Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Fire & Rescue launched a new online tool Thursday to streamline requests for free wildfire risk home assessments and personalized mitigation recommendations. The system uses Fire Aside, an online platform for scheduling appointments and managing property assessment data. The initiative operates under the department’s Own Your Zone program, which assists
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The nonpartisan campaign Deschutes For All will host a community gathering this Sunday, Sept. 13, in Terrebonne to inform residents about Ballot Measure 9-185. The ballot measure asks voters whether to establish five geographic commissioner districts across Deschutes County. The proposal follows a 2024 vote in which Deschutes County voters expanded
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon National Guard and the U.S. Navy broke ground yesterday on a $12 million Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range at the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman. The project will create the first and only Army Standard crew-served weapons range in Oregon, allowing soldiers to conduct heavy weapons qualifications in-state.
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Dollar General Literacy Foundation announced approximately $20,000 in youth literacy grants for Oregon schools and non-profit organizations today. The funding is expected to impact more than 700 individuals across the state. The Oregon grants are part of a broader national initiative that awarded more than $4.1 million to youth literacy
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SALEM, Ore. — Oregon’s public defense crisis is showing signs of improvement, with the number of defendants waiting for an attorney dropping 66% over the past year, according to Governor Tina Kotek. When Kotek appointed Ken Sanchagrin to lead the Oregon Public Defense Commission in April 2025, more than 4,000 defendants statewide were without legal
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has ordered all flags at public institutions across the state to fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Friday, September 11, 2026. The order marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The directive commemorates the nearly 3,000 civilians and first responders killed
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield is leading a bipartisan coalition of 49 attorneys general calling on the Federal Communications Commission to close regulatory loopholes and enforce stricter oversight of phone companies that route illegal robocalls. The coalition is pushing the FCC to require telecommunications providers to thoroughly vet business partners and
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon employers would pay an average of 92 cents per $100 of payroll for workers’ compensation coverage in 2027 under a proposal announced today by the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. The proposal includes an average 2.1% increase in the pure premium rate, marking the second-lowest rate on record
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — At approximately 9:45pm Redmond Fire & Rescue crews responded to the undeveloped land east of Redmond for a reported RV fire. Upon arrival crews extinguished a fully involved RV fire that spread to two trees and a pile of rubbish. Three brush engines and one Battalion Chief responded with 9 personnel
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced Wednesday that the state is filing two lawsuits against federal environmental agencies over rule changes that weaken protections under the Endangered Species Act. The legal actions, supported by Gov. Tina Kotek, challenge regulations issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — PODER, Oregon’s Latino Leadership Network, will host its 17th annual Hispanic Heritage Month Breakfast & Summit on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, at the Salem Convention Center in Salem, Ore. The theme for this year’s event is “Built on Hope. Carried Forward by Community,” which focuses on honoring past generations while supporting
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Gov. Tina Kotek today directed all state agencies to immediately pause unapproved requests for state-owned property for data center projects. The order halts easements, rights-of-way, leases, rentals, land-use permits and sales or transfers of state property through July 1, 2027, unless directed otherwise by statewide action from the Governor’s Office or
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The Oregon Zoo has placed a rare female Bali myna in its public Vollum Aviary, offering visitors a chance to view one of the world’s most endangered songbirds. Also known as the Bali starling, the species is the official bird of Bali, Indonesia and is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Fire officials in Central Oregon will reduce public use fire restrictions to Stage 1 starting at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. The decision follows recent moisture and cooler temperatures across the region. The reduction applies to the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland and Prineville
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The High Desert Museum in Bend, Ore., recognized National Wildlife Day on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, highlighting its ongoing care for more than 100 ambassador animals. The occasion coincides with the one-year anniversary of the museum receiving accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Opened in 1982, the museum operates
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNN) — A former Labor Secretary with ties to Oregon is under fire from the Labor Department’s internal watchdog. A new 40-page report says Lori Chavez-Deremer spent public money on personal travel and tolerated harassment. It also found she had an inappropriate relationship with a member of her security detail. More than three
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bureau of Land Management issued a warning Friday ahead of Labor Day weekend that wildfire season is far from over across Oregon and Washington. More than 2.5 million acres have already burned across the Northwest in 2026 during an exceptionally active fire season. While temperatures may begin to cool and
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Sisters Ranger District will host a public meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, to share updates on local vegetation management projects and recovery plans following the Akawa Butte Fire. The meeting will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Sisters Ranger District office, located at 201 North Pine St.
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Nonprofit organization Discover Your Northwest will host the Care for the Land Fall Trash Bash community cleanup near La Pine State Park in the Deschutes National Forest on Sept. 26, 2026. The volunteer event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in celebration of National Public Lands Day. The cleanup
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Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — City and county officials alongside clean transportation advocates will gather in Bend on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, to highlight the financial and environmental benefits of clean cars, hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles. The event comes as gasoline prices in Bend average nearly $4.90 per gallon. The event is scheduled for 2
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