The Debrief

Our reporters dive into an extended analysis of why school districts are so strapped for cash on The Debrief, our end-of-the-week look back at the big stories.

Also, we knew fire season would not stay quiet forever, and fires are indeed keeping crews busy on both sides of the state line. Even THINKING about fires makes news, as in the state of Oregon's (re)introduction of its wildfire hazard map.

These are among the stories JPR News covered this week.

Sitting around the studio table is News Director Erik Neumann, reporters Roman Battaglia, Jane Vaughan, and Justin Higginbottom, and intern James Kelley.

Well. A FEW things have happened since the last time our news team assembled on the air. In addition to the volume and intensity of national news, we've had lightning storms, some additional fires from those, and concerns over arsenic contamination in Jackson County.

JPR News reporters have been working these and other stories, and they gather once again for a new addition of The Debrief, talking about the week's big stories and their coverage.

July's arrival brought a fresh, hot dose of summer reality. Not only did the heat wave bring a succession of record-high temperatures, but we also saw some significant new fires, insurance changes due to wildfire, and an investigation into inappropriate behavior from a Josephine county commissioner at a public meeting.

The wildfire situation brought about the annual restoration of the JPR Wildfire Tracker to our website.

The JPR News team discusses the latest news in The Debrief.

Jackson County leaders are surveying the public about proposals for a new county jail, and a Northern California town celebrates America's rails. Those are among the stories JPR News covered in a hot week in the region. There's plenty more going on, including Shasta County getting a new clerk. News Director Erik Neumann assembles the reporting staff for a new lookback, in The Debrief

There's plenty more going on, including Shasta County getting a new clerk.

JPR News Director Erik Neumann assembles the reporting staff for a new lookback, in The Debrief.

California allocated 2,800 acres of land to the Shasta Indian Nation. The Shasta County Board of Supervisors hired a former deputy district attorney as its new county clerk. And a wildfire map now categorizes some communities in Jackson County as "high hazard."

That's among the stories JPR News covered in the week spring slides into summer. There's plenty more going on, including a hike in fire danger as temperatures climb.

JPR News Director Erik Neumann assembles the reporting staff for a new lookback, in The Debrief.

On the Debrief, JPR reporters discuss the stories they’ve been covering this week. Once again, the newsroom is busy with the arrest of a local nurse for drug theft, conflict on the upper Rogue River, and funding for the Josephine County 4-H Extension Service District.

News Director Erik Neumann and reporters Jane Vaughan, Roman Battaglia, and Justin Higginbottom assemble.

Grants Pass can't seem to stay out of the news about federal court proceedings. While the Supreme Court mulls a homeless camping case, a pair of educators asked an appeals court to reinstate their lawsuit against the Grants Pass School District, which had dismissed them (and later rehired them).

That is just one story that kept JPR News reporters busy this week. The list only grows from there. News Director Erik Neumann gathers reporters Roman Battaglia and Justin Higginbottom for another edition of The Debrief.

Pause is not the same thing as stop, and stop does not mean rolling back. The distinctions are important, because the US Postal Service has agreed to pause its process of reallocating mail flows between regional centers. The process has already sent mail processing functions from Medford and Eugene to Portland and slowed some mail down. Senator Ron Wyden complained about the situation in Medford this week.

That's just one story of many covered by JPR News reporters, who gather once again to discuss the week's news: it's a new edition of The Debrief.

On the Debrief, JPR News reporters gather in the JX studio to add some details to the week's issues and events, and what it took to cover them. This week's stories include a Douglas Fir tree die-off in southwestern Oregon, restricting natural gas use in Ashland, and a look at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2025 season.

Our panel of reporters consists of Jane Vaughan, Justin Higginbottom, and Roman Battaglia.

Each week JPR's hardworking reporters gather in the JX studio to add some details to the week's issues and events they've covered. Stories include a new kitchen internship program at a Medford homeless shelter and more news on Rogue Valley post offices.

Our panel consists of JPR News Director Erik Neumann, Jane Vaughan, Justin Higginbottom, and Roman Battaglia.