Month: May 2015

Five Central Oregon World War II veterans sat down to talk with NewsChannel 21’s Wanda Moore about their wartime memories before she joins them on their Honor Flight to the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. One of them is Jim Murphy of Redmond, who grew up on a ranch in Weed, California. When he was

Bethlehem Inn announced Thursday that over $150,000 was raised on Tuesday evening at its fifth annual Spotlight on Homelessness fundraising dinner. This record-breaking amount far surpasses donations received during prior years. Executive Director Gwenn Wysling called the community’s show of support for the Inn’s program serving the region’s adults and children experiencing homelessness “deeply gratifying,”

In darkness, people buckle up less routinely – and the consequences can be deadly. According to 2013 crash statistics in Oregon, of the 104 vehicle occupants that died in crashes at night, more than half were unrestrained. That’s one reason law enforcement agencies from around Oregon will join in the national Click It or Ticket

When it comes to the health impacts of soon-to-be-legal marijuana, long-time smokers and those who say it greatly relieves their pain have one view of its benefits, while some health professions have raised concerns about the long-term impacts. July 1st is the official date of marijuana legalization here in Oregon. According to the Thoracic Society,

Oregon Housing and Community Services is seeking community input and advice to determine how it can do better in serving our most vulnerable residents. OHCS is developing a federally required Consolidated Plan, a five-year look at how to address housing needs in Oregon. The Consolidated Plan is the strategic look at how to address the

Since January 2014, the Oregon Health Plan reports that almost half a million people have signed up for the state’s version of Medicaid. The Affordable Care Act has meant a massive influx of patients for dental clinics. Advantage Dental Clinics, based in Redmond, runs clinics across the state. Their patients are Medicaid users and the

Bend Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution honored Miss Chloe Helikson as their American History Essay Contest winner. Chloe is a sixth-grade student at Sky View Middle School in Bend. As first-place winner, Chloe was awarded the DAR American History Bronze Medal and a cash prize. This year’s essay contest commemorated the 125th anniversary of

Last weekend marked the final days at Knott Landfill, the Westside Collection Site, Sunriver Compost and Jefferson County Solid Waste to dispose of yard debris in an effort to prepare your home for wildfire season with defensible space. Over the last nine days, Bend area residents brought 27,580 cubic yards of flammable yard waste to

Starting on Friday, Crater Lake National Park will increase entrance fees for visitors in order to fund important maintenance and improvement projects within the park, officials said Wednesday. The entrance fees and schedule are as follows: Pass Type Effective May 15, 2015 Effective May 1, 2017 Effective Date To Be Determined Park Annual Pass (Also

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) announced Wednesday the introduction of the Job Creation through Energy Efficient Manufacturing Act in both the U.S. Senate and House. The lawmakers said their bill would create jobs and save money for manufacturers by putting people to work retrofitting manufacturing facilities to be more energy efficient.

“Riding” the “coattrails” of the hugely successful 7 Wonders of Oregon campaign, the Central Oregon Visitors Association is partnering with Travel Oregon on a new, unique marketing effort to showcase the Wonders and two of the state’s passions: cycling and art. Travel Oregon has commissioned seven of the state’s most creative and innovative bicycle builders

A fire tore through a recently vacated manufactured home in La Pine late Tuesday night, downing a power line and spreading for a time to adjacent trees before firefighters stopped it, officials said. The fire was reported around 10:25 at 52530 Railroad Street and the first arriving Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies found the structure fully

Oregon has the lowest graduation rate in the nation, according to a report released Tuesday that otherwise paints an improving picture of the nation moving toward a goal of a 90 percent graduation rate. The report was prepared by the America’s Promise Alliance, Civic Enterprises, the Everyone Graduates Center and the Alliance for Excellent Education.

July 1, 2015 will be a groundbreaking day for many Oregonians. Many might not notice a difference. This summer, those over the age of 21 are legally allowed to possess and consume marijuana in the state of Oregon. Under Measure 91, Oregonians are allowed new freedoms on July 1. Some major changes are the following:

A fast-moving caravan of police vehicles, including an armored car, zoomed north through and out of Central Oregon Monday evening, prompting many onlookers to wonder what was going on. Officials said Tuesday they were called to an incident in northeast Oregon, but were canceled just as they arrived in the area, as local authorities made

Wild Ride Brewing in Redmond celebrated its first year in business over the weekend. May 11 – 17 celebrates American Craft Beer Week across the country. Central Oregon Beer Week will follow beginning May 22. Wild Ride Brewing aims to bring something new to Central Oregon. “We’re not trying to be the late night hangout,”

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., joined New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and progressive leaders from around the country Tuesday by the steps of the U.S. Capitol to lay out what they called a bold new progressive agenda to create opportunity and rising wages for ordinary Americans. The agenda directly takes on the financial squeeze today’s

A bill sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., that wouldextend the same federal hiring preference to fathers that is available to mothers of servicemembers killed or permanently and totally disabled in action has cleared the Senate. TheGold Star Fathers Act, which passed the Senate on Monday, takes its name froman unofficial symbol ofparentswhose children are

Next week, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists are conducting a pilot study at Diamond Lake using gill nets to collect rainbow trout. Information from those fish will be used to estimate population trends over time in the lake. Starting on Monday, biologists will use two gill nets set for several hours each of

Drivers are paying the highest prices of the year for gasoline, but are still enjoying prices that are the lowest since 2010, AAA Oregon/Idaho reported Tuesday. For the week, the national average for regular unleaded adds three cents to $2.66 while Oregon’s average gains four cents to $3.00. “It’s the first time since December 3