Good morning, Grants Pass.

Whitehorse Park will reopen on Sept.

2 when a renovated campground welcomes campers with a ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. and check-ins beginning at 2 p.m.; the upgraded upper section offers wider, level sites — ideal for RVs and tents.

On Thursday, firefighters along Upper Applegate Road used aerial resources and alternate access to work around an energized power pole and contain a grass fire covering one to two acres — no injuries or damage were reported.

Oregon lost 4,100 nonfarm payroll jobs in July as key industries including professional services, hospitality, government, and manufacturing saw declines - retail trade added jobs while the unemployment rate stayed at 5.2 percent.

County figures - expected Tuesday, Aug. 25 - will show how these changes affect the region.

Bart Elder, a wildlife photographer on Savage Creek Road, cleans up dumped trash every Tuesday at 8 a.m. with local volunteers and reports new sites to law enforcement (he uses his own funds and equipment and calls for stricter enforcement).

State lawmakers are reviewing cannabis rules to protect youth and manage costs, with new edible packaging requirements set for 2027 and a state prevention strategy expected to affect Southern Oregon growers and retailers — details remain under discussion.

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read launched the Oregon Campus Voting Challenge to boost nonpartisan voter education on 20 college campuses ahead of the 2026 general election.

The initiative invites institutions such as Rogue Community College to develop lasting programs that help students understand and participate in elections.

Oregon residents will face higher health insurance premiums in 2027 as state regulators propose a 16% increase for individual plans amid the expiration of enhanced federal credits + fewer market options, putting added pressure on self-employed workers and small businesses.

Oregon will begin running its own health insurance marketplace, Explore Health, on Nov.

1 for the 2027 plan year, shifting more than 100,000 enrollees from the federal system to state-run tech + customer service that includes responsibility for maintaining eligibility systems and vendor communication.

New testing at Odell Lake shows microcystin levels dropped from 68.2 to 0.48, prompting state health officials to change the advisory to a precaution on Friday, Aug.

21. Recreational activities remain allowed but visitors must avoid visible blooms & protect pets from exposure.