NewsWatch 12

Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office caught a driver hauling more than a ton of illegal marijuana on Interstate 5. The driver, 36-year-old Omar Jacob Gonzalez, was arrested for possession and transportation of illegally grown marijuana. A follow-up count revealed he had 2,254 lbs.

Eagle Point Middle School goes into lockdown, incident resolved and students are safe. Earlier, the school's Crisis Response Team initiated lockdown procedures in response to a reported safety concern. NewsWatch 12 will keep you updated.

The Yreka Western Railroad will receive more than $60.2 million in federal funding to modernize rail infrastructure connecting Yreka and Montague. The money will support the rehabilitation of about 8.5 miles of railroad track to improve safety and reliability along the line.

Grants Pass open burn window starts Oct. 31: get your permit The Fall 2026 Open Burn Window will run from Saturday through Nov. 8. According to the city, residents can now apply for burn permits online or in person starting Wednesday. For more info, visit the link in our bio.

Medford retirees: Bend named a top place to retire in 2027 Bend secured the number 159 spot on the list of the top 250 cities. Bend offers nearly 300 days of sunshine a year and crisp, clear winter days. For more information, visit the link in our bio.

With ballots out for casting, Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read has announced that new official ballot drop boxes have been placed around Oregon. Read said Oregon has more than 300 drop boxes available, with more on the way, which have been paid for using emergency funds.

Shooting at Klamath Falls motel leaves man in critical condition. Deputies responded to a reported shooting at the Holliday Motel on Highway 39 on Oct. 26 around 5:21 p.m. When they arrived, they found Ethan Kammerer with a gunshot wound.

Head-on crash in Wolf Creek leaves 2 hurt, driver arrested. A 40-year-old man is in jail after deputies say he caused a head-on crash that left both cars on fire and sent two people to the hospital. For more information, visit the link in our bio.

The Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District is ending the 2026 fire season in Jackson and Josephine counties effective Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at 12:01 a.m.

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore will not return this season after suffering a concussion in late September. "I think if it was up to Dante in any shape or way, he would want to be out there playing for guys, but unfortunately, it's not really up to Dante," Lanning said.

The Oregon Department of Forestry is hosting five free air curtain incinerator demonstration burns across Southern Oregon this November. For more information, dates and locations, visit the link in our bio.

Rep. James Gallagher introduced a federal legislation after investigators found 117 dead dogs buried at an animal rescue in Humboldt County. It aims to strengthen protections for companion animals and create a path to justice when animals are harmed at shelters and rescues.

Mt. Ashland Association and the Southern Oregon Ski Education Foundation are launching two new youth ski racing programs for the 2026-27 winter season. For more information, visit the link in our bio.

Celebrate our 36th year of Coats for Kids. For more than three decades, our community has come together to help local children stay warm. Your donation can make a difference for a child in Southern Oregon. For more information, visit the link in our bio.

Gov. Tina Kotek outlined a series of actions to ensure the Bend-La Pine School District and the High Desert Education Service District have the resources and support needed following the mass shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School. For more info, visit the link in our bio.

The National Park Service is waiving entrance fees on Oct. 27 in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. For more information, visit the link in our bio.

Rogue Regional Medical Center opened an expanded cardiovascular care unit supported by a $1 million gift from J. Paul and Geertje de Vos. The project includes six new cardiac catheterization laboratories and a newly expanded Cardiovascular Recovery Unit.

Fire danger dropped to low in Jackson and Josephine Counties as fall weather brought rain and cooler temperatures to the region. All current fire season regulations remain in effect. Debris burning, including burn piles and burn barrels, remains prohibited.

An Ashland police officer shot a person armed with a knife early Monday after responding to a business alarm. Officers responded to the 200 block of "A" Street around 2 a.m. Police found a person leaving the area of multiple businesses with shattered storefront windows.