Central Oregon Archives

Making connections, having fun, sharing art: Big crowds headed downtown for weekend’s Bend Fall Festival

October 6, 2024 9:29 am Kelsey McGee

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Fall has come to life in downtown Bend for the Bend Fall Festival this weekend. Big crowds enjoyed Day 2 of the…

Winds test, lines hold on Little Lava Fire; Bachelor Complex nearly 2/3 contained; Bingham, Rail Ridge fire updates

October 5, 2024 8:01 pm KTVZ news sources

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – All of the containment and control lines on the Little Lava Fire held in Friday’s strong winds and the Bachelor Complex is…

Despite all the hoops to jump through, Culver farmer is excited about $822K USDA grant to help them go solar

October 3, 2024 9:54 am Barney Lerten

Kerry Backsen has learned a thing or two over the years about running a combination feed mill, 1,300-acre farm, retail store and trucking company…

Discovery Corner celebrates completion with a drone show and a chance to meet a former NASA astronaut

October 5, 2024 9:44 am Kelsey McGee

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — At Discovery West’s new Discovery Corner in northwest Bend, “The Launch,” a space-themed grand opening of the gathering spot…

‘I feel a call of duty’: Bend resident seeking donations he’ll bring to North Carolina for Helene victims

October 4, 2024 4:39 pm Jillian Fortner

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend resident Schuyler Morgan and his family moved to Bend in April, but after witnessing the devastation of Hurricane Helene,…

Pacific Power crews from across Northwest, including Bend, deploy to Georgia for Hurricane Helene response

October 4, 2024 2:39 pm KTVZ news sources

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — In response to a mutual assistance request from Georgia Power, Pacific Power is sending crews, support personnel and…

Highway 126 construction-zone reader board near Sisters gets vandalized with political campaign message

October 4, 2024 9:54 am Barney Lerten

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Campaign signs can become a serious focus of attention as election season heats up, with some thefts and vandalism reported.…

Fire and smoke season linger into fall; large evacuation zone around Bingham Fire in Mt. Jefferson Wilderness

October 3, 2024 8:42 pm KTVZ news sources

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A combination of weeks-old and newer fires continue to keep fire crews busy around the region as dry conditions linger. Jaimie…

Supporters cheer Bend councilors’ approval of commitment to ‘fossil fuel-free’ city-owned buildings

October 3, 2024 8:06 pm KTVZ news sources

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — In an important step toward fulfilling their Community Climate Action Plan, Bend city councilors passed a resolution Wednesday…

Aspen Ridge death update: Another ex-worker witnessed ‘a lot of neglect’; state agency seeks tougher staffing rules

October 3, 2024 4:43 pm Matthew Draxton

Aspen Ridge Memory Care in Bend has been categorized as putting residents in “immediate jeopardy condition” by the Oregon Department of Human…

‘Painful experience’: Redmond family says apartment complex threatened eviction due to repair complaints

October 3, 2024 5:25 pm Isabella Warren

Chris Armstrong and his family say they’re on their last leg, after living at the RedPoint apartments in…

Pickup driver topples power pole in early-AM crash on Hwy. 97 in Madras; downed lines, repairs prompt detour

October 3, 2024 3:21 pm Barney Lerten

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) – A pickup driver left southbound Highway 97 at the south end of Madras and knocked down a power pole early Thursday morning,…

Sisters-area fire districts remind residents that open burning remains closed as fire danger lingers

October 3, 2024 12:04 pm KTVZ news sources

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to the lack of significant rainfall and continued warm temperatures, open burning within the Black Butte Ranch,…

Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang appointed to Oregon Transportation Commission

October 3, 2024 11:29 am Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Phil Chang, a Deschutes County commissioner with a long career in natural resources management, is joining the Oregon…

The 2024 Coolest Thing in Oregon contest has come down to four finalists, including Bend’s Epic Aircraft

October 2, 2024 11:15 pm Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The second round of voting in the 2024 Coolest Thing Made in Oregon contest concluded September 30th, narrowing the list of…

Caldera forfeits its two football wins for violating playing-time limits; head coach Mike Mitchell resigns

October 2, 2024 11:09 pm KTVZ news sources

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Caldera High School has forfeited two varsity football non-league victories this season due to violations of the OSAA rule that…

Bend councilors vote 6-1 to adopt new rules limiting vehicles used to camp on city streets, closer to rules for tents

October 2, 2024 10:45 pm Barney Lerten

Bend city councilors voted 6-1 Wednesday night to enact a new vehicle camping code that will be more closely aligned to city regulations for campers…

Decision 2024 debate: Redmond mayoral candidates Fitch, Baer and Zwicker debate issues from racism to dispensaries

October 2, 2024 8:54 pm KTVZ News Team

Here are the three segments of Wednesday night’s live Decision 2024 debate by the three candidates for Redmond mayor: incumbent Ed Fitch and…

Wyden’s brings ‘special delivery’ to Bend post office, presses postmaster general to drop plan that’s delaying mail

October 2, 2024 11:59 am Isabella Warren

Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined union members and others outside the main Bend post office Wednesday to decry the “mail madness” that he said…

Oregon DEQ issues new air quality advisory for Deschutes County due to more smoke from wildfires

October 2, 2024 4:47 pm KTVZ news sources

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory Wednesday for Deschutes County due to smoke…