Month: October 2017

The federal Department of Homeland Security has given Oregon another one-year extension for compliance with the federal Real ID Act, the Oregon DMV announced Thursday. That means that Oregon-issued driver licenses, instruction permits and identification cards will continue to be accepted at airports for the purpose of accessing federal facilities where individuals are required to

An aggressive strain of the disease that causes sudden oak death in plants has infected Douglas fir and grand fir saplings in southwest Oregon. Scientists at Oregon State University, the Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Research Service report the finding in the journal Plant Disease. The strain, identified in 2012

While Sunriver’s Great Hall is silent now that the Sunriver Music Festival’s summer concerts have passed for this year, music continues in the halls of South Deschutes County schools, thanks to the Festival’s commitment to youth education. Nurturing the next generation of artistic talent has been a commitment of the Sunriver Music Festival ever since

Bend city staff and councilors discussed winter preparations at a work session Wednesday evening. Officials said residents will see more equipment, staff and efficient quality control all over the town this year. Part of the discussion included the possibility of being able to ask people to move their cars on certain streets if plows cannot

The number of chronically absent students, defined as missing 10 percent or more of school days per year, is up again, approaching 20 percent, according to data released Thursday by the Oregon Department of Education. The Regular Attenders Report (formerly the Not Chronically Absent Report) shows that 80.3 percent of students are considered regular attenders,

PHOENIX (AP) – Damian Lillard scored 27 points and the Portland Trail Blazers opened the season by handing the Phoenix Suns the most one-sided loss in the franchise’s 49-year history, 124-76 on Wednesday night. Pat Connaughton added a career-high 24 points, making 4 of 6 3-pointers. The Trail Blazers outshot, outrebounded and outhustled the Suns from

Critical repairs to a 90-year-old northwest Bend reservoir system are moving forward, as city councilors unanimously agreed to a fast-track “design-build” process for the work. The two Overturf Reservoir tanks hold about 1.3 million gallons of water each, and with the pipes between them were installed in 1927 — and have not been updated since.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A Keizer man has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years for stabbing another man to death following a bar confrontation and car crash. The Statesman Journal reports that 27-year-old Darnell Harris was convicted of killing 32-year-old Andrew Ramon of Gervais, tampering with a witness

Crooked River Ranch residents could be paying more in property taxes to boost public safety, if they approve Measure 16-88 on the Nov. 7 ballot, which would create a law enforcement district on the Jefferson County side of the ranch. More than 3,300 ballots were sent out on Wednesday to voters living in CRR to

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Authorities say two food carts were destroyed and 10 cars were damaged by a fire and explosion Wednesday afternoon in downtown Portland. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports flames and thick smoke billowed from a parking lot near Southwest First Avenue and Columbia Street shortly after 3 p.m. Authorities say an explosion followed about 15 minutes

A problem with the couplers that connect cars on a BNSF freight train blocked Cooley Road on Bend’s north end for close to two hours Wednesday evening. The incident involved “a coupler issue that requires mechanical adjustments,” but was “not a derailment,” said railroad spokesman Gus Melonas in Seattle. The northbound train originated in Barstow,

What would you like to see happen at the Redmond Municipal Airport? Wednesday evening, Central Oregonians got their first chance to voice their opinions about the airport’s proposed master plan update. And by all accounts, it’s an exciting time for the airport. The new master plan takes Central Oregon’s rapid growth into account. Over the

People in Bend are fighting back against the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. This Sunday in Bend, there’s a Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Kendall Brownrigg lives in Bend and joined the Alzheimer’s Association because of her dad. A few years ago, he left home to get his hair cut and didn’t make

Here are the results of Tuesday’s KTVZ.COM Poll, asking people if they consider recycling rules too confusing: Do you consider recycling rules too confusing? Yes – 58% (342 votes) No – 42% (244 votes) Total Votes: 586

BINGEN, Wash. (AP) – Huge flames consumed part of a fruit processing plant in the Columbia Gorge community of Bingen, Washington. KING-TV reports the fire started at 5:45 a.m. Wednesday at the Underwood Fruit and Warehouse Company plant. It caused power outages in Bingen. The packing warehouse continued to burn into the afternoon in Bingen, across the

SEATTLE (AP) – A California man has pleaded guilty to groping and kissing a 16-year-old girl on an Alaska Airlines flight last year. Jesse Salas was charged Monday in U.S. District Court in Seattle with one misdemeanor count of simple assault on an aircraft. He pleaded guilty Wednesday. Salas of Redondo Beach, California, was on a flight

(Comments from president-CEO, nurses union) St. Charles Health System announced layoffs, pay cuts and other measures Tuesday to cover an operating income shortfall of up to $35 million for the coming year that it blamed on higher costs, lower revenue — and the Oregon Legislature. President and CEO Joe Sluka, who was only available by

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) – Oregon State University is considering whether to change the names of four campus buildings that some students believe are named for racists. One is Gill Coliseum, home of the Oregon State basketball teams. The Gazette-Times reports the university has released a historical report that provides ammunition for supporters and critics of the building’s

The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, working with a number of local and state partner agencies in Oregon, said Wednesday it recovered two child sex trafficking victims as part of a national and international operation in the past week. The FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) spearheaded the “Operation Cross

WEST LINN, Ore. (AP) – The West Linn Paper Company is shutting down after more than 100 years in business. Chief Operating Officer Brian Konen said in a statement that several unforeseeable events led to a significant reduction in available pulp, making continued operations impossible. West Linn Paper will also shut down a warehouse, logistics and transportation