Oregon trees are in for another difficult year due to climate change. Conditions this spring are already similar to those in 2015, when we experienced peak high temperatures and drought. That’s on top of a winter that tied 1934 for the warmest since accurate records were kept beginning in 1896,[Read More…]
News
Stay Protected From Cyberattacks
Simple Safeguards To Reduce Cyber Intrusions And Real-World Losses (Feature Impact) Connected homes are becoming the norm with millions of Americans relying on Wi-Fi networks, mobile apps and smart devices to manage everything from door locks to thermostats. As convenience increases, so does exposure, and the experts at multiple-line insurance[Read More…]
Man Pleads Guilty To Fentanyl Distribution Charge
Marvin Yahir Izaguirre-Varela, a 22-year-old Honduran national unlawfully residing in the United States, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, on Feb. 18, 2026, a drug detection K9 alerted authorities to the presence of narcotics in Izaguirre-Varela’s bag at the entrance[Read More…]
USDA Implements President Trump’s Whole Milk For Healthy Kids Act
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a final rule implementing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, restoring whole and reduced-fat (2%) milk options in federal Child Nutrition Programs for children and adults ages 2 and older. The rule[Read More…]
Forest Service Advances Major Disaster Recovery Efforts
The United States Forest Service announced this week that major disaster recovery projects are continuing across national forests and grasslands following years of damage caused by hurricanes, wildfires and flooding. The recovery work is being funded through $6.35 billion provided by the American Relief Act of 2025. The funding supports[Read More…]
Headlines & Highlights For May 13, 2026
MAY 13, 1981 Rogue River Chamber of Commerce honored longtime community gardener May Ellis, 87, for more than 20 years of beautification work throughout Rogue River. Ellis founded the Beautification Project in the early 1960s, organizing the planting and care of flowers and shrubs throughout the city. A bronze plaque[Read More…]
Asante To Cut Hundreds Of Jobs
Hospitals in Medford, Ashland and Grants Pass will remain open, officials say. Southern Oregon’s largest health care provider is preparing for major changes as Asante Health System works to close a projected $50 million budget gap. The health system announced it expects to eliminate more than 300 jobs in the[Read More…]
USDA Tightens SNAP Retailer Rules
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new rules this week requiring retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to stock a wider variety of nutritious foods, part of a broader effort to improve food quality and reduce fraud within the program. The updated stocking standards, finalized May[Read More…]
Harmful Algae Bloom Season Begins
Officials urge caution around lakes and rivers during warmer weather. State health and environmental agencies are warning Oregonians to be cautious around lakes, rivers and reservoirs as harmful algae bloom season begins across the state. The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality have started their annual monitoring[Read More…]
Library District Approves Budget With Service Reductions
The Jackson County Library District (JCLD) Budget Committee has approved an operational budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year that includes reductions in service hours and staffing as the district responds to rising operational costs and long-term financial pressures. According to library officials, the approved budget is intended to restore financial[Read More…]