SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek declared a drought emergency in Deschutes, Baker, and Umatilla counties through Executive Order 26-05. The declaration comes as forecasts suggest below-normal precipitation and streamflow conditions will likely continue through the summer. This is the first drought declaration issued by Governor Kotek during the 2026 calendar year. The order
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PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The fifth annual Kiefer’s Magical Birthday Bash will return to Central Oregon on April 10th and April 11th, 2026. The two-day event, held at Wild Ride Brewing locations in Prineville and Redmond, brings the community together for mental health awareness and connection. The celebration honors the life and legacy of Kiefer
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DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth (COPY) is offering a training class on Saturday, April 11th, for residents interested in mentoring children with an incarcerated parent. The orientation and training session is required for all volunteers before they are matched with a child. Participants must also pass background checks as part
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Tea and Art Lounge has opened in downtown Bend, offering a combination of local beverages and accessible art projects. The new business is located on Bond Street next to Deschutes Brewery. The lounge specializes in “bite-sized” art projects designed to be completed in a short amount of time, such as
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend City Council approved a $394,000 contract today to remodel the kitchens at three Bend Fire & Rescue stations. The project will address significant wear and tear at Stations 301, 303 and 304. Mission Building & Remodel was selected for the construction work after submitting the lowest responsible bid. The
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(Update: adding more information about surrounding Central Oregon, Oregon, and nationwide rallies. Including response from the Trump Administration.) PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A “No Kings” rally in Prineville brought out a few hundred people over the weekend, as part of a sweeping national protest movement that drew millions of Americans voicing frustration with the Trump
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MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Firefighters will conduct a prescribed jackpot burn on the Crooked River National Grassland beginning Tuesday, March 31. The project will treat approximately 311 acres of land located four miles southeast of Madras. The burn is situated within Pace Jackpot Burning Unit 3, near Buck Butte and east of Highway 26. Operations
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Fire & Rescue is inviting Central Oregon high school students to apply for Camp Fire Axe, a four-day summer fire academy scheduled for June 2026. The program is designed for students ages 16 to 19 who are considering a career in the fire service. Led by professional firefighters and paramedics,
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(Update: Adding information and quotes from the business owner, Findley’s extensive criminal record). BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 43-year-old man was arrested Saturday night after police say he broke into a Bend business and smeared feces inside the building, in what the owner describes as a deeply unsettling encounter that has
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — A new Rule Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet Monday, April 13th, to review proposed updates to the County Opportunity Grant Program. The County Opportunity Grant Program provides financial assistance to counties for the acquisition, development, rehabilitation, and planning of park areas that include camping facilities. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
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OREGON (KTVZ) — Average gasoline prices in Oregon rose 4.9 cents per gallon over the last week, reaching an average of $4.83 per gallon on Monday, according to GasBuddy. The price hike comes as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupts global crude oil supplies. According to a GasBuddy survey of 1,307 stations,
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REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Lightning Football will begin its second week of training camp Monday with a series of open practices scheduled through April 4th. The sessions will be held at the Redmond School District Jaqua Sports Fields as the team prepares for its second Arena Football One season. The open practices follow the
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(Update: adding comments from Bev Clarno, former Oregon Governor, Director of Oregon Historical Society, and Clarno’s son) REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Former Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno celebrated a milestone birthday Sunday in Redmond, surrounded by a rare sight in today’s political climate: a room full of Democrats and Republicans sharing laughs, memories, and
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — An early morning fire caused extensive damage to a Bend home Saturday, with investigators pointing to a pellet stove pipe as the likely source. Bend Fire & Rescue responded around 5:07 a.m. to a reported structure fire near Thomas Drive and Airpark Drive. When crews arrived within eight minutes of the
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Halfway through the 2020s – a decade in which Americans’ lives were greatly impacted by the COVID pandemic – Deschutes County has added more residents than any other Oregon county, while Crook County’s growth rate tops the state. Those are two Central Oregon highlights from the U.S. Census Bureau’s county population estimates for July 1, 2025, released Thursday, which shows a
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SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Oregon Department of Transportation begins several weeks of overnight construction on Sunday night along U.S. Highway 20 in Sisters, upgrading curb ramps and pedestrian crossings to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The start date for the project recently was moved up from the original plan of April 12,
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon residents are facing a surge in allergy symptoms. The obvious culprit is the blooming juniper, but birch pollen might also be a factor. Medical experts at Central Oregon Ear, Nose and Throat say every person has different things their allergic too. And allergy issues can persist year-round, rather than
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Shepherd’s House Ministries has received a $3 million award to grow their “Abi’s House” program, which houses at-risk women and children in Central Oregon. Currently, Abi’s House can only serve 10 people. But with this funding, the program will grow to 40 participants. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness,
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Videos from several doorbell and driveway security cameras helped Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies identify and arrest a La Pine man responsible for this week’s late-night series of vehicle break‑ins in two La Pine neighborhoods.
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Real estate developer Taylor Brooks recently announced that it has sold Lot 5 of the Cooley Road Industrial Lots subdivision at Juniper Ridge to the Central Oregon Irrigation District. The 5.72-acre lot is south of Cooley Road and includes a portion of COID’s main canal. The sale price for the parcel was not disclosed.
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