KMED NEWS FOR THURSDAY 2/5/26
TODAY IS DAY 4 OF THE SHORT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. MUCH OF THE TALK IS WHERE TO FIND 3 QUARTERS OF A BILLION DOLLARS TO SPEND ON PROGRAMS. THE MONEY PROBLEM GOT A LITTLE BETTER YESTERDAY AS THE NEW STATE REVENUE FORECAST SAYS IT’S LIKELY AN EXTRA 100 MILLION DOLLARS MORE WILL BE COMING IN THEN THEY PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.
EAGLE POINT POLICE AND THE MADGE TEAM ARREST 3 YOUNG MEN IN CONNECTION WITH A CRIMINAL STREET GANG GRAFFITTI TAGGING AND VANDALISM SPREE. IT ALL STARTED JANUARY 26TH WITH COMPLAINTS OF GANG GRAFFITTI FOUND ON THE REAR OF SEVERAL BUSINESSES, FENCES, SIDEWALKS, PUBLIC WALKWAYS, EVEN THE HISTORIC COVERED BRIDGE. THERE WAS ANOTHER ROUND OF TAGGING TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK. THE 3 SUSPECTS IDENTIFIED THROUGH VIDEO EVIDENCE, HELP FROM EAGLE POINT HIGH STAFF AND COMMUNITY TIPS. OH, THE SUSPECTS POSTED PICS OF THEMSELVES HOLDING FIREARMS AND DISPLAYING GUNS AND GANG RELATED HAND SIGNALS, TOO. IN CUSTODY ARE 18-YEAR OLDS IZAIAH SANDERS AND DANIEL BUSCHER OF EAGLE POINT, AND A TRANSIENT, 18-YEAR OLD JACOBI TAGNOLI. TAGNOLI HAD AN ARREST WARRANT OUT FROM MACLAREN YOUTH AUTHORITY FOR POSSESSION OF A STOLEN VEHICLE. ADDITIONAL CHARGES COULD BE COMING.
A FEDERAL JUDGE IN PORTLAND HAS SPOKEN – AND HE SAID NO ARRESTING OF ILLEGAL ILLMIGRANTS WITHOUT WARRANTS UNLESS THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE THEY’LL ESCAPE. U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE MUSTAFA KUSABHAI ISSUED THE PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AGAINST A PROPOSED CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
A STRUCTURE FIRE NEAR CAVE JUNCTION LEAVES ONE OCCUPANT BURNED AND IN THE HOSPITAL, WHILE THE HOUSE WAS BADLY DAMAGED. . ILLINOIS VALLEY FIRE GOT THE CALL LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND WHEN THEY ARRIVED ON SCENE AT THE 4600 BLOCK OF TAKILMA ROAD THE STRUCTURE WAS COMPLETELY INVOLVED. THE BLAZE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, NOT MANY OTHER DETAILS AT THIS TIME.
IT’LL BE MORE EXPENSIVE TO RENT A HOTEL OR MOTEL ROOM IN PHOENIX SOON. THE CITY COUNCIL VOTES 4-0 TO ALMOST DOUBLE THEIR TRANSIENT LODGING TAX FROM 6 TO 11% EFFECTIVE APRIL FOOLS DAY. THE DAILY COURIER REPORTS THE INCREASE WILL BRING PHOENIX MORE IN LINE WITH OTHER CITY’S TAX RATES. THE AREA’S TOP MOTEL TAX WILL SOON BE CITY OF MEDFORD AT 13%. LAST NOVEMBER VOTERS APPROVED THE INCREASE TO HELP START THE BALL ROLLING ON A DOWNTOWN CONFERENCE CENTER.