Salem-News.com Ashland articles

Wildfire Smoke Impacts Southern and Central Oregon

Smoke from Southern Oregon Wildfires Prompting Air Quality Concern.

(BEND, Ore.) - Concern about smoke and haze in low-lying areas of Central and Eastern Oregon, including Crater Lake, Bend, Redmond, Burns, Klamath and surrounding communities, is prompting the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to alert residents to the possible associated dangers.

Residents can take protective measures to mitigate breathing problems or other symptoms from smoke.

BOLI Commissioner Awards $127,713 in Sex Harassment Case

Ashland employer created hostile workplace, fired employee for asking that it stop.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian has issued a final order in the sexual harassment case against From the Wilderness, Inc. (FTWI) and Michael Ruppert of Ashland.

In addition to awarding lost wages, Comm. Avakian ordered $125,000 in mental and emotional suffering damages paid to Lindsay Gerken for the workplace harassment and retaliation she suffered during her less than three months of employment at FTWI. The damage award reflects the egregious conduct of Ruppert as well as the reinvigoration of civil rights enforcement by Commissioner Avakian.

Gas Prices Hold Steady after Labor Day Weekend

OPEC Not Expected to Cut Production at its Wednesday Meeting.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Gas prices remain fairly stable this week with the Oregon average for regular unleaded holding steady at $2.82 and the national average dropping three cents to $2.58.

AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds says, "We've seen a mixture of positive and negative economic news throughout the summer, and without a clear direction of where the economy might be headed, crude oil has spent much of the summer around $70 a barrel."

Truck Collides with Grader on I-5 North of Ashland

A semi-truck driver was not injured, but he was cited by police for Careless Driving.

(ASHLAND, Ore.) - Police say a Jackson County grader operator was struck from behind by a commercial truck Monday morning, receiving only minor injuries.

The operator was northbound on the freeway north of Ashland when the commercial truck rear ended the grader.

Crude Prices Fall while Gas Prices Keep Climbing

As a new U.S. president begins his term, there seems to be a disconnect between oil and gas prices. Crude oil has been hovering below $40 per barrel, yet we've seen pump prices increase. In fact, our Oregon average is up 23 cents in the past month to $1.96 a gallon.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Oregon AAA's Marie Dodds says gas prices seem to be defying gravity as they continue to rise, even though crude prices have been hovering below $40 per barrel.

Last Friday, crude closed at $34.78, the lowest price since April 2005, when the nationwide average for regular unleaded was $1.76 per gallon. The national average now is $1.84, up five cents in the past week. Oregon's average increases four cents to $1.96.

Lower Gas Prices Expected This Week

After a couple weeks of increases, AAA expects gas prices will start to come down again over the next several days.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - After increasing for nearly two weeks, gas prices are stabilizing and are expected to decline over the next few days, according to Oregon AAA.

"Seasonal demand for gasoline is at its lowest point of the year, and the drop in demand for gas caused by the struggling economy does not warrant a sustained rally in gas prices." AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds says.

"The national average for regular unleaded jumps up 10 cents in the past week to $1.79, while Oregon's average increases ten-and-a-half cents to $1.91. AAA believes some gas station owners may have raised prices too quickly last week, and we urge drivers to shop around before filling up."

Out of Control Semi Slams Into Several Others Saturday on I-5 South of Ashland

Only one truck driver received injuries in the multiple truck crash and they were not life threatening.

(ASHLAND, Ore.) - Interstate 5 northbound in the Siskiyou pass south of Ashland was been partially closed for several hours Saturday following a multi-truck crash. The crash also led to several thousand pounds of produce spilled onto the freeway, police say.

A Freightliner truck pulling a 48-foot trailer was northbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 10 traveling downhill when it lost its brakes.