A spring-like weather system is expected to bring much cooler temperatures, widespread showers, isolated thunderstorms, and gusty winds to Southern Oregon and Northern California through Saturday. Snow levels may lower near 6,000 feet late Friday into Saturday, with chilly mornings expected Sunday and Monday.

The West Jones Fire evacuation has been reduced from Level 3 “GO NOW” to Level 1 as crews make progress northeast of Grants Pass. Rural Metro Fire says the fire remains estimated at 8 to 10 acres, with crews continuing to protect homes and Rancho Vista Drive still closed due to emergency vehicle traffic.

All Oregon Department of Forestry districts are now in fire season, triggering prevention reminders and local restrictions across the state. In Southern Oregon and Northern California, agencies are also updating fire danger levels, burn rules and equipment-use restrictions as conditions dry out.

The first significant heat wave of the summer is expected to bring 90-degree and triple-digit temperatures to much of Southern Oregon and Northern California this weekend, prompting heat advisories across several west side valleys, coastal areas and parts of far Northern California.

Rogue Community College and Southern Oregon University will both hold commencement ceremonies Saturday, recognizing more than 1,300 students across the Rogue Valley. RCC will celebrate its largest graduating class since 2018, while SOU marks its 100th commencement since reopening at its Ashland campus.

Southern Oregon will move from showers, breezy nights and possible frost east of the Cascades to its first significant heat event of the season. Temperatures may reach 101 degrees in Medford and Grants Pass by Sunday, while forecasters urge residents to prepare for heat-related illness and remember that area rivers and lakes remain dangerously cold.

A 22-year-old man died Tuesday morning in a two-vehicle crash on Highland Avenue in Grants Pass. Police said Gabriel Davis was killed when his car veered into oncoming traffic and struck another vehicle.

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.

A Grants Pass man is hospitalized with serious injuries after authorities say he drove the wrong way onto Interstate 5 near Rogue River and crashed head-on into an oncoming SUV. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office says the incident began when a deputy attempted to stop a speeding Toyota pickup on Rogue River Highway.

A man was arrested Wednesday morning after Josephine County deputies say he fled a traffic stop in a pickup truck towing a trailer near Rogue River Highway. Deputies ended the pursuit for safety after the vehicle entered oncoming lanes, then later found the vehicle stopped on Savage Creek Road.

Fire season restrictions will begin inside the City of Grants Pass on Friday, May 15, at 12:01 a.m. The city will enter fire season at a low fire danger level, with rules limiting open fires, smoking near flammable vegetation, vehicle use, power saws, mowing, and other activities that can increase wildfire risk.

Asante President and CEO Tom Gessel told employees that the health system is facing a $16 million operating loss for the first half of the fiscal year and could face a $50 million shortfall in 2027 without action. The memo says Asante expects to eliminate 300 or more roles while reviewing costs, services, and operations.

A six-week drug investigation led to multiple arrests and the seizure of methamphetamine, cocaine, firearms, and more than $227,000 in cash across Southern Oregon and Northern California.

Several Southern Oregon airports, including Medford, Grants Pass, Ashland, and Klamath Falls, are set to receive federal funding as part of a more than $27 million statewide investment aimed at improving aviation infrastructure. Projects include runway and taxiway resurfacing, lighting upgrades, pavement rehabilitation, and safety enhancements designed to support emergency response, business travel, and regional connectivity across Southern Oregon and nearby coastal communities.

A suspect has been arrested following a fatal shooting in Grants Pass on Wednesday evening that left one person dead and another injured. Officers responded to the 800 block of NE E Street, where two victims were found with gunshot wounds. An 18-year-old male later died at the hospital, while a second victim survived. Authorities located the suspect hours later in a Jackson County hotel room and took him into custody without incident.

A 76-year-old Grants Pass woman was killed in a head-on crash on Highway 97 near Chiloquin after her pickup crossed into oncoming traffic, according to Oregon State Police. The highway was impacted for approximately six hours during the investigation.

A Grants Pass man died Sunday night after a rollover crash on Highway 238 in Josephine County, according to Oregon State Police. The crash occurred when a pickup left the roadway and rolled multiple times.

A 51-year-old man has been arrested following a March 4 incident in Grants Pass where police say an elderly resident was held hostage inside a home on Leonard Road. Officers forced entry after hearing gunshots and safely removed the hostage before taking the suspect into custody after his release from the hospital.

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.

The Josephine County District Attorney has concluded a review of a February 7 officer-involved shooting on the Debbs Potts Parkway Bridge, determining the use of deadly force was legally justified.