Georgia Lawson

Journalist for @KTVL | @GWtweets alum | California native exploring the Rogue Valley | Story ideas? [email protected]

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

Marine Corps veterans at the 50th anniversay commemoration of the Vietnam War in Eagle Point. Army vet Bob Huff says they never truly got a welcome home, but days like this are a lasting tribute.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

Bears are coming out of hibernation. Deer are migrating. And people are just trying to enjoy the springtime! You may see extra predator animals around the valley. Tips from the pros - secure your garbage, don't run from confrontations, and be extra careful around young.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

Half a year later, Rogue Retreat's downtown clean sweep program has picked up a ton (literally!) of trash from Medford, and helped multiple participants secure full time employment. Now, they've applied for a grant from Ashland to replicate the program there.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

The 2018 Farm Bill's relaxed regulations for hemp prompted huge local interest. Now, OSU's extension center is looking to get in the game, launching a research project to discover best growing practices for the lucrative crop.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

The average annual per capita cost of crime in Oregon is $618. In Jackson County, it’s $806. JCSO points to limited jail capacity as a potential cause, with arrests, releases, further offenses, and rearrests adding up.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

The City of Medford relies largely on non-profits and faith communities to shelter the homeless when harsh weather hits. Now, they're reexamining their role as a city, and working to develop a plan before another hard winter.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

County officials and local law enforcement have been pushing for a new jail, saying it will reduce recidivism, offer treatment services, and keep the public safe. But it comes at a cost - $230/year for the average Rogue Valley home owner. Would you vote for it?

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

Ashland schools have had to take special measures to cope with the natural gas outage, from food prep to sanitation. The district serves an average of 850 daily meals, and had to adjust on the fly. Their services have been restored now, but many in the city remain without gas.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

Goats for fire prevention - it’s an idea that has been raised by citizens and officials alike. I spent the morning at the 2019 goat academy in Rogue River to find out if the quirky critters really could be the solution we’re looking for.

[Mike Marut @MikeMarut_]

Hey look! It’s the @KTVL news team and #CommunityCharacter! #TeamMullet!

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

The City of Grants Pass is trying to figure out what to do with River Road Reserve, a nearly 250 acre property bought for $3.5 million, which has been underutilized. Councilor Eames called the purchase “surreptitious,” as council now searches for a better purpose, 13 years later.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

Ashland residents participate in a mock disaster scenario. With fire season on the horizon and earthquakes a constant risk, a little bit of practice could go a long way when emergency strikes.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

Todd Wilcox has been sentenced to life in prison, with a mandatory minimum of 25 years before parole, and more than $17,000 in restitution for the murder of Alexis Lynn Stormo.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

The National Association of Counties has accepted a proposal from the Jackson County Commissioners to push back against U.S. Forest Service policies allowing prescribed burns during fire season, which the commissioners say contribute to the smoke problems seen last summer.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

An Ashland committee is working to plan a potential city-wide fire evacuation drill. “The sense of urgency amongst the citizens is definitely something that we hear a lot about right now, especially as it pertains to evacuation,” says Chris Chambers with Ashland Fire & Rescue.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

35 people covered by Oregon’s workers compensation died on the job in 2018. That’s down from decades ago, but OSHA’s administrator says the fact that those numbers have largely leveled off in recent years is “troubling.” Transportation industries were among the top ranking.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

The Klamath Chamber of Commerce recently led a trip to Salem to advocate for local economic interests, saying that more rural voices need to be heard and incorporated into statewide policy.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

The City of Grants Pass says they do what they can to avoid dumping sewage into the Rogue River, as they did earlier this week when inundated with rainfall. Some residents, however, worry that the city needs to plan and implement changes to avoid bypassing the waste.

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

Spotted outside the station. Poll: was this made by the third graders that toured the newsroom yesterday, or @MikeMarutKTVL bored on the morning shift?

[Georgia Lawson @GeorgiaKTVL]

Paxton, a kindergartener at Oak Grove Elementary, has been verbally and physically bullied in class. His mom says the teacher dismissed it as rough play. Now, she’s asking the school to step in and prioritize kindness - on the playground, in the classroom, and beyond.