Winds keep prescribed burn smoke out of Bend, but it streamed into south county
It wasn’t hard to miss Thursday’s 350-acre prescribed burn west of Bend near Phil’s Trailhead. Smoke was expected, though the amount was not fully…
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Legislature roundup: Bills on homeless, racist legacy, bullying, unemployment insurance advance
Here are several news releases received from Salem on Thursday on legislation making its way through the Oregon…
Continue ReadingOSU study: Rural-urban divide compounds racial disparities in COVID-19 deaths
While Black, Hispanic, Latino, Indigenous, Asian and Pacific Islander people are more likely to die of COVID-19 than white people nationwide, a…
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Central Oregonians raising funds to buy garbage truck for homeless camp cleanups
After two cleanup operations by the Oregon Department of Transportation near Murphy Road and Revere Avenue sparked concern, some local organizers…
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Environmental group sues over protections for 20 species
An environmental group filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging the federal government has failed to act on petitions to protect nine different species…
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Prescribed burn west of Bend underway, progressing well, officials say
Deschutes National Forest fuels specialists began a planned, 350-acre prescribed burn west of Bend, in the Phil’s Trail area on Thursday, putting up…
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Deal gives GOP lawmakers more redistricting power to speed up bills
Democrats have agreed to give up an advantage in redrawing the state’s political districts for the next 10 years, in exchange for a commitment from…
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Environmental groups sue to halt post-fire logging in state forest
Seven environmental groups have filed a lawsuit to halt post-fire logging in the Santiam State Forest.…
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Knopp co-sponsors, hails Senate passage of ‘middle housing’ legislation
Sen. Tim Knopp (R-Bend) carried Senate Bill 458 on the Senate floor as it won passage Thursday. Co-sponsored with Sen. Lew Fredrick (D-Portland), the…
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COCC board approves freeze on 2021-22 tuition, fees
The Central Oregon Community College Board of Directors voted unanimously Wednesday evening not to increase tuition or fees for the upcoming 2021-22…
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With fires, temps on the rise, ODF urges C. Oregon burning pause
The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District said Thursday it’s seen a significant rise in escaped debris and agricultural burns,…
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Occupied RV parked near NE Bend business for over 2 weeks prompts complaint
Andy West, the president of High Desert Trading, says an RV has been parked near his northeast Bend business for over two…
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Proposal aims to expand La Pine mosquito control beyond city limits
The city of La Pine conducts a mosquito control service. However, the boundaries for the control area only include the city limits.…
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Oregon Senate votes to extend grace period for past-due rent
The Oregon Senate has voted in favor of a bill that would give tenants, struggling with financial hardships due to the pandemic, more time to pay…
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Wyden, Merkley co-sponsor bill to create national paid sick leave policy
Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said Wednesday they are co-sponsoring the Healthy Families Act, paid sick days legislation that they said…
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Epic drought means water crisis for Klamath Basin on Oregon-California border
Federal officials announced Wednesday that farmers who rely on a massive irrigation project spanning the Oregon-California border will get 8% of the…
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FEMA now providing aid for COVID-19 related funeral expenses, senators say
Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., announced Wednesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has begun providing financial assistance…
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Oregon Dept. of Forestry begins projects to curb wildfire risk in C. Oregon
The Oregon Department of Forestry is putting to work in Central Oregon some of the $5 million it was granted in January by the Oregon Legislative…
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Portland police again declare riot after Police Assn. building set ablaze
People in a crowd of demonstrators set fire to the Portland Police Association building Tuesday night, prompting police to declare a riot for a…
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FBI-led task force created to fight Portland gun violence
A new FBI-led task force will work with police in Portland to build cases against people responsible for an increase in shootings.…
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