Month: March 2017

Governor Kate Brown will visit Prineville and Bend Thursday to hear from community leaders about how Oregon can help create jobs in the area and support local families. Governor Brown’s itinerary includes: Facebook Data CenterConstruction of the data center in 2013 created 207 jobs in Central Oregon and currently supports more than 200 full time

The Oregon Health Authority said Wednesday it has verified that two confirmed Clackamas County cases of E. coli O157 infection are part of a national outbreak linked to a brand of soynut butter, and epidemiologists are advising consumers to discard the product immediately. A total of 16 cases in nine states have been identified as

BOISE, Idaho (AP) – Federal authorities have approved a plan to create a fuel break system along 271 miles of roads in southwest Idaho and southeast Oregon intended to limit the size of destructive rangeland wildfires and protect habitat for sage grouse. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management in a decision announced Wednesday says the

Bend-La Pine Schools is celebrating its more than 800 classified employees this week during National Classified School Employees Week, March 6 -10. Classified employees help support schools and students in a wide range of roles: they drive buses, prepare and serve meals, greet visitors, keep books, assist in classrooms, mow lawns, shovel snow, maintain and

The Environmental Center in Bend is excited to announce several program expansions into the Redmond community this year. Starting in January, the Free LED Installation Program expanded its service area to include Tumalo and Redmond. This program is a partnership with both Central Electric Cooperative and Pacific Power. Residents in these communities can sign up

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Two Democratic state senators are backing a bill to provide free postage for Oregon election ballots. The Statesman Journal reports (https://is.gd/vVKeEs) that Michael Dembrow of Portland and Richard Devlin of Tualatin pushed the idea Monday before the Senate Rules Committee. Oregon is one of three states that conduct elections entirely by

The U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association kicked off its five-day Collegiate National Championship Tuesd ay with the men’s Snowboard and Freeski Rail Jam, women’s Alpine Slalom and a 7.5k Classic Nordic race amid heavy snowfall at Mt. Bachelor. Here’s the USCSA’s recap of the first day: Mt Bachelor is serving as host for all

The Bend Park and Recreation Board discussed the rough winter’s effects on park district facilities and programs early Tuesday evening. The recreation director said while this winter did have heavy effects on the park district, he thought the department handled the challenges as best it could. Among the facilities the heavy snow closed at times

The Deschutes County Clerk’s Office wanted to share upcoming deadlines for the May 2017 Special Election. May 16 , 2017 Special Election Deadlines: · March 16 is the last day for a candidate or for a measure to be filed. · March 20 is the last day for candidate’s statement or measure arguments to be

Central Oregon counties might need to find new ways of funding themselves, as a federal program that has made up for loss of federal timber revenues was not reauthorized for this year, costing them millions of dollars. Since timber production in Oregon declined a few decades ago, the federal government has provided funds for counties

Rep. Greg Walden was in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday morning talking about the House bill that would replace the Affordable Care Act, while in Bend, a large group of protesters and supporters gathered outside his office. One side continued their weekly protests, demanding a town hall, while the other side demonstrated their support for the

A total of 61 people died on the job in Oregon during 2016, up from 41 the previous year, according to a preliminary report issued Tuesday by the Department of Consumer and Business Services. The numbers are based on a new data collection program, begun in 2015, that is designed to provide a more comprehensive

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon Gov. Kate Brown says the Republicans’ health care replacement proposal for the Affordable Care Act is shortsighted and moves health care backward. In a statement, Brown said Tuesday that since the Affordable Care Act took effect, Oregon’s uninsured rate has dropped from 17 percent to 5 percent, with 95 percent

MYRTLE CREEK, Ore. (AP) – A Myrtle Creek couple has been located in their Subaru, stuck in the snow after they failed to return from a drive over the weekend. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that a U.S. Forest Service employee found Peggy and Clyde Snyder Tuesday afternoon about 31

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Portland Trail Blazers overcame Russell Westbrook’s career-high 58 points to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 126-121 on Tuesday night. Allen Crabbe scored 23 points, Damian Lillard had 22 and C.J. McCollum 21 for the Trail Blazers, who won their third straight. Portland shot 55 percent from the field. Westbrook shot

The owners of a well-known Crescent business are picking up the pieces after a semi truck ripped through their store Monday night. Ken’s Sporting Goods opened its doors along Highway 97 more than three decades ago. Now, husband and wife Dennis and Kim Mathers are surveying the damage to the store they’ve owned for about

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The second trial involving people who occupied an Oregon wildlife refuge last winter has reached closing arguments, with prosecutor Ethan Knight telling jurors the case is about four defendants who went too far. The men are charged with conspiring to impede Interior Department employees from doing their jobs during the 41-day

If conditions remain favorable, fuels specialists with the Bureau of Land Management Prineville District Office will continue with their winter prescribed burning program Wednesday, 12 miles south of Prineville. On Wednesday, fuels specialists are planning to burn 35 acres of juniper slash south of the Upper Davis Loop Road and north of the Prineville Reservoir.

Eastern Oregon has entered Phase III of Oregon’s wolf management plan after the state Department of Fish and Wildlife staff documented a third year of seven or more breeding pairs in the region east of U.S. Highways 97, 20 and 395 last year, officials said Tuesday. A “breeding pair” is two adult wolves that produce

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) – Washington’s House of Representatives has passed a bill seeking to jumpstart plans for replacing the Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River. KOIN-TV reports (https://goo.gl/wyczcL ) that the measure, filed by Vancouver Democrat Sharon Wylie, aims to start preliminary planning work related to the project. It’s one of the first steps