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3 weeks ago | 
ashland.news | Bert Etling
By Buffy Pollock, Rogue Valley TimesSupporters of imprisoned wildland firefighter Brian “Hakiym” Simpson and a defense attorney who represented him in court are sending an almost 3,000-signature petition and letter to Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, urging her to exonerate the 42-year-old and have him released from prison.
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3 weeks ago | 
ashland.news | Bert Etling
By Art Van Kraft for Ashland.newsA crowd of between three and four hundred people gathered on Ashland Plaza on Saturday afternoon, then spread out onto nearby sidewalks along East Main Street as cars honked and protesters cheered.
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3 weeks ago | 
ashland.news | Bert Etling
By Damian Mann for Ashland.newsA varied group of Ashland news organization representatives took a deep dive into the shifting landscape of journalism Saturday at Southern Oregon University. About 50 people attended the more than two-hour event, which described how local journalism has changed markedly over the past 10 years with the demise of the Mail Tribune and Ashland Daily Tidings.
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3 weeks ago | 
ashland.news | Bert Etling
By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital ChroniclePortland-based clothing company Wildfang received a shipment from China right before President Donald Trump announced a 152.5% tariff on all Chinese goods. If that order had gone through just 48 hours later than it did, it would have cost Wildfang nearly $180,000 extra because of Trump’s tariffs, CEO Emma Mcilroy told Gov. Tina Kotek during a roundtable at Salem’s Chemeketa Community College on Wednesday.
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3 weeks ago | 
ashland.news | Bert Etling
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news Scott Balcom stayed in the Rapp Road area of Talent through the night of Sept. 8, 2020, in an attempt to defend his home that became a study in how a wildfire eats a city. “I watched a lot of stuff burn. I got tired of watching stuff burn. … I learned a lot by watching all the homes burn. Even in the remains of my house,” he said. Balcom’s home was one of many in his neighborhood consumed by the Almeda Fire.
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3 weeks ago | 
ashland.news | Bert Etling
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news Ashland City Council reviewed the city’s sources of revenue alongside costs and potential changes to its low income assistance program during its Monday evening study session. The main sources of revenue for the city are charges for services, franchise fees, ambulance revenue and property taxes, Finance Director Marriane Berry said. City wide utilities are based on rates set by studies and these rates feed into corresponding enterprise funds, she said.
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3 weeks ago | 
ashland.news | Bert Etling
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news An Ashland resident arrested for kidnapping another man and assaulting multiple strangers and police officers in downtown Ashland April 12 was indicted on multiple charges by a grand jury Thursday.
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3 weeks ago | 
ashland.news | Bert Etling
By Damian Mann for Ashland.newsA looming fiscal cliff could force Rogue Valley Transportation District to cut routes and endure an almost 50% drop in ridership in 2026. The local bus service, which serves most cities in Jackson County, has already instituted a strict fare enforcement policy, which wasn’t in place during the pandemic because it helped assist the homeless and unemployed. RVTD relied on extra federal and state funding during the pandemic years to help shore up its budget.
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3 weeks ago | 
ashland.news | Bert Etling
By Conrad Wilson, OPB and Lauren Dake, OPBGov. Tina Kotek fired Jessica Kampfe, the head of the Oregon Public Defense Commission, on Thursday morning. The agency oversees indigent defense for thousands of people charged with crimes who cannot afford a lawyer. “It is unacceptable that more than 4,000 defendants in Oregon do not have attorneys assigned,” Kotek said in a statement.
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4 weeks ago | 
ashland.news | Bert Etling
Ashland.news staff reportAn “IndyCon independent media celebration” is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 19, in the Rogue River Room in Stevenson Union at Southern Oregon University. It’s part of Ashland 20th annual Independent Media Week organized by Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice showcasing local independent media sources. Local artists, media producers and creators will table and share in workshops and panels.
