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Seventy-three organizations will share more than $2.25 million in spring 2026 grants through the Reed and Carolee Walker Fund of Oregon Community Foundation. The award list includes organizations based in Jackson, Josephine and Douglas counties, with funding focused largely on services for children, families and low-income residents in Jackson County.
The National Interagency Fire Center’s June outlook shows above-normal significant wildland fire potential across Northern California and parts of the Northwest, with the risk expanding across Oregon as summer progresses. The forecast does not predict specific fires, but it signals a greater-than-usual likelihood of significant wildfires during the June through September outlook period.
A fireworks show is tentatively planned for Lake of the Woods on July 4, 2026, after the Lake of the Woods Homeowners Association signed a contract with a vendor for the event. Organizers say the show remains dependent on fire conditions, weather and Forest Service guidance.
The Ashland Police Department has introduced Cisco, a 20-month-old yellow lab donated by Dogs For Better Lives, as its new facility service dog. Cisco will support APD’s wellness program, assist in community settings and help create a calming environment during sensitive interactions.
Henley High School students returned from the 2026 World KidWind Challenge with two major honors, including a Wind Champion award for team Valley Breeze and an Innovation Award for Walker Crawford’s solo-entry turbine design.
The Oregon governor’s opposition adds a major twist to a proposed animal cruelty measure that has divided hunters, farmers, ranchers, animal-rights advocates and political leaders across the state.
A DUII crash Sunday night caused significant structural damage to the nearly 100-year-old Lampman Road Bridge over Galls Creek in Gold Hill, forcing Jackson County officials to close the bridge indefinitely to all vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
A squadron of F-35A Lightning II aircraft from Luke Air Force Base in Arizona will fly with the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field for two weeks beginning Monday, June 1. Officials say the community may notice increased aircraft noise during that time.
ODF Southwest says forward progress has been stopped on the Hilt Fire burning near the 2000 block of Colestin Road in southern Jackson County. The grass fire is estimated at 15 to 20 acres, with Level 1 evacuation notices issued for zones JAC-564 and JAC-566.
Medford Police arrested 21-year-old Ivan Ortiz after a Friday night shooting near In-N-Out on Crater Lake Highway left a 19-year-old man hospitalized with a gunshot wound.
A mower sparked a grass fire Sunday afternoon on Ament Road near Moon Mountain, according to Rural Metro Fire. Firefighters from Rural Metro Fire, Grants Pass Fire and ODF Southwest Oregon District controlled the fire at 1.75 acres with no structural damage reported.
Nearly five years after the Lava Fire burned across the northern slopes of Mount Shasta, the Shasta-Trinity National Forest says crews have planted more than 1.47 million seedlings across 2,769 acres as part of a long-term reforestation effort.
A new Oregon Capital Chronicle analysis found that Oregonians receiving SNAP benefits in 2025 most frequently listed major grocery, retail, fast food, school and university employers on income verification forms, including Safeway/Albertsons, Walmart, Amazon, Fred Meyer/Kroger and Oregon’s public universities.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued 13 civil penalties in April totaling more than $3.4 million. The enforcement actions included major wastewater penalties tied to Pacific Seafood facilities in Charleston and Brookings, along with a solid waste case in Wolf Creek.
Oregon’s expanded Waterway Access Permit requirement is now in effect for all nonmotorized boats, including kayaks, paddleboards, rafts, canoes and inflatable versions regardless of length. State officials say the fees help fund waterway access and aquatic invasive species prevention, while opponents argue the law places an unfair burden on low-risk paddlers.
A spring wildflower bloom is spreading across the former Iron Gate and Copco reservoir footprints, where the Yurok Tribe says crews have planted millions of native seeds since the removal of four Klamath River dams in 2024. The returning plants are helping stabilize soil, support wildlife and rebuild habitat along the river.
An 84-year-old man has been arrested after a fatal shooting early Friday morning in the 500 block of Market Street in Klamath Falls. Police said the victim later died at Sky Lakes Medical Center, and detectives found discrepancies between the suspect’s initial account and evidence gathered during the investigation.
Fire investigators say the Blackwell Road Fire near Central Point was accidental and began from spontaneous heating inside a large mulch pile. Strong winds pushed the fire through nearby materials, across Tolo Road and into grass fields, burning a combined 50 acres.
A vacant structure near Oregon Highway 39 and Roberta Drive in Klamath Falls was destroyed in an overnight fire Thursday, according to Klamath County Fire District 1. Fire officials said crews encountered heavy fire throughout the building and later shifted to a defensive strategy because of fire conditions and structural instability.
A child exploitation investigation tied to Discord led to a search warrant Wednesday morning at a rural Central Point residence. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said the case began after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children connected uploaded child sexual abuse material to the address.
A driver was seriously injured Tuesday afternoon in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 5 near Wolf Creek. Rural Metro Fire, responding on behalf of Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District, said firefighters removed the vehicle’s roof and windshield to extricate the driver.
Evacuation levels have been reduced Tuesday morning for the Blackwell Fire near rural Central Point after crews completed a containment line around the fire perimeter overnight. Jackson County Fire District 3 says no homes were lost or damaged, though several outbuildings and industrial-type buildings were damaged inside the fire area.
Evacuation levels will remain in place overnight for the Blackwell Road fire near rural Central Point, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Forward progression of the grassfire has been stopped, but firefighters remain active in the area, with overnight roadblocks continuing near Tolo Road, Nellis Road and Merita Terrace.
Phoenix Police say a Saturday morning domestic violence call involving a firearm led to the arrest of a 23-year-old woman after officers responded to a residence in northwest Phoenix. Police said officers safely detained the involved people and later located the firearm after it had initially been hidden.
Medford Police say an early morning shots-fired call on South Holly Street led to a SWAT response after several people refused to come out of a residence. Officers reported no injuries and said one man was jailed on multiple firearm and domestic violence-related charges.
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.
Klamath Union High School’s Digital Media program celebrated a standout year during its Digital Media Awards Night, recognizing students for creative work, leadership and national achievement. The evening highlighted student films, community partnerships, a new scholarship and growing opportunities tied to professional-level media projects.
Klamath County Fire District 1 has closed all open burning within its district boundaries due to increasing fire danger and the onset of fire season conditions. The closure applies to Klamath Falls and surrounding areas, while barbecues, cooking appliances, and certain contained fire pits remain allowed under specific safety rules.
The 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field says it will be unable to conduct requested flyovers until late 2027 while the base moves through its aircraft conversion process. The wing’s last F-15 Eagle departed in December 2025, and F-35A Lightning II aircraft are projected to arrive in August 2027, pending final Department of the Air Force approval.
Klamath Trails Alliance volunteers, working with the U.S. Forest Service Fremont-Winema National Forest, have reopened a 600-foot connector trail near Lake of the Woods. The High-Rye Connector links the High Lakes Trail with the Rye Spur Trail and Billie Creek Nature Loop near Highway 140.
