LATEST NEWS

SOUTHERN OREGON – The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the person or persons responsible for burglarizing several marijuana farms in Jackson and Josephine counties. Detectives have been investigating the burglaries, in which the suspects are targeting licensed marijuana farms and storage facilities. Police say the burglaries...

An air quality alert was issued in effect until Thursday at 2 p.m. for Jackson County. According to the National Weather Service, "Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Pollution Advisory in effect until 2 p.m. Thursday. A wildfire burning in the region combined with forecast conditions will cause air quality levels to fluctuate and could be at unhealthy levels. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory for Jackson County due to smoke from the Salt Creek fire. DEQ also expects other areas of the state may see intermittent smoke from ongoing large wildfires. Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on the weather. Smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions. People most at risk include infants and young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people. Keep windows and doors closed. If its too hot, run air conditioning on recirculate or consider moving to a cooler location. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity. Use high- efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters in indoor ventilation systems or portable air purifiers. Be aware of smoke in your area and avoid places with the highest levels. When air quality improves to moderate or healthy, open windows and doors to air out homes and businesses. If you have a breathing plan for a medical condition, be sure to follow it and keep any needed medications refilled."

EAGLE POINT, Ore. — Firefighters are continuing to make progress on the Salt Creek Fire, but fire activity has started to increase as the afternoon is heating up, fire officials reported after 3 p.m. Tuesday. Hot temperatures into the triple digits and windy conditions are causing minimal growth on small portions of the southwest, southeast and northeastern edges.

EAGLE POINT, Ore. – Taking advantage of nighttime temperatures, nightshift crews working the Salt Creek Fire were able to tie together, build and improve line around the fire, pushing containment to 2%. After an overnight infrared (IR) flight, officials used more accurate mapping to place the estimated size at...

Restrictions on use of potential fire ignition sources go into effect over 1.8 million acres of ODF-protected land. The lands in Jackson and Josephine counties under Oregon Department of Forestry protection will go into “extreme” (red) fire danger at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, the agency said in a release.

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. -- NewsWatch 12 is continuing to track the Salt Creek Fire, which is currently 1,500 acres and 40% lined. Today, 321 personnel are assigned to the fire, including 12 20-person crews, nine engines, 10 water tenders, seven bulldozers and six tree fallers. We asked for your photo...

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is reporting a new fire burning on the ridge just south of Beaver Sulpher Campground. The Sulpher Fire, which is burning on the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District, was first noticed Monday night by firefighters working the Upper Applegate Fire. Air tankers were then diverted to drop water on the new incident.

A Southern Oregon homicide case that began nearly six years ago with the disappearance of a onetime child actor ended in soft-spoken tones in the courtroom Monday — and with an apparent lack of contrition. Daniel James Burda, 41, was sentenced to a combined six years and two months...

PORTLAND, Ore. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will be in Jackson County next week for one of four upcoming town halls. The senator will be meeting with community members at Medford’s Rogue X on July 17 at 1 p.m. “I’m very much looking forward to hearing directly from...

The Jackson Public Health Department has issued an air quality warning due to wildfires in the region. Wildfire smoke impacting air quality in Southern Oregon and Northern California. Smoke is pouring in from the Salt Creek and Shelly Fires, which are both covering thousands of acres. The wildfire smoke is...

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. -- The Jackson County Public Health has issued an air quality alert for Jackson County due to wildfire smoke from the Salt Creek Fire in Eagle Point and the Shelly Fire in Siskiyou County. “People who have chronic health conditions, they could feel those chronic health conditions...

Smoke level passes into ‘unhealthy’ readings in Ashland on Monday afternoon. Jackson County officials issued an air quality alert Monday due to a worsening layer of smoke descending on the Rogue Valley as two wildfires continue to burn in the region. The Salt Creek Fire in Jackson County...

JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. -- The fire danger level in Jackson and Josephine counties will change from high to extreme at 12:01 a.m. tonight, according to a news release from the Oregon Department of Forestry's Southwest Oregon District. Extreme is the highest fire danger level. According to the release,...

MEDFORD, Ore. -- The suspect accused of killing former Mouseketeer Dennis Day pleaded no contest today to one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide and one count of Abuse of a Corpse in the second degree. According to the Jackson County District Attorney's Office, 41-year-old Daniel Burda received a prison sentenced...