Month: February 2019

Oregon could become part of a compact to ensure that the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote is elected. This week, lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 870, which would ensure that the state’s seven electoral votes are awarded to the winner of the popular vote. The compact would go into effect once states with a

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon lawmakers have sent a $465 million health care package to the governor’s desk to address funding shortfalls in the state’s Medicaid program. The state’s Senate approved the plan on Thursday, a week after it passed the House. The measure secures six years of funding for Oregon’s Medicaid program through a

The Bend post office on is asking customers to help keep letter carriers safe by clearing access to mailboxes as soon possible following heavy snowfall. The U.S. Postal Service “wants its carriers to return home healthy each night,” the news release stated. “The cooperation and assistance of customers will go a long way toward keeping

DUFUR, Ore. (AP) – An 18-year-old high school graduate in Wasco County has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Dufur School District, contending it failed to intervene to stop an ex-track coach from sexually abusing her just a few years after another coach was convicted of similar conduct. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the student

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) – Officials say four new suspected measles cases have been identified in an outbreak in southwest Washington. Clark County Public Health officials said Thursday that four people are suspected to have the highly contagious viral illness. Since the beginning of the year, Clark County has seen 65 people with confirmed cases of

Happy Thursday evening, everyone! Tonight we have a chance for snow showers totaling 1-2″ across the High Desert. The Cascades and mountain passes could see about 2-5″ over the next 24 hours. Expect roads to be icy with areas of packed snow overnight. Lows will fall into the teens for another cold start tomorrow morning.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Pioneering Oregon Republican Norma Paulus, a former secretary of state who was the first woman elected to statewide office, has died. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Paulus died Thursday after spending time in hospice for health problems related to dementia, according to Kerry Tymchuk, a longtime friend of Paulus. Paulus was 85. Paulus

(Update: Police release man’s name) Bend police on Thursday released the name of a man who was found dead in the snowy parking lot of St. Charles Bend on Tuesday night by police who had been called to a dispute at a nearby home. He was identified as Michael Shawn Rupp, 45. The cause of

(Update: Power restored to all, utility says) More than 10,000 Pacific Power customers from Terrebonne and Crooked River Ranch to Madras and Warm Springs lost power Thursday morning in frigid temperatures. Utility crews were able to restore service to about 4,000 in about 90 minutes and the rest by the noon hour. About 6,000 customers

(Update: highway fully reopens) A semitruck jackknifed and another crashed into it on icy Highway 97 at Lava Butte south of Bend late Wednesday afternoon, but despite a second collision of two vehicles and a engthy closure, no injuries were reported, Oregon State Police reported. One southbound lane reopened around 7:30 p.m. and a northbound

(Update: Deschutes Libraries open regular hours) With many areas still digging out from three-plus feet of snow this week, Central Oregon schools again were making the early call Wednesday afternoon to cancel a fourth straight day of classes on Thursday. The public schools closure list includes: Bend-La Pine, Redmond, Culver, Jefferson County, Crook County, Sisters,

A vehicle procession for longtime Jefferson County Senior Deputy Dave Blann was planned Thursday morning from west of Sisters to Bend’s Westside Church, where a Celebration of Life will take place in the afternoon. The procession will leave a staging area west of Sisters at 10:30 a.m. Community members wishing to view the processiion will

Good Thursday Morning, Everyone… A strong upper level flow from the west will help force a cold front to the east. With that we will see some partial clearing and cold temperatures. Today skies will be partly cloudy to mostly sunny. Highs will only reach the mid 30’s, however, and breezes will remain fairly calm.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), along with Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), introduced “bold new legislation” Wednesday to invest in smaller class sizes for public schools across America. Here’s Merkley’s news release on the measure: Smaller class sizes increase student achievement and improve working

BOSTON (AP) – Damian Lillard scored 21 of his 33 points in the second half and the Portland Trail Blazers beat Boston 97-92 on Wednesday night for the Celtics’ fourth straight loss. Maurice Harkless had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Jusef Nurkic scored 16 points, and CJ McCollum finished with 14 points for the Blazers,

A 35-year-old Warm Springs man pleaded guilty Wednesday in a Portland federal courtroom to to two counts of involuntary manslaughter in a 2017 crash that killed two people, as well as one count of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, federal prosecutors said. According to court documents, on Sept. 28, 2017, Harold Blackwolf

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon residents can expect an extra tax credit next year, thanks to a strong economy that’s left the state bringing in more earnings than economists anticipated. That’s according to the state’s Economic and Revenue Forecast, released on Wednesday. The report says Oregon will see $20.6 billion in revenues by the end

On Wednesday morning, downtown Sisters was a flurry of activity, despite the snowstorms that have made for challenging travel across the region and state. People walked the snow-covered sidewalks through town, many cars made their way through town and gas stations were hopping. NewsChannel 21 stopped by Hop and Brew to see how business has

As snow keeps piling up on our cars and streets, now might be the time to start thinking about the snow piling up on your roof. Roofing experts say the main thing to watch out for is the weight of the snow and ice on the roof. If you can get your hands on one,

Thanks in large part to community volunteers, as well as Council in Aging of Central Oregon staff, delivery of Meals on Wheels will resume on Thursday in Bend, La Pine and Sisters after several days of service interruption due to Central Oregon’s heavy snowstorm. Council on Aging staff have been checking on the well-being and