Month: August 2018

Some overseas help is due soon as more then 8,000 firefighters and support personnel are battling wildfires in the Pacific Northwest. As of Friday, there are 16 large wildfires in Oregon and six large wildfires in Washington, affecting over 185,000 acres. Early next week, 85 firefighters and support personnel from Australia and New Zealand arrive

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A memorial service has been scheduled for a farmer who died while fighting the Substation fire in July. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the service for 64-year-old John Ruby is at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Dufur. Wasco County Commissioner Scott Hege says county buildings will fly flags at half-staff that day to honor

Despite a wind shift that sent the fire jumping containment lines on the west side overnight, nearly 500 firefighters have brought the 20,000-acre South Valley Fire southwest of Dufur to 20 percent containment, officials said Friday. The fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon was estimated Friday morning at “20,000-plus acres,” about the same as Thursday’s

Good morning Central Oregon! A much cooler day today for us on the high desert. We are going to see breezy conditions at times today as well., winds will be out of the southwest at 5-15 MPH. Winds could gust as high as 20 MPH. Sunny skies for us today on the high desert, but

Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Thursday that the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Committee bill has passed the full Senate as part of a 2019 funding package, providing billions of dollars for transportation and housing projects that are critical to both rural and urban Oregon. “Every corner of Oregon is experiencing

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A Molalla woman has filed a lawsuit against a grocery store chain, claiming a champagne bottle was improperly bagged and smashed her right foot. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Tracey Gloy filed the suit Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court seeking $640,000 in damages from Safeway. The suit claims the cashier failed to

During a meeting with local business owners and community leaders in Medford on Thursday, Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., announced that the Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing this fall to examine the air quality impacts of wildfire smoke. Walden gathered members of the business community and local leaders in southern Oregon — where

Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led a group of 31 senators Thursday to push back on the Trump administration’s recent efforts to weaken the Volcker Rule, one of the landmark provisions of the 2010 Wall Street reform law. Here’s the rest of the news release: Merkley, along with former Sen. Carl Levin

Wildfires in multiple Northwest and Western states continue to put homes, businesses and lives at risk. If you are in a wildfire’s path, NW Insurance Council urges you to have an emergency evacuation plan, pay close attention to fire alerts, follow evacuation orders and move to safety immediately. For updates on current wildfires and evacuation

Deschutes County officials are asking motorists to have patience as Highway 97 in Redmond will see a dramatic increase in traffic because of the South Canal Boulevard detour. Officials said Thursday that motorists should be prepared for delays because of the Deschutes County Fair, which kicked off Wednesday. Motorists should also expect traffic to increase

(Update: Neighbors spray homes; more details from sheriff’s office) This is the second time Araceli Benitez has seen a fire ravage homes in her Tops Trailer Park neighborhood. But the fire Tuesday afternoon was even closer. “Everybody just started freaking out. No one was calling the ambulance or anything, so I took the step up

The city of Bend is holding an open house to discuss upcoming reconstruction of the 14th Street corridor between Albany Avenue and Galveston Avenue, Phase 2 of the overall project. City staff and project consultants from DOWL will be available to describe the elements of the project, including what may be expected during construction and

Mid Oregon Credit Union kicked off its annual Supplies4Schools supply drive with a record donation from a single donor who dropped off more than 140 backpacks stuffed with school supplies to its Redmond branch location. “I am always amazed at the generosity of the people in this community,” says Marketing VP Kyle Frick. “Every year

(Update: Adler arraigned, bail increased) A Bend man was arrested Wednesday on assault and other charges, accused of trying to strangle his girlfriend during an argument near La Pine earlier in the week. Unable to break free, she pulled out a small knife and stabbed him several times in self-defense, causing serious injuries, Deschutes County

Here are the results of Wednesday’s KTVZ.COM poll, asking if you’re planning on attending the 2018 Deschutes County Fair: Are you planning to attend the 2018 Deschutes County Fair?Yes – 23% (182 votes)No – 77% (615 votes)Total Votes: 797

Happy Thursday evening, everyone! Cooler air has moved into Central Oregon dropping our temperatures. We’re seeing breezy conditions out of the northwest around 30 miles per hour as a dry cold front moves through the region. Just a few clouds are expected overnight with mostly clear skies overhead. Hazy conditions will be overhead as we’re

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Conservation groups have sued the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission for failing to strengthen protection for the marbled murrelet. The groups petitioned the commission in 2016 to change the bird’s status from threatened to endangered under the state Endangered Species Act. The commission denied the petition in June, reversing

Employment First Central Oregon announces the launch of its new website; www.employmentfirstcentraloregon.org. Made up of 11 local nonprofits and state agencies, Employment First Central Oregon helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) find competitive, meaningful work in businesses and companies throughout the region. The coalition is also a strong, vocal advocate for creating an

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Republican party’s candidate for Oregon governor has called on the president of the state Senate and the speaker of the House, both Democrats, to step down from their leadership positions after the labor commissioner accused them of allowing an atmosphere of sexual hostility in the state Capitol. Knute Buehler of

(Update: Fire grows to 20,000 acres, 5 pct, contained; Highway 197, Deschutes River Access Road now open) The third large, wind-whipped wildfire to hit the Dufur area of north-central Oregon in recent weeks raced across 20,000 acres Wednesday, burning at least one structure and jumping U.S. Highway 197 while prompting evacuations and another closure of