Southern Oregon
Latest Stories

Animals
Lions, guns and meth: Inside the takedown of an Oregon roadside zoo
For decades, West Coast Game Park Safari drew tourists—until a spring raid exposed alleged abuses, detailed in court records and interviews with former employees.
Think Out Loud
Concerns over privacy and police surveillance arise in Southern Oregon
We learn more about what’s happening in Medford from Kelly Simon, the legal director of the ACLU of Oregon.

Indigenous kayakers traverse 6 dam sites on the Klamath River and head for the ocean
A group of young Indigenous kayakers is headed to the mouth of the Klamath River after portaging around two dams and paddling through four former dam sites.

Health
Volunteers fill gaps in rural Oregon emergency medical care
Rural EMS struggles to staff ambulances, relying frequently on costly air resources and unpaid volunteers.

Grants Pass won legal fight on camps — but continues to lose control of its homelessness crisis
It’s been one year since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Grants Pass’ ban against homeless people camping in public. But in this Southern Oregon city, local officials still can’t clear all its homeless camps.
With state funding lacking, Southern Oregon University warns of layoffs and shrinking future
The public college’s Board of Trustees adopted a new budget on Friday. It includes a sobering $5 million budget deficit the university has to address within a year.

Wildfire
Upper Applegate Fire prompts evacuations, grows over 300 acres
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders Wednesday after a fast-growing wildfire broke out in Southern Oregon.

Business
Dutch Bros is officially moving headquarters from Grants Pass to Phoenix, Arizona
The drive-thru coffee chain first started expanding in Oregon, moving to Eugene, Salem, Portland and other cities before growing outside the Northwest.

Education
Southern Oregon University facing another round of cuts amid budget crisis
Southern Oregon University may have to cut programs and up to 35 positions to fill a budget deficit, as the school expects to receive less money from the state than expected.
A new tiny home community for homeless seniors is coming to Medford
Joy Community will provide 10 long-term homes for seniors. It will be low-barrier, meaning there are fewer obstacles for people to stay there.