Central Oregon Archives

City of Redmond issues call for artists for exhibit of paintings to honor America’s 250th birthday

March 26, 2026 5:40 pm Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Redmond’s Commission for Art in Public Places announced Thursday a call for Oregon artists to submit digital images of original two-dimensional paintings for an art display at Centennial Park that will honor America’s 250th birthday. The selected artworks will be enlarged into 5-by-5-foot Aluminum Composite Material panels and displayed outdoors for about two

Redmond man arrested and indicted on child sex abuse charges following DCSO investigation

March 26, 2026 9:53 am KTVZ - News Team

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 23-year-old Redmond man was indicted by a Deschutes County grand jury this week6 on 20 felony counts related to the sharing of illegal child sexual abuse material. Gelsyn Yahir Hernandez also faces a misdemeanor charge involving the sexual assault of an animal. The investigation began in December 2025 when the

Crook County Democrats schedule ‘No Kings’ protest for March 28th

March 25, 2026 7:20 pm KTVZ - News Team

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) President Trump’s administration is facing mounting criticism as masked agents are deployed in American streets, targeting immigrant families and sparking concerns over election integrity and public safety. Amid accusations of profiling and detentions without warrants, a rally in Prineville is scheduled this weekend. The rally takes place in Pioneer Park on March

Snowpack Shortfall: What a dry winter means for Central Oregon water supply

March 25, 2026 1:56 pm Tracee Tuesday

DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon is experiencing one of its driest winters in more than 30 years, leaving the basin with a snowpack that is only 11% of its average. The low levels are expected to cause water curtailments for farmers, river levels, and water users throughout the region this summer. The dismal

The Cowsills to perform benefit concert for Jefferson County Historical Museum project

March 25, 2026 11:58 am Claire Elmer

(Update: adding comments from Paul Cowsill and board member of historical society) MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A classic American pop-rock group is heading to Central Oregon, but their upcoming concert is about more than just music — it’s part of a community push to bring a long-awaited historical museum to life. In Jefferson County, history

City of Madras addresses area behind Madras Homeless Shelter

City Of Madras confronts conditions behind Madras Homeless Shelter, implements camping ordinance & clean up

March 25, 2026 10:15 am KTVZ - News Team

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Happening now, The City of Madras staff are confronting conditions in the area behind the Madras Homeless Shelter. The City emphasized the implementation of its camping ordinance, as well as balancing enforcement with respect, and public access and safety. The City of Madras shared the below message via its Facebook account.

Oregon gas prices hit record high, nearing $5 per gallon

March 24, 2026 2:35 pm Harley Coldiron

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Gas prices continue to soar due to the Iran conflict, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, Middle East energy infrastructure damage, and seasonal factors like refinery maintenance and the switch to summer-blend fuel. Both national and Oregon averages for regular gas have risen about $1 per gallon since the conflict started

PIE Fest 2026: $69,000 donated to Central Oregon nonprofits by business members

March 24, 2026 2:12 pm KTVZ - News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The business membership program Purpose in Expenses distributed nearly $69,000 to Central Oregon nonprofits during a community celebration on March 13 in Bend. The event, known as PIE Fest 2026, brought together business owners and nonprofit leaders for live check presentations. The gathering marked the sixth year of the program’s partnership

Crook County Foundation Scholarship Applications open now. Pictured: Prineville.

Crook County Foundation Scholarship Applications open, CCHS seniors & those seeking higher education eligible to apply

March 24, 2026 9:26 am KTVZ - News Team

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Crook County Foundation opened its 2026 Scholarship Applications on March 16th, offering funding opportunities for local students pursuing higher education. Graduating Crook County High School seniors and current students continuing or returning to higher education have until April 17th, 2026, to submit their applications. The Prineville-based organization is looking to

Oregon sends 21 firefighters to North Carolina for wildfire assistance

March 23, 2026 7:09 pm Triton Notary

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) The Oregon Department of Forestry deployed 21 firefighters and one agency representative to North Carolina over the weekend. The deployment was made under state-to-state mutual aid agreements to assist with regional fire management efforts. These agreements, along with the Northwest Compact, allow fire management organizations to share resources and create a more

