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Government-Politics

Hayden Homes VP Deborah Flagan appointed to governor’s Regional Solutions Advisory Committee

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Hayden Homes Vice President of Community Engagement and Giving Deborah Flagan is grateful to be selected to join Governor Tina Kotek’s Regional Solutions Advisory Committee (RSAC) for the Central Oregon Region. The appointment was announced earlier this month.  The committee will provide input and recommendations around community issues and economic development. Flagan brings a unique

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75 days without wetting rains: Forest Service in NW reports highest level of wildfire response activated

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Millions of acres of national forest lands across Oregon and Washington are continuing to see record-breaking dry timber conditions on both sides of the Cascades, the U.S. Forest Service said Tuesday. These critical conditions are spurring rapid wildfire growth from recent lightning storms, including the July 16-17th storms which produced over 2,000

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Jefferson County commissioners hold open house for community to view the now-abandoned county dog kennel

MADRAS, Ore (KTVZ) — Here at the County Dog Kennel, the Jefferson County commissioners opened up the facility to the community on Monday evening so they can view the space after the previous contractor vacated the premises on June 30th. County Commissioner Wayne Fording said, “Our contract with Rockn EZ Rescue Ranch, we didn’t renew

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Oregon DEQ issues air quality advisory for much of state, including Crook County, due to smoke from wildfires

Deschutes County residents can expect ‘intermittent smoke’ PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory Monday for several areas around the state, including Crook County, due to smoke from wildfires. The areas include: Baker Grant Wheeler Crook Union  Southern Morrow Southern Umatilla Klamath Eastern Douglas Jackson Josephine Northern

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Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond wraps up FairWell Festival, prepares for 104th county Fair & Rodeo

  REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Fairgrounds just wrapped up the FairWell Festival and is busily preparing for another big event — the 104th annual Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo.  “An economic impact report showed that this weekend alone has about $119 million economic impact on the community,” Deschutes County Fair and Expo Director Geoff Hinds said

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EPA awards Oregon DEQ $195 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant

SEATTLE (KTVZ) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday the general competition selection of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to receive a $197,181,796 Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. Oregon is among 25 selected applications to receive $4.3 billion in funding to implement community-driven solutions that tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate America’s

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Merkley, Wyden join legislation to address anticompetitive behavior in residential housing market

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced last week that they have joined the recently introduced Housing Acquisitions Review and Transparency (HART) Act, led by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). The bill requires corporations and private equity firms that buy up large amounts of housing to report those transactions to

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Volunteers sought for Selective Service boards, a key role if the draft returns in a national emergency

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — As global tensions rise and military recruitment faces challenges, the Oregon National Guard is playing a vital role in supporting the Selective Service System, ensuring the state remains prepared for potential national emergencies. The Selective Service System, an independent agency within the executive branch, is responsible for rapidly providing personnel to

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Keep your dogs away from dead fish, ODFW urges after several cases of salmon poisoning around Newport

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – Several dogs were sickened from salmon poisoning around Newport recently, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said this week, noting that salmon and trout carcasses may harbor bacteria in their blood that can be fatal to dogs. Salmon poisoning is caused by the bacteria Neorickettsia helminthoeca, which is transmitted through a parasitic

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OHA’s Climate and Health report highlights opportunities to build resilience against wildfires, drought, extreme heat

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Communities that have been systemically marginalized continue to bear the brunt of extreme climate effects such as wildfires, drought and heat waves, according to a new Oregon Health Authority report. But the agency says opportunities abound for building resilience against future disasters. Publication of the OHA Public Health Division’s annual Climate and

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‘A very serious public safety threat’: Deschutes DA says homeless camps on federal land need to be addressed, to avert disaster

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– Satellite images east of Redmond show hundreds of acres of garbage left by those living on federal land, a growing problem that has local officials speaking out about the potential dangers, especially during wildfire season. “The risk is intense. The risk is real. There is a very serious public safety threat,” Deschutes

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