Month: April 2019

Healthy Beginnings , the Central Oregon nonprofit that has been providing free comprehensive health and development assessments for children from 0-5 for 23 years, recently received a $102,000 grant from the Central Oregon Health Council . This investment will allow Healthy Beginnings to continue their efforts to expand their mission to not only care for

Community members are invited to meet four finalists for the principal position for Pacific Crest Middle School during a public presentation Thursday at 4 p.m. at Pacific Crest. Attendees will get a chance to see presentations from the candidates and interact with them. Finalist details: Lisa Birk is currently assistant principal at Pacific Crest Middle

(Update: Boy safe; father died of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound) A man who stabbed his estranged wife in Spokane Valley, Wash., on Tuesday and abducted his 5-year-old son, prompting an Amber Alert, released the boy at a home in St. John, 50 miles to the south, and fatally shot himself shortly thereafter, authorities said. Washington

Following community input and engineering analysis, the city of Bend announced Tuesday that the speed limit will be lowered this month on a stretch of Southwest Century Drive. City officials said the speed limit will be lowered on the following road section: · SW Century Drive between Mammoth Drive and Bend City limits near the

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A black Oregon lawmaker who had the police called on her while she was campaigning is now sponsoring a bill that would allow people in similar situations to sue the caller. The House voted 57-1 Tuesday to pass House Bill 3216, which would allow victims of those calls to file a

Happy Tuesday evening, everyone! Winds will stay breezy at times gusting around 25 miles per hour out of the northwest through the end of the evening. Overnight we’ll see winds still gusting around 10 miles per hour. Low temperatures will be more than 10 degrees above normal for many and we bottom out in the

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon House has moved to close a loophole that allowed domestic abusers to illegally hold on to their firearms. Lawmakers voted 43-15 Tuesday for stronger enforcement of a 2015 bill that prohibited those with domestic violence or stalking convictions from owning guns. House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson, who sponsored House

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – There have been almost 500 exonerations nationally based on DNA evidence of people wrongfully convicted of crimes, but none in Oregon, where the majority of post-conviction motions for DNA testing are denied by Oregon courts. On Tuesday, the Oregon Senate took a step toward lowering the barriers after it unanimously passed

Families of incoming kindergarteners are encouraged to register students for school starting Wednesday. Neighborhood schools will host events for families and students. Bend-La Pine Schools is planning for more than 1,200 new kindergarteners to start school in the fall of 2019. “This is a great opportunity for families of incoming kindergarteners to connect with our

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Lottery winners could remain anonymous under a bill making its way through the Oregon Legislature. The House voted 55-2 to approve House Bill 3389, which would shield the identities of those who win national lottery games. The Oregon State Lottery will not publicly disclose the name and address of prize winners

The City of Sisters is accepting applications for two “in-city” volunteer to serve on the Planning Commission. Both terms will begin on July 1; one appointment is for an 18-month term, and one appointment is for a four-year term. The Planning Commission’s purpose is to review major land use applications; advise the City Council on

(Update: Adding Sawyer case background; statement from Knopp) The Sawyer family lost Kaylee when she was killed by a Central Oregon Community College security guard – a man whose job it was to protect her – in the summer of 2016. Since that time, the Sawyer family has been on a journey to make sure

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) – The Washington Legislature has approved a measure to make daylight saving time permanent in the state – if federal law changes to allow it. The House approved changes made in the Senate on 90-6 vote Tuesday. The measure now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee. Florida passed a similarly conditional measure last

(Update: Bill passes on second vote) SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon House has moved forward with a ban on foam takeout containers, just one day after voting it down. Lawmakers voted 32-28 Tuesday to prohibit restaurants from providing containers made from polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam. The measure now goes to the Senate. The

(Update: Fugitive identified; another escape attempt; lengthy criminal history) An attempted traffic stop on Bend’s north end early Monday evening sparked a brief pursuit, extensive manhunt and emergency alert calls to area residents. Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said a K-9 tracking team caught the south county fugitive, convicted in numerous past chases and other crimes,

Central Oregon’s job situation was little changed in March, as hiring was fairly consistent with seasonal patterns and unemployment levels were little changed, the state Employment Department reported Tuesday. Here’s the breakdown, from Regional Economist Damon Runberg: Crook County: The unemployment rate rose slightly in March, to 6.5 percent from 6.3 percent in February. The

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Oregon set a record in 2018 for the number of criminal defendants who are so mentally ill they cannot stand trial. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Oregon State Hospital admissions data shows 718 defendants were made patients at the psychiatric facility last year under court orders to treat their mental illnesses until they

COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) – A police K-9 in southern Oregon is recovering after encountering a porcupine and getting stuck with over 200 quills. The Coos County Sheriff’s Office on Monday said Odin was called to the scene to track a suspect on Saturday when the dog crossed paths with the porcupine. Photos showed the

(Update: DCSO identifies climber; he was treated and released from hospital) A 24-year-old Smith Rock climber from Portland fell about 20 feet Monday morning, prompting a three-hour rescue effort and trip to the hospital for treatment, Redmond Fire officials said. Crews were called to the popular climbing area around 9:40 a.m. and assessed the male

Good Tuesday Morning, Everyone… A strong air flow out of the west will deliver a light and variable cloud cover to Central Oregon today. Under mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies we will see daytime highs reaching the upper 60’s to low 70’s. Westerly and NW breezes will pick up to 5-15 mph with gusts