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Governor Kotek, Oregon Health Authority announce goal of 465 more treatment beds by 2026

8:10 am

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek and the Oregon Health Authority announced Wednesday a residential treatment capacity dashboard to track the state’s progress towards additional behavioral health residential treatment beds and recovery housing units across Oregon, with the projected goal of adding 465 beds by December 2026. The dashboard includes existing capacity, added capacity based

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La Pine parents gather, voice concerns over Park & Rec Board’s sudden decision to resign, terminate district staff

11:58 pm

La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Now that the entire La Pine Park & Recreation District Board has resigned and have terminated all staff effective October 20th,  where does that leave parents who have invested time, money and energy into enrolling their kids into sports programs orchestrated by the district? Before moving on, there are still unanswered

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Vander Kamp asks court to prevent release of early-career Calif. personnel records – but his lawyer accidentally releases them

3:06 pm

Deschutes County sheriff’s candidate Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp went to court Wednesday, seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent the release of La Mesa, California Police Department personnel records from nearly 30 years ago sought by Oregon Public Broadcasting. But an error by his attorney made them available anyway.

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Entire La Pine Park & Rec board resigns at tense, emotional meeting, issues termination notice to all staff

12:49 pm

(Update: Adding video) La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) – The entire La Pine Park & Recreation District Board has resigned and terminated all staff as of October 20th, they announced at an emergency meeting Wednesday. The latest move come two weeks after the park district closed their offices to the public, citing “serious harassment” of staff

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Climate benefits: OHA distributes more than 10,000 air conditioners, air filters during this year’s extreme weather

5:29 pm

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregon residents at risk from heat and wildfire smoke-related health issues had more ways to receive air conditioners, air filters and other devices this year. Oregon Health Authority distributed more than 10,000 devices ahead of and during 2024’s extreme summer weather events through new Oregon Health Plan climate benefits and the

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Several people injured when ‘dust devil’ hits ODOT ribbon-cutting ceremony for Bend North Corridor project

4:55 pm

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Several people were injured Wednesday afternoon when a “dust devil” hit a tent as dignitaries gathered for the ribbon-cutting of ODOT’s Highway 97/20 Bend North Corridor Project. Officials had just begun the ceremony to officially open the $195 million project and ODOT Director Kris Strickler was speaking at the time. The

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Oregon AG announces $52 nationwide data breach settlement with Marriott; $2.1 million coming to state

2:16 pm

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced Wednesday that a coalition of 50 states, led by Oregon along with eight other states, has reached a settlement with Marriott International, Inc. over a massive 4-year long data breach of its Starwood system databases.  Here’s that full announcement: The Federal Trade Commission, which has coordinated closely with the

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Ask the Mayor: Melanie Kebler answers your questions on roundabout signals, vehicle camping, more

9:27 am

Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler joins Kelsey Merison and Matthew Draxton on our Sunrise show Wednesday to answer your questions on issues ranging from signal use in roundabouts to campers on Watt Way, the Hawthorne Bridge design and bike lanes in the winter. You can submit questions for next month, anonymously if you wish, at https://ktvz.com/ask-the-mayor/.

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It’s not just ODOT: Oregon counties predict severe revenue shortfall for roads, bridges, maintenance

12:25 am

Crook County officials join others calling for adequate funding SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Last week, the Association of Oregon Counties presented its 2024 County Road Needs Study to the Legislative Joint Committee on Transportation, forecasting a statewide annual revenue shortfall of 59 percent over the next five years. This will result in an additional $834

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Forest Service plans brush mowing north of Sisters this fall, winter to reduce hazardous fuels, protect community

2:34 pm

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Sisters Ranger District said Tuesday it plans to conduct about 439 acres of brush mowing operations on the Sisters Ranger District in areas adjacent to Forest Service Road 2058 (Pine Street), the Sisters Tie Trail and Forest Service Road 1102 (Indian Ford Road). The work is slated to begin Wednesday

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Global coalition led by OSU scientists warns of escalating climate crisis, urges ‘decisive action’ as UN summit nears

1:03 pm

CORVALLIS, Ore. (KTVZ) – An international coalition led by Oregon State University scientists concludes in its annual report published Tuesday that the Earth’s worsening vital signs indicate a “critical and unpredictable new phase of the climate crisis” and that “decisive action is needed, and fast.” The collaboration directed by OSU’s William Ripple and former postdoctoral researcher Christopher

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Deschutes County under another DEQ air quality advisory as wildfire smoke keeps spreading across region

12:52 pm

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued another air quality advisory Wednesday for Deschutes County due to smoke from new and older wildfires still burning around the region. DEQ said expects the air quality advisory to last until at least Thursday evening. DEQ and partner agencies will continue to monitor smoke

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Over 160,000 Deschutes County election ballots hit the mail next week; here’s what county clerk wants you to know

10:03 am

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — With more than 160,000 General Election ballots scheduled to be mailed to Deschutes County voters next week, County Clerk Steve Dennison is sharing important dates and information as Election Day draws near. Register or review your voter registration There is still time to register to vote or update your voter registration

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Aspen Ridge Special Report, Part 3: Concerned family members of current, former residents speak out on issues

10:09 pm

(Update: adding video, comment from family members) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Family members of residents have reached out to NewsChannel 21 after multiple Special Report’s on Bend’s Aspen Ridge Memory Care. After the death of a resident who was left in the sun, the facility is under state investigation and licensing conditions have been imposed.

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Oregon strikes an additional 302 people from voter rolls over lack of citizenship proof

4:49 pm

Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon authorities said Monday they had removed another 302 people from the state’s voter rolls after determining they didn’t provide proof of citizenship when they were registered to vote, in the latest revelation of improper voter registrations stemming from clerical errors at the state DMV. Monday’s announcement, in addition

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