Let’s talk weather: John Carroll visits the curious kids at Barnes Butte Elementary in Prineville

KTVZ on May 21, 2025

John Carroll

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — KTVZ Chief Meteorologist John Carroll traveled to Prineville on Tuesday to speak with a very polite and inquisitive group of first-grade students.

During his visit, John read from his book “The Adventures of Robbie the Raindrop” about the water cycle.

The kiddos were curious about recycling and the water cycle, as well as tornadoes and dust devils. They asked a lot of great questions and even helped forecast the weather by becoming “weather detectives” for the day.

Special thanks to first-grade teacher Kayley Woosley for setting up the visit.

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La Pine-area man accused of hitting dog with shovel arraigned on 2 charges; June plea hearing set

KTVZ on May 21, 2025

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A La Pine-area man seen on widely distributed video apparently striking his dog repeatedly with a shovel was arraigned on two charges Tuesday and a plea hearing was set.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Alycia Herriott set a June 27 plea hearing for John Coe Richardson, 75, who was indicted nearly two weeks ago on charges of first-degree aggravated animal abuse, a Class C felony, and second-degree animal abuse, a Class B misdemeanor.

The felony charge alleges Richardson on April 26 “did unlawfully and knowingly torture an animal.” The second charge relates to the serious physical injuries the dog, Hooch, suffered.

Richardson forfeited Hooch and his two other dogs after a KTVZ Problem Solvers report on the widely viewed video and Richardson’s arrest the next day.

Attorneys sought no changes at Tuesday’s brief hearing on the conditions imposed when Richardson was released from jail, including that he possess no domestic animals while the case is pending.

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Redmond Park and Rec says paint issue fix will delay Rec Center completion, but not add to costs

KTVZ on May 20, 2025

Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Redmond Area Park and Recreation District and Kirby Nagelhout Construction Company provided an update Tuesday on the ongoing construction for the RAPRD Recreation Center.

Here’s what they shared, in full:

During a Quality Control construction inspection, a non-structural issue was identified involving the high-performance paint coating applied to some of the roof components.

After thorough evaluation of potential repair options, all project partners agreed that the most appropriate and effective solution is a full replacement of the affected components to ensure proper coating adherence on all surfaces and long-term durability.

This corrective action will not increase the cost of the project to the taxpayers. However, it will result in a delay to the project timeline. The project team is working on schedule impacts but currently we are estimating a four-month delay. Our commitment to quality and long-term performance remains the top priority.

We are grateful that this issue was identified early and can be addressed during the construction phase, rather than after the facility is in use.

We appreciate the community’s continued patience and support as we work to deliver a first-class aquatics and recreation center. We remain committed to providing a safe, high-quality facility that will serve the region for years to come.

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Prescribed burn SW of Bend canceled; others proceed around the Deschutes National Forest

KTVZ on May 20, 2025

Barney Lerten

(Update: Prescribed burn SW of Bend canceled, others proceed)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to unfavorable conditions, Deschutes National Forest firefighters have canceled the 215 acres of prescribed burning planned for Wednesday a mile southwest of Bend.

Ignitions had been planned for 113 acres on Big Eddy Block 1 Prescribed Burn, located near the intersection of Cascade Lakes Highway and Forest Service Road 41, along the eastern side of FSR 41 and 102 acres on Tiddlywinks Block 2 Prescribed Burn on the west side of FSR 41.

Prescribed burning operations were underway Wednesday on the Crescent and Sisters Ranger Districts.

Fire management officials work with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are conducted when weather is most likely to move smoke up and away from our communities. While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn. 

If conditions are favorable, the Deschutes National Forest plans to conduct three prescribed burn operations Wednesday totaling nearly 450 acres on the Bend-Fort Rock, Crescent and Sisters ranger districts and another of nearly 270 acres on Thursday. 

Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District firefighters plan to conduct up to 215 acres of prescribed burning on Wednesday about a mile southwest of Bend and south of the Cascade Lakes Highway.

