A new used outdoor goods and consignment store is now open in Klamath Falls, offering a place for residents to sell, donate and shop for gently used outdoor gear. The store was created to make outdoor recreation more affordable while keeping usable equipment, clothing and bikes in circulation.

Linkville Playhouse will open A Changed Person, an original dramatic comedy written and directed by Erin Barker, on Friday, May 15. The production follows a group of people whose astral projection workshop goes wildly wrong, forcing them to learn what it really means to walk in someone else’s shoes.

Klamath County is now under a state drought emergency after Governor Tina Kotek declared emergency status for Klamath, Coos, and Wheeler counties. State officials say 70% of Klamath County is in moderate to severe drought, while the Klamath Basin’s snow water equivalent was reported at just 4% of normal in late April.

The Klamath River Renewal Project has received international recognition for its role in restoring fish passage and river connectivity following the removal of four hydroelectric dams. Project partners say the effort reopened more than 400 miles of historic habitat for salmon, steelhead and lamprey.

Federal agencies have awarded $6 million to help tribes and Oregon officials restore spring Chinook salmon in the Klamath Basin through hatchery expansion and remote stream incubation sites.

The Klamath Water Bank has opened its 2026 drought response program with up to $19.1 million available for irrigators as water shortages are expected to idle tens of thousands of acres this season.

CHP has recommended possible charges after a paraquat spill in Dorris shut down Highway 97 and triggered a shelter-in-place order. Investigators say the tank came loose from a truck headed to a spraying job in the Shasta Valley.

The Ross Ragland Theater has announced a full May lineup featuring Klamath Chorale, Blippi, the Klamath Symphony, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and a summer camp fundraiser supporting local youth programs.

United Way of the Klamath Basin Executive Director Christine Hess has announced her retirement after nearly four years of service. The nonprofit says it will begin an immediate search for new leadership as it continues programs supporting health, education, housing, and financial stability across the region.

A new federal bill introduced by Congressman Cliff Bentz aims to give local water users a stronger voice in decisions that impact water access across the West. The legislation focuses on increasing transparency and participation during Endangered Species Act consultations that often influence agricultural and community water supplies.

The Klamath Water Users Association is warning of reduced irrigation water deliveries for the 2026 season due to extremely low snowpack. Officials say up to 40,000 acres may need to remain unirrigated to preserve water later in the year. A community meeting is planned to discuss conditions and next steps.

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for the Oregon Cascades with heavy snow and strong winds expected through Thursday. Forecasters say up to 30 inches of snow is possible in some higher elevations with difficult travel conditions. Additional watches, warnings, and advisories have been issued across Southern Oregon and Northern California.

KWUA says the 2026 Klamath Project Annual Operations Plan sets water management parameters but stops short of confirming irrigation allocations, which are expected by April 1.

The Klamath Water Users Association announced that the Bureau of Reclamation has completed a reassessment of how the Endangered Species Act is applied to the Klamath Project, a move described as a key step toward improving long-term water supply predictability in the Basin.

Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife troopers have issued a criminal citation for the unlawful taking of Chinook salmon in the Klamath Basin, marking the first such case since the removal of dams on the Klamath River and the historic return of salmon to local waterways.

The DeHoop family’s journey from Dutch immigrants to Klamath Basin agricultural leaders spans generations, shaping both the region’s dairy industry and its economic resilience. Their story reflects the promise of the American Dream and the challenges facing modern agriculture in the Basin.

Oregon officials say they recognize the urgent push for fish screens as salmon return to the Upper Klamath Basin — but warn the engineering, cost, and statewide backlog mean fast solutions are unlikely.

A sweeping new OPB documentary, First Descent: Kayaking the Klamath, follows Indigenous teens on a 310-mile river journey only made possible after the Klamath’s major dams came down. Blending adventure filmmaking with powerful cultural storytelling, the film captures a historic moment on a river reborn.