Month: September 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A new valuation by the actuary for Oregon’s public pension says the system’s deficit has ballooned to $25.3 billion, meaning higher costs will be coming. According to the valuation by Milliman Inc., the growing deficit will cost schools and local and state government an additional $1.4 billion. The Oregonian/Oregon Live reports (http://bit.ly/2yL321V )

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – TriMet might ask congestion-weary voters to spend big money for a new light-rail line and other transportation projects. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (https://is.gd/2pcINi ) the plan – as currently imagined – would place a $1.7 billion bond measure on the November 2018 ballot. If passed, it would impose a new property tax assessment

(Update: Boil-water notice still in place, new tests due soon; E. coli cause sought) A six-day-old boil-water notice for about 130 Tumalo-area homes and businesses continued Thursday as officials continued to flush chlorine from the system for a new round of tests and to hunt for the source of the second E. coli contamination discovery

No need to attend another fundraising luncheon when you can Unlunch with Abilitree! This year, Abilitree is changing things up for their annual campaign. Instead of holding an annual luncheon and asking the community to show up to care, they’re taking the campaign online. Now, anyone in Central Oregon can participate and make a difference

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) – Inmates at the 60-bed Clatsop County Jail in Astoria are often released due to overcrowding. The Board of Commissioners is now looking at possibly relocating the jail to Warrenton, at the site of the shuttered North Coast Youth Correctional Facility. The Daily Astorian reports one plan calls for a $12 million renovation that

CHILOQUIN, Ore. (AP) – The Chiloquin City Council voted to file a complaint against its accounting firm because of a backlog of delinquent audits. The Herald and News reports (https://is.gd/faJD9y ) the complaint is expected to be drafted in time for approval Oct. 9. Councilor Michelle Ochoa says the goal is to discourage delinquent audits in

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – There’s a buyer for the former Hynix computer-chip plant in Eugene. Ten-X Commercial, an online commercial real estate marketplace, says a bidder agreed at Wednesday’s auction to purchase the plant for $12.75 million. The bidder’s name has not been released. South Korea-based Hynix built the plant in 1995. It was one of Lane

Former Seven Peaks School principal Megan Martin is being sued by the school for allegedly downloading private documents about students and staff. In court papers filed Friday, the school alleges Martin “improperly and without authorization downloaded thousands of the School’s electronically stored files… (containing) highly sensitive student and parent information.” The document gives psychological evaluations

The Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division is holding community meetings to get input on the state health assessment. Oregon’s state health assessment will be used to determine the priorities for Oregon’s 2020-2024 state health improvement plan. Agenda: Listen to community members about experiences, strengths and needs related to health, and share findings from assessments

Bend is an outdoor town, which means lots of people spend lots of time walking, biking, jogging and running around town. But does everyone feel safe? In the pedestrian walkway of the Franklin Avenue underpass in Bend, there’s graffiti on the walls, poor lighting and trash everywhere. All of that, combined with people who sometimes

Join us on Saturday, Sept. 30 for National Public Lands Day, the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. To encourage people to join in and visit their public lands, the Forest Service is waiving day-use fees at recreation sites across the Pacific Northwest. “Our public lands are a national treasure belonging to all

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) – Southern Oregon University and Rogue Community College Higher Education Center in downtown Medford will be closed until noon Thursday because of a bomb threat. The Mail Tribune reports (https://goo.gl/EE8Nrq ) officials said the threat was found Wednesday written on a campus whiteboard. Medford police say no suspicious devices have been found. Police say the

Researchers at Oregon State University just finished a study that found there are not enough safe places for truck drivers to stop and rest on Highway 97, something truckers who drive the route said Wednesday they are very familiar with. The lack of stops leaves the few truck stops available on the highway packed with

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – Authorities have identified a man killed by two officers in Eugene after he allegedly pointed a rifle at them. Eugene police said Wednesday that 31-year-old Roger Craig Nielsen was fatally shot Tuesday at an apartment complex. Police say officers went to the complex after learning an armed man was holding a woman and

Students and staff from several schools in Bend-La Pine Schools are participating in activities related to Good Neighbor Day on Sept. 28, a national holiday that encourages people to be kind and help neighbors and neighborhoods. Students at four local schools will host clean-up efforts in the neighborhood surrounding their schools. Sept. 28: Amity Creek

A homeowners association south of Sunriver has created a Canal Restoration Committee to look at removing some downed trees in a canal that runs through the area. But that is drawing objections from at least one resident who is worried about the impact on area wildlife, including a threatened frog species. The Deschutes River Recreation

The City of Bend is encouraging all citizens to reduce their landscape irrigation schedules this fall as temperatures decline. “This is the time of year when many of us tend to over-irrigate,” says Mike Buettner, Water Conservation Program Manager for the City of Bend. “Landscape water requirements really start to drop off once nighttime temperatures

(Update: Adding that Binky’s is where Megabucks jackpot ticket was sold in 2015) Bend resident James McGinnis is proof that you don’t need to win the Powerball jackpot to still come away with a life-changing prize. McGinnis won $2 million playing Powerball at Binky’s on Southeast Third Street in Bend. He purchased his ticket for

(Update: Federal judge won’t let Cliven Bundy represent self) LAS VEGAS (AP) – Nevada cattleman and state’s rights figure Cliven Bundy still has a lawyer representing him for his upcoming trial stemming from a 2014 armed standoff with federal agents. Defense attorney Bret Whipple said Wednesday a U.S. magistrate judge refused to allow Bundy to represent

Here’s the results of Tuesday’s KTVZ.COM Poll asking if you believe the city of Bend should use room-tax dollars to fix the roads: Do you think Bend should use room-tax dollars to fix roads? Yes – 76% (351 votes) No – 24% (113 votes) Total Votes: 464