Lauren Pretto

2 days ago | kobi5.com | Lauren Pretto

MEDFORD, Ore.- Three kids are safe after a fire broke out in their home thanks to the quick actions of their neighbor. Medford firefighters responded to a call of a house fire in the 1300 Block of Sequoia Cir. around 3:45 p.m. Monday afternoon. Neighbors tell me they heard multiple pops before crews arrived. One neighbor also saw what they described as “colorful puffs of smoke”. Fire Chief Eric Thompson says they received multiple reports of “explosions” before they got there.

5 days ago | kobi5.com | Lauren Pretto

MEDFORD, Ore.- A local businessman is back out on the street just hours after he was arrested by the FBI. The FBI arrested the man Friday and is charging him with more than 20 federal financial crimes, including Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, Tax Evasion and more. Joel Caswell is a downtown Medford businessman, raised in the Rogue Valley, where NBC5 is told he attends church with his young family. He’s worked with many major local businesses, but the federal government says he’s a criminal.

6 days ago | kobi5.com | Lauren Pretto

MEDFORD, Ore.- The Medford School District Budget Committee meeting to ask questions about the proposed budget for the upcoming school year. “As a district, we’re in a better position than most,” Assistant Superintendent of Operations Brad Earl said. Earlier this month, NBC5 reported the Budget Committee held its first meeting of the year, taking a look at the proposed budget for the 2025/26 school year.

6 days ago | kobi5.com | Lauren Pretto

SISKIYOU CO., Cal.- A traffic stop turns into a methamphetamine bust when a Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulls over a driver for using her phone. According to the sheriff’s office, 45-year-old Amanda Garner was pulled over when a deputy noticed she was talking on her phone without using a hands-free feature. When the deputy began conducting a probation search of the car, Garner allegedly spontaneously admitted to transporting methamphetamines.

6 days ago | kobi5.com | Lauren Pretto

JOSEPHINE CO., Ore.- Two members of an armed robbery crew who posed as Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents are sentenced to federal prison. In March of 2022, Josephine County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a Josephine County address after receiving a report of a possible armed robbery in progress. Deputies reportedly found several victims who had been restrained with zip ties and duct tape.