Central Oregon Archives

Bend-area man gets 25-year sentence in 2020 killing of Bend couple; nephew awaits murder trial

April 2, 2026 6:18 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend-area man charged along with his nephew with murder and conspiracy in the 2020 deaths of a couple at their northeast Bend home has pleaded guilty to reduced manslaughter charges and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Kenneth Wayne Atkinson, now 61, and his nephew, Nathan Shane Detroit, now 35, were arrested on murder and conspiracy charges in October of 2021,

Spring powder delights visitors at Mt. Bachelor after tough winter

April 2, 2026 11:21 am Spencer Sacks

(Update: adding video, quotes from Mt. Bachelor Staff and mountain riders) MT. BACHELOR, Ore. (KTVZ) — Mount Bachelor received nearly 12 inches of snow over a 24-hour period as a winter storm continued to bring heavy accumulation to the mountain Thursday. An additional four to six inches of snow is expected to fall throughout the day before

Caution with chicks: Oregon health officials urge you not to give baby poultry as Easter gifts

April 2, 2026 5:28 pm Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – As Easter approaches and families plan holiday gatherings, the Oregon Health Authority is urging people not to buy chicks, ducklings or other baby poultry as gifts. Close contact with the cute and cuddly critters can make children ill from salmonella, which can sometimes be carried by chicks and the other Easter-themed animals,

Oregon’s new online service guides residents on safe burning practices

April 2, 2026 5:15 pm Triton Notary

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) Oregon fire protection partners launched a new digital tool to help residents prevent escaped debris burns, which officials identified as the leading cause of human-caused wildfires in the state. The “Before You Burn” service is available as both a website and a mobile application to provide residents with simple guidance on burning

Solar-powered new Redmond Library receives LEED ‘Platinum’ energy-efficiency certification

April 2, 2026 3:36 pm Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Redmond Library has formally received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification for its commitment to sustainability, Deschutes Public Library officials said Thursday. As a framework, LEED is the world’s most widely used green building rating system and provides a framework for assessing everything from energy and water use to materials selection and indoor air quality, the library district said in Thursday’s announcement,

There’s Good News: Bend Police Department and Officer Zachary Childers receive top Oregon DUII enforcement honors

April 2, 2026 2:26 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend Police Department announced Thursday that it’s been awarded the 2025 Enforcement Agency of the Year by the Oregon DUII Multi-Disciplinary Training Task Force. In addition, Bend Police Officer Zachary Childers was named the 2025 DUII Officer of the Year. Officer Childers has been a Bend officer since 2017 and in law enforcement for

Governor Kotek appoints Bend’s Ellen Waterston to a second term as Oregon’s poet laureate

April 2, 2026 1:51 pm Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek has appointed Ellen Waterston of Bend to a second term as Oregon’s poet laureate, Oregon Humanities announced Thursday. A celebrated poet/writer, educator and speaker who founded the Writing Ranch and the Waterston Desert Writing Prize, Waterston will serve a second two-year term, ending in August 2028. Waterston is

Update: COCC classified workers ‘resoundingly’ approve new contract, averting strike; will get raises up to 28%

April 1, 2026 3:46 pm Barney Lerten

More than 100 Central Oregon Community College classified workers “resoundingly” approved a new three-year contact Wednesday that includes raises of up to 28%, averting a first-ever strike that would have begun early Thursday, union leaders said.

Fire heavily damages La Pine home, no injuries; cause may be tied to bank of solar power batteries

April 1, 2026 5:31 pm Barney Lerten

La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A fire possibly tied to a battery bank from solar panels heavily damaged a La Pine home Wednesday afternoon, but no injuries were reported. The fire that began in the home’s laundry room and began to spread was reported around 12:15 p.m. in the 16000 block of Buena Vista Drive.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of C.O. Pinnacle Award

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon honored with national organization’s Pinnacle Award

April 1, 2026 2:52 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon announced Wednesday it has been named a 2025 Pinnacle Award winner for program excellence by the organization’s national leadership. The local agency is one of only five organizations chosen for the honor out of more than 230 agencies across the United States. The Pinnacle

Oregon adds 2,000 jobs to begin 2026, but 5.2% unemployment rate remains above U.S. figure

