Month: December 2018

(Update: adding current traffic counts) We’ve all noticed it: Traffic on Central Oregon highways is on the rise. It can feel especially crowded on Highway 97 between Bend and Redmond. According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, in the last five years, the section at Empire Avenue and Highway 97 has seen an increase of

How demanding are college classes? How do college students balance homework with jobs and internships? And how do you find time to do your own laundry? Recent Bend-La Pine Schools graduates will be answering these questions and sharing their tips and knowledge with current high school students planning to pursue post-secondary education during upcoming events

BOISE, Idaho (AP) – An Idaho utility, Idaho and Oregon have reached a deal involving the operation of a hydroelectric project on the Snake River on the Idaho-Oregon border. The agreement made public Friday means water-quality certifications from each state for Idaho Power to operate the Hells Canyon Complex of dams can move forward. The

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Lawmakers have been told the Oregon Legislature needs to make structural and cultural changes to ensure the Capitol building is free from harassment. Chief among the recommendations from the Oregon Law Commission’s Oregon State Capitol Workplace Harassment work group is the creation and funding of an independent Equity Office that would

Major work activities on the north section of Redmond’s South Canal Project (SW Canal Blvd to SW Salmon Ave – SW Obsidian Ave and 11th Street) will be temporarily suspended for the foreseeable future due to below-freezing temperatures, a project official said Friday. Robert Gibbons of Knife River said pouring of concrete curb and sidewalks,

(Update: More details on crash, deputy identified) A Deschutes County sheriff’s deputy was evaluated for minor injuries Thursday morning after the driver of a pickup truck lost control and struck the patrol car on icy Day Road near La Pine, deputies said. The sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post that the patrol car left

Good Friday Morning, Everyone… The advance of a cold front through the day will bring us a 30-51% chance of rain showers through the afternoon and into this evening. SE winds at 15-25 mph will be seen to gust as high as 35 mph. Those winds will back off later tonight and turn SW at

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., is examining how to boost resources available to sexual assault survivors in America’s hospitals. During a hearing Wednesday before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Walden focused on the availability of nurses and medical professionals trained to conduct rape kits and the challenges hospitals face in providing access to rape kits

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., announced Thursday that after securing a $600 million investment in rural broadband in the 2018 spending bill, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is launching a pilot program that will provide loans and grants to build broadband infrastructure across America–improving rural communities’ economies, health care, and quality of life. “In today’s connected

From the Benton County Holiday Celebration to the downtown Portland Christmas lighting to the Madras Chamber of Commerce and City of Madras production of A Christmas Fantasy, communities throughout Oregon and Washington are getting support from Blue Sky participants to “green” the electricity used to power their holiday lights. Together, these holiday lighting displays are

Deschutes County will not be accepting any more roads into the county-maintained system, and hasn’t been for nearly a decade. But there are some loose ends to tie up to make clear who has responsibility for maintaining new roads. The county’s planning commission met on Thursday evening and held a hearing on an amendment to

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A federal jury has convicted a former Tigard man for his role in an Oregon-based gold mining scam that investigators say swindled $3.2 million from 140 investors. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports 78-year-old Harry Dean Proudfoot was found guilty Wednesday of wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money

Bend police, acting on a tip, found and arrested five runaway juveniles Thursday — but not before three of them ran once again, sparking a chase on foot and by drone until the fence-jumping teens were caught a short time later. Police received a tip from a community member Thursday about the possible location of

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, introduced legislation Thursday they said would provide much-needed financial certainty for rural counties to ensure they have the long-term funding needed for schools, road maintenance, law enforcement and other essential services. The bipartisan Forest Management for Rural Stability Act makes the Secure Rural Schools program–which expired at

(Update: Evidence suggests suspects were trying to steal a car) Two burglary suspects ran from Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies investigating a report of suspicious activity at a La Pine-area home Thursday morning, prompting a manhunt, but it appeared they left the area by car. According to the sheriff’s office, there was evidence the two men

The Prineville Police Department will be participating in statewide DUII high-visibility enforcement during this Christmas/New Year’s holiday period. Our goal is to increase the number of officers on the street aggressively seeking out impaired drivers. High visibility enforcement is designed to deter people from driving impaired and to save lives. The Prineville Police Department encourages

The city of Bend is seeking applications for one or more seats on the Bend Planning Commission. Planning commission members are appointed by the city council for four-year terms to review and make recommendations regarding land use matters subject to the processes of state law and city code. Consideration shall be given to include representatives

Happy Thursday evening, everyone! A warm front today gave us mild daytime highs in the low to mid 50s. We should be topping out at 40 degrees for this time of year. Winds are gusty with the exiting warm front and incoming cold front. Tonight expect winds to be out of the southeast around 25

(Update: Adding details, background) PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A 92-year-old man who survived Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust was struck and killed by a car while crossing a street near his home in Hillsboro. Alter Wiener was struck Tuesday and was pronounced dead at a hospital, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Wiener endured three years in

(Update: Details about where heart was headed) SEATTLE (AP) – Southwest Airlines says a Dallas-bound flight returned to Seattle last weekend because a human heart was left onboard. The Seattle Times reports that Flight 3606 arrived in Seattle from Sacramento, California. Someone forgot to unload the heart before the plane left for Dallas, and the