Month: July 2018

The Bend Park and Recreation District’s Big Sky Park expansion project drew mixed public testimony Tuesday evening at a Deschutes County land-use hearing. The park district finalized its plans last year and looks to move forward with the addition of a bike park and expansion of an off-leash dog park and additional lighting among other

Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., on Thursday reintroduced the American Savings Act, which would create a national retirement savings plan for the millions of Americans who don’t have access to one at their workplace. The American Savings Act would give every worker who doesn’t already have access to a retirement savings plan through their employer the

Happy Thursday evening, everyone! A FIRE WEATHER OR RED FLAG WARNING FOR MOST OF CENTRAL OREGON EXPIRES TONIGHT AT 9 P.M. GUSTY WINDS AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNSET. Winds will gust around 25 miles per hour through sunset. After that time winds will be out of the southwest around 10 miles per hour.

Last Friday, the Bethlehem Inn celebrated the opening celebration of its newly constructed 18,000-square-foot mixed-use building. The ADA accessible facility – which features a large commercial kitchen, communal dining space, and shelter for 10 families – will serve the high-risk and displaced population of Central Oregon. The project was developed with funding support from Pacific

Jackson County authorities said a man’s body was found Thursday in the area burned by a nearly 100-acre wildfire in Central Point Tuesday night. Sheriff’s detectives said they are conducting a death investigation in the area of the Peninger Fire, but have not determined if the man died before or in the fire. The body

Prompted by fuel conditions and weather trends, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District is increasing restrictions for lands within their protection boundary, officials said Thursday. The district will implement Regulated Closure Phase 2 as of 12:01 a.m. Friday. This closure will modify the timeframe when some high-risk activities are prohibited. All other restrictions

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – A potential landmark lawsuit filed on behalf of a group of youths in Eugene claims the plaintiffs’ rights have been violated by federal government actions that contribute to climate change. The Register-Guard reports attorneys for the youths, known as the Climate Kids, filed suit against the government in 2015. For now,

(Update: Fire investigated as suspected arson; Hwy. 97 reopens, but no fuel N. of Madras) Wasco County authorities have identified a man killed in the 50,000-acre Substation Fire as 64-year-old John Ruby. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office says Ruby’s body was found Wednesday afternoon near a burned-out tractor. Investigators believe he was trying to protect

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The family of a man fatally shot at a Salem strip club seeks $3.6 million in a lawsuit against the club. The Statesman Journal reports that relatives of Darryl Jones claim the owners of Stars Cabaret provided lax security by failing to ban known gang members and failing to screen patrons

Here are the results of Wednesday’s KTVZ.COM poll, asking how you plan to vote on this fall’s measure to repeal Oregon’s sanctuary law: How do you plan to vote on this fall’s measure to repeal Oregon’s sanctuary law?Yes – 71% (786 votes)No – 29% (324 votes)Total Votes: 1,110

(Update: Wyden, Merkley comment on decision) WASHINGTON (AP) – In a surprise move, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has withdrawn one of President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees just minutes before he was set for a confirmation vote. McConnell announced Thursday on the Senate floor that he was pulling the nomination of Ryan Bounds. Trump had

The Oregon Health Authority on Thursday lifted the recreational use health advisory issued June 22 and expanded on July 11 to all three arms of Lake Billy Chinook, located about 12 miles west of Madras in Jefferson County. The OHA said water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins (harmful algae toxins) in the

Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., will hold town halls next week in Multnomah and Deschutes counties. The Multnomah County town hall on Friday, July 27 in Portland and the Deschutes County town hall on Saturday July 28 will be Wyden’s 901 st and 902 nd town halls since he promised Oregonians that he would hold at

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in 2017, which was Oregon’s lowest unemployment rate since comparable records began in 1976. And while not as low as the overall figure, jobless rates for younger workers also dropped markedly to record lows, the state Employment Department reported Thursday. The unemployment rate for Oregon teens ages 16 to

SEATTLE (AP) – A majority of the Seattle City Council wants a full network of protected bike lanes through downtown by the end of next year. The Seattle Times reports the City Council’s transportation committee unanimously passed a nonbinding resolution Wednesday setting deadlines for the city to build a half-dozen long-planned bike lanes through downtown.

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – Officials at the Spokane County Jail are trying to determine why yet another inmate has died in his cell. The death occurred Tuesday afternoon, and the name of the inmate has not been released. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office says there are no obvious signs of the cause of death. The

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department said it is prohibiting all campfires and open flames at all state park properties, effective 10 a.m. Thursday. The ban is in response to Gov. Brown’s declaration of a fire emergency. The campfire and open flame ban includes campgrounds, day-use areas and all areas of the ocean shore and

Good Thursday Morning, Everyone…A Red Flag Warning for Critical Fire Weather conditions will be in place for Central Oregon from 10 am until 9 pm today due to the hot, dry and breezy conditions ahead. Under sunny skies highs will be in the upper 80’s to low 90’s. NW winds will pick up to 10-15

Wednesday night marked the first Bend City Council meeting since controversy arose in recent weeks over the alleged behavior of Councilor Nathan Boddie. He didn’t attend the session, but fellow councilors — some of whom have called for him to resign and withdraw from an Oregon House race — talked about whether they could or

The city of Bend may soon allow more duplexes and triplexes in residential neighborhoods as another way to meet the growing demand for more affordable housing. Planning staff will make a presentation and seek city council direction Wednesday evening on a proposed development code update, supported by a majority of the Bend Planning Commission, to