SALEM, Ore. — Oregon’s public defense crisis is showing signs of improvement, with the number of defendants waiting for an attorney dropping 66% over the past year, according to Governor Tina Kotek. When Kotek appointed Ken Sanchagrin to lead the Oregon Public Defense Commission in April 2025, more than 4,000 defendants statewide were without legal
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has ordered all flags at public institutions across the state to fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Friday, September 11, 2026. The order marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The directive commemorates the nearly 3,000 civilians and first responders killed
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon employers would pay an average of 92 cents per $100 of payroll for workers’ compensation coverage in 2027 under a proposal announced today by the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. The proposal includes an average 2.1% increase in the pure premium rate, marking the second-lowest rate on record
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — At approximately 9:45pm Redmond Fire & Rescue crews responded to the undeveloped land east of Redmond for a reported RV fire. Upon arrival crews extinguished a fully involved RV fire that spread to two trees and a pile of rubbish. Three brush engines and one Battalion Chief responded with 9 personnel
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced Wednesday that the state is filing two lawsuits against federal environmental agencies over rule changes that weaken protections under the Endangered Species Act. The legal actions, supported by Gov. Tina Kotek, challenge regulations issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — PODER, Oregon’s Latino Leadership Network, will host its 17th annual Hispanic Heritage Month Breakfast & Summit on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, at the Salem Convention Center in Salem, Ore. The theme for this year’s event is “Built on Hope. Carried Forward by Community,” which focuses on honoring past generations while supporting
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(Update: adding video, comments from intern, fire chief) CROOKED RIVER RANCH, Ore. (KTVZ) — A grant is helping Crooked River Ranch Fire & Rescue complete work that Chief Sean Hartley says can be difficult for a small district to fit between emergency calls: maintaining a consistent connection with the community. The district received a $3,000
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — PacifiCorp, the parent company of Pacific Power, has narrowed its options for a major transmission project through Central and Southern Oregon, identifying preliminary preferred routes for both the main power line and an associated connection east of Bend. The proposed Blueprint South project would include an approximately 180-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Fire officials in Central Oregon will reduce public use fire restrictions to Stage 1 starting at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. The decision follows recent moisture and cooler temperatures across the region. The reduction applies to the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland and Prineville
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The High Desert Museum in Bend, Ore., recognized National Wildlife Day on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, highlighting its ongoing care for more than 100 ambassador animals. The occasion coincides with the one-year anniversary of the museum receiving accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Opened in 1982, the museum operates
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — This week’s Pet Pals visited the Humane Society of Central Oregon to meet Remy, an eight-year-old dog who has been waiting for a new home since Aug. 3.Shelter staff describe Remy as house-trained, comfortable on a leash and previously happy living with cats. She may be shy and quiet at first,
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNN) — A former Labor Secretary with ties to Oregon is under fire from the Labor Department’s internal watchdog. A new 40-page report says Lori Chavez-Deremer spent public money on personal travel and tolerated harassment. It also found she had an inappropriate relationship with a member of her security detail. More than three
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bureau of Land Management issued a warning Friday ahead of Labor Day weekend that wildfire season is far from over across Oregon and Washington. More than 2.5 million acres have already burned across the Northwest in 2026 during an exceptionally active fire season. While temperatures may begin to cool and
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Sisters Ranger District will host a public meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, to share updates on local vegetation management projects and recovery plans following the Akawa Butte Fire. The meeting will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Sisters Ranger District office, located at 201 North Pine St.
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Nonprofit organization Discover Your Northwest will host the Care for the Land Fall Trash Bash community cleanup near La Pine State Park in the Deschutes National Forest on Sept. 26, 2026. The volunteer event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in celebration of National Public Lands Day. The cleanup
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — City and county officials alongside clean transportation advocates will gather in Bend on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, to highlight the financial and environmental benefits of clean cars, hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles. The event comes as gasoline prices in Bend average nearly $4.90 per gallon. The event is scheduled for 2
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The federal government petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday to lift an order blocking a new U.S. Postal Service mail ballot rule. The emergency petition comes as a federal court considers whether to issue a preliminary injunction that would keep the regulation on hold during ongoing litigation. Oregon Attorney General Dan
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read met with Central Oregon residents during an hourlong event hosted by the League of Women Voters of Deschutes County to discuss election security, voting options and ballot handling. The presentation took place as the upcoming election approaches, approximately 61 days away. The Bend gathering was
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Bend, Ore. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office released annual report highlights today for the Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth program, showing continued growth in mentoring relationships for children with justice-involved family members. Based in Bend, Ore., the COPY program formed 16 new mentor matches and supported 34 total active matches during the 2025–2026 reporting period.
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CENTRAL OREGON — From early heat and limited water to fields still producing strawberries and pumpkins, harvest season is telling a different story from one Central Oregon farm to the next.At Sakari Farms, farm manager Sam Schreiner said this growing season has been tougher than most. Heat arrived early and persisted, while water availability remained
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