Southern Oregon’s national title defense came to an end Monday at the NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Georgia. The No. 3-seeded Raiders lost 5-2 to Southeastern and 3-1 to Indiana Wesleyan, ending a 45-15 season and a 16-game winning streak.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival has announced its 2027 season, featuring nine productions across its Ashland stages from March through October. The lineup includes Shakespeare classics, contemporary drama, comedy, musical theater and a solo portrait of Frida Kahlo.

Southern Oregon’s second game at the NAIA Softball World Series has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. PT Monday against Southeastern of Florida after thunderstorms continued to disrupt tournament play in Columbus, Georgia.

Memorial Day observances across Southern Oregon and Northern California include parades, cemetery services, flag displays, a river wreath ceremony, a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall dedication and a statewide livestream honoring Oregon’s fallen service members.

Southern Oregon University athletics received two major honors this week, with three Raider wrestling greats selected for the NWCA NAIA Hall of Fame and SOU’s athletic training staff named the Cascade Conference Athletic Training Staff of the Year.

Southern Oregon University will compete on two national stages next week as Raider softball returns to the NAIA Softball World Series as the No. 3 overall seed and six SOU track and field athletes head to the NAIA Outdoor Championships in North Carolina.

Southern Oregon softball is headed back to the NAIA World Series after winning the Ashland Bracket championship, while Oregon Tech will play a winner-take-all game Thursday after falling to Our Lady of the Lake in Klamath Falls. The Raiders will return to Georgia to defend their national title, and the Owls still have a chance to join them.

A driver was injured Tuesday after a vehicle crashed into Stevenson Union on the Southern Oregon University campus in Ashland, rupturing a gas meter and prompting an evacuation. Ashland Fire & Rescue says the building was cleared for re-entry shortly after 2 p.m.

Southern Oregon University will celebrate its national championship beach volleyball team with a parade and trophy presentation Monday, May 18, in Ashland. The Raiders won the NAIA Beach Volleyball Invitational on April 25, capturing the program’s first national title in its fourth season.

Oregon Tech and Southern Oregon each opened NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round play with home-field wins Monday. The Lady Owls shut out Dickinson State in Klamath Falls, while the Raiders defeated Dordt in Ashland, moving both teams into Tuesday semifinal matchups.

Southern Oregon University’s request for up to $15 million in one-time emergency state funding moved forward this week after unanimous support from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. The SOU Board of Trustees also voted to begin a broader viability planning process, while leaving final decisions on specific academic and operational cuts for later review.

The Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission is considering a request to seek up to $15 million in emergency state funding for Southern Oregon University. The money would support SOU’s cashflow needs through fiscal year 2027 as the university faces a major budget shortfall and considers long-term restructuring options.

Asante is expected to pay the City of Ashland $4 million by June 18 as the two parties work to end a long-running affiliation agreement tied to Ashland Community Hospital. The agreement comes as Asante prepares to close inpatient services in Ashland and convert the facility into a satellite campus of Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Asante says its hospitals, emergency departments and immediate care locations will remain open as the health system moves forward with layoffs and cost-cutting efforts. The organization says 300 or more employees may be affected in fiscal year 2026 as it works to address rising expenses, lower reimbursement rates and other financial pressures.

Market of Choice has recalled its 9.5-ounce Vegan Kale Caesar Salad because sesame was included in the product but not listed on the label. The affected salads were sold at Oregon stores, including Ashland and Medford, between April 16 and May 4, 2026, with expiration dates ranging from April 20 through May 8.

The City of Ashland and Ashland Chamber of Commerce say they are working with ODOT to address concerns about downtown curb construction and its impact on small businesses. After a joint letter and meeting, ODOT agreed to adjust staging, improve signage, review work zones and increase communication during the project.

Ashland Police, the Ashland School District and Ashland Rotary partnered for the Ashland READS program, a literacy celebration for local first-grade students. The event included new books for students, a high school percussion welcome and a community BBQ served with help from Ashland Police officers.

Southern Oregon University will increase tuition and fees by nearly 5% next year for in-state undergraduate students, the maximum allowed without additional state approval. According to reporting by Jefferson Public Radio, university leaders say tuition hikes alone will not solve broader financial challenges tied to enrollment declines, rising costs, and limited public funding.

Investigators served a search warrant in Ashland after identifying child sexual abuse material linked to a residence. Digital evidence was seized, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Several Southern Oregon airports, including Medford, Grants Pass, Ashland, and Klamath Falls, are set to receive federal funding as part of a more than $27 million statewide investment aimed at improving aviation infrastructure. Projects include runway and taxiway resurfacing, lighting upgrades, pavement rehabilitation, and safety enhancements designed to support emergency response, business travel, and regional connectivity across Southern Oregon and nearby coastal communities.