Month: July 2018

Are you looking to make a difference in the lives of local children? SMART (Start Making A Reader Today®) is recruiting leadership volunteers to coordinate reading programs at schools across Deschutes County. Volunteer site coordinators are critical to SMART’s ability to bring one-on-one reading support and books to keep to 800 children in our community

(Update: Fire now 1,414 acres; 50 percent contained) Despite more gusty winds Wednesday, the Cemetery Fire burning east of Prineville was held to 1,414 acres and is now 50 percent contained, officials said. More smoldering was seen in the late afternoon, but the fire perimeter held as nearly 260 firefighters mopped up, monitored and reinforced

The Oregon High Desert Classics, founded in 1989, are held at J Bar J Youth Ranch the last two weeks in July and the competition draws competitors from across the Pacific Northwest, all while helping fund valuable programs for Central Oregon youth. Bend resident Lindsey Garner has competed in the hunter-jumper equine competition for 15

Kokanee, an aging, flightless bald eagle who lived at Bend’s High Desert Museum for more than a decade, was humanely euthanized Friday, officials announced Wednesday. The museum’s professional caretakers and veterinarian had determined that the raptor’s health was declining quickly after a struggle with age-related ailments. “Kokanee was majestic and a longtime favorite of museum

Facebook is going solar at their big and still-growing Prineville Data Center. Gov. Kate Brown was in Crook County Wednesday morning to celebrate Crook County’s newest collaboration. Pacific Power and Facebook have partnered to build a total of six new solar farms, which is something Brown hopes will keep Oregon on the path of green

Some natural areas are more fragile than others and need to be left alone to grow. Unfortunately, not everyone respects that, even when the signs clearly ask for the public to steer clear. At Todd Lake, west of Bend, despite signs that say the area is closed for restoration, some people visiting the lake went

Rep. Knute Buehler, R-Bend, the Republican nominee for governor. announced his vision, goals and plans for health care in Oregon on Wednesday at The Center, the medical practice he helped found. It didn’t take long for Gov. Brown’s campaign to respond, attacking Buehler’s record as a lawmaker on various health care votes. Here first is

Happy Wednesday evening, everyone! A FIRE WEATHER OR RED FLAG WARNING EXPIRES AT 8 P.M. WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND DRY CONDITIONS. AN ADDITIONAL FIRE WEATHER OR RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF CENTRAL OREGON ON THURSDAY. Winds will be breezy at times through sunset gusting 25 miles per hour. Overnight

Governor Kate Brown on Wednesday declared a statewide wildfire emergency, which activates Operation Plan Smokey to make Oregon National Guard troops and resources available to the Oregon Department of Forestry. At the request of ODF, aviation assets will be made available to wildfire crews in Oregon. ONG ground troops have not yet been requested but

Here are the results of Tuesday’s KTVZ.COM Poll, asking if you’re satisfied with the President’s correction of comments about Russian election meddling: Are you satisfied with the President’s correction of comments about Russian election meddling?Yes – 40% (445 votes)No – 60% (654 votes)Total Votes: 1,099

Governor Kate Brown announced Wednesday a drought emergency for Wheeler County due to low snowpack, lack of precipitation, low streamflows and warming temperatures as wildfires spread throughout Oregon. “Drought conditions and unusually high temperatures could have serious impacts on Wheeler County’s economy, as well as natural resources, livestock, and fisheries,” Brown said. “To minimize these

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Court of Appeals has ruled that a trial judge shouldn’t have reduced a jury’s award to a man whose leg was severed by a garbage truck in downtown Portland. In reinstating the award, the Appeals Court said the judge’s application of a $500,000 state cap for pain and suffering

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Democratic senators are voicing opposition to an Oregon federal prosecutor nominated to fill a judicial vacancy on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley and other members of the Senate’s Democratic Caucus held the Senate floor Tuesday night for hours in protest

College students at two large public universities in Oregon are reporting more use of marijuana following the drug’s legalization, including among those who are underage, Oregon State University researchers have found. In the latest study, which builds on the researchers’ previous work to understand the effects of legalization on marijuana use, the researchers compared the

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The state Elections Division says a measure to repeal Oregon’s sanctuary law has qualified for the November ballot. The initiative petition needed more than 88,000 valid signatures, and it easily surpassed that threshold. The 1987 law prohibits state agencies from inquiring about a person’s immigration status if they haven’t committed another

(Update: Sheriff’s comment on Zilk returning to work; adding video) A Deschutes County sheriff’s deputy was justified in fatally shooting a Springfield man last month at a campsite west of Bend because the man refused to freeze and dove to the floorboard area of a rental truck, where the deputy believed he was going to

Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Wednesday the introduction of the Reunite Every Unaccompanied Newborn Infant, Toddler and Other Children Expeditiously (REUNITE) Act , a bill to immediately reunify all families and establish a permanent system of coordination between agencies and non-governmental organizations to protect detained immigrants with children. Merkley, whose trip to the

Good Wednesday Morning, Everyone…High pressure centered off in the Pacific will keep our skies clear and sunny today. Highs will reach the low 90’s and the flow around that high pressure center will deliver NW breezes that pick up to a gusty 10-15 mph this afternoon. Skies will remain clear tonight. Lows will range from

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – Eugene officials have approved a ban on feeding wildlife in an attempt to contain the growing rat and wild turkey populations. The Register-Guard reports the city council enacted the nuisance code ordinance Monday, prohibiting the intentional feeding of wild animals and the storing of food or garbage in a way that

Following a massive statewide crowdfunding campaign, the newly restored Oregon Constitution is now on view at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland through Sept. 3. What started as a penny drive targeted at Oregon students to raise funds to preserve and exhibit the original 1857 Oregon Constitution turned into over $100,000 raised to restore this