April 1, 2026 1:49 pm Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.2% in January and 5.3%, as revised, in December, the Oregon Employment Department reported Wednsday. That’s higher than the U.S. unemployment rate, which was 4.3% in January and 4.4% in December. Here’s the full report from the agency on where jobs were gained or lost as 2026

High Desert Stampede returns to Redmond with rodeo and entertainment

April 1, 2026 1:00 pm Claire Elmer

Update: KTVZ’s Claire Elmer spoke with some of the people who help make the High Desert Stampede possible. Tune in for more Thursday on KTVZ News at 4:00 p.m. REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The High Desert Stampede has returned for its ninth year at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond, Ore. The

David Clyne Madras interim city administrator

Amid ‘challenging times,’ Madras councilors appoint experienced interim city administrator David Clyne

April 1, 2026 12:50 pm Barney Lerten, Tyson Beauchemin

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Madras city councilors voted unanimously Tuesday evening to appoint David Clyne as new interim city administrator, expressing confidence in his abilities to help solve the city’s recent leadership struggles. The city’s employment agreement with Clyne, who most recently served as city administrator in Independence, Oregon, will be effective next Monday, April

Oregon DMV and ODOT warn of text message scam stealing drivers’ personal info

April 1, 2026 8:43 am Matthew Draxton

SALEM, ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon DMV issued a warning Wednesday regarding a text message phishing scam targeting drivers. The fraudulent messages falsely claim that recipients owe money for unpaid tolls, license suspensions or traffic violations. Scammers are sending these messages across the country to lure residents to fake

Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission Finalizes 2026 Recreational Trails Plan

April 1, 2026 8:16 am Matthew Draxton

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission approved the final 2026 Oregon Recreational Trails Plan during its February meeting. The 10-year plan establishes priorities for grant funding and outlines actions to improve non-motorized, motorized and water trails on public land across the state. The plan addresses emerging trends and issues facing the

Central Oregon Spring Break Blitz results in 13 DUII arrests, no fatal crashes

March 31, 2026 7:42 pm Triton Notary

DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) Central Oregon law enforcement agencies reported no fatal or serious-injury crashes during a three-day safety enforcement period that concluded Friday, March 27. The operation, known as the Spring Break Blitz, resulted in 13 arrests for driving under the influence of intoxicants and more than 550 traffic stops. The coordinated effort was

Sunriver-area woman, parents sentenced in severe abuse case; judge tells boy: ‘I’m sorry’

March 31, 2026 7:00 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After emotional statements by a now-11-year-old boy and the Sunriver-area woman accused of severely abusing and neglecting him, a Deschutes County judge sentenced Sarah Session on Tuesday to more than 17 years in prison. Her parents also now face prison and jail time. But first, Circuit Judge Alison Emerson, who convicted Session and her parents last month after a three-week trial, told her small,

Truck driver charged with manslaughter in deadly Highway 20 crash pleads not guilty; bail reduced

March 31, 2026 4:40 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A truck driver whose jackknifed rig on Highway 20 east of Bend caused a crash and the death of a newlywed couple has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree manslaughter and other charges. Deschutes County Circuit Judge Wells Ashby on Monday scheduled a Jan. 19, 2027 start for a nine-day jury trial of Rajinder Kumar, 32. The judge also set a Jan. 5 trial readiness

Bend leaders push for housing at all income levels as prices outpace wages

March 31, 2026 11:07 am Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As Bend’s population continues to climb, city leaders say the growing gap between housing costs and local incomes is becoming one of the community’s most pressing challenges. The city’s population has grown from about 74,000 in 2010 to more than 110,000 in 2026, according to city data and World Population Review.

Warm Springs Chief Delvis Heath Sr. remembered for decades of leadership

March 31, 2026 12:36 pm Barney Lerten, Harley Coldiron

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Gov. Tina Kotek ordered flags at Oregon public institutions to fly at half-staff Tuesday and Wednesday in honor of Warm Springs Chief Delvis Heath Sr., who passed away Sunday. The order applies to flags at all public institutions from sunrise to sunset. Tribal and State Leaders Pay Tribute Heath was one

Email:
Select all that apply: Morning News Headlines Daily Weather Forecast Breaking News Alert Afternoon Headlines Contests and Promotions