Tuesday's Commissioner Meeting Canceled per Request, Workshop on Wednesday

According to the Commissioner's Office, today's 10 a.m. meeting regarding the Appointment for Josephine County Commissioner Position 1 was cancelled per Commissioner Chris Barnett's request. The board still has two meetings in the BCC Conference Room scheduled for December 31st and January 5th at 10 a.m. Both have Interviews and the Appointment for Josephine County Commissioner Position 1 on the agendas. On Wednesday, the board will also meet for their County Administration Workshop to cover Department Business for Information Technology, Community Justice, Airports, and Human Resources. Board Business includes Josephine County Airports Advisory Board Bylaws, then, pending other matters, the meeting will adjourn. Wednesday's workshop will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the BCC Conference Room, and will be streamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream. ...Read more

Law Enforcement Searching for Wanted Man Following Crime Spree

Law enforcement agencies throughout Southern Oregon are searching for a man wanted in connection with multiple stolen vehicles and a high-speed pursuit that occurred Monday. The suspect, Billy Dean Gregory, 55, of O’Brien, is wanted on outstanding warrants and faces multiple charges, including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, theft, reckless driving, and attempting to elude police. Gregory is described as a white male, approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 198 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen around 1:00 p.m. switching stolen vehicles in the Colver Road area of Talent. At this time, it is unknown what vehicle he may be driving. The suspect remains at large. There is no further information available for release at this time. Anyone who sees Billy Dean Gregory or has information regarding his whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately. ...Read more

Oregon to Receive $197.3M Federal Investment in Rural Healthcare

Oregon will receive $197.3 million in 2026 to improve rural healthcare and could receive more in the following four years, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) will invest the federal funding in community-driven projects that improve healthcare access, boost chronic disease management and prevention, grow and sustain the healthcare workforce, and expand the use of health technology and data in Oregon’s rural and frontier communities. The Oregon Rural Health Transformation Program includes a dedicated Tribal initiative that will provide direct funding for the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes in Oregon to improve their own healthcare access and health outcomes in a way that honors the government-to-government relationship with the Tribes. Oregon is centering the unique needs and perspectives of people in rural communities for this effort. OHA conducted statewide engagement to develop its original funding proposal, and will continue to closely collaborate with hospitals, clinics, providers, patients and others in rural Oregon as it implements the program during the next five years. ...Read more