SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Last Thursday, Governor Tina Kotek signed House Bills 2065 and 2066 into law, two pieces of landmark legislation which aim to increase and expedite access to microgrids across urban, suburban, and rural Oregon communities. “Microgrid technology is an indispensable way to make power outages less risky, shorter lived, and could even
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SANTIAM STATE FOREST, Ore. (KTVZ) —The High Lakes recreation area of the Santiam State Forest reopened this month after being closed in the aftermath of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires. All recreation areas in the Santiam are now open to the public. “We focused our rebuilding efforts on highly visited recreation areas, like Shellburg Falls
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to July’s persistent hot and dry weather, national forests across the Pacific Northwest increased or implemented public use restrictions last week. Through these public use restrictions, as well as high to very high fire danger levels, firefighters are urging the public to be vigilant in preventing human-caused wildfires when recreating
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BEND, Ire, (KTVZ) — Deschutes County commissioners on Monday announced their nominees for the county’s District Mapping Advisory Committee, which will create a map of five districts so voters can be asked next year if the newly expanded, five-member board should be elected by district, rather than at-large. The committee will be tasked with drafting
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Board plans no public interviews of five candidates for interim sheriff before selection BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — At their first meeting in weeks, Deschutes County commissioners approved two expenditures related to homelessness Monday afternoon, but not without a split vote and some familiar debates as they wrestled with the challenging issues. First, commissioners voted 2-1
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Starting Monday and through September 21, nonprofit organizations and government entities (including colleges and universities) are invited to apply for funding through the City of Bend’s new Climate Action Partner Grant Program. “This is the first year that the program is being offered, and the program goal is to help reduce
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Legislature has passed House Bill 3806, approving pilot water bank authorities in the Deschutes Basin. “This legislation marks a significant step forward in helping Central Oregon expand more flexible and efficient water management to support farms, cities, and rivers alike,” the Deschutes River Conservancy said in a recent news
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(Adding video which includes an interview, more information on scam). SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Justice warned Oregonians Friday about a fast-growing and deeply concerning scam after an Eastern Oregon woman was defrauded out of $600,000 — nearly her entire life savings. After a call to the ODOJ Consumer Protection Hotline, local
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(Update: Statement regarding Police Chief Tim Plummer’s exit from the Madras Police Department) MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Madras City Council voted 4-0-1 Wednesday night to fire Police Chief Timothy Plummer. Joined with Plummer’s sharp public criticism of City Administrator Will Ibershof, who recommended his dismissal, the Madras City Council meeting was heated. Here is
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You may have seen new black and teal e-bikes popping up around Bend recently. They’re part of a new bike-share program the City of Bend implemented. The city partnered with Veo, the independent shared micro-mobility company, earlier this month.
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MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — About 70 state prison inmates were brought in from around Oregon to perform field work to help “defend in place” Deer Ridge Correctional Institution from the Cram Fire, which is about 2 1/2 miles from the medium-security facility, the Oregon Department of Corrections told KTVZ News on Friday. DRCI, which houses
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — As wildfires continue to impact parts of Oregon, Governor Tina Kotek has declared a State of Emergency, effective July 16, 2025, through December 31, 2025. Travelers are urged to use extra caution on the roads and know the conditions in the areas they are traveling to. Smoke can severely reduce visibility and create
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SALEM, Ore. — The 2025 Oregon Legislative Session concluded on June 27, delivering significant investments in the state’s housing and homelessness efforts. Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) said Thursday it is grateful for key legislation passed that will bring much-needed relief to families experiencing housing instability across Oregon. “These investments are the result of collective
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SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (KTVZ) — As hot, dry temperatures continue, the Willamette National Forest will implement fire restrictions starting Friday, July 18. The Fire Danger Level across the forest remains “Moderate” and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) remains at level I. The fire restrictions apply to all lands within the forest, including the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Mt.
Continue ReadingREDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — From traffic intersections to new business developments, park programs, drone shows. Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch bring us the latest and answers your questions on this months Ask the Mayor. Fitch appears on KTVZ News at Sunrise in the 6:30 a.m. segment on the third Thursday of every month. Make sure to submit
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The Oregon Legislature has approved $10 million to help advance the long-planned CORE3 training and response center in Redmond.
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory for Wednesday for Klamath and Jefferson counties due to smoke from Hagelstein and Elk fires in Klamath County and the Cram Fire in Jefferson County. DEQ said it expects the air quality advisory to last until at least 10 a.m.
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) —An Armenian national extradited from Ukraine to the United States faces federal charges for his role in Ryuk ransomware attacks and extortion conspiracy targeting companies throughout the U.S., including a technology company operating in Oregon. Karen Serobovich Vardanyan, 33, an Armenian national, has been charged with conspiracy, fraud in connection with computers,
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 4,300 jobs in June, following a revised loss of 2,100 jobs in May, the Oregon Employment Department reported Wednesday June’s losses were largest in other services (-1,400 jobs); manufacturing (-1,200); leisure and hospitality (-1,000 jobs); professional and business services (-700); and retail trade (-700). Gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+900 jobs).
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Declaration allows responders to use all necessary and appropriate resources of the state to support wildfire response. SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek declared a State of Emergency on Wednesday due to the imminent threat of wildfire in an executive order that extends through the rest of the calendar year.“Oregon is already experiencing a
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