The U.S. Department of Agriculture has hired more than 240 veterans and military spouses through its “100 Hires in 100 Days” initiative, more than doubling its original hiring goal, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced at a Veterans Day observance. Rollins was joined at USDA headquarters by Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug[Read More…]
Author: Teresa Pearson
Man Pleads Guilty In Online Child Enticement Case
Medford- A North Carolina man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Medford to attempting to entice a person he believed was a teenage girl to meet him for sexual activity, federal prosecutors announced Nov. 10. Sage Austin Miller, 28, of Winston-Salem, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted coercion[Read More…]
Christmas Tree Permits Go On Sale
Families planning to find their Christmas tree in the woods can purchase Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Christmas tree permits beginning Thursday, Nov. 12. Permits cost $5 per tree and will be available at Forest Service offices, participating vendors throughout southwest Oregon, and online at Recreation.gov. Households may purchase up to[Read More…]
Protecting Your Identity
An unfamiliar charge, a bill for an account you never opened, or a notice about benefits you never requested may be the first indication that someone has stolen your identity. For older adults, discovering the problem can mean hours of paperwork, financial uncertainty, and worry about what might happen next.[Read More…]
4-H Returns To Josephine County As Enrollment Opens For Young People
Oregon State University Extension Service is rebuilding its 4-H youth program in Josephine County, with enrollment now open for the 2026–27 program year. Children and teenagers ages 5 to 19 can explore educational activities through 4-H, while adult volunteers are being sought to help establish clubs and support the program.[Read More…]
ODOT Road Construction Update For November 11, 2026
Construction on a $4.98 million project near Interstate 5’s South Medford interchange is expected to begin in mid-November, while other highway projects continue to bring lane closures and delays across Jackson and Josephine Counties, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. Jackson County The South Medford project will widen the[Read More…]
Rerouting 117-Year-Old Water Main To Save Giant Sequoia
Medford— When a water main was installed beneath East Main Street in 1909, the First World War was still five years away. Now, approximately 117 years later, a leaking section is being replaced with a route designed to preserve a large sequoia growing above it. Medford Water plans to install[Read More…]
Mt. Ashland Adds Youth Ski Racing Programs
Mt. Ashland is adding two youth ski racing programs for the 2026–27 winter season, expanding opportunities for young people interested in competitive Alpine skiing. The Mount Ashland Race Development Program is for children ages 7 to 10. The Southern Oregon Ski Education Foundation’s Junior Ski Racing Program is for students[Read More…]
State Fiber Permit Review
Oregon transportation officials have placed at least 20 fiber-optic permit applications on hold while they determine whether the proposed installations support data center operations. The review follows Gov. Tina Kotek’s September directive pausing state approvals for certain data center projects on state-owned land. The affected applications involve fiber lines planned[Read More…]
Pacific Power Settlement Would Limit Rate Increase To 0.3%
Pacific Power has reached a proposed settlement with Oregon Public Utility Commission staff and other parties that would keep the average residential rate increase to about 0.3% in April 2027, compared with April 2026. The settlement includes a proposed 9% general rate increase. Other rate reductions and adjustments during the[Read More…]