Month: November 2015

No one was injured, fortunately, but an 18-year-old Bend resident got a ticket after crashing his pickup truck into Ray’s Food Place in La Pine Wednesday morning – then quickly backing out again, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said. Deputies responded around 10:20 p.m. to the market at 51537 Highway 97 on a report that a

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s decision to remove the gray wolf from the state’s endangered species list adds new fuel to the debate over their reintroduction years ago. “One of the big concerns a lot of folks in the conservation community have is the signal this sends to poachers,” Steve Pedery with the

Imagine helping return thousands of tax dollars to those in need. All it takes is volunteer time to work with beneficiaries through the highly regarded AARP Tax-Aide program, supported by United Way of Deschutes County and CASH Oregon. Last year, each volunteer on average placed $48,000 of tax refunds in the hands of lower income

Next week, four locations in the Bend area will serve as collection sites for Operation Christmas Child — the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. The annual Samaritan’s Purse project is a favorite of many Bend residents, families, churches and groups who spread joy to millions of child ren around the world by filling

It’s the second-largest and fastest-growing crime in the world. It’s happening around the world and right here on U.S. soil. The crime cuts across all racial lines, age brackets, and socio-economic levels. Human trafficking is here, what will you do to stop it? “It starts by linking arms across America,” says Nita Belles, founder of

A sexually transmitted infection that was nearly a disease of the past is now an epidemic in Oregon. According to Oregon Public Health Division, the rate of syphilis incidents has grown 1500% statewide. NewsChannel 21 spoke with local health professionals to see how the sexually transmitted infection is affecting Central Oregon. Deschutes County Health Department

At the latest count, 45 in Oregon and Washington have been sickened in the E. coli outbreak linked to Chipotle. On Tuesday, the Mexican food chain announced it was going to reopen all 43 restaurants it had voluntarily closed. It’s Tuesday afternoon, lunchtime in Bend. “I got a steak burrito from Chipotle,” said one Bend

The Colorado Avenue Bridge closure is being extended by three days, to Friday, Nov. 20, the city of Bend said Tuesday. The bridge was originally scheduled to open Nov. 17 with the completion of the Bend Parks and Recreation District pedestrian undercrossing at the east end of the bridge. The city said it needs additional

What parent doesn’t have questions? Is your child’s development on track? Will their smile last a lifetime and can they hear and see okay? Health and development from birth through age five is critical to your child’s success. Healthy Beginnings can help you answer these questions and more. On Friday, December 4 th Healthy Beginnings

Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Kurt Schrader and Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., urged congressional leaders Tuesday to target high school graduation rates in Oregon and across the country as part of a larger K-12 education bill. The Senate passed its version of the education bill in July, which contains

There’s a nationwide shortage of critical care nurses, and Central Oregon hospitals are getting hit hard. This report is strictly on critical care nurses, not to be confused with intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. Obstetrics is a critical- are unit. Those that work at St Charles Madras are in a tough position, restaffing their obstetrics

Prineville is a timber town turning into a tech town, with big Facebook and Apple data centers. Now a third tech company is looking to break ground as well. “We have a private company who owns some land that is just west of the airport, and they’ve come in and said they have somebody talking

Oregon wildlife officials voted 4-2 Monday to remove the gray wolf from the state’s Endangered Species Act list. The state’s Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to delist the wolves during a meeting in Salem. Eighty-one wolves now live in Oregon. State biologists said the species is not in danger of extinction here. But some independent

The Senate included an amendment by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., ensuring retired military dogs can return to the U.S. after serving America overseas, as part of a larger defense bill that passed Tuesday. The provision is based on Wyden’s Military Working Dog Retirement Act, which requires the Department of Defense to arrange and pay for

On the eve of Veteran’s Day, Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., announced bipartisan legislation Tuesday to improve health care at VA facilities. The Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act would make common-sense changes in staffing policies at the Department of Veterans Affairs and improve veterans care at VA health

The Deschutes Land Trust announced Tuesday it has received a $450,000, three-year commitment from an anonymous Oregon family foundation towards the Campaign for Whychus Creek. The land trust said it will use the first installment of the grant as a challenge to raise $150,000 in matching Campaign funds by the end of 2015. Funds will

Several hundred acres of slash piles are planned to be burned across Central Oregon over the next two weeks, Deschutes National Forest officials said Tuesday. Officials said that likely is contributing to hazy skies Tuesday across Central Oregon, along with debris burns and other possible sources, such as woodstove smoke on a very cold morning.

Cardiothoracic (heart and lung) surgery services are again available at St. Charles Bend after a temporary physician shortage caused suspension of the program for 12 days, officials said Tuesday. “We are pleased to say that we have re-opened our cardiothoracic surgery services as planned,” said Dr. Jeff Absalon, chief physician officer for St. Charles Health

Following reports of merger discussions between beer makers Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., on Monday urged the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice to weigh in any future review process how a deal would affect craft brewers, consumers and distributors in Oregon and across the country. Recent

Bend police said early Monday evening they had located a missing teen with autism who had left home and was considered endangered. Police said the teen was found near Larsen and Rickard roads, east of where he last was seen. “Thanks to everyone for helping us out!” police said in a Twitter update. Earlier, police