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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories State rep not thrilled with firing of marijuana director Learn how to use your e-reader to download library materials Cold front expected to drop local temperatures 20 degrees 10 things to know for Monday Nazi POWS once held at Camp White near Medford Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, March 30 Emergency services, March 29 Cottage Grove man dies in Rogue River boating accident Emergency services, March 28 State police: Grants Pass shooter tried to run victim off the road Politics and Elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for one year Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Education Which comes first: The rocket or the egg? Medford School District one of most accident-prone in state Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Oregon legislators may end fifth-year high school programs Phoenix High officer looks back on varied career Environment Rogue Valley lions on their way to California Corps hopes to clear Lost Creek Lake of debris Beetles taking toll on Ashland pines Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Controversial asphalt plant in Talent wins county planning approval State News More truck traffic coming into Oregon via Highway 97 Man pleads guilty to trying to set up Oregon terrorist training camp Bend police kill cougar above popular hiking trail 5 things to know about Oregon's gun-control bill Feds celebrate sage grouse deal with Oregon ranchers Nation - World Obituaries Claudine Barbara Pollard Alexander Edwards Ray E. Kniffen, Sr. Lois Emmerette (Wright) Huntley James "Jim" Peter Duman Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Cleveland GM gets suspended for texting Kaminsky, Okafor lead All-America first team Ducks' following continues to grow Long-time softball tourney undergoes changes Fantasy Sports: Reds’ Chapman opens list of top closers Varsity 541 College Sports Kaminsky, Okafor lead All-America first team Ducks' following continues to grow South Carolina earns first Final Four berth Only blue bloods need apply Familiar Feeling Pro Sports Cleveland GM gets suspended for texting Bill Ballou: Pace-of-game rules are a good start to improving baseball Walker wins hometown Texas Open Blazers beat Nuggets, move closer to division title Walker gains lead over Spieth in Texas Community Sports Business Latest Stories Cars We Remember: ‘Topper’ movie car most memorable After being sidelined by blindness, Stan Moore returns to the bike business in Medford Mandatory paid sick leave gets mixed reviews Blog: How to Practice Patience Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business, March 26, 2015 Transportation Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Agriculture Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Harry & David announces new president Opinion Latest Wry & Ginger: Daylight saving and our hour of need Letters to the Editor, March 30 Other Views: Sage grouse listing would be unfortunate Kathleen Parker: A leap of faith — into thin air Our View: Phoenix lion sanctuary was a missed opportunity Editorials Other Views: Sage grouse listing would be unfortunate Our View: Phoenix lion sanctuary was a missed opportunity Other Views: Gun background check bill won't make us safer Our View: Some police videos should be released Our View: Public records rules should apply to lawmakers, too Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 30 Letters to the Editor, March 29 Letters to the Editor, March 28 Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 26 Columns Kathleen Parker: A leap of faith — into thin air George Will: Remembrance of Clintons past Dana Milbank: The end of the White House's insularity? Guest Opinion: How to end the influence of money in elections Charles Krauthammer: The GOP racing form, first edition Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: How to end the influence of money in elections Guest Opinion: How schools teach U.S. history raises hackles Guest Opinion: Guest Opinion: Raise your voice against child abuse Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Lifestyle Latest stories It Is What It Is: There’s only one thing worse than being sick … David Murdock: What’s in a name? (Quite a bit, actually) Brent St. Germain: Feeling the burn again Cars We Remember: ‘Topper’ movie car most memorable Paul Rogers: Choose the right tool for job in the garden Food Tammy Kelly: Lighten up traditional Easter desserts Kitchen Call: Goat cheese recipes worth bleating over Community blog: Try slightly smoky baked beans instead of refried App Finder: Best barbecue apps Health Watch: It’s OK to have a cheat day Home and Garden Paul Rogers: Choose the right tool for job in the garden Home Help: Easy enhancements for your master closet Prepare the beds for summer vegetables Hot tub: The perfect centerpiece for outdoor living Garden Cameos: Welcome spring to the garden Health Brent St. Germain: Feeling the burn again HealthStyle: Normal anxiety or anxiety disorder? Community blog: How to Get Rid of a Tension Headache St. Mary's student helps others with diabetes Community blog: Sleep Tight: Making Your Bed, Body and Mind Ready for Rest Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Milestones and Achievements Haga-Parks Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Rising Stars raises $10,000 for LIFE Art ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ plays the Craterian Theater Here's Tempo's top five picks for live entertainment this week The 2015 Rising Stars music competition ends with its final round on the Britt stage in Jacksonville Live Music in Local Clubs Theater Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' ‘A Dream of Red Pavilions’ at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Review: Education and its discontents Next Stage Repertory presents 'Educating Rita' at the Craterian Theater Eugene O'Neill's 'Long Day's Journey into Night' opens