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.

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.

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.

Lumber Company Embezzlement Plea

A former lumber company bookkeeper in Douglas County has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $1 million over a decade-long period.

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...

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.

Asante CEO declines to respond to state legislators’ inquiry

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 allegedly spent on so-called “anti-union” labor relations firms and said Southern Oregon’s largest healthcare provider has not been engaged with groups for “labor-related staff-level education” since 2023.

November 6, 2026

Good morning Douglas County! Here are today's updates live from the Roseburg Receiver Communications Center. Fresh headlines, updates, and community info to start the day. CANYONVILLE, Ore. - Oregon DMV will permanently close its Canyonville office at 241 NE Main St. effective Wednesday, Nov. 18, citing vacant positions, an expiring lease and staffing needs across the region.

Initial results show Josephine County jail levy voted down

Josephine County voters appear to have rejected a five-year renewal of a property tax that funds the county’s adult jail and juvenile detention center. Preliminary results show about 55% voted against Measure 17-129. Without renewed funding, the county projects it would cut the adult jail’s capacity by more than...

Ashland unveils new and improved Hunter Park tennis courts

ASHLAND, Ore. – If you’re looking to hit the courts, you’re in luck. Ashland’s new and improved Hunter Park tennis courts are officially open. The city hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday afternoon to unveil the refurbished courts after nearly three months of construction. Major improvements...

Restoration work happening at Tubs Springs Wayside

Historic park near Ashland shutters tub feature for roughly two years as Oregon Parks and Recreation seeks $80,000 for preservation project. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is beginning restoration measures at the historic water feature at Tub Springs State Wayside, located along Green Springs Highway about 20 miles southeast of Ashland.

Josephine County Lights Courthouse Green for Veterans and Brings Local Benefits Office Into View

The Josephine County Courthouse will glow green through Veterans Day, and county officials are asking residents to carry the observance from downtown Grants Pass to porches, storefronts and gathering places across the county. Inside the courthouse, the office of county Veterans Service Officer Lisa Pickart gives the campaign a local address. It is where veterans and their families can turn for help pursuing the benefits they earned through military service.

Claire Lynn prepares to represent Oregon House District 9 in Salem

FLORENCE, Ore. — Newly elected Oregon House District 9 Representative Claire Lynn is preparing to take office in January, bringing experience in state legislative policy and communications as she prepares to represent communities across parts of Lane, Douglas and Coos counties. Lynn, a seventh-generation Oregonian, said her family's roots...

Oregon DMV to close its Canyonville office

The Oregon DMV announced that its Canyonville office will permanently close on Nov. 18. According to the Oregon DMV, the office currently has no permanent staff, and the lease is expiring soon. In July the office went from being open three days a week to only being open during limited hours one day a week. During this limited operation the office was staffed by Roseburg DMV employees.