Commissioner Andreas Blech Announces Resignation, Monday BCC Meetings Canceled
A call to the Josephine County Commissioners Office confirmed a Grants Pass Tribune report that Commissioner Andreas Blech has officially resigned. According to the report, Blech's resignation letter, dated December 3, and formally received by the county at 11:42 a.m. today, states his resignation becomes effective at 11:59 p.m. December 8. In his letter, Blech thanks colleagues, expresses gratitude for his time in public service, and pledges to continue fulfilling his legal obligations until the moment his resignation takes effect. He framed his departure as part of an orderly transition, noting his willingness to assist in the future if needed. According to the county website, both of Monday's meetings, the 1 p.m. Interviews and Appointment of County Commissioner/Commissioners meeting, and the 3 p.m. General Discussion regarding Outside Legal Counsel Representation for the Board of County Commissioners Office, have been canceled.
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SOCET, Medford Police Arrested Suspect for Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse
The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) joint inter-agency task force and Medford Police Department (MPD) arrested a suspect Thursday at the Jackson County Parole and Probation Office in Medford. The suspect, Brennan Alan Humes, 47, of Medford, is charged with 10 counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, and a parole violation for first-degree possession of materials depicting sexually explicit conduct of a child. He is lodged in the Jackson County Jail. The arrest followed a search warrant served by SOCET after investigators discovered images of child exploitation had been uploaded from a residence in Medford. Detectives learned from witness statements that the suspect moved to Oregon due to the sex offender laws. SOCET, MPD, and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives served the search warrant Thursday, May 8, at a residence in the 300 block of Golf View Drive. SOCET and MPD began the investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which led to subpoenas, followed by the search warrant at the residence. While investigators served the search warrant, Jackson County Parole and Probation assisted with the suspect interview.
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RCC Foundation Grants $650K to Support College Programs amid State Budget Reductions
The Rogue Community College Foundation Board has approved a $650,000 investment to support RCC programs. Last month, the Oregon Legislative Fiscal Office directed state agencies to prepare for a potential budget cut for the 2025-27 biennium in response to a projected shortfall to the state budget. For RCC, this directive equates to what could be a $1.25 million budget reduction each year of the biennium. The RCC Foundation’s funding aims to help bridge this gap, ensuring stability for students, faculty and essential programs, allowing RCC to avoid personnel reductions this year and continue delivering high-quality, accessible education to Southern Oregon. RCC continues to experience higher-than-average enrollment compared to the state’s 16 other community colleges. Due to funding caps in the state’s growth management formula, the college does not receive reimbursement for more than 20% of the students it serves, making external support even more vital. Despite these challenges, the college has earned significant statewide and national recognition. Most recently, RCC was named an Opportunity College by the Carnegie Foundation, an honor specifically acknowledging RCC’s success in helping students transition into healthy-wage careers.
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