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Deschutes County

Sisters-area fire districts remind residents that open burning remains closed as fire danger lingers

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to the lack of significant rainfall and continued warm temperatures, open burning within the Black Butte Ranch, Cloverdale and Sisters-Camp Sherman fire districts remains closed as of Thursday, officials reminded. Central Oregon fire chiefs and partner agencies will meet again in mid-October to re-evaluate conditions and may open burning towards

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Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang appointed to Oregon Transportation Commission

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Phil Chang, a Deschutes County commissioner with a long career in natural resources management, is joining the Oregon Transportation Commission.  The Oregon Senate confirmed Governor Tina Kotek’s appointment of Chang to the five-member body on Wednesday, Sept. 25.  “We’re fortunate to have someone with Phil’s experience and insight join the Commission,”

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Deschutes County commissioners vote 2-1 to adopt revised 2040 Comprehensive Plan

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Following 2 1/2 years of extensive community outreach and plan development, the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday voted 2-1 to adopt a revised version of the Deschutes County 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Patti Adair and Commissioner Tony DeBone voted “Yes” to approve the revised plan, Commissioner Phil Chang voted “No.” The

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State Rep. Emerson Levy, challenger Keri Lopez face off on issues from schools to abortion, housing in KTVZ debate

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregon House District 53 Democratic incumbent Emerson Levy and Republican challenger Keri Lopez faced off on a variety of issues in Monday night’s live Decision 2024 debate on NewsChannel 21, with Levy pointing to progress she’s made and Lopez saying she’d help restore needed balance in Salem. Lopez, a two-term Redmond

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Deschutes County reminder: Political signs are prohibited in county road rights of way; state highways, too

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As the Nov. 5 General Election approaches, the Deschutes County Road Department is reminding political campaigns and their supporters that political signs placed within a county road right of way will be removed. “Deschutes County Code prohibits the posting of political signs in the county road right of way for the

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Little Lava Fire holds at 11,225 acres; Bachelor Complex 50% contained; Red Fire near Crescent Lake tops 2,000 acres

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Bachelor Complex, including the Little Lava Fire, held at 50% containment this weekend, with no change in acreage reported, while the Red Fire near Crescent Lake has grown to over 2,000 acres but still 11% contained officials said Sunday. The complex consists of about 30 fires sparked by lightning Sept.

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Central Oregon has seen 325 wildfires this year, burning 550,000 acres; 2 new fires near Madras, Tumalo stopped small

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Central Oregon has seen about 325 wildfires this year that have burned over 550,000 acres, the region’s fire officials said Saturday – and fire season isn’t over, as two fires, each stopped at about two acres near Tumalo and Madras, made clear. Saturday’s first blaze was a brush fire reported around

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Central Oregon’s inaugural Food Safety and Sustainability Summit set for October 15th

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County Health Services, the Central Oregon Community College Cascade Culinary Institute and partners invite the community to attend the inaugural Food Safety and Sustainability Summit in October. During the event, kitchen managers and community members will learn about a variety of topics, including food insecurity, the main risk factors leading

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Deschutes County Community Justice officer named Juvenile Justice Professional of the Year

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County Community Justice Officer Andrea Abramson has been selected as the 2024 Juvenile Justice Professional of the Year for the Central and Eastern Oregon region by the Oregon Juvenile Department Directors’ Association. Abramson has worked in the county’s Juvenile Department for more than 30 years. She carries a full case

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They’re back: Redmond Police warn of imposter call scam; Deschutes County SO warns of ‘jury duty’ scam

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Redmond Police Department alerted the public on Tuesday about a familiar scam in which a person is representing themselves as a Redmond police officer. The caller specifically claims to be Sergeant Gautney, and is contacting individuals regarding “an urgent legal matter,” Lieutenant Eric Beckwith said. He said the contact has

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Merkley, Wyden: $1.62 million headed to Smith Rock State Park for new welcome center, other improvements

(Update: Adding expected project timeline) WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Tuesday that the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is receiving a Land and Water Conservation grant of $1,628,498 to help develop a new welcome center and make other improvements to boost the visitor experience at Smith Rock State Park. The

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‘Know Horror’ this spooky October at a variety of events, programs and activities at the Deschutes Public Library

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Prepare for spine-chilling thrills as the Deschutes Public Library delves into eerie delights, frightful films and youthful child’s play for “Know Horror” this October. Create haunting imagery in a macabre poetry workshop and use India ink to create a creepy forest painting. Screen a 1922 highly influential silent film and explore

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Central Oregon jobless rates hold steady in August; some job losses reported

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — All three Central Oregon counties saw little to no change in their seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August, with marginally higher rates year-over-year, the Oregon Employment Department reported Tuesday. Crook County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased over the month of August and is now 5.8%, down from 6.0% in July—in

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Mtn. View senior Eli Hogan not only won Deschutes County’s ‘I Voted’ sticker contest – he registered to vote, too

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison on Monday recognized Mountain View High School senior Eli Hogan as the winner of the  “I Voted” Sticker Contest for the 2024 General Election. And the soon-to-be 18-year-old also took the occasion to register to vote for the first time. Eli’s winning entry was chosen from six

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Two-week-old, lightning-sparked Bachelor Complex, Flat Top and Firestone fires returning to local oversight

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Two weeks after a rash of lightning-sparked wildfires around the region, there were new signs of progress Sunday, as the three largest remaining blazes on the Deschutes National Forest are returning to local management. Officials said command of the Bachelor Complex would transition at 6 p.m. Sunday from the Northwest Complex

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Warmer, windier conditions on C.O. wildfires put up smoke but help to firm up containment lines; Highway 126 fully reopens

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon firefighters saw more progress Friday in containing the remaining large wildfires in the region, despite some warmer and windier conditions that burned more fuel within the fire perimeters, officials said Saturday. Another sign of progress came Friday at 6 p.m., when Highway 126 west of Sisters and south of

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