rogue Valley Transportation District to cut routes and endure an almost 50% drop in ridership in 2026. The local bus service, which serves most cities in Jackson County, has already instituted a strict fare enforcement policy, which wasn’t in place during the pandemic because it helped assist the homeless and unemployed.
Jackson County Administrator Danny Jordan presented his budget message for 2025-26 March 31, showing a focus on needed capital projects related to animal control, airport travel and emergency/disaster response. The total recommended budget is $660,109,748 for the fiscal year.
A packed open house on Saturday at Jackson County Fire District 5 Station 4 outside of Ashland offered a detailed financial update on the embattled district and a chance to discuss everything from staffing struggles to an investigation that remains under review by the Oregon Department of Justice.
Jackson County Fire District 5 officials and union members reached an agreement Tuesday for reduced staffing minimums on fire engines and other apparatus to better distribute service coverage during an ongoing staffing struggle.
Forest restoration and wildfire mitigation projects have been halted and employees laid off as freezes of federal funds impact Lomakatsi Restoration Project, an Ashland-based nonprofit organization. Nearly two of every three dollars — 65% — of the nonprofit’s budget for 2025 came from the Inflation Reduction Act or the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — two pots of money affected by broad freezes of federal funds by the Trump administration.
An effort to create a safer, cleaner, more fire-resistant Bear Creek Greenway is gathering momentum as Medford and other cities explore ways to improve the 22.4-mile bike and pedestrian path from Ashland to Central Point.
Jackson County District Attorney Beth Heckert marked the final day of her third and last term in office on Monday. Former Chief Deputy DA Patrick Green was sworn in as the county’s new top prosecutor Monday.
A U.S. district judge has denied a motion by regional tribes that would block federal officials from greenlighting a Coquille Indian Tribe casino in Medford.
Jackson County needs a new animal shelter, one for both dogs and cats and run by a nonprofit organization, not the county, says Denise Krause, an Ashland resident who serves on the Rogue Valley Transit District board and is known to many as a candidate for county commissioner.
“Mary’s Wedding,” a play about a wartime love affair, has opened at the Collaborative Theatre Project in Medford. The production will run through Sunday, May 18.
The OHA has lifted its recreational advisory for Emigrant Lake — but the public should remain cautious with all bodies of water throughout the summer, said Dr. David Farrer, a public health toxicologist with the OHA.
The Rogue Valley Peace Choir — now celebrating its 22nd year — presents its spring concert, “Be a Light,” on May 16 in Medford and May 18 in Ashland.
Majkut, an accomplished pianist himself, envisions The Raven influencing future programming choices for RVS. “Once I get more intimately acquainted with its abilities and the sounds it likes to make, it will bring to mind concertos that would be the best fit for it,” he said. “It is an exciting prospect to have this dialogue with an instrument.”
When the Malheur Enterprise closes at the end of May, Les Zaitz says he will have written his last investigative story.
State Rep. Courtney Neron, D-Wilsonville, will move to the Oregon Senate after county commissioners tapped her to finish the remainder of Sen. Aaron Woods’ term.
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