Creative costumes turn heads at Ashland’s Halloween parade

People dressed as jellyfish, Mary Poppins or Claude Monet’s “Woman with a Parasol” dodge raindrops during Ashland’s Halloween parade Saturday. Fewer than the usual 5,000 people lined Main Street sidewalks to watch the strolling cast of characters. In a tradition undeterred by the weather, Ashland Middle School Band members led the parade blasting “Ghostbusters.”

Ashland City Council and Parks & Recreation Commission to mull budget, major projects during Thursday joint session

Officials to review finances, parks initiatives, and plans for capital projects, including Ashland ice rink. The Ashland City Council and Parks & Recreation Commission will meet in a joint session Thursday, Nov. 5, to review the city’s finances, discuss budget priorities, and look for opportunities to work together on future parks projects.

Ashland City Manager Pro Tem, Rooklyn, Targets Balancing the Budget with Fewer City Programs, Top Staffers Facing Cuts, & More

City Programs, Top Staffers Face Cuts, Rooklyn Warns. Programs and staffing cuts will be on the block in next year’s 2027-29 budget deliberations, City Manager Pro Tem Jordan Rooklyn told city councilors, council candidates and some Citizens Budget Committee members yesterday. The number one goal will be to “align...

Secretary Read says 2026 midterm election voter turnout is looking strong

OREGON- One day before election day, Oregon Secretary of State, Tobias Read, says voter turnout is looking strong compared to previous midterms. As of Monday morning, over 41% of the state’s active voters have submitted their ballots — with Jackson County accounting for over 80,000 ballots returned thus far.

Election 2026: A look at campaign fundraising in Ashland races

State campaign finance records show different fundraising strategies and levels of financial support in races for Oregon State Senate District 3, House District 5 and Ashland City Council. As the 2026 election cycle reaches its crescendo, three Southern Oregon races underscore the wide range of money and resources devoted to...

Josephine County Approaches Tuesday’s Ballot Deadline as Election Results Await First Count

Josephine County’s general election enters its final two days Monday, with ballot collection continuing until 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 3, and the first unofficial results expected shortly after the deadline. The closing hours leave time for eligible voters to return completed ballots, obtain replacements and receive assistance from the...

Asante CEO declines to respond to state legislators’ inquiry

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... State lawmakers express ongoing concern regarding nearly $1 million in unreported labor consultant spending; Oregon nurses union demands ‘real answers’. Asante CEO Tom Gessel declined to answer a half-dozen questions posted in a recent inquiry from two state legislators regarding over $1 million...

Winter safety and preparedness fair set for Jackson County Expo

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Jackson County Emergency Management will host a Winter Ready Safety and Preparedness Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Jackson County Expo. The event will provide emergency preparedness information and an opportunity to meet with local first responders. Emergency...

Oregon’s Pass Creek Covered Bridge Earns National Recognition as Drain Looks Toward Preservation

Oregon’s Pass Creek Covered Bridge has secured national historic recognition after more than a century of service, community preservation and structural challenges, opening another opportunity to protect the wooden landmark in Drain. The National Park Service added the Douglas County bridge to the National Register of Historic Places on...

Oregon Bat Wins Fourth Consecutive BLM Bat Beauty Contest

MEDFORD, OR — Oregon has claimed its fourth consecutive victory in the Bureau of Land Management’s annual Bat Beauty Contest, with a pallid bat named Ryan GosWING taking this year’s title. The contest, held during Bat Week

Grants Pass Advances Water System Improvements as October Brings Downtown Events and Community Remembrance

The City of Grants Pass advanced construction on its drinking water system, restored treatment equipment and upgraded downtown amenities during October, completing a month of municipal projects that also included winter preparations, community events and a farewell to Police K9 Officer Jeff Craven. Construction connecting Grants Pass’s new water treatment...

Douglas County Ballot Returns Near 50% As Election Day Approaches

Nearly half of Douglas County’s registered voters have returned their ballots for the November 3 general election, with the latest county update showing 44,518 ballots received. The participation rate stands at 49.77%, putting the county 0.57 percentage points ahead of its pace at the same point in the 2022...

Medford to discuss plans for relocating Eugene Emeralds ballpark

A study evaluating the feasibility of a new Medford (Ore.) ballpark for the relocating Eugene Emeralds (High-A; Northwest League) is scheduled for discussion by the City Council on November 18. The $500,000 study–funded by Emeralds ownership and the Medford Urban Renewal Agency–will examine whether Hawthorne Park, part of the core...

Everyone Is Suddenly Talking About The Oregon Town Where Monthly Rent Is Still Only $800

Somewhere in southern Oregon, tucked between the Siskiyou Mountains and the Rogue River, there’s a town that hasn’t gotten the memo that everything is supposed to be expensive now, and its name is Grants Pass. If you’ve been quietly watching your rent climb every year while your quality...

8 Haunted Oregon Spots That’ll Send Chills Down Your Spine

Looking for haunted Oregon spots that’ll genuinely send chills down your spine?. These 8 haunted spots offer real history and seriously spine-tingling atmosphere!. 1. Golden State Heritage Site (Wolf Creek) Near the small town of Wolf Creek, the Golden State Heritage Site sits in a forested valley that feels...

Legally purchasing firearms: the protections in place

WHITE CITY, Ore. - Following the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary, a local gun shop owner is explaining the process customers go through before purchasing a firearm. Darren, who owns Bigfoot Guns and Ammo, walked through the vetting process required for gun purchases. He said customers must answer several questions on federal forms, including whether they have been convicted of a felony or committed to a mental institution.

Ashland Halloween parade draws thousands despite rainy weather

From The Witches dance in front of Treehouse Books to a Dolly Parton tribute, the city’s long-running festive parade had something for everyone. Thousands packed downtown Ashland Saturday for the city’s annual Halloween parade. Although dark clouds and the threat of rain loomed, Main Street filled with excitement...

Wind-driven grass fire burns 10 acres near home in Douglas County

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. — A fast-moving, wind-driven grass fire near Ladybug Lane grew quickly Sunday afternoon, prompting a second alarm as crews worked to keep flames from reaching nearby homes. Central Douglas Fire & Rescue said it was dispatched at 3:21 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, to a reported grass...

Medford Chamber prepares for its last Halloween

Douglas County joins nationwide effort to honor veterans

ROSEBURG, Ore. - Douglas County will light up the courthouse in green throughout November to honor veterans and raise awareness of challenges they face returning to civilian life. The Douglas County Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation on Oct. 28 celebrating Nov. 11 as Veterans Day and November as Military...