Southern Oregon communities are included in a new rural healthcare funding initiative that could expand school nursing services, support local hospitals and clinics, and create new grant opportunities for regional providers.

Airmen at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls are participating in a series of summer training exercises designed to strengthen readiness and operational skills. The training includes a deployment to Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, field exercises in Central Oregon, and simulated deployment scenarios at Kingsley Field to prepare personnel for a wide range of mission environments.

Klamath Falls has been named a 2026 IMBA Trail Town, a national designation recognizing communities that prioritize trail development, outdoor recreation access, and long-term stewardship. The city was one of just 28 selected nationwide and one of only two in Oregon, highlighting the growing role of trails in supporting tourism, economic development, and community engagement.

Ride the Rim at Crater Lake National Park has been cancelled for 2026 due to major construction projects affecting roads, trails, and visitor areas. Officials say the work includes improvements to East Rim Drive, Cleetwood Cove Trail and Marina, and other park facilities. While the event will not take place this year, the park will remain open to visitors, and planning is already underway to bring Ride the Rim back in 2027.

Construction on Medford Fire Station 15 continues to advance, with interior drywall nearing completion and kitchen cabinets now being installed. Exterior work is also progressing, including siding installation and preparation for concrete sidewalks and apparatus bay access. Crews continue responding from a temporary apparatus bay while the project moves forward.

Oregon Tech has received a $310,000 funding increase to expand its User Experience certificate programs, supporting scholarships, industry tools, and summer training opportunities. The grant will fund 66 full-tuition scholarships and provide students access to professional UX software used in the field. Officials say the program is designed for working professionals, career changers, and students looking to build practical UX skills.

The Bonanza Clinic is marking 30 years of service after a grassroots community effort built the rural healthcare facility from the ground up in 1996. Following the sudden retirement of the area’s only physician, residents across Bonanza, Bly, Beatty, Dairy, Olene, and Sprague River mobilized to restore access to primary care. Volunteers donated labor, materials, and expertise to convert a former restaurant into a clinic, which has since provided more than 120,000 patient visits over three decades.

HWD has introduced a new regional Weather Camera Hub that brings together more than 140 live cameras across Southern Oregon and Northern California into one convenient page. The collection includes feeds from transportation agencies, media outlets, and other providers, allowing readers to quickly check real-time road and weather conditions across major highways, mountain passes, and coastal routes.

Klamath Community College has named Lucas Ritter as its new Vice President of External Programs. Ritter is a Klamath Falls native and longtime Air Force officer who will begin the role May 4. College officials say he will oversee outreach, grants, and workforce initiatives.