When we launched this publication last year, we had one clear goal: to focus on positive news—stories that uplift, inspire, and bring our community together. We believed that with all the negativity in the world, people needed a place to find hope, to celebrate their neighbors, and to see the good happening around them.
But over the past year, we have learned some interesting lessons. In fact, we’ve come to understand why there has only been essentially only one newspaper in Grants Pass for the past century. At one time, they reported the facts and the real news. They spoke the truth. Then something happened. Slowly, they started skirting around issues. They hesitated to voice their opinions. The hard-hitting investigative journalism that once exposed corruption and held power to account seemed to fade.
Now, we know why.
Like us, they were pressured. Like us, they were threatened. Just as we have been sued, they were likely warned and intimidated by the very powers that want complete control—control over our government, control over the narrative, and control over the people of Josephine County. What we are up against is not just political maneuvering; it is a well-coordinated effort to silence independent voices and ensure that only one version of reality is told—their version.
These forces will stop at nothing to maintain their grip on power. They see independent journalism as a roadblock to their ambitions, and they will do anything to remove obstacles in their path. That makes them dangerous. But it also makes us stronger, more determined, and more committed than ever to telling the truth.
Unlike some media sources in our community, we refuse to back down. We will not be intimidated. We will not stop reporting. And we will not give up.
What’s happening here in Josephine County is beginning to look more and more like the corruption scandal in Bell, California. In Bell, a small group of politicians and officials exploited the town’s lack of oversight, drained public funds, and oppressed anyone who dared to challenge them. It took years before the truth came out, and by then, countless lives had been impacted.
We are seeing the same warning signs here. If we do not stand together—if we do not take action now—then this corruption will only deepen. If we do nothing, we can expect more of the same: the same backroom deals, the same suppression of free speech, the same division, and the same failed policies that serve the few at the expense of the many.
But if you, the people of Josephine County, are tired of it—if you are ready for real change—then now is the time to stand up. Stand with us. Stand with those who believe in transparency, accountability, and a community where truth is not hidden behind threats and lawsuits.
We are not just a newspaper. We are a voice for the people. And as long as we have breath, we will continue to report, expose, and fight for what is right.
The future of Josephine County is in your hands. What happens next is up to you.
