Update: Adding comments from Life Flight BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After 40 years and deep roots in Bend, a homegrown medical transport program founded by St. Charles is losing its longtime partnership with the very health system that created it, marking a significant shift in how patients will be moved across Central Oregon. A New
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CENTRAL OREGON, Ore. (KTVZ) — Thistle & Nest is offering $7.44 million in down payment assistance and an innovative land trust model to residents in Central Oregon. The program aims to help the local workforce transition from renting to owning by addressing financial barriers to homeownership. Opportunities are available in Bend, Madras and Prineville, providing
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — NAMI Central Oregon will host its Community Mental Health Awareness Walk on Sunday at 9 a.m. PT. The event will take place at Pioneer Park, located at 1525 NW Wall St in Bend. This 2-mile, wheelchair-accessible walk aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and support community mental health awareness.
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REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — What started in a garage in Eugene in 1999 with a salon owner, a chemist, and a dream has grown into a global company shipping products around the world — all while keeping every step of the process rooted in Central Oregon. Founded by husband-and-wife team Jim and Lezlie McConnell, Light
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Summer is quickly approaching, which means many are getting their boats ready for the season. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to get their boats inspected now for the 2026 season. There’s a boat inspection scheduled at Madras Marine on Saturday, May 16th from 9 a.m-1 p.m. You’ll need to
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) The Homeless Leadership Coalition announced a significant decrease in homelessness for Bend and the Central Oregon region, according to its 2026 Point in Time Count. The count, conducted from Jan. 27 through Feb. 2, found a 16% reduction in people experiencing homelessness in Bend. The broader Central Oregon region also experienced a
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — May is Wildfire Awareness Month and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is urging residents to take extra precautions to prevent the devastating consequences of human-caused wildfires. With more than 70% of Oregon wildfires stemming from human actions, ODF is emphasizing the importance of safe burning practices and introducing a new
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon law enforcement agencies are increasing patrols on local roadways. This initiative is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign. The campaign, which runs from May 11 through May 31 and includes Memorial Day Weekend, focuses on seat belt and child safety seat
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division has alerted employers to two active scams targeting businesses, with fraudulent callers attempting to steal money through misrepresentation. These scams involve individuals falsely claiming to represent Oregon OSHA or an affiliated consultation firm to extract payments from employers. Scammers are reportedly utilizing publicly searchable
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — According to Central Oregon Fire Info, the Pine Mountain Fire is now 100% contained at 2,589 acres as of Tuesday morning. The fire will transition back to the local unit tonight and a Type 4 Incident Commander will oversee the remaining operations including fire patrols and hazard identification and mitigation. “Visitors
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HINES, Ore. (KTVZ) — Happening now, with increasing temperatures and lower fuel moisture, the Malheur National Forest will move from a low to a moderate fire danger rating. The moderate fire danger rating went into effect this morning. When fire danger is “moderate”, it means that fires can start from most accidental causes, but number of fire
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CENTRAL OREGON (KTVZ) — New rules approved by Oregon regulators aimed at how utilities charge large energy users are expected to have implications beyond Portland General Electric, including for Central Oregon customers served by Pacific Power. The Oregon Public Utility Commission approved changes allowing Portland General Electric to charge higher rates to large energy users
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Six years ago, Oregon shoppers were forced to rethink a simple part of everyday life when the state banned single-use plastic bags. Grocery stores across the state shifted heavily to paper, and most customers adapted quickly. Now, another checkout change is catching shoppers off guard. Safeway, Albertsons, and Fred Meyer stores
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PORTLAND & SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — A growing wildfire threat is prompting new fire restrictions across Oregon, as parts of Central Oregon have already entered fire season weeks ahead of summer. Starting May 14, the Bureau of Land Management will ban fireworks, exploding targets, steel-core ammunition and other fire-starting materials on all BLM lands in
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Origins Project will present “Echoes of Eruption,” a multifaceted program exploring the Newberry Volcano through arts, sciences, and Indigenous living traditions. The event will take place June 25th and 26th, 2026, at the Tower Theatre in Bend. “Echoes of Eruption” marks the innovative arts and culture nonprofit’s first program
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CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — According to Crook County Fire and Rescue, outdoor debris pile burning closed on Saturday, May 9th. Summer burning regulations began the same day. The agency says burn barrels and personal warming fires are still allowed after Saturday’s closure on designated Restricted Burn Days in accordance with the Crook County Outdoor
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DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County residents are preparing for fire season this May as the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management rolls out a community-wide awareness campaign. A key part of this effort includes a countywide test of the Deschutes Alerts system, scheduled for May 13 at 1:00 p.m. The test aims
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Happening now, average gasoline prices in Oregon have risen 8.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $5.27 cents a gallon today, according to GasBuddy. Prices in Oregon are 30.4 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand $1.42 cents higher than a year ago. The national average price
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — ODOT crews are actively engaged in various road construction projects throughout Central Oregon, impacting traffic in Deschutes County, Sisters, Terrebonne and Redmond. Work includes sign footing installation, curb ramp construction, striping operations and multiple road closures, with specific schedules varying by location. Crews are installing sign footings on Powell Butte Highway
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WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Energy Trust of Oregon has partnered with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs over the last two years to complete more than 40 energy upgrade projects. These initiatives aim to address energy needs across the Warm Springs community, including improvements at High Lookee Lodge and the Warm Springs Fire and
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