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Central Oregon

Sensing Sasquatch High Desert Museum

‘Sensing Sasquatch’ exhibit at High Desert Museum receives special public history honor

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The High Desert Museum’s original exhibition Sensing Sasquatch has won the 2025 Autry Public History Prize, which recognizes exceptional work that contributes to a broader public reflection on and appreciation of the North American West. The prize was awarded to the High Desert Museum on October 17 at the annual Western History Association

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Fall bird migration raises risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza; local backyard poultry flock euthanized

Update: Adding video BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As wild birds begin to migrate during the transition into fall, the risk for transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to domestic birds will increase, as seen recently in five backyard poultry flocks, one in Deschutes County, the Oregon Department of Agriculture said Tuesday.    So far in

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Heart of Oregon Corps launches sprint to raise final funding for Youth Workforce Development Campus in Redmond

(Update: Adding video) REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Heart of Oregon Corps kicked off a major fourth-quarter sprint Tuesday to raise the final $1.67 million needed to build Central Oregon’s first Youth Workforce Development Campus in Redmond. The organization’s leadership, staff and board will invest more than 400 hours in a campaign through Dec. 31 that includes four

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Deschutes County is sending out this year’s property tax statements; here’s what to know

(Update: Adding video) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County is sending out 2025-2026 property tax statements this week. Property owners will receive their annual bills by mail or email if they signed up for e-statements, county officials said Tuesday. Here’s the county announcement: Property taxes provide vital funding for local government services like libraries, education and

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NeighborImpact Food Bank sign

‘Uncharted territory’: NeighborImpact prepares for possible local hunger surge due to halt in SNAP benefits

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — NeighborImpact said Tuesday it’s preparing for a potential surge in hunger across Central Oregon after the federal government announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits won’t be distributed in November, due to the federal government shutdown prompted, As the regional food bank serving Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties and the

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Oregon federal workers map

As shutdown hits 3-week mark, here’s a new look at the number of Oregon, local federal workers and their pay

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — With unemployment reports paused due to the 3-week-old federal government shutdown, Oregon Employment Department Regional Economist Nicole Ramos instead provided a look Tuesday at how many federal workers there are in the state and in Central Oregon, and their pay. Here’s that report: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suspended the

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Hikers in the Saddle Mountain State Natural Area

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department asks for public feedback on Recreational Trails Plan

OREGON (KTVZ) — The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is encouraging the public to provide feedback on the 2026 Oregon Recreational Trails Plan. The department said the plan outlines trends and issues, creates priorities for grant funding, and recommends actions to improve trails on public land in Oregon over the next 10 years. According to the

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Jefferson County Sheriff's Office patrol car

Jefferson County sheriff seeks to halt social media rumors of ICE raids, explains what officers were doing

(Update: Adding video, text of statement) MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jefferson County Sheriff Jason Pollock posted a statement on the agency’s Facebook page Monday evening, refuting rumors of immigration raids and saying the local officers, some in plainclothes, actually were part of a national domestic violence sweep. Here’s the full statement from the sheriff: Clarification

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Big Eddy prescribed burn SW of Bend

Ochoco National Forest plans prescribed burn in Maury Mountains and over a month of pile burning around the forest

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — If conditions are favorable on Wednesday, fire managers with the Ochoco National Forest plan to conduct more than 3,300 acres of prescribed burning operations in the Maury Mountains’ 2 burn unit. The burn unit is approximately 3,330 acres, located along Forest Service Road 16, about 16 miles southeast of Prineville and

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Prescribed burn Deschutes National Forest

Deschutes National Forest says it’s now hiring for wildland firefighter, other seasonal fire positions

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) —The Deschutes National Forest of the USDA Forest Service said Monday it is now hiring for several seasonal positions, including wildland firefighters and smokejumpers “We are looking for dedicated individuals to support fire operations. These seasonal positions are vital to wildfire preparedness and disaster response across federal and state agencies,” the forest said

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ONE on ONE: Rep. Janelle Bynum stops by KTVZ Studios to address major issues impacting Central Oregonians

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Democratic Congresswoman Janelle Bynum was in Central Oregon today attending day 2 of the Democratic Party of Oregon Summit.  She stopped by KTVZ studios to address major issues affecting Central Oregonians including the government shutdown, healthcare, and education. KTVZ’S Spencer Sacks asked Rep Bynum about the Government shutdown. Sacks asked, “We’re

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