Care for the Land ‘Spring Trash Bash’ set for May 30th in Central Oregon

March 23, 2026 10:25 am Kelsey Merison

CABIN BUTTE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Discover Your Northwest will host the first annual Care for the Land ‘Spring Trash Bash’ on May 30th in the Cabin Butte National Forest Closure Area. The community cleanup event is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event, part of the Care for the Land program,

Oregon Community Foundation expands leadership team with three key appointments

March 23, 2026 9:33 am Matthew Draxton

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Community Foundation has appointed three new leaders to executive and advisory positions to support the organization’s recent growth. The hires include a vice president for corporate finance and accounting, a director of culturally responsive programs and a senior adviser for community development finance. These newly created roles are designed

Thousands of Oregon students attend FFA convention in Redmond

March 21, 2026 5:44 pm Spencer Sacks

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Approximately 4,000 high school students from across the state gathered at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond this weekend for the Oregon Future Farmers of America State Convention. The annual event provides resources and training for the next generation of leaders in the agricultural industry. The convention arrives as the number

UPDATE: Gas leak, backfire sparked destructive Tumalo shop fire

March 20, 2026 8:33 pm Spencer Sacks

UPDATE: TUMALO, Ore. (KTVZ) — An accidental fire caused by a vehicle backfire destroyed a 1,600-square-foot shop and several vehicles in Tumalo Friday evening, resulting in $220,000 in estimated damages. The blaze occurred at 65425 76th Street and was sparked by a fuel leak. Investigators determined the fire was accidental in nature, originating from a

High Desert Latinx culture celebrated at COCC’s inaugural soccer event

March 20, 2026 7:13 pm Campbell Porter

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) Central Oregon Community College and Oregon State University-Cascades will host the inaugural “La Copa del High Desert” soccer match and Latinx cultural celebration on Sunday, April 12. The event will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the COCC Bend campus. Organized by the COCC Latinx program, the event is

3rd annual "An Unforgettable Experience" fundraiser

“An Unforgettable Experience”: Changing Patterns to host 3rd annual incarceration re-entry simulation fundraiser

March 20, 2026 9:18 am KTVZ - News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — “What would you need to successfully navigate life after incarceration?” is a question that Changing Patterns’ 3rd annual fundraiser, “An Unforgettable Experience,” will ask. Finding housing, a job, transportation and a support system are all part of the interactive Re-entry Simulation that will take place at Aspen Hall on Saturday, April 11.

Central Oregon Wildfire Educators Group to hold series of Wildfire Preparedness Fairs

March 20, 2026 7:47 am KTVZ - News Team

CENTRAL OREGON (KTVZ) — The Central Oregon Wildfire Educators Group is launching a series of regional preparedness fairs starting in April 2026. These events highlight the group’s ongoing efforts to provide unified education on how to live safely in fire-adapted communities. Established in 2022 as part of the Central Oregon Fire Prevention Co-Op, the organization

Cycle Oregon’s Summer Kids Bike Camp expanding to Bend

March 19, 2026 9:17 pm Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) Cycle Oregon is expanding its Summer Kids Bike Camp to serve children in Portland, Hillsboro and Bend for the 2026 season. The week-long day camps are designed for young riders ages 8 to 12. The expansion follows a pilot program conducted in 2025. The camp is led by the team behind Jump

UPDATE: Senator Jeff Merkley postponed upcoming Sisters, Prineville and Madras town halls

March 13, 2026 1:30 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley postponed his town hall tour in Klamath, Lake, Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties this weekend. The Senator told KTVZ News, “Because of a change in the U.S. Senate voting schedule, all town halls scheduled for Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21 have been postponed. An updated

Think Wild, Cascadia Wild partner to expand volunteer wildlife tracking in Central Oregon

March 19, 2026 6:45 pm Campbell Porter

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Think Wild and Cascadia Wild have partnered to expand rare carnivore monitoring efforts in Central Oregon through volunteer-powered community science. The program will deploy trained volunteers to the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests to track wolverines, wolves and other sensitive species. The initiative builds on Cascadia Wild’s Wolverine Tracking Project, which

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