KMED NEWS FOR MONDAY 2/16/26
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS A BIG WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT LATER THIS MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY WILL GIVE US MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES ALONG WITH VALLEY FLOOR SNOW OF 3-6 INCHES, AND PASS LEVELS DOUBLE THAT. . MOST OF THE SNOW CHANCES START THIS EVEINING AND OVERNIGHT WITH SNOW LEVELS SINKING TO 1000 FEET OR SO,
IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE A BILL TO CHANGE THE DATE FOR THE CONTROVERSIAL TRANSPORTATION TAX REFERENDUM IS ON ITS WAY TO THE SENATE FOR CONSIDERATION. THE DEMOCRAT LED SB1599 WOULD MOVE THE VOTE TO THE MAY 19TH PRIMARY. SUPPORTERS, MOSTLY DEMOCRATS SAY IT GIVES VOTERS A SAY ON THE TAX INCREASES SOONER. REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS SUGGEST IT’S MORE ABOUT PROTECTING DEMOCRATS FROM BEING ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT NEXT TO A BIG TAX HIKE THAT’S UNPOPULAR.
A BIG NAME FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL NOT BE ON THE SOUTHERN OREGON PRIMARY BALLOT. SENATOR JEFF GOLDEN ANNOUNCED HE’S RETIRING AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. HE WAS FACING A PRIMARY CHALLENGE FROM DENISE KRAUSE AND IT’S REPORTED THAT MEDFORD CITY COUNCILMAN KEVIN STINE WILL JOIN THAT RACE SOON. ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SIDE OF THAT RACE, IT’S FORMER CHIEF OF THE CHAMBER OF MEDFORD AND JACKSON COUNTY, BRAD HICKS, WHO ANNOUNCED HIS RUN A FEW
OREGON IS WELL KNOWN FOR STRUGGLING WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION, NOW IT HAS THE NATION’S THIRD LOWEST RATE OF CHILDREN ON TRACK TO BE READY FOR KINDERGARTEN, ABOVE ONLY ARKANSAS AND KENTUCKY, THIS ACCORDING THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF CHILDREN’S HEALTH. OREGONLIVE REPORTS IT DOESN’T APPEAR TO BE A LACK OF MONEY. LATEST FIGURES INDICATE OREGON SPENDS MORE PER CHILD THAN ANY OTHER STATE. $19,000 PER CHILD IN 2023-2024.