A Fall Guide to Dog Leash Rules in Josephine County

At Tom Pearce Park, a dog walking along the Rogue River has to be on a leash no longer than six feet. A few miles away at Dollar Mountain, Grants Pass allows up to eight feet. At Cathedral Hills, the federal rule for developed recreation sites brings the limit back to six. Three popular places to walk a dog on a cool fall afternoon, and the rules can change with the trailhead.

Giant Nutcracker Returns to River Forks Park as Festival of Lights Preparations Continue

ROSEBURG, Ore. - One of Douglas County's most recognizable holiday attractions is back in place at River Forks Park after crews from Oldham Crane and the hired seasonal employees completed the installation of the giant wooden nutcracker on Friday, November 6. The Roseburg Plug visited the park Friday to document...

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...

Poor ventilation rules out yard-debris burning on final day of Grants Pass window

Grants Pass will close its fall burn window Sunday, Nov. 8, with yard-debris fires prohibited. Josephine County declared Sunday a no-burn day across the Rogue Basin Open Burn Control Area, which includes the city, after forecasters determined that conditions would leave too little ventilation to disperse smoke. The advisory applies...

Some Oregon wells have elevated arsenic, even when the water looks and tastes normal

That makes formula prepared with nitrate-contaminated well water particularly dangerous for babies.

Southern Oregon Agriculture Faces New Labor Challenges as State Report Reveals Gaps in Worker Protections and Enforcement

Southern Oregon’s agricultural industry is entering another period of regulatory change as a newly released state legislative report identifies significant weaknesses in Oregon’s agricultural labor oversight, including inconsistent employment records, fragmented enforcement responsibilities and gaps in communication among agencies responsible for protecting farmworkers. The findings arrive less than two months before agricultural overtime requirements expand again, bringing additional financial and operational considerations to farms, vineyards, orchards and ranches throughout Josephine, Jackson, Douglas and Klamath counties.

Grants Pass Water Quality Photo Contest Open Through Dec. 31

GRANTS PASS, Ore. – The City of Grants Pass is inviting photographers to enter its 2026 Water Quality Report Photo Contest, with cash prizes on the line. The contest is an opportunity for the community to share its perspective on the water that connects it. There are three categories: K through 12, amateur, and professional. The first-place winner receives $200, and the second-place winner receives $100. Winning photos will be featured in the Water Quality Report and on social media, and recognized at a city council meeting.

Josephine County Commissioners Look to Give Residents a Clearer View of County Government

A Josephine County resident waiting on a public records request could soon have a way to see how long the department usually takes to respond. Commissioners began with their own office this week, testing a report that would show how promptly meeting minutes are approved, where advisory boards have vacancies and which commitments are past due.

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.