Oregon would be among the 10 most-impacted states if a U.S. Forest Service proposal to rescind in its entirety the national 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a one-size-fits-all restriction that has frustrated land managers and served as a barrier to wildfire risk reduction work across large swaths of America’s national[Read More…]
Outdoors
City RR Talk Water, Power, And Alerts During A Fire
In the aftermath of the closest fire events to the city of Rogue River in years, most of the early part of the Rogue River City Council’s discussion focused on the Fielder Mountain Fire, which sparked in the hills just west of the city on Thursday, Aug. 13. Police Chief[Read More…]
Officials Warn: Keep Drones Away From Oregon Wildfires
Oregon officials are urging recreational and commercial drone operators to keep their aircraft away from active wildfires, warning that even a single unauthorized drone can force firefighting aircraft to stop flying during critical suppression operations. The Oregon Department of Aviation and Oregon Department of Emergency Management issued the warning as[Read More…]
Crash Highlights Dangers Facing Roadside Workers
A crash that killed a stranded motorist and seriously injured an Oregon Department of Transportation employee is serving as a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by anyone stopped or working alongside Oregon highways. The crash occurred Tuesday, Aug. 11, on Interstate 84 near Arlington. An ODOT employee assigned to[Read More…]
Proposed Repeal Of 2001 Roadless Rule
The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to repeal a 25-year-old rule restricting road construction and timber-related activities across millions of acres of national forest land, including roadless areas in Oregon. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the Forest Service has filed a proposed rule to rescind the 2001 Roadless[Read More…]
Check Out Birdcast As Migration Heats Up
Millions of birds are already taking flight from Canada and winging their way south. The action will heat up in Oregon over the next month or two. Studies have shown that Northern American bird populations have dropped by nearly 30 percent, or about three billion birds, since 1970, and that[Read More…]
Savage Creek Road Property Possible Annexation
Jackson County Fire District Chief Mike Hammond presented a list of 21 properties on Savage Creek Road, three located in Jackson County, the rest in Josephine County, all but one of them within a seven-mile radius of the District 1 fire station at the district’s Board of Directors meeting on[Read More…]
FEMA Approves Federal Assistance For Fielder Mountain Fire
Federal funding has been authorized to help cover the cost of fighting the Fielder Mountain Fire burning in Jackson and Josephine counties. The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved Oregon’s request for assistance through its Fire Management Assistance Grant program Thursday, Aug. 13. The request was approved at 11:34 p.m. by[Read More…]
Sheriff Ends License Plate Reader Program
Josephine County Sheriff’s Office has ended its contract with Flock Safety for the use of automated license plate reader cameras in rural areas of the county following public concerns over privacy and Fourth Amendment rights. The Sheriff’s Office had contracted for 10 Automated License Plate Reader, or ALPR, cameras. The[Read More…]
ODOT Road Construction Update For August 19, 2026
Road Work Brings Lane and Ramp Closures This Week Drivers throughout Jackson and Josephine counties should prepare for construction delays this week as crews continue work on several highways, including Interstate 5, Highway 62 and Highway 66. Some of the most significant impacts will be north of Grants Pass, where[Read More…]