By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. — Oregon school districts will no longer be able to shorten the school year to cut costs, avoid layoffs and plug budget holes under a new executive order from the state’s governor. Gov. Tina Kotek presented the order to the State Board of Education at its monthly
Continue Reading
This article was written by Sabinna Pierre and Alma McCarty (KGW) OREGON, USA — Oregon officials said Tuesday they will appeal a federal court ruling that limits how the state’s Reproductive Health Equity Act can be applied, while emphasizing that current health coverage remains unchanged. Attorney General Dan Rayfield said the state will defend the law after a judge
Continue Reading
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Representative Janelle Bynum has requested nearly $10 million in federal funds for Central Oregon as Congress’ deadline for grant requests approaches for the 2027 budget cycle. This request includes $2.298 million specifically for the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office to acquire new body-worn cameras and a Taser package. The larger funding
Continue Reading
By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. — State education officials are considering a number of new ways to measure success in Oregon schools following a 2024 law meant to boost student performance and establish better accountability standards for districts. Oregon Education Department leaders shared new Statewide Performance Growth Targets on Monday in a
Continue Reading
The top four leading candidates for the Republican nomination in Oregon’s 2026 gubernatorial race are set to debate each other for the first time Thursday evening.
Continue Reading
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The final phase of the Wilson Avenue Corridor Project is scheduled to begin construction on Monday, April 27 – and that will mean months of closure of a stretch of highway for railroad track and signal replacement, city officials said Wednesday. This phase focuses on railroad improvements at the Wilson Avenue
Continue Reading
A federal judge in Oregon declared that a state law could not require the Keizer-based Oregon Right to Life organization to provide abortion insurance coverage for its employees, handing a seemingly narrow victory to the state’s leading anti-abortion advocacy group.
Continue Reading
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Fire & Rescue, in conjunction with the Central Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, announced Wednesday that outdoor debris burning in the area outside the city limits will close at the end of April for the Bend area. Outdoor debris burning will be open “as conditions allow” in the rural areas surrounding
Continue Reading
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — For the second straight year, the Latino Community Association will cancel its Latino Fest, a long-standing celebration of Latin American cultural diversity in Central Oregon, the organization announced Wednesday. “Because the festival is a public event in a public space, we cannot guarantee that attendees, performers, or vendors will be safe from racial profiling
Continue Reading
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon’s unemployment rate held steady at 5.2% in February, although the state’s workforce dropped by 5,400 jobs, the state Employment Department reported Wednesday,. That’s higher than the U.S. unemployment rate, which rose a bit in February to 4.4%, from 4.3% in January. Here’s the full Employment Department jobs report: In February,
Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KTVZ) — Senator Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., are raising concerns about reports that the Department of Health and Human Services plans to share its extensive child support database with immigration enforcement officials. The senators argue that disclosing this information would be unlawful and could expose vulnerable families, including victims
Continue Reading
WASHINGTON D.C. (KTVZ) Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden criticized President Donald Trump this morning on the Senate floor, citing a lack of preparedness for the upcoming wildfire season. Wyden warned that federal funding cuts to the Forest Service and other firefighting agencies, combined with historic low snowpack, could lead to a catastrophic wildfire season in the
Continue Reading
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Bend is reducing the size of its “Temporary Safe Stay Area,” known as “Dirtworld,” by half. This effort aims to be completed by June 1 and affects approximately 30 people remaining in the area slated for closure. The city intends to shrink the camp to mitigate fire risks,
Continue Reading
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — An annual national recertification event for the U.S. Forest Service Helicopter Rappel Program is slated to occur this week on the Deschutes National Forest west of Bend, adjacent to Forest Service Road 41. The event is scheduled to start next Tuesday, April 15, and run through at least Sunday, April 20,
Continue Reading
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend community members are being invited to participate in a design open house for the 2027 Neighborhood Street Safety Program projects. The open house will be held in person and online to share project information and gather public input. The open house will take place on Thursday April 23 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at
Continue Reading
By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. — President Donald Trump approved a disaster declaration for Oregon following winter storms that brought record rainfall and caused flooding, landslides and mudslides in eight counties. The decision announced in a news release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Saturday will allow individuals, nonprofits and state,
Continue Reading
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — In recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Central Oregon Multi-Agency Traffic Team will continue its focus on traffic safety throughout April with special patrols dedicated to distracted driving. The Central Oregon Multi-Agency Traffic Team, or MATT, features all six Deschutes County law enforcement agencies – the Bend Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office,
Continue Reading
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to increasing wildfire risk and the onset of an early wildfire season, Redmond fire & Rescue said Monday that all outdoor debris burning in the fire district will close at midnight on Thursday, April 30, and a burn ban will take effect. “Unseasonably warm and dry conditions, combined with declining fuel moisture,
Continue Reading
Like a child trying to find ways around a parent’s “no,” President Donald Trump is still trying to find ways to justify his tariffs after the Supreme Court in late February struck them down, Oregon’s top legal officer said.
Continue Reading
Bend Park and Recreation District is preparing to move some of its operations and planning staff into a new home and is seeking community help with a name. The approximately 5-acre site is located along Boyd Acres Road near Empire Avenue and will be used as the district’s newest operations and maintenance facility. The former
Continue Reading