Government-Politics Archives

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden raises alarms over child support database access for immigration enforcement

April 15, 2026 7:52 am Kelsey Merison

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

Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden warns of catastrophic wildfire season due to funding cuts and low snowpack

April 14, 2026 11:07 pm Triton Notary

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

Bend to shrink “Dirtworld” homeless camp by half, dozens still need to relocate

April 13, 2026 7:22 pm Campbell Porter

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,

Happening all week: Heavy helicopters set to return west of Bend for rapellers’ national firefighting aviation training

April 9, 2025 11:59 am KTVZ

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,

Bend 2027 Neighborhood Street Safety projects

City of Bend plans open house for next year’s Neighborhood Street Safety Program projects; here’s the list

April 13, 2026 3:32 pm Barney Lerten

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

President Trump approves Oregon, Washington disaster declarations over severe winter storms

April 13, 2026 3:11 pm Oregon Capital Chronicle

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,

Phones down: Central Oregon Multi-Agency Traffic Team conducting special patrols focusing on distracted drivers

April 13, 2026 2:49 pm Barney Lerten

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,

Citing rising wildfire danger, Redmond Fire & Rescue will close outdoor burning on April 30th

April 13, 2026 11:52 am Barney Lerten

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,

Oregon again leads argument against President Trump’s tariffs

April 10, 2026 6:32 pm Oregon Capital Chronicle

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.

Bend Park and Rec seeks public’s help in naming its new office and operations facility

April 10, 2026 4:55 pm Barney Lerten

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

U.S. Forest Service Helicopter Rappel Program

U.S. Forest Service helicopter rappel training returns to site west of Bend next week

April 10, 2026 4:23 pm Barney Lerten

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

OSP seeks tips, offers reward after Tygh Valley pond contaminated with spray foam

April 10, 2026 3:50 pm Barney Lerten

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

La Pine drivers alert: Huntington Road to close for two weeks for South Century Drive roundabout work

April 10, 2026 2:15 pm Barney Lerten

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

Oregon governor signs slew of bills protecting immigrants amid federal crackdown

April 10, 2026 10:23 am Oregon Capital Chronicle

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

Sisters City Council discusses waste rate hikes, Moves Northwest Park plan forward

April 8, 2026 4:31 pm Spencer Sacks

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

Governor signs bill to help Oregon farm stands flourish; chief sponsor Breese-Iverson celebrates improvements

April 8, 2026 5:54 pm Barney Lerten

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.

First spring Chinook salmon season in the lower Deschutes River since 2018 will open in early May

April 8, 2026 4:28 pm Barney Lerten

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,

Man admits holdup of Wildhorse Resort and Casino; demanded $1 million, threatened to ‘bathe everyone in blood’

April 8, 2026 2:57 pm Barney Lerten

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

New report puts outstanding Oregon criminal court sanctions at more than $1 billion

April 8, 2026 2:27 pm Oregon Capital Chronicle

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.

Oregon Hunters Association receives $50k to combat a ‘misleading’ petition

April 7, 2026 7:42 pm KOBI

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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