SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregon drivers now have have two weeks to remove studded tires to meet the Wednesday, April 1 deadline. ODOT is encouraging vehicle owners to not wait until the last minute to make the swap, as tire shops get very busy at this time of year. State law allows studded tires to
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By Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle Opponents of gas tax hikes are once again suing the state of Oregon over a law that rescheduled the date of a gas tax referendum from November to May. The Right to Vote on the Gas Tax Political Action Committee — organized by Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Dundee; Rep. Ed
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced Wednesday that he will hold 10 open-to-all town halls starting March 28 in Eastern, Central and Southern Oregon, as well as in the Columbia Gorge. His local town hall will be in Prineville on Wednesday, April 1. Heading into these 10 town halls from March 28-April
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ESTACADA, Ore. — Governor Tina Kotek visited Estacada High School Wednesday to see how Executive Order 25-09 is working, now that 100 percent of Oregon school districts have implemented her executive order banning cell phone use by students during school hours. “Research tells us that constant cell phone use distracts from learning and can create
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The price tag for a new Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River, linking Washington and Oregon, has doubled to $14.4 billion and the timeline to get it built has slipped again.
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The city of Bend is warning about a recent “phishing” scam involving emails sent to people regarding city permit payments. Here’s the details, as the city posted to social media late last week: What You Need to Know • Phishing messages may reference real permit numbers or application details. • Messages
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PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crook County Democrats will host a forum next month featuring candidates running in Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary, offering Central Oregon voters a chance to hear directly from those seeking to challenge Republican Rep. Cliff Bentz. The event is scheduled for April 11 at 2 p.m. at the Pine Theater
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(Update: adding video, comments from committee member, Phil Chang) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A new state committee aims to increase oversight of the Oregon Department of Transportation, as questions about the agency’s financial management take center stage in the broader debate over how to fund roads and infrastructure. State leaders recently approved the creation of
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Gas prices in Oregon have risen 95 cents in the past month due to global tensions, seasonal switch to summer-blend gasoline, and higher demand, causing families to adjust their spending habits and potentially impacting the cost of everyday goods.
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As Oregonians prepare for spring break travel and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, the Oregon Health Authority is offering a few tips for making safe and healthy choices when it comes to alcohol use and transportation. Alcohol-impaired driving continues to be a serious safety concern in Oregon. In 2023, 200 people died in crashes involving a drunk driver in the state – about 34 percent of all
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PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crook County announced Monday it’s proud to celebrate the completion of its first participants in the County College program, an initiative designed to give residents an inside look at how county government operates. Through a series of classes, participants heard directly from county department heads about the services they provide, how
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend Peninsula Park and Recreation District will open registration for summer youth camps on Tuesday, March 17, at 6:00 a.m. Registration for general recreation programs, sports leagues, and swim lessons will follow on Wednesday, March 18, at 6:00 a.m. Thousands of Summer OptionsThe upcoming registration period covers more than 1,200
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During the most recent short legislative session, Oregon lawmakers in the House and Senate were asked to take more than 180 votes on their respective chamber floors, ultimately passing 143 new laws over 33 days dealing with taxes, spending on critical services, health care and more, according to data sets tracking the votes.
Continue ReadingBy Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon’s top election official and senior U.S. senator warned Friday that congressional Republicans’ efforts to end mail-in voting and impose strict voter ID requirements are voter suppression tactics disguised as election integrity. At a news conference in North Portland’s Albina Library, Sen. Ron Wyden and Secretary
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon air quality impacts from the 2025 wildfire season were “minimal,” compared to previous years, as the state’s largest wildfires broke out far from the most populated cities, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality reports. The DEQ on Thursday released the 2025 Wildfire Trends Report, which measures how particulate matter from the
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and a coalition of 16 other attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration today to block new data reporting requirements for colleges and universities. The legal challenge seeks to stop the Department of Education from collecting detailed student information that the coalition argues will
Continue ReadingBEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The stage is set for a busy Central Oregon campaign season leading up to the May 19 primary election, with dozens of incumbents and challengers vying for new and existing positions, and several funding measures sharing the ballot. Now that Tuesday’s filing deadline has passed, here’s a look at who’s seeking what positions. KTVZ News will have complete Decision 2026 coverage throughout the spring and fall election
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WASHINGTON D.C. (KTVZ) — A bipartisan group of senators, including Oregon’s Jeff Merkley and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, is demanding an independent audit of the Justice Department’s botched release of Jeffrey Epstein files. They’re accusing the DOJ of breaking federal law by shielding powerful names while exposing victims’ privacy. The Department of Justice published more than
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MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Madras City Council is overseeing city management collectively after the recent departure of an interim city administrator, the continuing struggle to appoint a new police chief and now the resignation of the city’s finance director, officials said Wednesday. Here ‘s the details as laid out in a news release that
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SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Sisters Mayor Jennifer Letz announced her candidacy for seat 5 of the Deschutes County Commission on Tuesday. Letz, who has served on the Sisters City Council since 2021, is running for a position that county voters recently designated as nonpartisan. The announcement comes ahead of the May 19 primary election. Letz,
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