Eight local suspects were arrested during a coordinated child exploitation operation involving separate investigations across Southern Oregon. Seven were taken into custody in Jackson County, while a Talent suspect was arrested in Washington. Together, they face 71 felony counts of encouraging child sexual abuse.

A juvenile was detained after motorists reported a grass fire near Highway 62 in White City. Firefighters contained the 40 by 40 foot burn before it could spread, while deputies recovered matches and referred the case for possible charges, including arson.

Forward progress has been stopped on a third-alarm industrial fire in White City. The fire began at 2645 Avenue G, spread into surrounding businesses, and reached the fence separating the incident from the VA property.

Romualdo Angulo Balero has been sentenced to 158 months in prison for the 2024 shooting of a bicyclist near Colonial Mobile Estates in White City. A jury convicted him of attempted second-degree murder with a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm.

Firefighters are battling a three-alarm fire at the Biomass One facility in White City. Avenue G is closed between Agate Road and Highway 62, with traffic routed to Antelope Road and Linn Road as multiple agencies support suppression efforts.

Jackson County deputies and partner agencies spent several hours cleaning up graffiti and clearing overgrown weeds around White City. The Sheriff’s Office said crews painted over and pressure washed graffiti at 10 locations while also improving sidewalk and bike path access.

Evacuation levels have been reduced Tuesday morning for the Blackwell Fire near rural Central Point after crews completed a containment line around the fire perimeter overnight. Jackson County Fire District 3 says no homes were lost or damaged, though several outbuildings and industrial-type buildings were damaged inside the fire area.

A Medford man wanted on multiple felony child sex abuse charges was arrested Monday in White City by a U.S. Marshals-led task force. Authorities say the arrest followed a years-long investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, and additional federal charges were added after the suspect was booked into jail.

Two suspects connected to an armed carjacking in Portland were arrested in White City after a Flock camera alert led deputies to a stolen vehicle and a pursuit that ended in a crash, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.