All Stories
Browse our complete history of updates, legal actions, and community alerts.

Four Oregon Groups Ask Kotek to Stop Sunny Valley Gravel Mine on Grave Creek
A coalition of Rogue Advocates, WaterWatch of Oregon, Rogue Riverkeeper, and Friends of Country Living is urging Governor Tina Kotek to reject a deep-pit gravel operation on Grave Creek, a tributary of the Wild and Scenic Rogue River. Eighty to ninety feet deep. Within fifty feet of Grave Creek. That is the shape of what […]

Floating Solar on a Rogue Valley Reservoir: Oregon’s First, and What It Means
On a clear morning in early May, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley stood at the edge of a Medford Irrigation District reservoir in Central Point and watched the sun hit 1,776 solar panels. Not on a roof, not on a fence-line in the high desert, but floating on water that’s been pushing through Rogue Valley irrigation […]

Holding the Line, Building the Future: The Rogue Valley’s Stake in Oregon’s UGB Debate
A street ends at an empty field at the edge of Woodburn’s urban growth boundary. This empty field is now the potential site of a new housing development, a possibility with House Bill 4035. (Photo by Robin Linares/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Oregon Farm Stand Rules Crisis: A Critical Juncture for Rural Communities
Discover the impact of new Oregon Farm Stand Rules on rural communities in the future. Stay informed about the changes ahead.

Grand Terrace Apartments: From Opposition to Advocacy in Ashland
The Grand Terrace Apartments project is back before the Ashland City Council, and approval now seems likely. Rogue Advocates originally opposed the proposal, but our persistence helped bring meaningful improvements, including fire-resistant, solar-powered buildings and fairer affordable housing standards. This project is a reminder that strong community advocacy can shape development for the better.

Update on the Sunny Valley Sand and Gravel Mine Application
For the past eight years, Rogue Advocates has been actively engaged in reviewing and challenging the proposed Sunny Valley Sand and Gravel (SVSG) mine project on Graves Creek, just upstream from the Wild and Scenic Rogue River. This project poses significant risks to our region’s water, wildlife, and communities, and we remain committed to monitoring […]

Defending Oregon’s Rural Heritage: Our Opposition to HB 2400, HB 2422, and HB 2316
Did you know Oregon has protected over 16 million acres of farmland since 1973? This shows our state’s dedication to keeping rural areas beautiful. But, three new bills – HB 2400, HB 2422, and HB 2316 – could change that. We strongly oppose these bills, fearing they could cause rural sprawl and harm our farming […]

NEWS – Happenings in Rogue Valley and Statewide (August 2024)
With a few breakthrough projects this year and changes behind the scenes at Rogue Advocates we have quite a lot to tell you! We thank all of you who contributed generous donations, both in time and monetarily, that have allowed us to see so much done halfway through the year in Jackson and Josephine Counties. […]

Homage to Rogue Advocates Founder Jimmy MacCleod
Walking the Applegate Valley Ridge Trail with Jimmy, looking down on the developing Rogue Valley on one side and the forested mountainsides and farmed bottomland of the Applegate Valley on the other, Jimmy envisions simultaneously both the past and the future. Maybe, just maybe, we can have an impact and paint a more sustainable future […]

Rogue Advocates Files new Appeal to LUBA!
In early 2024 the Josephine County Commissioners introduced and approved revisions to Chapter 19 of the county comprehensive plan to relax or eliminate minimum wildfire and safety mitigation standards for development of structures throughout the county. Josephine County is the only area in Oregon that does not fund a county wide fire district. At the […]

An Opportunity to Support Rogue Valley from our Friends at Rogue Farm Corps!
Applications are OPEN for 2024Rogue Farm Corps Apprenticeships! Interested in exploring sustainable/regenerative farming and becoming part of the climate-smart agricultural movement? Earn a wage while you train with dedicated Host Farm mentors through a Rogue Farm Corps Apprenticeship! Apprentices learn and work at one of RFC’s partner Host Farms across the state of Oregon. This […]

NEWS – Happenings in Rogue Valley and Statewide, 2023 in Review!
It has been a busy year for us here at Rogue Advocates, as we’ve said before, and now as this year ends, we want to tell you what your continuing support has allowed us to accomplish! Thanks to your continuing donations and support, we have successfully participated in multiple land use applications. Oregon Farm & […]