at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Music Rising Stars raises $10,000 for LIFE Art ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ plays the Craterian Theater Futurebirds play the Brickroom in Ashland The 2015 Rising Stars music competition ends with its final round on the Britt stage in Jacksonville Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Rogue Valley artist Linda Evans' pastel paintings capture landscapes of Southern Oregon Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Dining Restaurant Inspections: March 29 Basque-inspired cuisine at Eleven in Ashland Parsing the meaning behind wine medals and scores Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 22 Jasmine Thai Cuisine Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Nazi POWS once held at Camp White near Medford ... Medford woman killed in Highway 140 motorcycle crash ... In-N-Out has the urge to build more Oregon restaurants ... Nazi POWS once held at Camp White near Medford ... Medford woman killed in Highway 140 motorcycle crash ... In-N-Out has the urge to build more Oregon restaurants ... WILDLIFE Feds celebrate sage grouse deal with Oregon ranchers Agreement would ease restrictions on ranchers who help grouse if bird is listed Comment By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press Posted Mar. 28, 2015 at 2:00 AM By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press Posted Mar. 28, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News The Obama administration and Gov. Kate Brown joined with Oregon ranchers to celebrate agreements they all hope will help keep the sage grouse off the endangered species list. The agreements announced Friday in Bend give ranchers incentives to protect sage grouse and their habitat on 5,500 square miles of private land in central and southeastern Oregon. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, the governor, and Agriculture Deputy Undersecretary Ann Mills praised the spirit of cooperation the agreements represent, and expressed their hopes that both sage grouse and family ranches would thrive. "To quote an Oregon rancher, 'What's good for the bird is good for the herd,' " Jewell said. Brown noted her budget has $4 million committed for sage grouse programs, adding, "This plan not only assures the well-being of a small bird that makes its home in the high desert of central Oregon, but also the well-being of the people and communities that share that home." Lake County Rancher John O'Keefe, president elect of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association, said the agreements would help his family ranch continue into the fourth and fifth generations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the agreements signed last week with soil and water conservation districts covering Crook, Deschutes, Lake, Union, Grant, Baker, Harney and Malheur counties are the first for such a wide area. The Obama administration has been announcing a variety of conservation agreements as the Sept. 30 deadline approaches for deciding whether to propose the sage grouse for Endangered Species Act protection. Conservation agreements were reached last year with nine ranchers in Wyoming. In Nevada this week, Barrick Gold Corp., the world's largest gold mining company, agreed to establish a conservation bank, which gives it greater flexibility in operations in return for enhancing critical habitat. Greater sage grouse range across 11 Western states and two Canadian provinces. Oil and gas drilling, wildfires, livestock grazing and other activities have consumed more than half the bird's habitat over the past century, and their numbers have declined more than 90 percent. Congress has barred the federal government from spending money on rules to protect the bird. But Fish and Wildlife says it is still bound by court order to reach a decision by September on whether a listing is warranted. Under terms of the agreement in Oregon, ranchers who take specific steps to protect sage grouse and their habitat will be sheltered from more stringent restrictions if the bird comes under Endangered Species Act protection. Federal biologists would come to their land to assess what threats were posed to the bird. Protection steps might include changing when and where cattle graze so they don't infringe on sage grouse breeding, rearing and feeding areas; cutting down juniper trees where birds of prey roost; controlling non-native grasses that spread wildfire; putting ramps in water troughs so birds that fall in can climb out; and putting plastic flagging on fences so birds are less likely to fly into them and die. The U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service has committed $9 million to sage grouse programs in Oregon, and the Oregon Cattlemen's Association is working on bills in the state Legislature to generate $1 million to $2 million more. Proposals include a $1 fee on each head of cattle sold, a birdseed tax and tapping lottery funds. A similar agreement covering about 990 square miles of state lands in southeastern Oregon leased for grazing is expected to be signed next month. Oregon Cattlemen's Association executive director Jerome Rosa said many ranchers are signing up in hopes of keepingsage grouse off the endangered species list. But he noted that Oregon only accounts for about 5 percent of sage-grouse habitat in the country. Dan Morse, conservation director of the Oregon Natural Desert Association, said the success of the agreements will depend on the specific measures federal biologists prescribe to protect sage grouse. Even more important will be the conservation measures the U.S. Bureau of Land Management comes up with for the 23,000 square miles of sage grouse habitat it oversees in Oregon, Morse said. A final plan is due later this spring. By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press Posted Mar. 28, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. » EVENTS CALENDAR Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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