Southern Oregon & Northern California News
Latest local news from Southern Oregon and Northern California, covering Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, Jackson County, Josephine County, Klamath County, Siskiyou County, Del Norte County, and communities throughout the region.
Shasta Elementary Opens $87,000 Playground Built With Community Support
Shasta Elementary students have a new place to play after the school celebrated the opening of an $87,000 playground project. Fundraising by the Shasta Elementary School Booster Club, donated work from local contractors, and volunteer help from parents and teachers made the new equipment possible.
KCSD Board Recognizes Retiring Superintendent
Klamath County School District Superintendent Glen Szymoniak was recognized during the June school board meeting ahead of his June 30 retirement, closing eight years of district leadership marked by financial stability, facility improvements, expanded student opportunities and record graduation gains.
SOU Board Approves Vitality Plan
Southern Oregon University’s Board of Trustees has unanimously approved the university’s Vitality Plan, moving SOU into a yearlong implementation phase tied to emergency state funding. The plan calls for more than $20 million in reductions and includes the sunsetting of three academic programs.
$2.25M Headed to Southern Oregon Nonprofits
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.
Benefit for the Basin Returns Saturday
Benefit for the Basin returns Saturday, May 30, at the Klamath County Fairgrounds, bringing together a car show, vendors, family activities and dinner in support of youth, education, community programs and the fairgrounds.
Leadership Klamath Opens Enrollment
Applications are now open for the 2026–2027 Leadership Klamath program through the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce. The long-running program connects emerging and established leaders with monthly sessions focused on government, education, economic development, healthcare, natural resources, public safety and community engagement.
Henley Students Build for the Birds
Henley fourth-graders built their own birdhouses last week with help from middle and high school construction students, turning a hands-on shop project into a cross-grade learning experience.
Medford Schools Plan Staffing Cuts
The Medford School District’s approved 2026-2027 budget includes a net reduction of 20 full-time positions, with officials citing declining enrollment, growing special education needs, and long-term financial stability concerns.
KCSD Selects Melissa Cole as Next Superintendent
The Klamath County School District Board of Directors has selected Melissa Cole as its next superintendent. Cole, a Klamath Falls resident and longtime educator with more than 25 years of experience, will succeed retiring Superintendent Glen Szymoniak and begin leading the district on July 1.
KCC Launches $1M Childcare Campaign
Klamath Community College has launched a $1 million capital campaign to support its new Childcare Learning Center, a 29,000-square-foot facility expected to open in fall 2027. The center will serve up to 144 children while also providing training space for KCC students studying early childhood education.
Grants Pass Schools Receive Summer Learning Grant
Grants Pass School District 7 has received state summer learning funding to support literacy, enrichment and school readiness programs for students. The funding will help continue Kinder Camps, launch Literacy Quest for invited elementary students and support a 5th- to 6th-Grade Transition Academy in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley.
North Medford Gym Rebuild Moves Forward
Construction is underway on the new North Medford High School gym, with early work completed and major structural progress expected by the start of the next school year. The rebuild follows the collapse of the original facility and aims for full completion by late 2027.
Oregon Tech Awarded $310K to Expand UX Certificate Programs
Oregon Tech has received a $310,000 funding increase to expand its User Experience certificate programs, supporting scholarships, industry tools, and summer training opportunities. The grant will fund 66 full-tuition scholarships and provide students access to professional UX software used in the field. Officials say the program is designed for working professionals, career changers, and students looking to build practical UX skills.
KCC Names New VP of External Programs
Klamath Community College has named Lucas Ritter as its new Vice President of External Programs. Ritter is a Klamath Falls native and longtime Air Force officer who will begin the role May 4. College officials say he will oversee outreach, grants, and workforce initiatives.
Tillamook Forest Center Celebrates 20 Years
The Tillamook Forest Center is celebrating its 20th anniversary with events and a new exhibit highlighting forest history and restoration. The Oregon Department of Forestry says the center has served as a hands-on learning facility focused on forest ecology and stewardship. A public Birthday Bash is scheduled for April 4 to mark the milestone.
Grants Pass High School Names New Principal
Grants Pass School District 7 has named longtime educator Jason Garcia as the next principal of Grants Pass High School. Garcia will begin leading the school on July 1.
KCSD Upgrades Bus Fleet to Propane
Klamath County School District has nearly completed a decade-long transition from diesel to propane buses, improving safety, reliability, and fuel savings across its transportation fleet.
KCSD HR Director Honored for Supporting Military Employees
Klamath County School District Human Resources Director Jamie Ongman received the Patriotic Employer Award for supporting employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve.
Henley Students Turn School Bus Into Mobile Wildfire Command Center
Inside a former school bus, Henley High School engineering, construction, and electrical students are turning student-designed blueprints into a mobile wildfire command center for the Oregon Department of Forestry — a project that blends classroom learning with real-world impact.
KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak to Retire
Klamath County School District Superintendent Glen Szymoniak has announced his retirement effective July 31, 2026, concluding more than four decades in public education. His full, unedited Q&A reflecting on his career and the district’s future is included.