BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After months of discussion, negotiations and a referendum, Oregonians may be heading to the ballot box in May to vote on whether to scrap gas tax and vehicle fee increases that aimed to cover an ODOT budget shortfall. But opponents are going to court to keep it on the November election
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Zoo elephant family enjoyed a “bamboo brunch” last week after staff transformed their habitat with a temporary mini forest. One-year-old Tula-Tu participated in the snack, learning how to harvest the bamboo alongside her mother and aunts. Zoo staff “planted” the bamboo throughout the habitat to create a foraging experience
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Business Oregon has hired Heidi Hagemeier as the communications coordinator for the Oregon Arts Commission and Cultural Trust. Hagemeier most recently served nearly eight years as the director of communications and visitor experience at the High Desert Museum in Bend. During her tenure at the museum, she was credited with doubling
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By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. — Members of Oregon’s largest teachers union and the liberal Working Families Party will not endorse any of the current candidates for governor, including incumbent Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek. That’s despite both groups supporting Kotek in her 2022 run for governor and in past legislative races. The
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Plaintiffs argue it interferes with Oregonians’ constitutional right to set a referendum date By Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. — Republican leaders of a successful petition to pause gas tax and transportation fee hikes until a citizen vote are suing the state over a new law rescheduling that vote. Gov. Tina Kotek signed Senate
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Written by Alma McCarty & KGW: SALEM, Oregon — In the final week of Oregon’s legislative short session, lawmakers in Salem discussed regulating data centers — specifically, placing a one-year moratorium on certain tax breaks. Governor Tina Kotek has been looking to expand the state’s enterprise zone program, which is intended to grow Oregon companies and attract
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A new study found that 92% of business owners believe AI improves customer experience and efficiency, while 62% of consumers have had a poor experience with chatbots, with 84% of Oregon respondents feeling frustrated or confused after dealing with automated systems.
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(Update: Adding video). PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — National gas prices jumped 11 cents overnight to an average of $3.11 per gallon following weekend strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel. This marks the first time the national average for regular gasoline has exceeded $3 since Dec. 1, 2025. Every state in the country
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State Senator David Brock Smith officially launched his campaign for the United States Senate on Tuesday, March 3rd. Sen. Smith is a third-generation resident of Southwest Oregon who has served in the state legislature and multiple local government roles. Sen. Smith brings 45 years of experience as a former restaurateur
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EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The University of Oregon received a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support youth with disabilities. The funding will bolster the university’s transition services, which help students prepare for graduation, the workforce, and independent living. Experts estimate that 2 million high school students, or about 13% of
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Written by Blair Best & KGW: PORTLAND, Ore. — “I need someone here now or else I’m going to have to shoot this kid.” In a tense 911 call, an agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Northeast Portland warned dispatchers that he would shoot a young man he claimed was following him, yelling and
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon lawmakers on Monday released a 2025-2027 budget rebalance designed to preserve essential state services despite a multi-year budget crisis triggered by federal funding cuts from the Trump administration. “The federal budget cuts have caused both short-term and long-term crises for Oregon’s budget,” said Sen. Kate Lieber, D-SW Portland and Beaverton,
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Recent federal changes require more Oregonians receiving SNAP food benefits to meet work or training requirements to maintain their eligibility. The Oregon Department of Human Services and the Oregon Employment Department are urging affected residents to utilize free job and training resources through 37 WorkSource Oregon centers located throughout the state.
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WASHINGTON D.C. (KTVZ / CNN) — Oregon’s elected officials are voicing alarm and condemnation after the Trump Administration confirmed the United States joined Israel in launching coordinated missile strikes on Iran — an operation that U.S. officials say was designed to cripple Iran’s nuclear program and bring down the regime in Tehran. Iran has retaliated with a
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Written by Blair Best & KGW: PORTLAND, Ore. — In Southeast Portland, the Trump administration’s stepped-up immigration enforcement isn’t only a threat to undocumented families seeking to stay together, it’s had a chilling effect on the community such that shop owners say they’re struggling to pay the bills as their regular customers disappear. Jose Esparza is the
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon House on Wednesday night passed SB 1527, legislation that prohibits deductibles, copayments and other out-of-pocket costs for cervical cancer screenings and needed follow-up examinations. Representative Annessa Hartman (D-Gladstone/Oregon City), who publicly shared her Stage 3 cervical cancer diagnosis last year and her ongoing treatment, testified in support of the
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A pair of frisky young bongos, a critically endangered species of African antelope, is settling in at the Oregon Zoo — grazing in the grass, playfully sparring with one another and exploring their new habitat. “Banjo and Bentley are curious, engaged and active, just like young bongos should be,” said Kelly Gomez,
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While legislators are supposed to represent their constituents, it’s not often that a letter from an Oregon teen leads to a law.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (KTVZ) — Crook County Commissioners Seth Crawford and Susan Hermreck were in attendance at the 2026 State of the Union where they advocated for Central Oregon Priorities at the nation’s capital. While in Washington, D.C., Commissioner Crawford and Commissioner Hermreck met with Congressman Cliff Bentz, Senator Jeff Merkley, and Senator Ron Wyden to
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WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., introduced the O&C Renewal Act of 2026 on Tuesday in a bid to reaffirm timber production as the primary use of federal lands in western Oregon. He said the legislation seeks to restore sustained-yield forest management across more than 2 million acres of federal timberlands. The bill amends
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