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Tina Kotek and Christine Drazan clash over data centers in Medford debate

Tina Kotek and Christine Drazan clash over data centers in Medford debate

MEDFORD, Ore. (KTVZ) — Democratic Governor Tina Kotek and Republican State Senator Christine Drazan faced off Wednesdayย night in an Oregonย Gubernatorial debate. The debate was hosted by our Medford affiliate, KOBI, and Southern Oregon University.ย  The candidates answered questions on a range of topics, including education, healthcare, and abortion. They were also asked about homelessness, snap

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FEMA Delivers $9 Million to Help Fire and First Responder Organizations in Oregon, Idaho and Washington

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded more than $9 million in grant funding this week to fire departments and first responder organizations across Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The funding is designed to help local organizations obtain the staff, equipment and operational support needed for emergency response and firefighter safety. The latest

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Oregon delegation urges Trump administration to end expedited immigration hearings

(KTVZ) — Members of Oregon’s congressional delegation sent a letter to Trump administration officials today demanding an end to expedited โ€œmega masterโ€ immigration hearings. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Reps. Janelle Bynum, Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle and Maxine Dexter, stated that fast-tracked court proceedings process hundreds of immigrant

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Central Oregon receives $100,000 in federal awards for wildfire recovery

CENTRAL OREGON (KTVZ) — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, alongside U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, announced $100,000 in federal awards to support wildfire recovery efforts and aid displaced residents in Central Oregon. The funding targets communities recovering from destructive wildfires that struck the region in July 2026. The funding is awarded through the NeighborWorks

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Insurance protections for Oregon wildfire regions extended for 30 days

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation has extended its wildfire emergency order and bulletin for a second 30-day period, maintaining insurance protections for affected residents through October 29th. The extension mandates that property and casualty insurance companies take proactive steps to safeguard policyholders in designated wildfire regions across the state. Regulators

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Rep. Janelle Bynum leads request to Congress for formal review of EPA’s microplastics regulation

(Update: adding Rep. Janelle Bynum lead request) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Oregon, and two other congressional lawmakers led a group of 24 members of Congress today in requesting a formal review of the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to study and regulate microplastics in drinking water and ecosystems. Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Oregon, Rep.

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Oregon sets 10% maximum allowable rent increase for calendar year 2027, up from 2026

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Today, The Oregon Department of Administrative Services published the maximum allowable rent increase percentages for calendar year 2027. The maximum allowable rent increase percentage for tenancies subject to ORS 90.324(b) is set at 10%. The annual announcement complies with state law under ORS 90.324. According to the Oregon Department of Administrative

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Update: Oregon Attorney Generalโ€™s Office Responds to Rep. Yunkerโ€™s Inquiry

Update: The Oregon Attorney Generalโ€™s Office has provided this statement concerning Rep. Yunkerโ€™s letter: โ€œFor the past year and a half, the Oregon Department of Justice has successfully protected nearly $7 billion in federal funding for critical services that Oregon families and communities depend on, includingย funding for education, disaster preparedness, emergency infrastructure, andโ€”notablyโ€”millions of dollars

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Sen. Jeff Merkley calls for FDA-style federal oversight of AI safety

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Right now, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley is calling for more federal oversight of artificial intelligence. Senator Merkley says experts heard during a recent briefing recommended creating a regulatory agency similar to the FDA. “You need the equivalent of FDA controlling new drugs,” Senator Merkley said Wednesday. “In this case, you’re really

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Congress considers Protect College Sports Act to regulate NIL and transfers

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Members of Congress are considering federal legislation to establish regulations for college student-athlete compensation and transfer rules. The proposed measure, known as the Protect College Sports Act, comes amid growing debate over how money and transfers are handled across college athletics. Since 2021, college athletes have been permitted to earn compensation

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