Jackson County has agreed to pay $1.3 million to settle an excessive force lawsuit brought by a paraplegic man who accused sheriff’s deputies in the county jail of slapping him across the face and dumping him in a cell without his wheelchair.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Medford, claims John Lee Malaer spent about 20 hours in custody for alleged disorderly conduct and harassment that were later dropped for lack of evidence.

Local athletes dominated the first day of the Southwest Conference track and field district meet Wednesday at Willamette High in Eugene.

Even before the official first day of the meet, local athletes were dominating.

Junior Jordan Rossetta led a Grants Pass clean sweep in the boys’ javelin, which was held Tuesday in Roseburg.

Annual Boatnik festival boat races and events are bringing closures to sections of the Rogue River, some downtown streets and Baker Park in Grants Pass.

According to the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, the river is closed to public water use during the following times:

• 6 to 10:15 p.m. Friday from Baker Park to the Caveman Bridge.

• 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday from Baker Park to the Caveman Bridge.

As a dancer, choreographer, singer and theatrical performer, Jocelyn Vodovoz Schmidt knows the value of the performing arts. And she’s passionate about passing that on to future generations.

That’s the impetus behind the Rogue Valley Performing Arts Alliance, a new nonprofit organization that is focused on serving children and families through community, scholarship, training and outreach.