Ignitions are planned for 113 acres on Big Eddy Block 1 Prescribed Burn, located near the intersection of Cascade Lakes Highway and Forest Service Road 41 along the eastern side of FSR 41.

If conditions allow, firefighters will also conduct 102 acres of prescribed burning on Tiddlywinks Block 2 Prescribed Burn on the west side of FSR 41 on Wednesday. If conditions remain favorable on Thursday, firefighters will ignite up to 267 acres on the Tiddlywinks 4 Prescribed Burn. Ignitions are planned for 10 a.m. 

The following road and trail closures will be in place: 

Road access to Lava Island Day Use & Trailhead 

All trails north of Big Eddy Day Use 

Northern portion of Catch & Release Trail 

Storm King 

Roads and trails will be closed during ignitions and until roadside and trailside hazards are mitigated. The Cascade Lakes Highway and Forest Service Road 41 will remain open. A pilot car will be implemented if smoke limits visibility.

Smoke will be visible from Bend and the surrounding area. Residents in Bend and those south and east of the Deschutes River, including Sunriver, La Pine and Redmond are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours. 

Firefighters on the Crescent Ranger District plan to conduct up to 145 acres of ignitions on the 5-Mile Unit 12 Prescribed Burn, located about seven miles southwest of Crescent and directly along the west side of Highway 97. Ignitions are planned for 9 a.m.

A portion of Forest Service Road 9758 will be closed from the junction with Highway 97 west for three tenths of a mile to the intersection with the pipeline. Smoke will be visible from Highway 97 and 58, Crescent and the surrounding area.

Residents in Crescent are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours. Smoke impacts are also possible across Highway 97 during ignitions and overnight in the early morning hours. Flaggers will be present along Highway 97. 

Also on Wednesday, the Sisters Ranger District plans to conduct 54 acres of prescribed burning on SAFR 46 Prescribed Burn located three-quarters of a mile south of Sisters at the intersection of FSR 16 (Three Creek Lake Road) and FSR 4606. Smoke will be visible from Sisters and the surrounding area.

While no road or trail closures are anticipated, smoke may impact FSR 16, FSR 4606 and trails in the Peterson Ridge trails system. Flaggers will be available if smoke impacts roadways. Residents in Sisters and the surrounding area are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours. 

Firefighters implement understory prescribed burning to reduce wildfire risk to communities. Prescribed burning reintroduces and maintains fire within our fire-dependent ecosystem by removing concentrations of vegetation and restoring forest health while increasing public and firefighter safety. 

Fire management officials work with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are conducted when weather is most likely to move smoke up and away from our communities. While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn.  

What does this mean for you? 

During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight and in the early morning hours.  

All residents are encouraged to close doors and windows at night to avoid smoke impacts. 

If available, use a portable air cleaner. Air cleaners work best running with doors and windows closed. You can also create a DIY air cleaner. 

If you have a central air system, use it to filter air. Use high-efficiency filters if possible. 

When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down, turn on headlights and turn air to recirculating. 

If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, pay attention to how you feel and if symptoms of heart or lung disease worsen, consider contacting your health care professional. 

Go to centraloregonfire.org to learn more about smoke safety and prescribed burning in Central Oregon and visit When Smoke is in the Air for more smoke preparedness resources. 

For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest, visit fs.usda.gov/r06/deschutes. Follow us on X/Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts. 

SAFR 46 MapDownload

5 Mile Unit 12Download

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Bend’s EarthCruiser, which closed its plant a year ago, outlines bold new plans for the future of overland travel

KTVZ on May 20, 2025

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– EarthCruiser recently announced the completion of a major milestone: the final direct customer-ordered EarthCruiser EXP in the build queue has been completed and delivered. But the Bend company that closed its American Lane manufacturing facility a year ago also outlined its big new plans for the future.

“This is a proud moment for us,” said EarthCruiser founders Lance Gillies and Michelle Boltz. “Delivering EXP #107 not only fulfills our promise to our customers — it marks the beginning of a bold, innovative new future for EarthCruiser.” 

