BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The annual national recertification event for the U.S. Forest Service Helicopter Rappel Program is planned next week west of Bend, adjacent to Forest Service Road 41. The event is scheduled to start next Monday, April 13, and run through April 21, officials said Friday. Additional days are possible if weather impacts
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WASCO COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help in identifying the individual or individuals suspected of contaminating a pond with spray foam near the White River Wildlife Area in Tygh Valley. On March 26, several cans of spray foam were located in a small
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La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Road Department will close a section of Huntington Road near the Three Rivers community for two weeks, from next Monday through Sunday, April 26, for construction work tied to the South Century Drive/Huntington Road roundabout project. Huntington Road will be closed to all traffic from the South Century Drive intersection to about
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By Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed eight bills into law Thursday defending immigrant rights as the Trump administration ramps up federal immigration enforcement. Oregon, a sanctuary state, already has some of the most comprehensive immigration protection laws. The new laws, however, represent the state’s response to a
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SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Sisters City Council held a town hall meeting Wednesday night, focusing on several proposals that could directly impact residents and businesses. Among the main topics: a discussion on potential rate hikes for trash and municipal solid waste services, and updates on the Northwest Park project. Republic Services, the city’s waste
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek joined Oregon farmers, advocates, and legislators at Topaz Farms on Sauvie Island on Wednesday to commemorate the signing of House Bill 4153, a bill from this year’s legislative session that protects existing farm stand permits and gives farmers new options to support the long-term success of their farms.
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THE DALLES, Ore. (KTVZ) —The lower Deschutes River will be open for spring Chinook salmon from May 5-20, the first such season in eight years, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said Wednesday. “This is exciting news for anglers as the last spring Chinook season on the Deschutes was in 2018,” said Jason Seals,
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Umatilla County man who pulled a gun on a casino cashier, demanded $1 million and threatened to “bathe everyone in blood” pleaded guilty Tuesday to the 2022 armed robbery of the Wildhorse Resort and Casino on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, federal prosecutors said. Javier Francisco Vigil, 54, pleaded guilty to
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Oregon’s patchwork system for collecting fees, fines and restitution from people facing criminal charges has resulted in more than $1 billion in uncollected debt that has drained revenue from the state and made it harder to pursue rehabilitation efforts, according to a new report.
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This article was written by Maximus Osburn with KOBI-5: OREGON – The Oregon Hunters Association received $50,000 to combat a ballot initiative that would effectively criminalize hunting, fishing and more in Oregon. IP28, the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE Act), intends to remove many of the current exemptions from Oregon’s animal
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A crowd of community members, environmental advocates, and local leaders filled the atrium at Oregon State University–Cascades Monday evening, weighing in on the future of some of Oregon’s most untouched public lands. The town hall, held April 6, focused on the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a federal policy that has limited
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A brochure now landing in Bend mailboxes strongly urges residents to speak out against the city’s plans to impose a “climate pollution fee” of up to $2,300 on natural gas appliances in new homes, part of an effort to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “YOUR ENERGY CHOICE IS UNDER ATTACK IN BEND,” states the front of the mailing from the Northwest
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(Update: Adding info on Deschutes County Jail’s inmate tablets) SALEM,. Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Corrections told inmates’ families and friends on Monday that at all inmates are going to receive a state-issued computer tablet, on which they can take lessons, watch movies, play games or read their emails – which from now
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By Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) The Oregon Department of Emergency Management is hosting free virtual webinars this spring for anyone interested in helping rural communities prepare for and respond to disasters such as floods, extreme heat and wildfires. The two-part series, “Rural Communities Prepared for Disasters,” will bring in disaster response
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WASHINGTON (KTVZ – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley as well as U.S. Reps. Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, Janelle Bynum and Maxine Dexter today announced Monday that more than 25 Oregon airports will receive a combined federal investment of more than $27 million to make their infrastructure safer and better. “Oregonians rely on federal investments
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By Robin Linares, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. — While the Pacific Northwest west of the Cascades is known for its seemingly constant rain, much of Oregon is preparing for drought conditions and increased wildfire risk for the summer. This comes after Oregon’s uncharacteristically mild winter. Much of winter saw warmer temperatures, tied with 1934
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Right now, the Bend Parks and Recreation District is hiring for summer positions! Hopeful helpers ages 15 and up are invited and encouraged to apply for positions supporting summer camps, swimming, outdoor recreation and all things fun. Here are some of the positions you can apply for: Youth Summer Camp Leader
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(UPDATE: Adding information from the event, quotes from Sen. Jeff Merkley, and attendees) SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — At a town hall held at Sisters High School on Saturday, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley spent more than an hour engaging directly with constituents, answering questions and discussing a wide range of pressing issues. The Oregon Democrat’s stop
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By Shaanth Nanguneri, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. — A free Oregon health care program for adults who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid could have improperly given out $15 million in payments related to benefits for recipients, according to a recent audit of state-managed federal programs. The “questioned” funds surfaced in an 124-page
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As the May 19 primary election approaches, the Deschutes County Road Department on Friday reminded political campaigns and supporters to keep political signs out of county road rights of way – and state highways as well. The county says it will remove any signs placed in county road rights of way.
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