Government-Politics Archives

COIC opens month-long public comment period for 2024-28 C.O. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

April 24, 2024 9:31 pm KTVZ News Partners

The Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council is holding a public comment period from April 22 until May 22 for the 2024-2028 Central Oregon Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The CEDS is an asset-based, strategy driven plan for regional economic development. The CEDS articulates the region’s priority community economic development needs and is built with guidance from

‘Where do we put them?’: C.O. homeless advocate, DA weigh in on pending Grants Pass homeless ruling

April 24, 2024 11:48 am KTVZ

US Supreme Court justices heard over two hours of arguments Monday on “City of Grants Pass V. Johnson,” a class-action suit that challenges the southern Oregon city’s ability to enforce camping codes related to sleeping in public spaces.

‘It’s impressive’: Emergency managers from across state share info at Oregon Prepared Conference in Sunriver

April 24, 2024 11:59 am KTVZ

For many, Sunriver is a place to relax, unwind and have fun – a break from the workday world. But this week, hundreds of Oregonians whose daily focus is on preparing for emergencies of every kind are gathered to share notes, hear from experts and get even more ready for whatever may come.

Culver fentanyl and meth trafficker sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison, year after raid and arrest

April 24, 2024 3:29 pm Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Culver resident and drug trafficker who conspired with others to traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine to Madras, Redmond and surrounding areas, was sentenced Wednesday to nearly six years in federal prison, prosecutors said. Israel Sarabia, 30,was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. According to court

Prineville man sentenced to four years in federal prison for his role in torture, killing of monkeys, ‘animal crush’ videos

April 24, 2024 2:14 pm Barney Lerten

EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Prineville man was sentenced to four years in federal prison Wednesday for his role in a conspiracy to torture, mutilate, and murder monkeys, then produce and distribute videos of those acts in exchange for money raised by an online animal abuse group. David Christopher Noble, 48, was sentenced to 48

Oregon DMV’s photo system back in service after 2-day-plus outage; driver’s licenses, permits, ID can be issued again

April 24, 2024 1:47 pm Barney Lerten

The Oregon DMV’s credentials system went down on Monday but was restored Wednesday afternoon, meaning the agency can once again issue driver’s licenses, permits and IDs at their offices, a spokeswoman said Wednesday afternoon.

Prescribed burns underway for a second day NE of La Pine, NW of Sisters

April 22, 2024 8:34 pm KTVZ News Partners

Two prescribed burns are continuing for a second day Wednesday on the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters ranger districts, Deschutes National Forest officials said.

Wyden, colleagues call out Postal Service leaders for unsustainable price hikes, poor service

April 23, 2024 11:40 pm KTVZ News Partners

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — As more and more Oregonians grow dissatisfied with the U.S. Postal Service for its price hikes coupled with inefficiency under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined his Senate colleagues Tuesday in pushing for change to protect the jobs, businesses and Americans who rely on the service. In a letter

BLM’s new public lands rule makes conservation, public access equal priorities to resource extraction, development

April 23, 2024 11:16 pm KTVZ News Partners

Conservation and public access are on equal footing with other considerations for U.S. Bureau of Land Management lands under a recently announced rule.

Wyden votes for aid bill for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan; Merkley opposes it over military aid to Israel

April 23, 2024 9:29 pm KTVZ News Partners

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., on Tuesday applauded the passage of legislation to provide Ukraine, Israel, and America’s Indo-Pacific partners with $95 billion in security assistance to support their national defense, including $9.15 billion in lifesaving humanitarian aid, and to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States. Fellow Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley,

‘We are not a battleground state’: Donald Trump did not submit a statement for the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet

April 23, 2024 11:51 am KTVZ

(Update: Adding video, comments from Republican supporters and election analyst) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)- With the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlets expected to hit your mailbox soon, you might see a familiar name missing from the pages of statements from candidates – Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will have a photo and candidate

‘I don’t think anybody is in this for the money’: Bend’s mayor, councilors may get sizable pay raises, after next election

April 21, 2024 3:50 pm Barney Lerten

A pay raise may be on the way for future Bend mayors and city councilors, although as state law directs, they would not take effect until after another round of elections to each position.

Supreme Court justices grapple with whether cities can ticket homeless people

April 22, 2024 10:27 am CNN Newsource

By John Fritze, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court wrestled Monday for more than two and a half hours with the question of whether ticketing homeless people is a “cruel and unusual” punishment that violates the Eighth Amendment. Several of the justices appeared concerned about the prospect of criminalizing homelessness but they also worried about

If you have a medical condition or hardship, you can have your mail delivered to your door, Postal Service says

April 22, 2024 10:40 am KTVZ News Partners

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – You and many others may not be aware, but people with medical conditions or similar hardships can have the U.S. Postal Service deliver your mail to your door, rather than to your curbside or cluster mailbox. A Bend Nextdoor poster recently shared the word, confirmed Monday by USPS regional spokeswoman Kim

Merkley, Wyden join colleagues in letter opposing US Postal Service consolidations in Oregon, across nation

April 20, 2024 6:46 pm KTVZ News Partners

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined a bipartisan group of their colleagues in Congress in a letter led by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) this week to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, opposing the U.S. Postal Service’s recent nationwide consolidation and review announcements that could severely diminish mail service

Wyden upset Senate ‘waited until 11th hour to ram through renewal of warrantless surveillance,’ but ‘not giving up’

April 20, 2024 6:05 pm KTVZ News Partners

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement Saturday after voting No on a bill to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for two years. “The Senate waited until the 11th hour to ram through renewal of warrantless surveillance in the dead of night. But I’m not giving up.

Chavez-DeRemer votes for aid to Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan; says legislation also targets global fentanyl traffickers

April 20, 2024 5:24 pm KTVZ News Partners

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) said she voted Saturday in favor of several proposals to support democratic allies of the United States, including Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, and outlined what they included. The bills were similar to the foreign aid laid out in the Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act, a bipartisan effort Chavez-DeRemer has

Record numbers in the US are homeless. Can cities fine them for sleeping in parks and on sidewalks?

April 20, 2024 6:04 am The Associated Press

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The most significant case in decades on homelessness has reached the Supreme Court as record numbers of people in America are without a permanent place to live. The justices on Monday will consider a challenge to rulings from a California-based appeals court that found punishing people for

Merkley, Risch introduce bill to boost mass timber industry, promote use in federal, military projects

April 19, 2024 9:36 pm KTVZ News Partners

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Idaho Senator James Risch this week announced the introduction of the bipartisan Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act to promote the utilization of mass timber in federal building projects and military construction. The mass timber industry has become important to Oregon, Idaho, and the entire Pacific Northwest’s economy and environment.

Focus is on next steps after Oregon lawmakers make ‘groundbreaking’ housing investments

April 19, 2024 9:26 pm KTVZ News Partners

By Eric Tegethoff, Oregon News Service SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon lawmakers passed a major housing package in this year’s session, but said easing the state’s housing crisis will take more work. Bills passed during the short legislative session will send a total of $376 million to address the state’s housing shortage, including Senate Bill 1530 and Senate

Email:
Select all that apply: Morning News Headlines Daily Weather Forecast Breaking News Alert Afternoon Headlines Contests and Promotions