Central Oregon Archives

Central Oregon public lands enter Stage 1 public use restrictions, campfire bans next week

June 12, 2025 3:33 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to increasingly hot and dry conditions, as well as increased fire starts, the Deschutes National Forest,…

Bald eagles Sunriver Nature Center Rowena Fire

Sunriver Nature Center takes in four raptors displaced by destructive Rowena Fire

June 13, 2025 5:53 pm Tyson Beauchemin

SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — The destructive Rowena Fire forced the evacuation of the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum, so the Sunriver…

Wildfire season burns over 10,000 acres so far, as officials warn of human-caused blazes

June 13, 2025 11:31 am KTVZ

(Update: Adding video, comments from Bend Fire and Rescue) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Recent fires in Central Oregon and across the state are showing how…

Deschutes County commissioners Safe Parking microshelters

Deschutes County commissioners vote 2-1 to add six Safe Parking microshelters on spot near Sheriff’s Office

June 13, 2025 4:12 pm Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — It wasn’t your typical split as Deschutes County commissioners voted 2-1 Wednesday to lease a small…

Redmond Airport terminal expansion rendering

Redmond Airport travelers can expect big changes in routes to, from planes as terminal expansion begins

June 13, 2025 2:36 pm Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Starting next week, airline passengers traveling through Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) will notice a change in how they…

Firefighters contain blaze NE of Madras that burned 126 acres; Level 1 GET READY evacuation notice lifted

June 13, 2025 2:11 pm Barney Lerten

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A new fire reported late Friday morning burned in grass, brush and juniper about six miles northeast of Madras. It covered…

A busy day of protests opposing and supporting President Trump ahead in Central Oregon and across the U.S.

June 13, 2025 12:16 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon will be part of a national wave of “No Kings” Trump administration protests planned around the nation on…

Small Business Spotlight: Tumalo Coffeehouse celebrates 10 years in business

June 13, 2025 11:07 am Kelsey Merison

TUMALO, Ore. (KTVZ) — For this month’s Small Business Spotlight, KTVZ is highlighting Tumalo Coffeehouse as it celebrates 10 years in business the…

Low registration prompts cancellation of this year’s Oregon High Desert Classics hunter jumper horse competition

June 13, 2025 9:59 am Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Low registration numbers have prompted organizers of the Oregon High Desert Classics to cancel next month’s two-week hunter…

Area’s second allergy season lingers into summer

June 12, 2025 6:27 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Summit Health allergist, Dr. Adam Williams, tells KTVZ News there are actually two allergy seasons in Central Oregon – one for…

Pacific Power outage enhanced safety settings

Pacific Power’s ‘enhanced safety settings’ trigger outage affecting nearly 2,000 Bend customers; most restored

June 12, 2025 3:24 pm Barney Lerten

Nearly 2,000 Pacific Power customers on Bend’s north end lost power Thursday afternoon, an outage caused by the utility’s “enhanced safety settings…

Last sign of a long, snowy winter: Scenic McKenzie Pass has been cleared and will open to motorists next Monday

June 12, 2025 2:45 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After a long, snowy winter, Oregon Department of Transportation crews have cleared McKenzie Pass, and the gates will open for…

Alzheimer’s Awareness Month: Local neurologist shares promising treatments

June 12, 2025 1:18 pm Lynsey Harris

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — June is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and each week we’re sharing stories and resources to support those impacted by memory…

Commute Options, city of Bend launch E-Bike Rebate Program, providing $1,800 to eligible residents

June 11, 2025 2:24 pm Barney Lerten

Commute Options, in partnership with the City of Bend and funded by the Pacific Power Foundation, said Wednesday it’s proud to announce the launch of…

Crews quickly contain small wildfire in La Pine; all Newberry Estates evacuation levels dropped

June 11, 2025 5:30 pm Barney Lerten

A new fire broke out late Wednesday afternoon on the east side of La Pine and prompted a quick Level 2 BE SET evacuation alert for a neighborhood,…

Ask the Mayor: Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler discusses housing prices, gas legislation, traffic infrastructure, wildfire prep

June 12, 2025 8:48 am KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — From the latest efforts to create affordable housing development, to gasoline taxation, traffic updates and wildfire risks, KTVZ…

First Bend ‘Core Area’ revitalization project on NE Second Street now complete

June 10, 2025 3:50 pm Claire Elmer

Bend’s Northeast Second Street between Franklin and Greenwood avenues reopened to two-way traffic on Wednesday.…

Sony’s Bend Studio Lays Off 40 Employees, About 30% of Workforce, According to Report

June 10, 2025 3:38 pm Gregory Deffenbaugh

Update: SIE provided this statement to KTVZ News regarding the reduction in workforce at Sony’s Bend Studio.”Earlier this year, Bend Studio wrapped…

Drones wildfires Deschutes County Sheriff's Office

Deschutes County deputies, FAA looking for owner of crashed drone illegally flown over Redmond wildfire

June 11, 2025 3:23 pm Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County sheriff’s investigators and the Federal Aviation Administration are working to find the owner of a drone…

Lightning sparks new brushfire near West Butte in southern Crook County

June 11, 2025 4:59 pm Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Initial attack crews and a helicopter responded to a new lightning-sparked brushfire Wednesday afternoon in southern Crook…