In a reversal of fortune, a proposed 6-acre solar installation on Ashland’s northwest side along Highway 99 appears headed for approval after a public hearing Monday, Dec. 1, before a county hearing officer. The proposal had been tentatively denied by staff, then appealed to the hearing officer by the applicant, Medella Bison Ranch.
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.
A $1.5 million grant will provide the final dollars to roughly double the size of the popular downtown Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon. MURA board members, made up of city councilors, debated whether the grant was appropriate for an organization that provides preschool and other activities for children in the Medford area.
Jackson County commissioners declared a state of emergency in response to growing food scarcity following the suspension of SNAP benefits. Around 47,000 in the county receive the food benefits — including nearly 14,000 children or those living with disabilities.
Jackson County residents join millions worldwide for the “Great ShakeOut” earthquake drill on Thursday, Oct. 16.
Jackson County Fire District 5’s financial crisis deepened this week with the discovery of a previously unknown $1.4 million FEMA loan, pushing the district’s total debt to $9.6 million. The district is exploring options, including possible loan forgiveness.
A water conservation order that went out Tuesday morning to residents of the city of Talent and other Rogue Valley cities using water from the Medford Water Commission (MWC) system due to a power outage at its water treatment plant will remain in effect “until further notice,” MWC announced Wednesday afternoon. Not affected are the city of Ashland, which has its own water supply system, and those on private wells or on private water systems.
Expect steep declines in bus service in the Rogue Valley come Sept. 2. That’s what the city of Ashland’s Transportation Advisory Committee was told at its monthly meeting Thursday where they received updates from Rogue Valley Transportation District Associate Planner Edem Gomez about the funding situation at RVTD and what it will mean for changes to bus routes in Ashland and the Rogue Valley.
As layoffs were ordered July 7 for nearly 500 Oregon Department of Transportation workers, effective July 31 with a second round likely by early 2026, local government officials were taking stock of the impacts the loss of state transportation dollars would mean for Southern Oregon.
Rogue Valley Transportation District might eliminate two-thirds of its 15 bus routes and lay off up to 82 employees because of a freeze in federal funds. While no routes have been cut yet, RVTD will be looking at routes with low ridership, such as the relatively new Route 17 in Ashland, which was funded by a grant.
Oregon’s fourth-grade reading scores have plummeted to last place in the nation, even as education spending has surged. Meanwhile, Mississippi, known for its underfunded schools, now leads the country after embracing the “science of reading.”
More than 60 people turned out for a look at the proposed Ashland Mill mega-project during an open house Wednesday night at the Historic Ashland Armory. Planned on the former Croman Mill site on 60-plus acres of the city’s southeast side, what’s now known as the Ashland Mill project represents the largest development proposal in the city’s history, with more than 550 housing units and 200,000 square feet of retail and commercial spaces, as well as pathways, small parks and open spaces.
Janai Mestrovich: That day, two drunk, homeless strangers became my unexpected protectors. In my heart, I still call them my “drunkles” (my drunk uncles) because in that shaky New York afternoon, they cared for me as gently as family.
Ashland school officials greenlit an 18-month road map to explore restructuring the district amid declining enrollment. While emphasizing that no school closures are being proposed, district Superintendent Joseph Hattrick outlined an approach to the plan that focuses on data analysis, public input, and long-term planning. Changes are not expected until 2027 or later. The plan aims to curb anxiety about school closures, particularly at Bellview Elementary.
Obituary: Longtime Ashland resident Judith “Judy” Ellen Greifer Benjamin passed away on Jan. 14, 2024. She was 91. A former president of the local League of Women Voters, Judy lived a life “filled with curiosity, creativity, and global adventure.” A graveside internment of ashes and memorial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15, at the Jacksonville Cemetery. At 2 p.m., a memorial celebration of life will be held at the family home.
A majority of Jackson County Library District employees have signed union authorization cards, marking the formal start of a process toward collective bargaining.
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