September 30, 2025

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Education

Oregon Legislature adjourns 2025 session as Democrats’ transportation plans stumble

In the end, Oregon lawmakers did grapple with the biggest questions before them this year. All it took was six months of grinding work weeks. The 2025 legislative session ended Friday evening at 11:15 p.m. after a marathon day packed with more drama and uncertainty than any session in recent memory. With the final gavels, lawmakers bid farewell to a session that included some notable accomplishments — and one dizzying failure.

June 28, 2025

Latest news

Oregon Legislature pivots to 3-cent gas tax increase instead of $11.7 billion transportation package

Oregon Democrats have pulled the plug on a transportation package more than a year in the making, pivoting to a 3-cent increase to the state gas tax that supporters and opponents alike said was nothing more than a Band-Aid.

June 27, 2025

Federal government

Read the full Capital Chronicle interview with U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz

Senior reporter Alex Baumhardt recently conducted a wide-ranging 45-minute phone interview with U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, Oregon’s sole Republican in Congress. Baumhardt published an article with highlights. Here, we’re publishing the full transcript, along with annotations.

June 16, 2025

Politics

Bentz defends Republican tax and spending bill, despite costs and cuts impacting his district

In a 45-minute phone interview with the Capital Chronicle on June 6, Oregon’s lone Republican congressman, Cliff Bentz, defended the Republican tax and spending bill, adding that middle and low-income families, small businesses and the timber industry would be particularly pleased

June 16, 2025

Housing

Oregon bill would make landlords give back rent deposit or pay fee if home found defective

Oregon rental applicants who haven’t yet signed a lease could get their deposits back if they find the home they’ve applied to is defective. House Bill 3521 would let Oregon renters get their deposits back if the home they’ve applied to has defects making it uninhabitable.

June 15, 2025

Events

Thousands protest against Trump at No Kings rally in Medford

Thousands of people crammed sidewalks waving signs and cheering in celebration of No Kings Day in Medford on Saturday.

June 15, 2025

Events

‘No Kings’ protest planned Saturday in Medford

Southern Oregonians are expected to turn out Saturday as part of a nationwide protest dubbed “No Kings” protesting how President “Donald Trump has been reaching for unprecedented powers, fashioning himself a ruler in a country founded on a rejection of kings,” according to an event announcement posted on the Oregon District 2 Indivisible website.

June 12, 2025

Politics

In major reversal, Kotek seeks return of fugitive suspected of targeting Asian Oregonians

Gov. Tina Kotek on Friday said she’s ordered the extradition of a suspected member of a multi-state burglary ring who allegedly targeted Asian households throughout the Eugene area and fled to Texas, averting some of the blowback she faced for rejecting the extradition earlier this week.

June 8, 2025

Latest news

Oregon’s U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz insists Republicans ‘not cutting’ Medicaid, SNAP

Oregon’s lone Republican representative in Congress defended the party’s decision to attach new work and citizenship requirements to Medicaid eligibility at a virtual town hall Wednesday night and said there is a “travesty” of able-bodied, non-working Americans.

May 23, 2025

Ashland School District

School board candidates hold ‘thoughtful’ forum

Eight candidates for the Ashland school board shared more common ground than differences at a forum held Sunday at Ashland High School.

May 7, 2025

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Ashland Mystery Festival to bring fresh blood, first-time authors for fans of cozy whodunits

September 30, 2025

This year’s Ashland Mystery Festival is scheduled to run Oct. 16 through 19, and will be headquartered at the Historic Ashland Armory.

Fake Jackson Alerts emails target county residents in phishing scam, officials warn

September 30, 2025

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is warning people about a phishing scam involving fake emails that appear to come from the official Jackson Alerts system.

‘Valuable knowledge for empowerment’: Registration open for October event series on safe and healthy life skills

September 30, 2025

Throughout October, 12 female professionals from across the country and Australia — organized by Ashland-based nonprofit Keeping All Women Safe (KAWS) — will offer “valuable information” to help women and men cultivate safer, healthier and more empowering lives and relationships.

Oregon Senate passes $4.3 billion transportation package

September 29, 2025

The Oregon Senate on Monday passed the long-awaited transportation bill to update the state’s funding sources for road maintenance and operations. The bill would raise taxes and fees, including a gas tax increase from $0.40 to $0.46, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Residents, vendors voice concerns about Ashland farmers market

September 29, 2025

Once a vibrant hub for local produce and community gathering, the Ashland Growers Market is now, some say, struggling with shrinking sales and dwindling attendance. Longtime vendors report drops of up to two-thirds in revenue, while people voice frustrations over pricing, location and atmosphere.

An elections expert explains why the federal government doesn’t need Oregon voters’ private data

September 29, 2025

A former civil rights attorney said that the Trump administration’s lawsuit demanding that Oregon turn over voter information to investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud is unprecedented.

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