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Government-Politics

Ochoco National Forest expands Maury Mountains closure area due to increased Wiley Flat Fire activity

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — In coordination with the Crook County Sheriff’s Office, the Ochoco National Forest is expanding the Maury Mountains closure area. This decision follows increased fire activity on the western flank of the Wiley Flat Fire, making the expanded closure necessary to ensure public safety and allow firefighters to continue their work without

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Deschutes Co. sheriff’s candidates Bailey, Vander Kamp talk DCSO budget, office tensions, lawsuit threats in KTVZ debate

Deschutes County sheriff’s candidates Captain William Bailey and Sergeant Kent Vander Kamp squared off in a live 30-minute debate Monday evening on NewsChannel 21, answering questions on issues ranging from homeless and drugs to the budget and potential lawsuits alleging political retaliation against Vander Kamp and his political supporters.

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Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund program seeks applications for limited remaining funds

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Housing and Community Services is accepting final applications for the Homeowner Assistance Fund program, which has limited funds remaining.  HAF offers federal temporary COVID-19 emergency mortgage relief, designed to help homeowners who have experienced severe financial hardship due to the pandemic. Homeowners are eligible if they are facing foreclosure, involved in a

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DEQ continues air quality advisory due to wildfire smoke for much of Central Oregon, state

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and The Lane Regional Air Protection Agency issued a new air quality advisory Monday for the following areas due to smoke from fires in Oregon: Crook County Deschutes County Eastern Douglas County Southern Grant County Northern Harney County Southern Jefferson County Northern Klamath County Northern

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Deschutes National Forest implements emergency area closures due to Backside, Firestone wildfires

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Effective immediately, the Deschutes National Forest said Saturday is temporarily closing two areas on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District due to the Backside and Firestone fires. Backside Fire | Temporary Emergency Fire Closure An emergency closure order for the Backside Fire burning one mile west of Mt. Bachelor and 16 miles west

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Merkley, Wyden celebrate $11.5 million coming to Oregon to boost literacy programs

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Friday that $11.5 million is coming to Oregon to boost the state’s programs to close disparities in literacy for students.  The U.S. Department of Education is awarding the Oregon Department of Education $11,578,036 to advance literacy skills, including pre-literacy skills, reading, and writing

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Bend, Deschutes Co. leaders vote to close most of Juniper Ridge to homeless by next May, create ‘temporary safe stay’ area

Deschutes County commissioners and Bend city councilors voted unanimously at a joint meeting Thursday afternoon to close much of the the city- and county-owned land at juniper Ridge north of Bend to homeless campers by next May 31 and provide a “temporary safe stay” area with services on part of the property.

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Pilot projects on Deschutes, Salmon rivers aim to improve fish harvest estimation techniques

THE DALLES, Ore. (KTVZ) — Creel surveys (where state fish biologists ask for and record information about anglers’ catches) provide critical information for managing many fisheries, but can be expensive and labor-intensive. But what if there was a reliable method for anglers to voluntarily report their catch and provide fishery managers with this information when

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Oregon agency finalizes health insurance rates for 2025, rising an average 8.3% for individuals, 12.2% for small groups

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation said Thursday it has finalized the rate decisions for 2025 health insurance for the individual and small group markets. The division reviews and approves rates for these markets through a detailed and transparent public process before they can be charged to policyholders. This transparent process includes actuarial

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Prineville Airport to receive over $4 million from FAA to rebuild runway and lighting, add taxiway connectors

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced Thursday the Rogue Valley International Airport and the Prineville Airport have secured more than $10.4 million combined in federal grants for improvements to taxiways, lighting, runways and more. “These federal investments to modernize and improve airports in Medford and Prineville benefit Oregonians relying on these

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Bend city councilors accept $5 million federal affordable housing grant; half of what was sought, but a big impact

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – During Wednesday night’s Bend City Council meeting, councilors voted to approve the city manager’s acceptance of a $5 million Pathways to Removing Obstacles grant, also known as the PRO Housing grant. Councilors approved the acceptance of the $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as

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Deschutes County to seek limited state grant for disputed RV campground; board makes case for 710-acre housing rezone

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County commissioners returned to two recent controversies on Wednesday, first agreeing to apply for a limited state parks planning grant for a proposed RV campground off Fort Thompson Lane, north of Bend = but focused on whether Highway 97 access is even possible. After that debate and 3-0 vote, they

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Lane County diesel repair shop, owner sentenced to federal probation, fines for tampering with pollution monitoring devices

EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) —A Lane County diesel repair shop and its owner were sentenced in federal court Wednesday for knowingly and intentionally tampering with pollution monitoring devices on at least 184 vehicles in violation of the Clean Air Act. Diesel & Offroad Authority, LLC, located in Veneta, Oregon, and its owner and operator, Christopher Paul Kaufman,

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