Month: June 2017

(Update: Adding DMV comments on “sex” notation on license, not gender; REAL ID Act requirements) Beginning in July, Oregon residents will have the option to mark their sex as “not specified” on their application for a driver license, instruction permit or identification card. Under a new administrative rule approved Thursday by the Oregon Transportation Commission,

To combat teen abuse of over-the-counter medicines containing the cough suppressant dextromethorphan (DXM), Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed legislation Thursday prohibiting the sale of DXM-containing products to minors. “Oregon is now the 14th state to pass an age-18 sales law, joining states across the country in recognizing that limiting teen access to DXM is a

Central Oregon Law Enforcement is proud to announce our annual Law Enforcement Torch Run to support Special Olympics Oregon. This annual run is one of many events members from all Central Oregon Law Enforcement participate in annually to support athletes, generate public awareness for Special Olympics Oregon and assist in helping raise funds for the

The 4 Peaks Music Festival moved this year from Tumalo to Stevenson Ranch in southeast Bend. The reason — noise complaints from Tumalo residents. Despite that, this year’s festival, the 10th annual, was designed to hold more people. Even though Stevenson Ranch is fairly secluded, people do live nearby. Are the neighbors concerned with the

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A $670 million health care tax package designed to help sustain Medicaid services for the next two years and avoid the shuttering of a newly-built psychiatric hospital passed the Oregon House on Thursday. The 36-23 vote exceeded the constitutionally required supermajority by just one vote. The measure will now be considered

During the days leading up to the Aug 21 solar eclipse, the population of Central Oregon could double, and one of the questions that’s on many people’s minds is, “What if something bad happens?” A top St. Charles Health System official outlined how they’re preparing Thursday. “We’re planning to essentially mimic the population growth,” said

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4108 recently honored Redmond Police School Resource Officer Allen Speck with the 2017 Public Safety Officer of the Year award for law enforcement. Post Commander Mike Trammel presented the award to Officer Speck during Tuesday’s Redmond City Council meeting. The VFW annually recognizes public safety officers for their outstanding contributions

(Update: Names of rider, driver, details of crash) A Utah motorcyclist was in serious condition Thursday at a Bend hospital, one day after hitting a pickup that pulled into his path on U.S. Highway 26 south of Madras, authorities said. Oregon State Police said Lucas Crane, 24, of Orem, Utah, was flown by air ambulance

Here are the results of Wednesday’s KTVZ.COM Poll, asking whether people have been the victim of theft, other crimes in Central Oregon over the past year: Have you been a victim of crime in Central Oregon in the past year? Theft – 10% (47 votes) Violent crime – 1% (4 votes) Vandalism – 3% (13

The City of Sisters is seeking to award grants to non-profit community groups and other entities for the 2017-18 fiscal year beginning July 1. The city will award up to a total of $15,000 in grants for Sisters community projects or programs that meet the following criteria; 1) provide assistance for essential food, clothing or

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) – Officials evacuated the Medford branch of Rogue Community College on Thursday because of a threat against a faculty member. College spokesman Grant Walker tells the Mail Tribune (https://is.gd/Jit0th ) the employee received a “credible written threat” early Thursday afternoon. School officials closed the campus for the rest of the day as

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., emphasized the costs of congressional inaction when it comes to fixing the broken system of wildfire funding, during a hearing Thursday before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Wyden, together with Sens. Mike Crapo and James Risch, both R-Idaho, has been working on a long-term solution since 2013 to fix

LA GRANDE, Ore. (AP) – Oregon health officials are warning people to be wary of the mumps outbreak that continues to hit Union County. The La Grande Observer reports (http://bit.ly/2sfcxTP ) the Center for Human Development reported Monday there are four confirmed mumps cases in Union County and five presumptive cases in which patients have

NORTH BEND, Ore. (AP) – A Coast Guard team rescued a 40-year-old man who became stranded while on a hiking trip in southern Oregon. The U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release that the man had been last seen and heard from on Friday before a planned 45-mile hike in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National

The Bend Cultural Tourism Commission announced Thursday 10 grant awards for Bend activities at its May 23 meeting, awarding a total of $197,289. The funds will help organizations leverage marketing resources to attract more cultural tourists during the shoulder seasons and winter months – a time of year when the city’s tourism industry is down,

Deschutes County is seeking applicants for a new Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Committee members will provide input on how Deschutes County processes solid waste after Knott Landfill reaches its capacity. The county is currently conducting a study that will outline different disposal options. The committee will evaluate the economic and environmental impacts of those options

NEW YORK (AP) – Nike wants to be more nimble on its feet and sell more shoes directly to customers online as part of a restructuring in which it plans to cut about 1,400 jobs and reduce the number of sneaker styles it offers by a quarter. The company announced several changes to its business

It’s graduation season, and that has many people thinking of caps, gowns and the thrill of moving on to a new chapter of life. For some Crook County residents, it also means thanking a campus that has helped them along in their education careers – some resumed after years, even decades of living life. Hillsboro

Investigators with the Greece, N.Y, Police Department and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are seeking the public’s help to identify a little boy whose body was found there in 1976 but apparently lived in the Northwest earlier in his life. On March 9 , 1976, the skeletal remains of a young child

Community service can be the most powerful way for those who have served prison sentences re-integrate into society, supporters of a bill halfway through the Legislature say. The Oregon Senate recognized this Wednesday by voting to pass a bill requiring establishing such options for those serving parole or post-prison supervision. Senate Bill 360 – which