Federal funding has cleared for the Mariposa Wildlife Crossing, a planned $37 million wildlife bridge over Interstate 5 south of Ashland. The project would reconnect habitat in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, reduce wildlife crashes and give SOU students years of research work.

Oregon Community Foundation, The Ford Family Foundation, the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation and Les Schwab Tire Centers are partnering to provide at least $1 million in wildfire preparedness support for rural Oregon communities. The effort includes quick-response grants and $100,000 in donated tires for Rangeland Fire Protection Associations statewide.

Grasshoppers and Mormon crickets are active again across the Klamath Basin, raising concern for producers already seeing hatches, crop-edge pressure and repeated treatments near the Oregon-California state line.

ODFW will require catch-and-release fishing for native redband trout from June 15 through Oct. 31 on Upper Klamath Lake and several spring-fed creeks that feed into it. The temporary rule also limits anglers to flies and artificial lures only for all species in the affected waters.

A political action committee seeking to repeal Oregon’s non-motorized watercraft permit requirement is making a final push for signatures. Let Us Paddle says it needs support from Oregonians across the state to qualify a proposed November ballot measure aimed at ending the permit requirement for kayaks, canoes, rafts and stand-up paddleboards.

Fair season is getting closer in the Rogue Valley. The 2026 Jackson County Fair returns July 14–19 at The Expo in Central Point with opening night bull riding, four nights of headline entertainment, carnival rides, food vendors and the 4-H and FFA youth activities that remain the heart of the county fair tradition.

An unofficial gravel pullout along U.S. 101 north of Brookings will close to parking beginning June 22. ODOT and Oregon Parks officials say the area, often used to access Secret Beach and the Oregon Coast Trail, was never designed or maintained as a trailhead and has created safety and environmental concerns.

After rebuilding the historic Butte Creek Mill from the 2015 fire, the nonprofit foundation behind the Eagle Point landmark is preparing for its next major project. A proposed certified community kitchen could support community dinners, cooking classes, educational programs and new opportunities centered on the mill’s stone-ground flour and agricultural heritage.

Klamath Hatchery has reopened to the public after a long rebuild following the 2020 Two Four Two Fire in Klamath County. The new Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife facility includes fish-viewing areas, restrooms, picnic spots and a modern hatchery building designed to be safer and more resilient.

Nearly five years after the Lava Fire burned across the northern slopes of Mount Shasta, the Shasta-Trinity National Forest says crews have planted more than 1.47 million seedlings across 2,769 acres as part of a long-term reforestation effort.

The U.S. Forest Service says it has more than 28,000 responders ready for the 2026 wildfire season, along with hotshot crews, engines, aircraft, contractors and a national logistics system designed to move resources quickly when fires start.

A Klamath Falls coffee business has been named the Portland District SBA Rural Business of the Year, marking the first time the award has been presented to a rural business in Oregon. Owners Carly and Ryan Lynch were honored during a ceremony at their Spring Street location and credited the Klamath Community College Small Business Development Center for helping them build and grow the business.

Asante says its hospitals, emergency departments and immediate care locations will remain open as the health system moves forward with layoffs and cost-cutting efforts. The organization says 300 or more employees may be affected in fiscal year 2026 as it works to address rising expenses, lower reimbursement rates and other financial pressures.

Oregon is adding 24 new EV fast charging station sites through the latest round of federal funding, including Klamath Falls, Chemult and several key Highway 97 travel stops.

Henley High School students captured six state championships and qualified multiple teams for nationals at the SkillsUSA Oregon State Conference, highlighting the continued strength of the school’s Career and Technical Education programs.

The Oregon Cheese Festival returns to Central Point April 25–26, bringing nearly 100 artisan vendors, cheesemakers, and specialty food producers to the Jackson County Expo. The two-day event will feature tastings, local products, beverage add-ons, and a kickoff Cheesemaker Dinner in Ashland, drawing thousands for one of the region’s largest food festivals.

Airmen at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls are participating in a series of summer training exercises designed to strengthen readiness and operational skills. The training includes a deployment to Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, field exercises in Central Oregon, and simulated deployment scenarios at Kingsley Field to prepare personnel for a wide range of mission environments.

Klamath Falls has been named a 2026 IMBA Trail Town, a national designation recognizing communities that prioritize trail development, outdoor recreation access, and long-term stewardship. The city was one of just 28 selected nationwide and one of only two in Oregon, highlighting the growing role of trails in supporting tourism, economic development, and community engagement.

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.

Klamath Music and Watershed Row have announced the full lineup for the 2026 Klamath Music Festival, returning July 24–25 to downtown Klamath Falls. The event will feature Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys alongside regional and local artists as the festival moves to the new Watershed Row community venue.