It sucks to beg. But the Messenger needs your support. Will write record reviews for change? Spare a $5-a-month membership for news coverage? Why lie? We want your money so we can write beer reviews! For the past few issues, the Messenger has been promoting its membership program. Just like

Publisher’s Note: From time to time, we simply are tired of our own voice and open this page to a dutiful reader. In the spirit of democracy, this is a op-ed submitted about Measure 17.81 by Chris Hall. In the upcoming Josephine County Special Election, Measure 17.81 asks voters about

Earlier this month, the esteemed Pulitzer Prizes were handed out for excellence in journalism. Mixed in with the big dogs and usual suspects is a small newspaper, The Storm Lake Times, a twice-weekly newspaper in Iowa. The circulation for the newspaper is smaller than the Messenger. The editor won the

Starting the day after terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center in 2001, and as the American psyche reeled from the attacks, reporter Alex Tizon set out across America to gather individuals’ stories. Along with a photographer, Tizon collected stories and viewpoints—each adding an important puzzle piece to the

Last week, Medford City Council presented the proposal for an exclusionary zone in downtown. The idea is that certain persons should be booted—or excluded—from the center of town. Already, someone who violates local laws and ordinances—like sleeping in the park—can be kicked out of the city park for 180 days.

With this issue, the Messenger turns four years old. We started publishing in March 2014 and, now with three years under our belts, I can honestly say that some years are better than others. This past year was our “best” year yet. Why? For so many reasons—but each which is

In late January, a few fliers—simple black text on a white background—showed up on utility poles around Ashland. They read “a storm is coming,” and featured the silhouette of an army man, with a swastika emblazed into his helmet. Some of the posters also included a Twitter handle, and police

Without Lex Luther, Clark Kent was just a mild-manner newspaper reporter (although we’d like to think that a mild manner newspaperman is something powerful as well). And, with that in mind, as America has adjusted to a new president over the past several weeks, we have been encouraged and impressed

Do we deserve the president we get? And, as Alexis de Tocqueville once quipped, do we resemble our leaders? A troubling thought considering that Donald Trump has the temperament and syntax of a second-grade bully. Or, will opposition and adversity hone and clarify what is important and worthwhile in our

RE: RE: Sarcastic Weed Dear Daniel MacSweeny: My name is Michael Johnson. I’m a cannabis grower in Southern Oregon, and I felt compelled to respond to your letter (December 15). It’s full of so many inaccuracies and biases, I felt it necessary to correct the record, and respond to your questions as