SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Human Services is announcing federally required changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Oregon. These changes are required under House Resolution (H.R. 1), a federal law passed on July 4, 2025. More than 740,000 people in Oregon currently receive SNAP benefits, and ODHS expects more
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The federal government has officially shut down, with no quick resolution in sight. Several departments with hundreds even thousands of people will either stop working or will be working for no pay. As of July of this year, there were over 28,000 federal employees in the state of Oregon alone. KTVZ
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A portion of Olney Avenue near downtown Bend has been closed since the beginning of the year. The closure is a part of the city’s voter-approved projects on Portland Avenue, Wall Street, and Olney Avenue.
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(Update: Adding video) La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bureau of Land Management has spent about $200,000 to remove five long-term homeless camps from BLM land near La Pine, a nearly month-long effort that also included using boulders and soft soils to block illegal access roads, in an effort to keep it from happening again.
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WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Three days after announcing federal mobilization of Oregon National Guard troops to Portland, President Trump issued a statement Tuesday to explain and defend the move that’s drawn criticism in Oregon, saying: “The Radical Left’s reign of terror in Portland ends now.” Here’s the full White House news release received Tuesday morning by
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon’s Department of Administrative Services published Tuesday the maximum rent increases allowed by law for 2026 – but it’s no longer one flat percentage figure, due to a change in state law. For rental facilities that are 15 years or older and have 30 or fewer units/spaces, the maximum rent increase is 9.5%.
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Health Authority said Tuesday it has lifted a recreational use health advisory issued for Ochoco Lake in Crook County. OHA issued the advisory on Aug 27 for the lake, located seven miles east of Prineville, where Crook County Parks and Recreation operates and maintains a campground and day-use area. The
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(Update: Adding video) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes National Forest lands around last year’s Firestone and Flat Top Fires, about 20 miles from La Pine, will reopen Wednesday after an emergency closure order expires, Forest Service officials said Tuesday. People recreating in the recently burned areas are still being advised to use caution, according to the
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By Berkeley Lovelace Jr. WASHINGTON (NBC News) — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that his administration has reached a deal with Pfizer for it to voluntarily sell its drugs at lower prices to Medicaid patients. As part of the deal, Trump said, Pfizer will sell some of its drugs on a new “direct to consumer” website
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One of the most pressing challenges in Central Oregon is addressing how each city manages its homeless population.
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Monday’s Oregon Senate meeting in Salem began with passionate debate from both sides of the aisle on Governor Kotek’s transportation bill (HB 3991 A).
The meeting concluded with the bill being passed in an 18 to 11 vote — all Senate Republicans voted no.
(Update: Adding video) PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Led by Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, a coalition of more than a dozen Oregon mayors – including Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler – issued a joint letter Monday rejecting any attempt to federally militarize the Portland metro area – and announcing coordinated regional action to protect civil rights, public
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ)– Governor Tina Kotek announced Monday that she has declared a drought in Jefferson County through Executive Order 25-23 and directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region. A link to Executive Order 25-23 can be found here. Here is the rest of Monday’s news release from the governor’s office: According
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After weeks of speculation, President Trump announced he will deploy troops to Portland and authorize full force action. But, many Oregon officials and critics say the move raises big questions about presidential power and state rights.
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MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jefferson County and the City of Madras announced this week that they are partnering to create a shared vision for the future through the development of a five-year strategic plan. The strategic plan will serve as a roadmap for the next five years, guiding decisions about priorities such as economic growth,
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(UPDATE: ADDED VIDEO AND ADDED QUOTES FROM REP. JANELLE BYNUM, ST. REP. EMERSON LEVY, AND STATEMENT FROM OREGON HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER CHRISTINE DAZAN) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — President Donald trump announced through his social media site Truth Social that he has asked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to deploy
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — A new state law going into effect this weekend will require the names and addresses of Oregon Lottery winners to remain anonymous. Lottery officials have adopted rules to carry out that new law, also including a ban on the purchase or sale of a winning lottery ticket. Previously, a winner’s name
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregon legislators will gather in Salem next Monday through Wednesday for three days of committee and oversight hearings to prepare for the 2026 legislative session. “Much of the focus will be on the ripple effects of recent federal budget cuts that threaten programs Oregonians rely on — from health care and
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Next Tuesday evening, Sen. Lisa Reynolds, MD (D-Portland), who worked with Governor Tina Kotek on her recent executive order creating phone-free schools, will convene lawmakers and community leaders in a roundtable discussion on how to make the new rule work best for student success and well-being. Here are the details, as released Friday
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County provided new details Friday about how it will use a newly awarded $3.4 million USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant for its La Pine Wildfire Mitigation Project over the next five years. “The project is a collaborative effort to reduce fire fuels, educate the public, increase wildfire preparedness,
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