Month: February 2017

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced Thursday that Deschutes County is one of 20 additional jurisdictions joining the Safety and Justice Challenge, a national $100 million initiative to reduce over-incarceration by changing the way America thinks about and uses jails. Deschutes County and the other jurisdictions will design and test innovative local

Two Bend city councilors sparred Wednesday night over appointing a builder to the city planning commission, which one said poses a conflict of interest — something his colleague strongly disputed. Mayor Casey Roats said builder Jeff Payne is qualified for the appointment, but Councilor Nathan Boddie said he believes that Payne, as president of the

Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) announced Thursday that he will host a live telephone town hall event on Monday, February 6, from his office in the nation’s capital. During the event, Walden said he will discuss his recent efforts in Congress to grow the economy and solve the issues confronting Oregonians. He will take questions

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, held a hearing Thursday “to begin the process of rebuilding the nation’s health care system,” according to a news release from his office. During the hearing, Walden discussed legislation he will be introducing to ensure patients with pre-existing conditions will always have access

Punxsutawney Phil may be calling for six more weeks of winter, but Oregonians can take heart. FuFu, an African pygmy hedgehog at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, did not see her shadow Thursday morning , meaning an early spring could be in store here in the Northwest. Hedgehogs are the real weather experts of the

The 41st annual U.S. Bank Pole Pedal Paddle online registration is now open. Just click to www.pppbend.com and all the information that you need to know is there! The event this year is May 20th. The U.S. Bank Pole Pedal Paddle is a multi sport event that includes alpine and cross-country skiing, cycling, running and

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – An Oregon man has asked for a different federal judge to handle his bench trial on misdemeanor charges stemming from last winter’s armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Duane Ehmer and his attorney said in a court filing late Wednesday that U.S. District Judge Anna Brown might not be

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) – A Mapleton man had more than his heart stolen after planning a meetup with a woman from an online dating site. The Register-Guard reports (https://is.gd/8ytUGW ) that the man ended up alone nude and robbed at a Springfield motel after the woman took his clothing, wallet and cellphone. Police say the

The still-fairly-new Bend City Council spent hours Wednesday night discussing two big topics with plenty of devilish details – proposed changes to how the city’s mayor and councilors are chosen, and rules to set the stage for ride-sharing businesses like Uber and Lyft to finally come to town. They made good progress on both issues,

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – President Donald Trump’s promised crackdown on “sanctuary cities” has triggered divergent actions from blue and red states: Some are moving to follow his order and others are breaking with the U.S. government to protect immigrants in the country illegally. Trump’s recent executive orders threatening to withhold federal funding from communities with

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Immigrants rights’ groups have filed a federal lawsuit in Portland seeking an injunction against President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration. Unite Oregon filed the suit Wednesday, asking the court to prohibit the government from “unconstitutionally banishing” lawful immigrants or refugees who seek to return to their homes, jobs or reunite

A four-star junior college defensive tackle expected to contribute right away is among the highlights of coach Gary Andersen’s third recruiting class at Oregon State. Craig Evans, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound four-star prospect out of Arizona Western College also had offers from Arkansas, Colorado, Ole Miss and Kentucky but selected the Beavers back in December. He

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – Oregon’s recruiting class had such a Florida feel under new coach Willie Taggart that it had its own social media hashtag: Floregon. Oregon has been infused with new energy since Taggart was hired following a disheartening 4-8 season. He has been crisscrossing the country since he was hired away from South

Despite a 46 percent jump in the number of new or renewed concealed handgun licenses issued in Deschutes County last year, a sheriff’s office staffing shift has cut the four- to six-month wait time for an appointment down to just two weeks, the agency said Monday. Last year, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office experienced a

Inge Kriegler was born in Germany five years after World War II ended. “In 1952, when my parents were immigrating out of Germany, they were not allowed to emigrate into the United States,” Kriegler said Wednesday. She and her parents wanted to move to America at a time not long after Germany was a fierce

The city of Bend expects to receive $500,000 a year in revenue from the 3 percent marijuana sales tax voters passed in November. That’s higher than the $345,000 the city estimated last year. This good news is coming at a time when overall city revenue was not as high this year as officials predicted. “The

Cascades East Transit announced Wednesday that improvements to the regional transit system, including a new Sisters to Bend route, will be taking effect, starting next Monday. After nearly a year of identifying needs for the Community Connector routes and vetting proposed changes with community members and stakeholders, the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council Board adopted proposed

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Legislature began its 2017 session Wednesday, facing a $1.7 billion deficit that threatens to exacerbate tensions between Republicans and Democratic lawmakers who have the majority in both chambers. Demonstrating the inclusiveness that many Oregonians strive for, a Muslim cleric Imam opened the session in the House by reciting from

The Central Oregon Cat Alliance, a partnership between Bend Spay+Neuter Project, BrightSide Animal Center and the Humane Society of Central Oregon, has received a $21,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to provide free spay/neuter and vaccinations for 1,000 outdoor cats in Deschutes County in 2017. High volume, high quality sterilization clinics will be held once a

The City of Bend is seeking applications for the SE Bend Septic to Sewer Advisory Committee. Committee members will review and make recommendations to the Bend City Council regarding funding and policy options for a comprehensive plan and strategy to convert properties from septic to sewer in the SE Bend Kings Forest area. The City