California is one of just a handful of states that allows rent control, but the price caps on rent are limited by the Costa-Hawkins act of the mid-1990s. So it should surprise no one that the limits on rent control are being challenged in the November election. Proposition 10 would repeal Costa-Hawkins, allowing more flexibility for cities to put controls on rents. And that troubles a number of groups, who worry that rent control will drive some landlords out of the market and make housing even

Several Oregon counties will vote in November on versions of a “Second Amendment Protection” measure. The measure expands the definition of firearms and limits enforcement of firearms in laws. If passed, it would mandate that definitions of firearms be interpreted as including firearm accessories and ammunition. In general, it would put the county on record as opposing state efforts to curtail gun ownership rights. Jackson County's version is Measure 15-181 , the Right to Bear Arms Amendment. An

Maybe John Wayne provided the most iconic example, the image of the "manly man" inhabiting the American West during settlement. It was indeed a society dominated by men, so you could not blame a woman for feeling excluded. Oregon author John Larison explores in fiction what that feeling might lead to, in the novel Whiskey When We're Dry . His main character, Jessilyn Harney, decides to pass as a man in society, for a variety of reasons.

The technology sector of the economy is about ideas; cool new things that can make the world a better place. But after the ideas, somebody's got to make the stuff. And that's where Ascentron , based in White City, comes in. The company manufactures a variety of items, from printed circuit boards to complete assemblies, for industries ranging from medical to military. And the company managed to survive the recession of several years ago. This month's edition of The Ground Floor, our business

Wildlife Images near Grants Pass started simply: take animals that have been injured, rehabilitate them, and return them to the wild, when possible. Easier said than done, because animal healthcare and rehab can get tricky indeed. But the organization has been doing it for nearly 40 years now, through snow and smoke and whatever else nature throws at animals and the facility.

Oregon Senate District 3 is a hot commodity. The switch of the seat from Democrat to Republican in a special election two years ago changed the course of business in the Oregon Legislature. Incumbent Alan DeBoer chose not to run again, opening the door for Democrat Jeff Golden and Republican Jessica Gomez . They join us for a candidate forum co-sponsored by JPR and Southern Oregon University, held on the evening of October 11th.

Fall down and hurt yourself, and there's a good chance someone will come to your aid. Develop a mental illness, and the circumstances are different. Society still misunderstands and even fears mental illness. Southern Oregon Compass House in Medford works to ease club members into society, and shares stories with us every month in a segment called Compass Radio. This month we meet Mihn and Dan and hear about their struggles with both mental illness and blindness.

Who would come to see a play with the actors just standing and reading off a script? Lots of people, it turns out. Especially if the plays are new works still in development. The Ashland New Plays Festival presents four plays (twice each) to packed houses every October. ANPF returns Wednesday, October 17th through Sunday, October 21st, with another slate of plays, plus workshops.

Weather forecasting was not very sophisticated in 1962, and Western Oregon paid a price for that lack. The Columbus Day storm blew onshore with winds in excess of 100 miles an hour, toppling buildings and trees and more. Dozens of people died in the storm, described in John Dodge's new book A Deadly Wind . The book is from Oregon State University Press; OSU itself sustained heavy damage in the storm.

For 25 years now, people enthusiastic about keeping birds on the planet have celebrated World Migratory Bird Day . One teensy little problem: birds don't all migrate at the same time, so the day has been observed on different dates in different parts of the world. So many organizations just observe the Year of the Bird. Klamath Bird Observatory in Ashland works to protect birds and educate people about them.