Month: February 2016

Next Tuesday, speed limits on several rural Oregon highways, including stretches of U.S. highways 20 and 97, will increase from 55 to 65 miles per hour. NewsChannel 21 went out with ODOT crews on Wednesday as they began putting up new signs in preparation for the big change. It took some time and coordination before

A car warming up in the driveway of a northeast Bend home proved too tempting a target for thieves who stole it Tuesday morning, but it was caught on a video surveillance camera, police said. One suspect was arrested driving the stolen car later in the day, and a second a couple of hours later

Residents and visitors traveling along Highway 97 north of La Pine can now get a good look at the Prineville BLM Prairie Project, a hazardous fuels thinning effort to help create a fuel break along the highway. The agency said the goal of the 2,745-acre project is to reduce the intensity of fire behavior of

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., announced Thursday the Bureau of Land Management will finally implement the Crooked River Collaborative Water Security and Jobs Act of 2014, a law he wrote that was unanimously approved by Congress “to improve water management and grow jobs in Central Oregon.” The law moves the boundary line for the Crooked River

*FROM PRINEVILLE…ALL THE WAY TO THE PRESIDENT’S DESK.. *CONGRESS APPROVED A BILL LAST NIGHT, CHANGING HOW THE BOWMAN DAM …AND THE WATERS BEHIND IT, ARE MANAGED.. *KANDRA KENT WAS IN PRINEVILLE FOR REACTION.[TAKE SOTTO: 0’09”DURATION:0’09”]{***SOT FULL***}“Soon more water will be released from this dam, an increased flow some say will benefit everything from jobs and

The Redmond School District Board of Directors has voted to be a receiving district during open enrollment for the 2016-2017 school year. The district has chosen to participate in open enrollment since the enactment of Oregon House Bill 3681 in 2012. The law allows students to transfer to school districts outside of their legal residence

A traveling boys’ basketball team, Bend United, is on its way to the state championship. It’s an opportunity the boys could have missed — not because of their lack of skills, but due to a lack of dollars. But what started as a small fundraiser turned into something no one ever thought possible. In one

On Tuesday, the 774 adults in custody at the Deer Ridge Correctional Institution near Madras were shifted from the minimum-custody facility to the unused medium-custody facility, as planned. But a sewer system failure made for some challenges, officials said. This move was in response to the October prison population forecast generated by the Oregon Office

A van driven by an alleged drunk driver from Sisters nearly hit a patrol car head-on on Highway 126 west of Redmond Tuesday afternoon, sparking a pursuit. It ended when he stopped and got out, but refused to follow the commands of officers who then forced him to the ground to arrest him. An off-duty

The Bend Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored two Vietnam veterans at their March meeting. Former Army nurses Carol Elliott and Ann Philiben spoke to the group about their experiences in the war and what it meant to be female soldiers at that time. Bend Chapter Regent Jill Gentry presented these outstanding

A bill introduced by state Rep. Gene Whisnant, R-Sunriver, directing the Department of Education to monitor and report on the best practices, programs, and services being used to help Oregon students in poverty is headed to Gov. Brown’s desk to be signed into law. HB 4057, which received unanimous support from both legislative chambers, seeks

A Prineville father is speaking out after he claims an unfair prosecution of an accused rapist allowed him to rape of another victim. The father, who NewsChannel 21 is not identifying in order to protect the victim, said Wednesday the Crook County District Attorney’s Office “dropped the ball” when prosecuting his daughter’s rape case. Court

Central Oregon landlords weighed in with their concerns Wednesday about a housing bill that cleared the Oregon House Tuesday, which would require a 90-day written notice on increasing rent and tenancy termination. It’s labeled as an “affordable housing:” measure that will ease the burden on renters — but at what cost? House Bill 4143 would

Buckingham Elementary School fifth-grader Avery Chinchen’s artwork has been chosen as the official logo for the U.S. Bank Mini Pole Pedal Paddle T-shirt for 2016. Avery’s artwork was selected among a record 140 entries. She will be rewarded with a Round Table pizza party for her class, a gift from Saxon’s, a $100 gift card

Oregon’s park management agency on Wednesday declined to approve a request from the Bend Park and Recreation District to change parts of a rule for the Upper Deschutes River State Scenic Waterway on Bend’s southern outskirts so a new footbridge can be built. Instead, the State Parks and Recreation Commission agreed to a staff recommendation

Here’s a quick look at some of the stories we’re working on for NewsChannel 21 on Fox @ 4 and on KTVZ at 5 and 6. Lauren Martinez talked with landlords about their concerns over a bill that just cleared the Oregon House to limit when they can impose rent hikes or evict tenants. Kandra

A Bend man who allegedly pulled a handgun during a “road rage” incident Tuesday morning along North Highway 97 was pulled over by police minutes later in a guns-drawn traffic stop on the south end of town, cited for menacing and his gun was seized. Steven Benedict Peters, 61, was charged with pulling the gun

With an upcoming election on a 5-cent gas tax, many people are wondering if city vehicles will also be required to pay at the pump. Bend Street and Operations Director David Abbas said Tuesday all vehicles for Bend police, fire, streets, and utilities receive maintenance through his department. “A portion of that, then, each department

Plans to resolve the space issue facing the Crook County Jail are moving forward. An advisory committee is proposing the county renovate a building, or possibly build a new one. On Monday, the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee made its choice between two options. It decided against the other option, to keep leasing out space

The Center is expanding into a newly renovated ground-floor clinic located inside the Bend Memorial Clinic Old Mill District Clinic. Opening on Monday, February 29, the new orthopedic clinic will have capacity for three providers with 12 exam rooms, two cast rooms, a procedure room, and dedicated X-ray. The Center clinic currently located upstairs in