Local News Archives

Fire burns abandoned structures on Warm Springs Reservation

June 27, 2021 8:11 pm KTVZ News Partners

Two abandoned structures burned Sunday afternoon on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, quickly spreading to the surrounding brush before fire crews…

Unprecedented: Northwest heat wave builds, records fall

June 27, 2021 5:54 pm The Associated Press

Intense. Prolonged. Record-breaking. Unprecedented. Abnormal. Dangerous. That’s how the National Weather Service described the historic heat wave…

Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies, bystanders rescue 2 men drowning at Lake Billy Chinook

June 27, 2021 12:58 am Barney Lerten

Two Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies and several bystanders helped rescue two men who were drowning at Lake Billy Chinook Saturday evening,…

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue completes 3 simultaneous missions

June 26, 2021 9:10 pm Barney Lerten

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue had a busy Friday night, with three simultaneous rescue missions for an injured hiker near Broken…

More progress made on week-old wildfires, but new blazes pop up as heat wave hits

June 26, 2021 5:43 pm Barney Lerten

Firefighters on Saturday reported more progress on week-old wildfires on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and in Klamath County, but new, small…

Zika speaks on Oregon House passage of child care reform legislation

June 25, 2021 6:43 pm KTVZ

State Rep. Jack Zika, R-Redmond, spoke to NewsChannel 21 on Friday after the Oregon House passed legislation to create more badly needed child care…

City of Bend urges residents to cut water use amid chlorine shortage; plant should be back online soon

June 25, 2021 12:20 pm KTVZ News Partners

The city of Bend is asking all of its water customers to make a voluntary reduction in water usage, starting Friday, due to a continued shortage of…

Closed Warm Springs mill’s log decks spontaneously combust, spark 500-acre wildfire

June 24, 2021 5:32 pm Barney Lerten

Three old log decks at the former Warm Springs Forest Products sawmill spontaneously combusted late Thursday afternoon, the fires merging in a…

Madras man charged with burglary, theft at Bridges High School

June 25, 2021 2:00 pm Barney Lerten

A 29-year-old Madras man was jailed on burglary, theft and other charges for stealing items from Bridges High School, the former Westside School on…

Record-breaking C.O. heat wave due: How to stay cool, and why it’s a struggle for some

June 24, 2021 11:57 am KTVZ

A record heat wave incoming to Central Oregon is causing some to prepare for heat safety and search for spots to stay…

Cooling centers opening in Bend, Redmond, Madras for unhoused residents

June 24, 2021 4:58 pm KTVZ News Partners

With the National Weather Service issuing an excessive heat watch for Central Oregon, members of the Homeless Leadership Coalition are organizing…

Prineville man seriously injured in Powell Butte UTV-car crash

June 24, 2021 3:17 pm Barney Lerten

A Prineville man driving a side-by-side UTV was seriously injured Thursday when he failed to yield to a car that struck the vehicle on Southwest…

ODOT reopens McKenzie Pass Highway for the summer

June 24, 2021 1:21 pm KTVZ News Partners

Oregon Highway 242, the McKenzie Pass Highway, reopened for the summer earlier this week, the Oregon Department of Transportation…

Bend-Redmond hourly wages 6% below US average, but health care field fares better

June 24, 2021 11:16 am KTVZ News Partners

Workers in the Bend-Redmond metro area (defined as all of Deschutes County had an average (mean) hourly wage of $25.39 in May 2020, 6 percent below…

Intense thunderstorm dumps hail, heavy rain across northern Bend

June 23, 2021 9:50 pm Barney Lerten

A slow-moving thunderstorm cell parked itself over the north end of Bend late Wednesday afternoon, dumping up to an hour of torrential rain and hail…

‘It’s something special’: 75th Crooked River Roundup in Prineville kicks off

June 23, 2021 11:28 am KTVZ

After almost two years with no event, the city of Prineville, which proudly calls itself the “Cowboy Capital of Oregon,” is hosting the 75th annual…

A first: Central Oregon fire crews get assist from 2 visiting task forces amid high fire danger

June 23, 2021 11:59 am KTVZ

The Office of Oregon State Fire Marshal has sent fire crews from elsewhere in the state to Central Oregon to serve as backup due to the high wildfire…