ODOT closing Coquille office, consolidating staff in Coos Bay

The Oregon Department of Transportation is closing its Coquille office and moving the staff to Coos Bay in December. The building at 307 Highway 42E is for sale. The owner, VPC Inc. of Eugene, has listed the three-quarter-acre property and building for sale with Pacific Properties. Julie Denney, public information officer in ODOT’s Southwest Regional Office, said the agency decided not to renew its lease for the building, which it has occupied since the 1990s. “Cutting the lease and utilities will create a savings of approximately $9,800 monthly, or $235,200 per biennium, from our regional budget,” she said. “We do not yet have a hard move-in date for our workers in Coos Bay. We will be vacating the Coquille office sometime after Dec. 9 and our lease will expire at the end of the year.” Denney said the Coquille office has about 13 employees, but generates little walk-in business. “It supports employees like construction inspectors and others who do not often work with the general public,” she said. “Most of our services are provided in the field, by phone or online.” Chris Hunter, ODOT area manager in Roseburg, said maintaining its presence in Coquille just didn’t pencil out. “We looked

Oregon lawmakers, local officials eye curbs for kratom

By LYNNE TERRY/The Lund Report Keenan Neal was living in a sober housing unit and trying to stay clean when a friend offered him a kratom pill for a toothache. It took his pain away and was legal, sold in many convenience stores in Coos County where he lives. Kratom is a plant grown in Southeast Asia, where people traditionally have used its leaves for medicinal purposes for their stimulating and pain-relief effects. It’s been sold in the U.S. as an herbal supplement for about two decades. But in recent years, concentrated products containing a powerful opioid-like compound found in

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...

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.

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.

55% of voters say ‘NO’ to Josephine County 5 year jail levy

JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. – Voters appear to have rejected the renewal of a current five-year jail levy in Josephine County. The levy would have kept the current $0.93 per $1K of assessed property value for five more years. Voters in the county have historically been very hesitant on public...

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.

Medford City Council Approves Rogue Disposal Residential Rate Increase

MEDFORD, Ore. — Wednesday night, the Medford City Council approved a rate increase proposed by Rogue Disposal & Recycling. RDR proposed a 3.4% increase for residential waste services. Residents using the 35-gallon service will see an increase of 88 cents per month, while the 65-gallon service will increase by $1.48 a month.

‘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.

North Medford HS Auditorium Closed Due to Structural Problems

MEDFORD, Ore.–Less than 2 years after the North Medford High School gymnasium collapsed, we’re learning the school’s auditorium has structural problems and is temporarily closed. The gym collapsed in February 2025, and work on a new gym is ongoing. This week North Medford HS Principal Allen Barber...

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...

Medford to host: Drug take-back event

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.

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.

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.

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...

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...

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...