Montague mayor vindicated after civil grand jury report

A Siskiyou County judge dismissed six charges against Montague Mayor Takeshi Murakami on October 29. The county civil grand jury had accused Murakami of misconduct while serving as the mayor and acting fire chief. The allegations included holding both of those offices at the same time, using his office to benefit his private business and endangering other firefighters.

Medford faces an $80 million question in bid to bring Emeralds south

The Eugene Emeralds want a new ballpark. Medford has a site, a design and an estimate that puts the city’s potential share at more than $80 million. On Thursday, the City Council will review what it would take to build a 3,004-capacity stadium at Hawthorne Park and bring affiliated minor league baseball to the Rogue Valley.

Open burning extended inside Jackson County Air Quality Maintenance Area

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Open burning in the Air Quality Maintenance Area (AQMA) inside Jackson County is extended through Nov. 15 after an emergency declaration by the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. The Jackson County Air Pollution Ordinance specifies that open burning in the AQMA is prohibited beginning...

‘Save Hawthorne Park’ group asks seeks public input on proposed stadium

MEDFORD, Ore. – A local citizens’ group is urging Medford residents to make their voices heard on the proposed baseball stadium at Hawthorne Park. Citizens for Hawthorne Park is an advocacy group opposing the development of a baseball stadium at Hawthorne Park. On Thursday morning, volunteers with the group collected signatures and spoke with Medford residents about the proposed stadium at the Medford Thursday Market in Hawthorne Park.

Medford to discuss minor league baseball stadium on Nov. 12

MEDFORD, Ore. - Medford City Council will discuss the future of a potential Minor League Baseball stadium and proposed changes to the Public Safety Utility Fee for commercial customers during a special study session next Thursday. The meeting is open to the public but is for council discussion and potential...

The First Ever Winter Ready Fair

CENTRAL POINT, Ore.- Winter is right around the corner…and with it comes its own kinds of hazards to look out for. Jackson County wants everyone to be prepared with their very first winter-ready fair. The Winter Ready Safety and Preparedness Fair aims to connect people with community resources and...

Oregon ag officials plan Medford meeting on cloud seeding proposal

Rainmaker Technology’s equipment could boost rain and snowfall in Jackson County and surrounding region if approved. The public is invited to attend a hearing and submit comments Tuesday to the Oregon Department of Agriculture regarding a business application from Rainmaker Technology Corporation for proposed “precipitation enhancement” efforts conducted in Jackson County and affecting surrounding Josephine, Douglas and Klamath counties.

Democrats on Track For Another Salem Supermajority in 2027

Legislative · Jackson Co. SALEM, Ore.–While Democrats enjoyed massive success in both federal and state races across the country Tuesday, they look to be expanding their supermajority in Salem. The legislative race everyone was following this week was for retiring State Senator Jeff Golden’s seat in southern Jackson...

Ashland City Hall Tidbits 11/09/2026: Ashland City Staff Salary & Benefits Exceed Inflation Rate

City Workers Salary and Benefits Increases Exceed Inflation. It’s been a great decade for Ashland city employees. Between fiscal years 2022 (July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022) and the current 2027, the “base”salary for city workers increased from $100,000 to $136,276 as a result of cost of living raises and the annual step increases built into the pay schedule, Deputy City finance director Bryn Morrision told City Council last week.

Ashland City Hall Tidbits 11/09/2026: The Voter’s Guide Does Not Provide Enough Information Upon Which to Base a Vote!

The Voters Pamphlet published each year before the election is a valuable guide for information about the background of candidates for public office, but it is not the place to do research about issues the candidates will be facing. For example, the biggest controversy this past year before the Parks...

Medford to host: Drug take-back event

Retirees Are Quietly Moving To Grants Pass, Where Rogue River Living Still Costs Less

Some retirees spend years hunting for the right place to slow down, and a growing number of them are finding it in southern Oregon. The town they keep picking sits right on a famous river, close to a major highway, and far from the price tags of big West Coast cities.

Judge's ruling keeps OHA, Asante medical records confidential in Schofield case

Oregon Health Authority and Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center are able to keep medical records confidential with a judge's ruling to quash subpoenas regarding their information. One figure mentioned in court hinted that the amount of data required to meet the subpoenas could be 100,000 pages.

Rain Returns Monday, With a Dry Veterans Day Ahead for Southern Oregon

Southern Oregon will get two dry, mild days in the middle of the week after rain returns Monday, with Veterans Day shaping up as the warmest day from the Rogue Valley to the Klamath Basin. The outlook for Sunday, November 8, through Saturday, November 14, turns cooler and less certain toward the weekend, when another Pacific system could bring rain, stronger winds and snow at higher elevations.

Ashland Planning Commission to weigh proposals to expand housing in residential neighborhoods

The Planning Commission on Tuesday will mull options to increase housing options, as advisory committees raise concerns about neighborhood character, vegetation, traffic and development impacts. The Ashland Planning Commission will meet Tuesday, Nov. 10, to discuss 14 proposals designed to boost housing production throughout most of the city’s residential zones....

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Make jury duty exemption process easier for seniors

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... I am 73 years old with various medical issues and a disability rating from the V.A. I’m thankful that our Jackson County Court allows us seniors 70 and over to apply for exemption from jury duty, if we need to or want to be. All we have to do is locate and complete a few online court forms that, as it turns out, actually have quite a few questions — be sure to answer all the ones with the tiny red star.

Krause appears headed for victory in contentious state senate race

As of midnight, Krause is leading Republican Brad Hicks by 7,551 votes, a margin of 53.8% to 42%. This campaign has become the most expensive state senate race in Oregon, with millions of dollars spent on both sides. It has become the race that decides if Democrats retain their supermajority in the state senate. Both candidates have bitterly fought for this seat, covering Ashland and most of Medford, which is being left vacant by Democrat Jeff Golden, who chose not to run for a third term.

Josephine County Commissioner, Position 1

Commissioner Colene Martin, appointed to the Josephine County Board of Commissioners in February, faces former Commissioner John West in a runoff for Position 1. The seat opened after former Commissioner Andreas Blech resigned amid a recall effort, part of a turbulent two years that saw three commissioners recalled or pushed out. Neither candidate won a majority in the six-way May primary, so the top two advanced to November.