The historic flood rocking Harney County has prompted help from all corners of Oregon, including the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office’s Swift Water Rescue Team, which paddled to over 60 homes to help evacuate residents. The team was able to paddle four stranded residents to safety.
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By Rob Wile NBC News WASHINGTON (NBC) — President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to impose an across-the-board 10% tariff on all U.S. trading partners — as well as higher duties for dozens of other countries — as he pledged to embark on the biggest reorganization of global trade relations since World War II. Speaking from
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — In response to the ongoing flooding in Harney County, Governor Kotek has declared a State of Emergency and directed the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to activate the state’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan to coordinate response efforts across state agencies. Since March 14, Harney County and surrounding areas have experienced historic levels of rainfall and snowmelt,
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates saw little change in Central Oregon this February, the Oregon Employment Department reported Tuesday. Total nonfarm employment increased across all three counties over the month, while Crook County was the only one to experience a decline in nonfarm employment over the year. Here’s the full report from
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ — Oregon State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner announced Tuesday that the Treasury will be proactively returning approximately $11 million in unclaimed property this month to individuals as part of the agency’s 2025 ‘Checks Without Claims’ initiative. Treasurer Steiner shared, “It’s a joy to reunite thousands of Oregonians with their forgotten funds, with no
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Negotiations began nearly a year ago between Deschutes County and Hooker Creek on future use of the Moon Pit mine site for a new county landfill. But now, negotiations have hit an impasse, sending the process back to Deschutes County commissioners.
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Education said Tuesday it has received formal notification from the U.S. Department of Education that the agency’s more than $2.5 million COVID-era, congressionally appropriated dollars earmarked to help teachers improve student’s literacy and math skills were terminated, effective March 28th, 10 months earlier than anticipated. Here’s ODE’s
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ep. Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., and Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., introduced on Tuesday the Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act of 2025. The bill reauthorizes the Deschutes River Conservancy’s eligibility to receive federal funding for water quality improvement initiatives and conservation efforts.
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Nearly five months after Deschutes County voters approved a measure to expand the Board of County Commissioners from three to five, the three current commissioners are in general agreement about putting a proposal before voters next year to elect commissioners by geographic districts, rather than at large.
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(Update: Adding video) TERREBONNE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies and Search and Rescue volunteers responded to help an injured hiker and a lost hiker at Smith Rock State Park in two separate incidents last week. On Tuesday, March 25, around 11:25 a.m., SAR volunteers were requested to assist with an injured hiker at
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A new analysis conducted for the city of Bend shows planning for growth in sectors like health care and biotech-related fields will be critical in supporting Bend’s economy over the next 20 years.
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The Oregon Legislature is expected to advance two bills this week that could provide electric utilities with a financial safety net and some level of protection from bankruptcy-inducing lawsuits if their equipment starts a catastrophic fire.
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State Senators Anthony Broadman (D-Bend) and Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte) said Friday they have issued a joint letter to several major insurance providers—including State Farm, Allstate, and Liberty Mutual—calling for an immediate pause on non-renewals and policy cancellations of homeowners insurance based on the use of internal proprietary wildfire risk maps. The letter urges a moratorium
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Unofficial Logging Co. in downtown Bend has begun hosting a monthly Engage Deschutes gathering. The events are meant to encourage political and developmental discussions in Central Oregon among all community members. This month’s topic was on transportation and included guest speakers, as well as open forum time for attendees to ask
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WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – In an interview with KTVZ, U.S. Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Oregon) discussed a range of critical issues affecting Oregon and the nation. Bentz emphasized his commitment to downsizing the federal government and focusing on fiscal responsibility while also highlighting the importance of supporting vital programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for the
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, has abruptly terminated roughly $117 million in COVID-era grants and funding for Oregon Health Authority programs. OHA said in a news release late Thursday the cuts
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Prescriptions for life-ending medications under Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act increased last year, while the number of deaths declined, according to new Oregon Health Authority data released Thursday. According to OHA’s 27th annual report on the DWDA, the number of prescriptions written for lethal medications increased 8.2%, from 561 to 607; deaths
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Alyssa’s Law (HB 3083), legislation that requires Oregon school districts to consider installing a panic alarm system in their schools, consisting of either a wireless or wearable panic alarm, passed the Oregon House Tuesday by a unanimous 50-0 vote.
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(Update: Adding video) Project still due for completion by next January; school will seek other funds MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A recent continuing resolution funding bill passed by Congress has resulted in the loss of $3 million in federal funding previously anticipated for the construction of Central Oregon Community College’s Madras campus expansion. “The loss
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Employment Department said Thursday it identified errors with some 1099-G tax forms it issued in January regarding Unemployment Insurance benefits paid in 2024. As a result, about 5 percent or 12,000 1099-G forms needed to be updated. OED is issuing corrected 1099-G tax forms this week. “We are very
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