SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Tina for Oregon campaign today challenged Sen. Christine Drazan to three 60-minute televised debates in Portland, Eugene and Medford. Drazan is again seeking Oregon’s highest office after facing Kotek in the 2022 governor’s race. Shortly after Oregon Governor Tina Kotek challenged Drazan to three debates before the November election, Drazan
Continue Reading
OREGON (KTVZ) — As of 10:23 a.m., ODOT reports the issue has been resolved. ORIGINAL REPORT: A network outage is currently affecting several state government agencies in Southwest Oregon, disrupting critical public services. The Oregon Department of Transportation, TripCheck, the Commerce and Compliance Division and Department of Motor Vehicles services are all offline. The widespread
Continue Reading
Update: Adding video SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek has declared a drought emergency for Douglas, Gilliam, Harney, Lake and Malheur counties in Oregon. This declaration brings the total number of Oregon counties under drought emergency status to 17 out of 36. The declaration, issued through Executive Order 26-09, directs state agencies to coordinate
Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: Rainn Wilson is also a Central Oregon resident and was evacuated during the 2025 Flat Fire. By:Ashley Murray-June 9, 2026 WASHINGTON — As various officials and groups aim to use the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding, a bipartisan group of lawmakers, with the help of a famed sitcom actor, turned the
Continue Reading
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) will close the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) program to new applications at 8 a.m. on June 15th. The program assists homeowners who have struggled to make mortgage payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The closure comes as program funds are running low, prompting an urgent
Continue Reading
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The American Red Cross is facing an urgent need for blood and platelet donors across the region, calling on people to schedule appointments now to stabilize the blood supply. The organization has seen an alarming drop in scheduled donations in recent weeks, critical for maintaining lifesaving blood products in hospitals into
Continue Reading
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, and Patty Murray, D-Washington, today demanded the Trump administration reinstate 13 federal employees in Oregon and Washington state. These Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, employees, include Public Affairs Officers and Public Information Officers. They received reassignment letters in May, leaving critical communication
Continue Reading
OREGON (KTVZ) — Average gasoline prices in Oregon decreased by 13.6 cents per gallon over the last week, currently averaging $5.05 per gallon, according to GasBuddy. This decline mirrors a national trend, with the average U.S. gasoline price falling by 17.9 cents per gallon in the same period, now at $4.09 per gallon. Gasoline prices
Continue Reading
BURNS, Ore. (KTVZ) The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is investigating a deer found alive with an arrow in its head on May 21, 2026, in Burns, Harney County, Ore. The deer was later euthanized for humane reasons. OSP Fish and Wildlife was notified on the morning of May 21, 2026, that the
Continue Reading
MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — KEITH Manufacturing Co. has been named a recipient of the 2026 Global Trailblazer Award by the Oregon Consular Corps (OCC). The regional manufacturing leader was celebrated alongside fellow Oregon honorees Calbee America, Orchard View Farms, and the Oregon Hazelnut Industry at the annual Celebrate Trade Gala, recently held at the Portland
Continue Reading
OREGON (KTVZ) — The Oregon Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) program began today, providing a one-time payment of $120 in food benefits for each eligible child. The program is set to help address child hunger across Oregon during summer break and is expected to serve approximately 360,000 children. Now in its third year, the
Continue Reading
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Leaders from multiple agencies convened yesterday, June 4, at Portland International Airport for the 2026 Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) Senior Leadership Seminar. The seminar focused on enhancing coordination and preparedness for a potential Cascadia Subduction Zone event, a significant natural disaster risk for the Pacific Northwest. The half-day program
Continue Reading
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State Police has a new K-9 recruit and Oregon kiddos are invited to help name him. He’s a one-year-old red Labrador Retriever currently in training and will soon join K-9 Scout and K-9 Drake as part of Oregon State Police’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation K-9 Program. K-9 recruit patiently waiting for his
Continue Reading
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Enoki, a red panda born June 13, 2023, has arrived at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Ore., and is settling into her new habitat. The furry nearly 3-year-old’s move was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan to help ensure the long-term future of red panda populations.
Continue Reading
PORTLAND, Ore. — Memorial Day marks the start of the summer driving season, and AAA finds that the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the “100 deadliest days,” when fatal crashes involving teen drivers spike. To encourage safer choices during this high-travel period, AAA is urging drivers to commit to “100 Days
Continue Reading
BAKER CITY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jeffrey Thomas Higgins, a 54-year-old Baker City man, pleaded guilty to investment advisor fraud after orchestrating a nearly 17-year scheme. Higgins stole client stock shares, sold them, and funneled the proceeds into his personal bank account, defrauding at least 14 investors of more than $1.6 million. The fraud scheme spanned
Continue Reading
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) Gov. Tina Kotek today announced Chris Warner as the interim director of the Oregon Department of Transportation, with the changes set to take effect at the end of the month. Emerald Bogue will serve as the Governor’s Chief of Staff. This appointment allows Lisa Sumption to return to the Oregon Parks and
Continue Reading
HARNEY COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Severe thunderstorms are sweeping across Harney County this afternoon, bringing dangerous winds, large hail, and rapidly changing conditions to the region. Central Oregon is also experiencing strong storms, thunder, and toppled trees, and our weather team is tracking possible inch-sized hail. Here’s what you need to know about a Severe Weather Threat.
Continue Reading
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon’s kindergarten vaccination rates have fallen to a new low for the 2025-2026 school year. This coincides with record high non-medical exemptions for required school vaccines. This decline raises concerns among state health officials about the potential return of preventable diseases like measles and polio. For the 2025-2026 school year, nonmedical
Continue Reading
BEND, Ore (KTVZ) – The Oregon Summer Electronic Benefits (Summer EBT) program is returning in 2026 to help families buy groceries for school-aged children during summer break when they don’t have easy access to healthy meals. Eligible families can receive a one-time payment of $120 for each child on an Oregon EBT card to buy
Continue Reading