Month: December 2017

For a truly meaningful gift this holiday season, the Oregon College Savings Plan is encouraging families and friends to contribute to a child’s 529 college savings account. The Oregon College Savings Plan makes doing so simple, straightforward and secure with its eGift feature, allowing account owners to send gift invitations to family and friends. The

The most ambitious and important agricultural survey of all is getting underway in Oregon and the rest of the 50 states as the 2017 Census of Agriculture literally reaches out to every farmer and rancher in the United States. “The Census of Agriculture is USDA’s largest data collection endeavor, providing some of the most widely

Volunteer Central Oregon announced that sign-ups are now open for the region’s 9th annual MLK Day of Service as part of the national holiday honoring Dr. King’s legacy. On Monday, January 15th, 2018, volunteers across Central Oregon – and the country – will paint walls, clean buildings, mentor children, serve meals, create Valentine cards for

Increased access to viral suppression medication that makes a person living with HIV less infectious, and to medication that prevents infection in the first place, are helping lay the groundwork for eliminating new transmissions in Oregon, according to a new report. The End HIV Oregon Annual Progress Report was released Dec. 1–World AIDS Day–a year

Bend is one step closer to a possible citywide vote in May on changes in city government, including a directly elected mayor and some councilors elected by geographic wards. But city councilors will need more time to come to full consensus before sending a proposed city charter update to the ballot. The city’s Charter Review

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) – Dozens of Symantec employees in the Springfield area have learned they will be laid off next month as the cyber-security firm begins a sharp reduction of its local workforce. The Register-Guard reports that the last day for 64 employees in Jan. 17 and two more will be done on Jan. 26.

A new mixed-use development could be going into the former Ray’s Food Place on Bend’s Westside. The former supermarket building has been sitting vacant since before it’s roof collapsed last winter. The city of Bend is looking over proposals that would turn it into a mixed-use site, with stores and apartments. A city engineer said

Governor Kate Brown has ordered all flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown at half-staff in honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day from sunrise to sunset on Thursday, Dec. 7. “I encourage all Oregonians to honor National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day by reflecting on the bravery and sacrifice of America’s Greatest Generation of

An attic fire in a southwest Bend home early Wednesday caused about $20,000 damage before it was put out by firefighters, officials said. Bend Fire Department crews responded around 2 a.m. to the reported house fire in the 61000 block of Deer Valley Drive, Battalion Chief Jeff Blake said. They arrived to find a fire

(Update: Comments from Madras officials, residents, Redmond brewer) Madras wants to bring a brewery to town, and while many welcome such an arrival, there are some who wonder if a town of fewer than 7,000 people can sustain a brewpub. City officials, including Community Development Director Nicholas Snead, said Wednesday they believe it would be

(Update: Ex-jail worker arraigned; jail outlines changes to avoid such incidents) A former contract kitchen worker at the Deschutes County Jail, accused of repeated sexual conduct with an inmate, was arraigned in a Deschutes County courtroom Wednesday morning. April Hoisington-Kite, 43, was arraigned on three charges: first- and second-degree custodial sexual misconduct and supplying contraband.

Happy Wednesday evening, everyone! Bitter cold, clear nights are in store for the High Desert moving forward. Lows will be in the single digits and teens with calm winds. We can expect frosty starts to the days ahead, so keep in mind roadways could be slick to begin the day! High pressure has anchored in

Here are the results of Tuesday’s KTVZ.COM Poll, asking if you have had trouble recently finding an affordable place to rent in Central Oregon: Have you had trouble lately finding an affordable place to rent in C. Oregon? Yes – 59% (282 votes) No – 41% (194 votes) Total Votes: 476

Volunteers from the Bend Oregon Area Team are celebrating the collection of 7,300 gift-filled shoeboxes that will remind children around the world they are loved and not forgotten. The Bend Oregon Area Team is now thanking the Bend community for their generous contributions already on their way to children in need worldwide. For many of

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Ranchers in Idaho and Oregon have begun grazing their cattle again on some of the nearly 280,000 acres burned in wildfires in 2015. The Capital Press reports the Bureau of Land Management has allowed grazing to resume on 48 of the 84 pastures on allotments affected by the fires in southwest

THE DALLES, Ore. (AP) – Disability Rights Oregon has released a report alleging the regional juvenile jail in The Dalles skirts Oregon law and uses inhumane methods to punish youth. The East Oregonian reported Wednesday that the director of the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility disputes the findings. Disability Rights is authorized to inspect jails

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Materials Management program announced Wednesday it has awarded more than $600,000 in grant funding to 19 local governments and non-profit organizations. The funding covers local government materials management planning efforts and projects that promote the prevention, recovery or reuse of solid wastes. Funding was made possible through fee increases

Sandy Visnack of Bend has been named the new executive director of the Bend Endurance Academy by the organization’s governing board. Visnack will assume this new role on January 8. “We are excited to announce the selection of Sandy Visnack to be our next executive director,” says Ellen Grover, BEA board president. “In 2018, as

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – New figures show Oregon once again has the third-worst high school graduation rate in the country. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the National Center for Education Statistics says Oregon, for the second straight year, ranks 48th in the nation in students graduating from high school. Oregon ranked No. 47 for two years before

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is accepting comments on a proposed rule change that would establish a permit to restore, maintain or preserve an abandoned cemetery. The proposed rules are a result of House Bill 2516, passed during the 2017 session. The deadline for public comment on the amendments is Jan. 15, 2018. The