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.
Oregon’s second-highest court affirmed Wednesday that the voter-approved gun control law Measure 114 is constitutional, potentially clearing the way for the law to take effect after being on hold for years because of a Harney County judge’s ruling.
Three guinea pigs had been left in Lithia Park, Ashland Community Service Officer Denise Aguilera was told when she was called to respond. The guinea pigs were left in a carrier “with a sign indicating ‘Free for the taking,’” Ashland Police Chief Tighe O’Meara said in an email Wednesday.
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.
Ashland Police Chief Tighe O’Meara and Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler spoke about gun use and safety, answering questions on topics including proper storage and specifics of Oregon law, to an audience of 50 at the Ashland Public Library Tuesday afternoon. The event was sponsored by the Ashland branch of the American Association of University Women, and closed out their 2024-2025 “Big Ideas” discussion series.
Black Alliance & Social Empowerment member Kim McKandes describes the organization, founded in 2019 by Executive Director Vance Beach in conjunction with a Juneteenth celebration, as “existing to make sure Oregon is a safe place for African Americans to live.”
A full house gathered Monday night at Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship to better understand current changes to federal immigration policy and to hear how they might support immigrants in the local community.
Latino leaders joined Congressional Hispanic Caucus Democrats Wednesday to criticize the Trump administration for conducting high-profile immigration enforcement raids that have spread fear in their communities, rather than tackling economic issues important to Latinos.
Nurses would be paid more and receive compensation for missing breaks under a tentative agreement reached by Providence Health & Services and the Oregon Nurses Association that could end a six-week-long strike.
City Council considered but came to little consensus concerning four proposed changes to the city’s Enhanced Law Enforcement Area and criminal code during a Wednesday evening study session called to make up for a snowed-out scheduled session Feb. 3.
As of Nov. 3, Ashland Community Food Bank has a new director at the reins. Catie Mahoney will serve in the role with guidance from outgoing director Amey Broeker, who will officially retire on Dec. 31 after serving in the food bank role since 2022.
The Ashland City Council will review a proposal from a potential provider to oversee its extreme weather shelter during its regular business meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
The Ashland Independent Film Festival has added a second screening showcasing Indigenous filmmakers on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Three and a half years into the war with Russia, Ashland violinist and longtime music teacher Faina Podolnaya is still finding ways to help Ukrainian refugees.
Herbert Rothschild: As the number of ads in The New Yorker has shrunk, it seems as if the wealth of its readership has concentrated, just as one might concentrate the flavor of a sauce by reducing it on the stovetop.
Local artist MaryAnn Shank will share the thoughts behind her newest novel “Sor Juana, My Beloved” at Bloomsbury Books Jan. 26. Shank is a finalist of The Isabel Allende Most Inspirational Book of the Year 2025 award, awarded by the International Latino Book Association.
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