ashland.news logo
October 1, 2023

Health

Woman holding sleeve up showing band-aid on arm after having a vaccination shot.
Health

Health officials urge Oregonians to get vaccinated against COVID, flu, RSV

As the latest COVID boosters dribble into Oregon, state health officials urged residents to get vaccinated to protect themselves against an expected rise in respiratory infections in the months ahead. Officials with the Oregon Health Authority on Thursday urged residents to protect themselves by getting shots against COVID, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

Read More >
Business

Oregon regulators set 2024 rates for health insurance plans

The average Oregonian who buys health insurance on the individual marketplace will see costs increase 6.2% in 2024 after state regulators approved final rates. That’s a slightly smaller increase than last year’s 6.7%, but insurance rates for small businesses will increase slightly more than they did in 2023.

Read More >
Health

Oregon has process to prevent gun violence but it’s not widely used, report finds

Oregon officials can do more to increase public awareness about an obscure civil court tool that can prevent gun violence and suicides, according to an Oregon Secretary of State report released Wednesday. The tool is based upon Oregon’s “red flag” law, which allows family members or law enforcement to petition the court for someone to turn in their firearms if they are a risk to themselves or others.

Read More >
Fire & Smoke

Smoke expected to worsen again Monday evening

An air quality alert issued Sunday afternoon by the Medford office of the National Weather Service (NWS) says wildfires burning in the region combined with forecast conditions will cause air quality levels to fluctuate, possibly into unhealthy levels. The advisory remains in effect until 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Read More >
Fire & Smoke

Smoke shelter open Saturday in Ashland

Wildfire smoke prompted the city of Ashland to open a clean-air shelter at Calvin Hall at First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, 1615 Clark Ave., Friday afternoon, which is scheduled to also be open from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, according to the city’s website.

Read More >
Health

Gov. Kotek signs abortion and hospital staffing bills

Gov. Tina Kotek on Tuesday joined advocates to celebrate the state’s push to strengthen abortion access and enact minimum nurse staffing standards for hospitals. At a ceremonial bill signing, Kotek signed two health care bills: House Bill 2002, which shores up abortion rights and access to transgender health care and House Bill 2697, which puts minimum nurse staffing standards in place for hospitals.

Read More >
Health

E. coli found in Ashland Creek near Lithia Park playground

Those planning to dip their toes into Lithia Creek near the Lithia Park playground should make other short term plans. An elevated level of E. coli has been found in that portion of Lithia Creek, the city of Ashland announced Thursday afternoon, prompting the city to prohibit wading, bathing, or swimming in Ashland Creek near the Lithia Park playground.

Read More >

Latest posts

The scariest Halloween house in town

If you haven’t seen this Halloween world on East Main Street yet, prepare to be impressed. If you’ve visited the family’s yard and trick-or-treat room in previous years, prepare for even bolder and scarier displays this year.

Read More >

Ashland emergency shelter operations, goals, up for discussion Monday

Ashland City Council’s Monday evening study session will focus on the new shelter at 2200 Ashland St. The meeting will include 15 minutes of time for public comment, a City Council discussion, an “operations overview” presentation and a presentation from the city’s possible contractor to run shelter operations — Options for Helping Residents of Ashland (OHRA).

Read More >

Wildlife crossing planned for Siskiyou Summit

Plans are moving along for a wide, landscaped wildlife overpass spanning Interstate 5 about 2 miles north of the California-Oregon border. The Oregon Department of Transportation earlier this year agreed to spend $1.5 million toward design of the crossing, and the agency in August applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a grant to build it, at an estimated cost of $20 million.

Read More >
ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)