Month: June 2019

Summer is here, and for Central Oregon, that means many people are taking advantage of the water for a wide variety of fun. Activities including tubing, paddleboarding and kayaking are heavily utilized. Last year, about 250,000 Deschutes River users floated between Memorial Day and Labor Day. But some changes are afoot. The Oregon Legislature has

Good Thursday Morning, Everyone… The system that brought thunderstorms and rain showers yesterday is moving off to the east and that will leave us under gradually clearing skies. Highs will be in the mid 80’s to low 90’s . NW winds will reach a gusty 5 -15 mph . Skies will stay fairly clear tonight.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Portland has launched a program to distribute portable toilets in order to reduce cleanup costs and improve public health and hygiene. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Tuesday that Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler proposed the Hygiene Street Response initiative after receiving numerous complaints about human feces in public places. Wheeler says that beyond cleanliness,

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., said at a hearing Wednesday that Congress must ensure that patients are protected from surprise medical billing. During an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on Walden’s draft version of the No Surprises Act, Walden recalled horror stories of patients who follow the rules and yet “to no fault of their own,

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Angus King, I-Maine, Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Jack Reed, D-R.I., reintroduced legislation Wednesday to increase domestic production of low-carbon, renewable energy from the natural power in ocean waves, tides and currents. The Marine Energy Research and Development Act provides federal resources to encourage private investments in renewable energy

The Oregon House voted unanimously Wednesday to support two bills that would expand educational opportunity and connect veterans with apprenticeship opportunities, supporters said. “To the individuals who serve our country, we owe it to them open up opportunity,” said Rep. Paul Evans (D-Salem) who carried the bills on the House floor. “Whether it is helping

After years of off-and-on algae alerts that confused summer visitors and frustrated businesses, the Oregon Health Authority is trying something new at Lake Billy Chinook: a summer-long “precautionary seasonal recreational use health advisory,” advising water users to always be careful and watch for algae blooms but otherwise enjoy themselves, in or out of the water.

SEATTLE (AP) – Areas of western Washington and Oregon, including Seattle and Portland have broken heat records for the second day in a row. The National Weather Service says the temperature hit 95 degrees at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Wednesday, beating the previous June 12 record of 85 degrees. On Tuesday, Sea-Tac reached 87, three

(Update: More info from police; no number on shots fired) An 18-year-old Bend resident was arrested Tuesday on several charges, accused of firing a stolen shotgun several times out the window of an SUV traveling on Highway 97 north of Bend, as well as one shot that partially amputated several fingers of a fellow passenger,

The American Red Cross is urging blood and platelet donors to fill the missing types this summer by making an appointment to give blood and help ensure blood is available for patients. Local donors can do their part to fill the missing types at the Red Cross Central and Eastern Oregon Board blood drive on

Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced four bills Wednesday to have the federal government help the public, businesses and agricultural operations combat the effects of wildfire smoke and recover from the damage it causes. They are called the Smoke-Ready Communities Act, the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act, the Farmworker Smoke Protection Act, and

Happy Wednesday evening, everyone! Tonight we’ll see some more thunderstorms across Central Oregon. The chance extends through midnight tonight, but most of the storms will move to the east. Overnight we’ll see partly cloudy skies with calmer winds. Low temperatures will be in the low to mid 50s, which is well above average. Thursday will

Wildfires are getting bigger, lasting longer and happening more often in Oregon and across the western United States. In addition to the immediate harm from the fire itself, hazardous smoke travels well beyond the fire lines, putting people and businesses at risk. “Smoke has become a more significant workplace risk as wildfires are larger and

St. Charles Bend said Wednesday it has received an award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association recognizing its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, based on the latest scientific evidence. The hospital earned the Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for

(Correction: NBC Nightly News airs at 4:30 p.m.) With Game 7 of the National Hockey League Stanley Cup airing at 5 p.m. tonight on NewsChannel 21, our 4 p.m. newscast will be simulcast on Fox and KTVZ. In addition, our 6 p.m. hour-long NewsChannel 21 broadcast will air on Fox ( KFXO ), instead of

(Update: Missing Redmond man found; correcting scene of disappearance – Pendleton, not La Grande) A 74-year-old Redmond man reported missing Tuesday evening after driving away from a Pendleton Walmart parking lot was stopped in nearby Gilliam County and later reunited with his family, authorities said. Police in Eastern Oregon had been advised to be on

A bill that supporters say will give greater voice to underrepresented populations in local elections won unanimous approval Wednesday by the Oregon Senate and now goes to Gov. Kate Brown’s desk for her signature. The Oregon Voting Rights Act – House Bill 3310 – passed the Senate on an 28-0 vote. The bipartisan legislation –

Since scientists first determined that atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) was significantly lower during ice age periods than warm phases, they have sought to discover why, theorizing that it may be a function of ocean circulation, sea ice, iron-laden dust or temperature. Yet no computer model based on existing evidence has been able to

ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) – A woman who was deported to Mexico after posting bail at the Douglas County Jail has sued that county’s sheriff, alleging he violated her rights when he held her for federal immigration authorities after she had posted bail. Oregon Public Broadcasting reported Wednesday that Irene Lopez-Flores was arrested on allegations of

St. Charles Foundation recently granted the Family Access Network (FAN) $10,000 to connect children and families to essential resources in Deschutes and Crook counties. It only costs $100 to provide one child with vital FAN services for the entire school year. These funds will ensure that 100 disadvantaged children and their family members living in