Month: February 2019

(Update: NWS extends winter storm warnings to early Thursday; all school districts, COCC, OSU-Cascades again closed) Plows, shovels, snowblowers and the like were the tools of the trade Tuesday in the big dig-out from the record Central Oregon snowfall that closed schools for a second day. And with more snow falling — possibly a foot

City of Bend officials say they’ll have plowed through each of the 850 miles of roads in Bend by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. Twelve city crews and 18 hired contractors have been working around the clock for the past 48 hours to clear the roads of snow. City crews were focusing on main roads

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., made the following initial statement at Tuesday’s hearing with pharmaceutical companies’ about rising drug prices: (You can watch it at https://youtu.be/MaF-69GGOsU) Prescription drugs did not become outrageously expensive by accident. It’s not the result of a system too complicated for Americans to comprehend. Drug prices are astronomically high because that’s where

As part of Cascades East Transit’s 2040 Transit Master Plan, six community open house events will be held throughout Central Oregon in March. This second round of open houses will to collect input from residents to help prioritize near-term transit expansion projects. Information about CET’s 2040 Transit Master Plan can be found at www.CETTransitPlan.com. Andrea

Bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., to better protect Crooked River Ranch from wildfire is part of major public lands legislation that won House approval on Tuesday and is headed to President Trump’s desk. Walden said his Crooked River Ranch Fire Protection Act (H.R. 524) will allow for needed management of the fire

Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Tina Smith , D-Minn, on Tuesday introduced the Residential Rent-to-Own Protection Act , legislation they said would create a safe, viable pathway to homeownership by reforming traditionally predatory rent-to-own housing contracts, also called land contracts or contracts-for-deed. Here’s a news release from Merkley: “Rent-to-own housing agreements could provide access to

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Two men suspected in crimes across several Western states, including a deadly carjacking in Colorado, have been charged in an alleged bank robbery in Park City, Utah. Federal prosecutors say in charges filed Monday that 30-year-old Matthew Anthony Fanelli pulled a gun on a bank teller Friday and stole $2,000

The Oregon Department of Transportation said Tuesday its crews and contractors have opened a “lifeline” route to the town of Oakridge in Lane County, where residents have been without power and cut off from the outside world after a powerful winter storm toppled dozens of trees Sunday and closed state Highway 58. In a Tuesday

Good evening Central Oregon! More snow on the way for the High Desert overnight and Wednesday! With more snow expected, the Winter Storm Warning that’s in place has been extended until Thursday morning. We are starting to see snow showers develop this afternoon and they look to stick around through the night and into the

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A railroad trestle trains use to cross the Columbia River from Oregon to Washington state was shut down after fire erupted. That means all train traffic – including Amtrak and Union Pacific trains – are stopped. KOIN reports that heavy smoke billowed from a fire on the span in north Portland

The city of Bend offered some advice Tuesday on downtown parking as crews work to remove the heavy snowfall. Here’s the city’s announcement: We encourage people to park in angled stalls where available downtown along all streets. If the stalls are not plowed out and your vehicle does not fit an unplowed stall, please find

A Prineville-area man shot and killed his 70-year-old father, then his 11-year-old son before taking his own life. Their bodies were found last Thursday at the home they shared, Crook County Sheriff John Gautney said Monday. “Once the next-of-kin notifications were complete and family members was able to travel to Prineville to positively identify the

An electrical fire in the attic caused more than $15,000 damage to a southeast Bend home Monday night, officials said. The fire was reported around 8:30 p.m. in the 21000 block of Reed Market Road, Bend Fire Capt. Mike King said. Crews arrived to find light smoke coming from the attic gable vent and after

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A Portland jury has awarded $15 million to a woman whose leg was severed by a MAX light rail train as she tried to run across the tracks to catch a train on the other side. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the amount awarded Monday could be reduced under various Oregon laws applying

The Bend Park and Recreation District said it will keep all recreation facilities closed on Tuesday, Feb. 26 due to the snowy weather impacts. This includes Juniper Swim & Fitness Center, The Pavilion, Bend Senior Center, District Office and Art Station. School-based programs, including Kids Inc. and sports games and practices, are canceled as well.

(Update: Airport flights canceled until Wednesday AM) Redmond Municipal Airport announced Tuesday that its reopening has been pushed back to Wednesday morning after heavy snowfall damaged a navigational aid system. RDM officials had intended to reopen at noon Tuesday after a day-long closure. But airport officials said the Instrument Landing System (ILS), equipment owned and

Good Tuesday Morning, Everyone…While we will remain cold today, we do get to enjoy a modest break before the next winter storm system rolls in. Highs will be in the 20’s and under cloudy skies, northerly breezes will be gentle at 5-10 mph. Most areas will see some snow showers start to settle in during

CLEVELAND (AP) – CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard made sure Portland didn’t turn an easy win into a crushing loss. McCollum scored 35 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, and Lillard hit two crucial 3-pointers down the stretch as the Trail Blazers hung on to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 123-110 on Monday night. The

Due to continuing inclement weather and priority for safe transportation during hazardous road conditions, Cascades East Transit will operate on a modified schedule for Tuesday as follows: Bend Fixed Route and Dial-A-Ride services will operate from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm (see schedule below) Community Connector services and rural Dial-A-Ride will operate on a modified

By tapping nutrients from bedrock, red alder trees play a key role in healthy forest ecosystems, according to a new study. The study was published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers from Oregon State University and the U.S. Geological Survey determined red alder, through its symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing