Government-Politics Archives

‘Is there one right answer? There’s not’: Sisters community comes together for a conversation about houselessness

October 7, 2024 4:26 pm KTVZ

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The homeless population in Sisters has been steadily increasing, according to the latest Central Oregon Point-in-Time Count. More than 100 people gathered Sunday at the new Sisters Elementary School for a community conversation about houselessness. According to the PIT count, conducted early this year, 64 people were homeless in the Sisters area last year, up from last

Oregon Housing and Community Services issues final report on first five-year Statewide Housing Plan

October 7, 2024 1:34 pm KTVZ News Partners

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Housing and Community Services announced Monday monumental progress in improving housing outcomes for all Oregonians with the release of the final report on Oregon’s first-ever Statewide Housing Plan. Here’s the agency’s full announcement news release: The five-year housing plan was launched in July 2019 with a bold, shared vision: to

Salmon swim freely in the Klamath River for 1st time in a century after dams removed

October 7, 2024 12:04 pm The Associated Press

HORNBROOK, Calif. (AP) — For the first time in more than a century, salmon are swimming freely along the Klamath River and its tributaries — a major watershed near the California-Oregon border — just days after the largest dam removal project in U.S. history was completed. Researchers determined that Chinook salmon began migrating Oct. 3

Oregon Transportation Commission to discuss budget, DMV voter registration issues Thursday at Bend meeting

October 7, 2024 11:15 am KTVZ News Partners

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Transportation Commission will hold its regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 9 a.m. The meeting will originate from the Bend Riverhouse Lodge, 3075 North Highway 97. Items on the agenda include: DMV Voter Registration Issue: An update on DMV’s work with registering customers to vote under the Oregon Motor

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley issues statement marking one year since Hamas terrorist attack on Israel

October 7, 2024 10:50 am KTVZ News Partners

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., issued the following statement Monday marking one year since the Hamas-led terrorist attack, and resulting military engagement and humanitarian crisis in Gaza and across the region: “It is with heavy hearts that we commemorate one year since Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. “As

Deschutes County DA’s office seeks volunteers for young-adult restorative justice program

October 7, 2024 10:32 am KTVZ News Partners

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Since 2021, the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office has been offering the Emerging Adult Program, a pre-charge restorative justice initiative. This program allows young adult offenders to take accountability for their actions and redirect their lives, while prioritizing the healing and justice for those harmed by their behavior. The Emerging Adult Program

Crooked River Ranch Fire & Rescue receives new fire engine through state program, invites public to ‘push-in’ ceremony

October 7, 2024 9:27 am KTVZ News Partners

CROOKED RIVER RANCH, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crooked River Ranch Fire & Rescue has received a new wildland interface fire engine through a state program and is inviting the community to a special ceremony marking its arrival. Thanks to Senate Bill 762 the Oregon State Fire Marshal was able to make several large investments in the

Despite all the hoops to jump through, Culver farmer is excited about $822K USDA grant to help them go solar

October 3, 2024 9:54 am Barney Lerten

Kerry Backsen has learned a thing or two over the years about running a combination feed mill, 1,300-acre farm, retail store and trucking company with his wife, Terry, on property they bought just over 20 years ago, just outside Culver.

Merkley, Wyden: $9.3 million coming to NW to support opioid response programs in tribal communities

October 4, 2024 9:32 am KTVZ News Partners

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Friday that $9,343,231 is coming to Tribal communities in Oregon and across the Pacific Northwest to tackle the opioid epidemic by boosting prevention, treatment, and recovery programs. This federal funding is critical to providing Tribes with more resources to help address this public health crisis,

Supporters cheer Bend councilors’ approval of commitment to ‘fossil fuel-free’ city-owned buildings

October 3, 2024 8:06 pm KTVZ News Partners

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — In an important step toward fulfilling their Community Climate Action Plan, Bend city councilors passed a resolution Wednesday night committing to building all new or significantly renovated city-owned buildings with pollution-free electric equipment, rather than fossil fuels, supporters of the move said. The resolution, which received unanimous support from the council,

Aspen Ridge death update: Another ex-worker witnessed ‘a lot of neglect’; state agency seeks tougher staffing rules

October 3, 2024 4:43 pm Matthew Draxton

Aspen Ridge Memory Care in Bend has been categorized as putting residents in “immediate jeopardy condition” by the Oregon Department of Human Services, in the wake of a resident’s recent tragic death.

Senators ask Justice Department to take tougher action against Boeing executives over safety issues

October 3, 2024 6:04 pm The Associated Press

Associated Press Two U.S. senators have asked the Department of Justice to take tougher action against Boeing executives by holding them criminally accountable for safety issues that have impacted its airplanes. In a letter dated Wednesday and sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said

Gov. Kotek, state agency announce current, projected homelessness initiative outcomes

October 3, 2024 4:11 pm Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — On Thursday, Governor Tina Kotek and Oregon Housing and Community Services announced current and projected outcomes as a result of the governor’s homelessness initiative work since her first day in office. This includes her Emergency Homelessness Response and collaboration with the agency and local partners to implement a transparent, outcomes-oriented budget

‘Game-changer’: Oregon Department of Revenue partners with IRS to offer free income tax e-filing option for 2025 returns

October 3, 2024 3:39 pm KTVZ News Partners

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ)—Oregon resident taxpayers preparing their own tax returns in 2025 will have the option to electronically file both their federal and state income tax returns using the combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon, the IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue announced Thursday. “The Direct File Program is a game-changer

Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang appointed to Oregon Transportation Commission

October 3, 2024 11:29 am Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Phil Chang, a Deschutes County commissioner with a long career in natural resources management, is joining the Oregon Transportation Commission. The Oregon Senate confirmed Governor Tina Kotek’s appointment of Chang to the five-member body on Wednesday, Sept. 25. “We’re fortunate to have someone with Phil’s experience and insight join the Commission,”

Staffing issues close Madras DMV office Thursday

October 3, 2024 8:46 am KTVZ News Partners

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to staffing issues, the Madras office of Oregon DMV is closed Thursday, officials announced. Much business with DMV can be conducted online at https://dmv2u.oregon.gov/eServices/_/

Bend councilors vote 6-1 to adopt new rules limiting vehicles used to camp on city streets, closer to rules for tents

October 2, 2024 10:45 pm Barney Lerten

Bend city councilors voted 6-1 Wednesday night to enact a new vehicle camping code that will be more closely aligned to city regulations for campers in tents along city streets while taking into account RVs. larger footprint and other factors.

Wyden’s brings ‘special delivery’ to Bend post office, presses postmaster general to drop plan that’s delaying mail

October 2, 2024 11:59 am KTVZ

Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined union members and others outside the main Bend post office Wednesday to decry the “mail madness” that he said has resulted from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s “consolidation debacle” and the headaches its caused for mail delivery around the state.

‘Very positive feedback’: Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District issues extinguishers to houseless, part of new program

October 2, 2024 4:27 pm KTVZ

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A recent small fire at a homeless camp in Sisters was stopped with a fire extinguisher given free to a camper by the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. “In the spring of this year, we had an interview for a fire chief for a fire district,” Steven Lord, fire risk EMT in community

Deschutes County commissioners revisit three land-use decisions with 2-1 votes, sparking more Chang-DeBone clashes

October 2, 2024 4:01 pm Barney Lerten

Three recent split land-use decisions by Deschutes County commissioners came back before them for another round Wednesday afternoon, the next step in the formal approval or denial process, bringing a renewed clash between Phil Chang on the losing end and colleague Tony DeBone.

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