Ashland will host its first-ever Sarcasm Festival Dec. 5–7, featuring national touring comedians at OSF’s Angus Bowmer Theatre and dozens of comedy events across downtown venues. The three-day celebration includes stand-up, improv, drag brunches, workshops, and more — all aimed at boosting local culture and tourism.

A federal spending bill could redefine legal hemp and ban many CBD and hemp-derived products, threatening Oregon’s hemp industry. Southern Oregon farmers say the proposed policy misunderstands the plant’s chemistry and could devastate rural economies.

Ranchers in southern Oregon report increasing livestock losses linked to the growing Grouse Ridge wolf pack. State wildlife officials confirm a rising wolf population while balancing conservation goals and rural livelihoods.