SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – After four overlapping surveys and more than a year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has ruled Oregon State Hospital has made significant patient safety and quality improvements and is now in substantial compliance, no longer slated to lose CMS certification. “The hospital is a foundational component of our behavioral
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Last week, NewsChannel 21 brought you a story surrounding the growth of Redmond after three downtown units in the Old Creamery Building on Southwest 6th Street were sold, with plans for revitalization.
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WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (KTVZ) — President Biden issued a formal presidential apology on Friday to Native American communities for the atrocities committed against Indigenous children and their families during a 150-year era of forced federal Indian boarding schools. Jonathan W. Smith, Sr., Chairman, Tribal Council for the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek has declared a drought in Wallowa County through Executive Order 24-29, and directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region. “Water scarcity has become the new normal for our state,” Governor Kotek said. “We’re seeing counties across Oregon experience longer drought periods at a greater frequency
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REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — At 8 a.m. on Monday, Redmond Fire & Rescue will reopen outdoor burning. With the recent rains and decrease in high temperatures, the risk for fire spread has decreased to safe levels. Redmond Fire & Rescue would like to remind anyone who is conducting outdoor burning of the regulations for the areas
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory recently confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a Clackamas County commercial poultry operation with about 150,000 birds. The affected birds were euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease and did not enter the food system. Avian influenza
Continue ReadingMany Oregonians have already received their ballots in the mail, and some have already cast their votes. But for those still needing explanations on the statewide election measures, this week will be for you, as NewsChannel 21 is breaking down this year’s ballot measures as we approach November 5th.
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued five penalties totaling $105,394 in September for various environmental violations, including more than $13,000 levied against St. Charles Health System for underground fuel storage tank violations at its Redmond hospital. A detailed list of violations and resulting penalties is at https://ordeq.org/enforcement. The early-September violation notice
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WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced Thursday that five Central and Eastern conservation projects have secured a total of more than $95 million in federal investment to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners adopt and expand strategies that enhance natural resources while tackling the climate crisis. . “These significant federal
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(Update: Bend City Council sets special meeting; mayor reaction to county vote) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A week after things went sideways on joint plans to close much of the Juniper Ridge area north of Bend to homeless camping and create a 170-acre temporary safe stay area, Deschutes county commissioners voted 3-0 Wednesday to adopt
Continue ReadingAssociated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Some voters living in areas that recently experienced rainy or humid weather have reported receiving ballot return envelopes that are already sealed shut because of moisture dampening mail, elections officials say. The issue has been reported in parts of North Carolina, where Hurricane Helene brought heavy rains and catastrophic
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The National Grasslands Council has awarded the Crooked River National Grassland the 2024 National Grasslands Conservation Award for exceptional achievements in conservation and leadership in sustainable land management practices. The award recognizes the Crooked River National Grassland’s efforts working through strong partnerships with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon Department
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PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Ochoco National Forest announced Thursday that it has begun juniper thinning on the Crooked River National Grassland as part of a broader effort to reduce wildfire risk and restore ecosystem health. Over the past century, fire suppression, historical forest management practices, the discontinuation of cultural fire use by Indigenous people
Continue ReadingBEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Outdoor debris burning will open at sunrise next Monday for areas outside the City of Bend within the boundaries of Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2. Debris burning is not allowed throughout the year within the city limits of Bend, as per city ordinance, officials reminded Thursday. Here’s the rest
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District will officially reduce the fire danger to LOW and end the 2024 fire season Friday at 12:01 a.m., for lands under their protection and management. The end of fire season is a result of recent wetting rains and an overall cooling trend that
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Wilsonville woman was sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison Wednesday for laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds as the chief money launderer for a drug trafficking organization operating in the Pacific Northwest and California. Jacqueline Paola Rodriguez Barrientos, 44, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison
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WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Senator Ron Wyden said Wednesday he has joined Senate and House colleagues to urge the Department of Justice to act against major tax preparation companies illegally sharing protected and sensitive taxpayer information with Big Tech firms. “We write to urge you to investigate and prosecute the criminal behavior of major tax preparation
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WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said Wednesday he has joined with Senators Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bob Casey, D-Pa. to press McDonald’s for more information on the company’s pricing decisions as fast food prices continue to increase, outpacing inflation and squeezing customers. “While McDonald’s is not the only fast food restaurant that has increased
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EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) – An incoming storm system has crews closing the west side of McKenzie Pass, Oregon Highway 242, this coming Friday, ODOT reported. Crews will close the gates on the west side of the pass near the junction with Oregon Highway 126 and also the gates near the summit at Dee Wright Observatory
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County commissioners on Wednesday morning interviewed 15 applicants interested in serving on the La Pine Park & Recreation District Board in the wake of a recent mass resignation, then unanimously chose five to appoint,. They are: Seat #1 appointee, Janilee Carpenter has been a member of the La Pine community for
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