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Government-Politics

Oregon Senator Anthony Broadman

Bend Democratic lawmakers Anthony Broadman, Emerson Levy join GOP in calling for repeal of state’s wildfire hazard map

Democratic state Senator Anthony Broadman of Bend on Thursday joined a recent call by Republican lawmakers to repeal the state’s revised wildfire hazard map, saying it doesn’t “create an equitable system” or account for variance among properties. Rep. Emerson Levy, D-Bend, told KTVZ News she also supports its repeal.

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Oregon Capitol

Oregon House, Senate Republicans outline education priorities, legislation this session

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon House and Senate Republicans announced legislation Thursday to dramatically reform public education that includes restoring graduation requirements, expanding options for school choice, and holding education leaders accountable for student outcomes. According to a statewide poll from January 4-7 of this year, 67% of Oregonians support expanding options for school choice,

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Gov. Kotek, state housing agency launch zero-interest loan program to boost workforce housing projects, cut costs

 SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek and Oregon Housing and Community Services announced Thursday the launch of Oregon’s Moderate Income Revolving Loan program, to provide zero-interest loans to cities and counties for new housing units that don’t have enough financing to start construction. They said the funding is a tool cities and counties can

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Oregon worker representatives react to former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s confirmation hearing

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Former Oregon U.S. Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Trump’s nominee for labor secretary. testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Wednesday. Chavez-DeRemer discussed her past support of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which allows all workers to freely unionize. It’s been strongly opposed by several

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Former Deschutes National Forest worker Liz Crandall

Cuts in federal workforce having impacts on Central Oregon national forests

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Impacts are being felt and layoffs are occurring on Central Oregon national forests under the Trump administration’s recent budget cuts and federal workforce reductions. KTVZ News’ Harley Coldiron reports on those developments, including comments from laid-off Deschutes National Forest worker Liz Crandall. A U.S. Forest Service representative provided this statement to

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Deschutes County logo

Deschutes County seeks volunteer to serve on Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council Board

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Board County of Commissioners is accepting applications from Deschutes County residents who are interested in serving on the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) Board. The individual appointed to the volunteer position will represent the unemployed and underemployed sectors of the community and focus on workforce development.   The COIC is

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Oregon Department of Revenue begins sending out tax refunds; here’s how to find out the status of yours

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) –The Oregon Department of Revenue has begun distributing refunds for the 2024 tax year. Through Feb. 17, the department has processed more than 400,000 tax returns. The first refunds of the year were issued Tuesday. Each year, the department employs a refund hold period as part of the agency’s fraud prevention efforts.

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Wyden backs bill to raise minimum age to buy assault weapons, high-capacity ammunition from 18 to 21

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said Wednesday he is joining legislation to raise the minimum age to buy assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines from 18 to 21.  “If you’re not old enough to purchase alcohol, you shouldn’t be allowed to buy an assault weapon either,” Wyden said. “We need to be doing everything we

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US Capitol

Oregon Senators Wyden and Merkley, colleagues urge Trump administration to make no cuts to Medicare, Medicaid

Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said Tuesday they have sent a letter with their Senate colleagues urging Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Donald Trump’s administration not to make cuts to Medicare and Medicaid to pay for billionaires’ tax cuts. “Every cut risks Americans paying more, waiting longer, and wading through more

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Palisades Fire burns home

Hiring freeze of firefighters could be deadly, Forest Service captain warns

By Jacob Soboroff, NBC News SKAMANIA COUNTY, Wash. (NBC) — A freeze on the hiring and onboarding of thousands of federal firefighters could have deadly consequences as the national wildfire response operates at a “diminished capacity,” a federal firefighting captain told NBC News. The federal hiring freeze ordered last month by President Donald Trump will hinder the U.S.

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MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility

Gov. Tina Kotek places Oregon Youth Authority director on administrative leave

By Amy-Xiaoshi DePaola, KGW SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Gov. Tina Kotek has placed the director of the Oregon Youth Authority on administrative leave, effective immediately.  Kotek’s office announced Friday that Jana McLellan, who currently serves as the interim deputy director, will replace Joseph O’Leary. OYA is the state’s juvenile justice agency, and the governor stressed

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