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Government-Politics

City of Bend survey finds overwhelming ‘hate’ for Greenwood Avenue ‘road diet,’ despite massive increase in cyclists, pedestrians

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A year-old pilot program to reduce traffic speeds, improve safety, and encourage walking and cycling has sparked sharp division in the city of Bend. The program converted a four-lane roadway into two lanes as part of a “road diet” designed to curb crashes and make the corridor safer for pedestrians and

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Redmond Fire truck at Smith Rock

Redmond Fire & Rescue reopens outdoor burning next week, but there are rules – and debris burning is banned in the city

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Redmond Fire & Rescue announced Thursday it will reopen outdoor burning at 8 a.m. next Wednesday, October 1, but advised there are rules to follow, including a ban on debris burning within the city limits. Here’s the fire department’s full news release: With the forecasted decrease in temperatures, the risk for

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Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O'Donnell

Mistakenly released Multnomah County murder suspect has been arrested at a Florence gas station

ย PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A murder suspect mistakenly released from the Multnomah County Jail four days ago, prompting an extensive manhunt, was arrested Thursday at a gas station in Florence along the Oregon coast, authorities said. Here’s the full news release on Ty Sage’s arrest, from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Today, the Multnomah County

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Coast Guard rescue off Oregon coast

Coast Guard helicopter crew rescues fisherman after vessel capsizes off the Oregon coast

SEATTLE (KTVZ) โ€“ The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a fisherman early Tuesday morning after his commercial fishing vessel capsized near the entrance to Waldport, Oregon.  Around 5:40 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a VHF radio mayday call from the commercial fishing vessel Ambition, reporting it was disabled in the surf near

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ODOT crews upgrade ADA curb ramps

ODOT upgrading ADA curb ramps in Sisters; project to bring nighttime lane closures, construction noise

(UPDATE: Added Video) SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ)- Crews will soon begin upgrading curb ramps to meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards at several locations on U.S. Highway 20 in Sisters. These improvements are part of the Bend and Sisters Curb Ramps Project, ODOT said in a news release Tuesday that continues in full below: Construction is

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New Hawthorne Bridge Design

Bend City Council makes key decision on future of planned iconic bike-pedestrian bridge

(Update: Full Story with quotes from Bend City Engineering Director, Ryan Oster and added video) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ News) — The Bend City Council voted unanimously late wednesday afternoon on a new shared bike and pedestrian bridge design. During its bi-weekly work session, the council discussed a variety of projects in the midtown crossing area. One of

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La Pine Wildfire Mitigation Project receives $3.43 million grant from U.S. Forest Service

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) โ€“ Communities that have limited resources and face high risk from wildfire are getting additional support from the USDA Forest Service. In an announcement made this week, Oregon and Washington will receive $57 million in Community Wildfire Defense grant awards, funding 10 projects across the two states – one of them in La Pine. These

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Planting seedlings for the future: Disaster-relief forest restoration grant helps landowners in post-wildfire recovery

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The 2020 and 2021 fire seasons greatly impacted the state of Oregon, burning close to two million acres and having a particularly devastating effect on 650,000 acres of forested lands in Eastern Oregon. The Oregon Department of Forestry received a Disaster Reliefโ€“Fire Recovery Restoration Grant in 2022 from the USDA Forest

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Bend Airport runway

FAA awards Bend Municipal Airport $3.93 million to rebuild taxiways, complete lighting work

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Oregonโ€™s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Wednesday that the Federal Aviation Administration is investing more than $18.3 million into five airports throughout Oregon through the Airport Improvement Program, including $3.93 million for Bend Municipal Airport projects. โ€œOur regional airports are vital hubs for Oregonians, supporting local businesses and providing

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Released ICE detainee Rigoberto Hernandez

Wyden helps secure release of Oregon firefighter arrested while fighting Wash. wildfire, detained at ICE facility

KEIZER, Ore. (KTVZ) โ€” An Oregon firefighter who was arrested last month by Border Patrol while helping to fight the Bear Gulch fire in Washington state was released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention Tuesday, officials said. Rigoberto Hernandez Hernandez, a 23-year-old wildland firefighter, is back home in Keizer, Oregon after nearly four weeks in

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High Desert Museum

Oregon Cultural Trust awards record $4.15 million to organizations statewide, including several local projects and programs

(Update: Adding video) SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) โ€“ An increase in fiscal year 2025 donations, as well as investment earnings, has resulted in an all-time high of $4.15 million awarded to cultural nonprofits and organizations statewide by the Oregon Cultural Trust. The $4.15 million includes awards to 91 individual arts, heritage and humanities nonprofits, organizations and

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Household hazardous waste

Deschutes County to host household hazardous waste collection events next month in La Pine, Sisters and Redmond

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — This October, the Deschutes County Department of Solid Waste will host household hazardous waste collection events in the communities of La Pine, Sisters and Redmond. These one-day events giveย residentsย an opportunity to dispose of household hazardous waste items free of charge. โ€œWe are excited to offer additional collection events in our rural

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Central Oregon unemployment rates are still rising, amid a mix of job gains and losses

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon seasonally adjusted unemployment rates continued their upward movement in August, with rates increasing in Jefferson and Crook County, the Oregon Employment Department reported Tuesday. Here’s the full report for the Bend Metro Area and all three counties: Bend MSA (Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties): The Bend MSA gained 550

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Rep. Bynum to hold Portland press conference regarding issues with Department of Veterans Affairs

Rep. Bynum to hold Portland press conference regarding issues with Department of Veterans Affairs

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Happening Tuesday, September 23rd, Congresswoman Janelle Bynumย will be hosting a press conference withย Congressman Ted Lieuย in Portland to highlight the letter they are sending to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The letter raises concerns about the issues they say veterans are facing with accessing care at the VA, including mental health care.

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Bend Chamber hopes to ease housing shortage by offering library of pre-approved accessory dwelling unit (ADU) designs to public

(Update: adding video, adding interview with Bend Chamber, City of Bend, and Bend YIMBY) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As Bendโ€™s population continues to grow, so does the pressure on housing. Now, officials are turning to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as one way to help ease the crunch โ€” starting with a library of pre-approved ADU

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Oregon’s call center for taxpayer services and payments will be closed Thursday for staff training

Regional office front desks and online services will remain available. SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) โ€” The Oregon Department of Revenueโ€™s Taxpayer Services Call Center and main Payment Center in Salem will be closed Thursday, September 25, for staff training. However, regional office front desks and online services will remain available. Here are the details from the

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Bat Yuma myotiis

Fungus that causes deadly white-nose syndrome in bats detected for the first time in Oregonโ€ฏย 

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) โ€” The fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats has been detected in Clatsop County, the first such discovery in Oregon, state wildlife officials said Friday. White-nose syndrome is an infection in bats caused by the fungusย Pseudogymnoascus destructansย that disrupts hibernation, causing dehydration and starvation.โ€ฏโ€ฏ Samples analyzed by U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the

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Wolf USFWS

Deschutes County seeks business representative for vacancy on Wolf Depredation Compensation Committee

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County announced Friday it is acceptingย statements ofย interest from individuals who want to serve on the Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Committee. The Wolf Depredation Committee oversees grant funds awarded by the Oregon Department of Agricultureย to Deschutes Countyย for wolf depredation compensation and non-lethal preventive assistance, according to the news release,

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