Here’s the rest of their announcement:

With this achievement, EarthCruiser closes an incredible chapter and embarks on a transformative journey to make authentic overland experiences more accessible than ever before. 

New Operational Model to Expand Overland Accessibility 

EarthCruiser is officially launching a new operational model that will expand its reach and impact. Moving forward, the company will supply EC MOD slide-in campers and EarthCruiser Terranova shells to select adventure van builders and upfitters across the United States for interior fit-out. 

In development is the highly anticipated EVADO  for the Sprinter chassis, along with additional offerings including  towable options. This innovative strategy allows EarthCruiser’s trusted engineering and design to reach a broader audience while empowering local builders and service providers. 

“This shift isn’t just about distribution,” said Gillies. “It’s about realigning with the core values that EarthCruiser has stood for since the beginning — craftsmanship, innovation, and a genuine commitment to our customers.” 

The company’s new approach focuses on making EarthCruiser decades of experience more available and attainable for more recreational vehicle users. It emphasizes long-term customer relationships and partnerships with independent U.S.-based businesses that share EarthCruiser’s values. 

“Too many people today have been disappointed by mass-produced recreational vehicles badged as ‘overland,’” said Gillies. “Legacy RV manufacturers offer affordability — but often sacrifice quality and true innovation. Today’s RV owners want something more: community, authenticity, and connection. We’re here to help them find it.” 

“From day one, we’ve believed in the power of small-town manufacturing and skilled local tradespeople,” added Boltz. “Now, we’re scaling that philosophy nationally. When you support local manufacturing, you support your community your neighbors who care about what they do  — and real innovation.” 

Supporting Partners, Empowering Customers 

Under the new model, EarthCruiser will deliver structurally complete, unfinished MOD and Terranova units to its partner network, allowing customers to customize their vehicles at their own pace and budget — all backed by EarthCruiser’s legendary expedition-grade design. 

“Building a real overland vehicle requires a fundamentally different approach than producing large volume mass-produces assembly-line RVs,” said Gillies. “It must be engineered from the ground up with experience and customer requires front of mind, the real needs of the people who use them.” That takes a conversation, not always possible with the traditional RV dealer model. Experience counts. 

Innovation will remain anchored in EarthCruiser Innovation in Bend, Oregon, where R&D continues to fuel new ideas. The company is also building a  nationwide service network and welcomes customer input on local service providers.  

Introducing Tag-Along Training Tours 

Adding to the momentum, EarthCruiser is launching Tag-Along Training Tours — immersive adventures where customers can refine their skills, build confidence, and connect with the EarthCruiser community in stunning overland destinations. 

“From the very beginning of the overlanding movement in the U.S., our customers have been partners in innovation,” said Boltz. “This next chapter honors that spirit — bringing the EarthCruiser experience to more people while staying true to the values that built our community.” 

About EarthCruiser Founded in Bend, Oregon, EarthCruiser is a pioneer in premium expedition vehicles engineered for global overland travel. 

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High cost and low pay squeeze summer child care options

KIFI on May 20, 2025

Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– School is almost out for summer, and working parents are looking for child care services to maintain their daily schedule. But for many parents, finding a daycare that fits their specific needs proves a challenge.

However, with state law cracking down on financial regulations and child-to-staff ratios, both parents and daycares are coping with struggles.

Parents frequently say the high cost of daycare is a major hurdle. Meanwhile, daycares are experiencing significant staff turnover due to low wages.

Jayden Reinhart, manager at NiNi Daycare, explains, “The way that the state does funding for child care, it’s getting a little bit more difficult to get I.C.C.P.s (The Idaho Child Care Program) stuff like that. So it makes it more expensive for them [parents] to be able to bring their child to daycare, which makes less parents be able to work and less income for the family in total.”

Several daycares have noted that families with multiple children face the most significant difficulties in securing adequate childcare.

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DOJ sues North Idaho City, citing descrimination against Christian Nationalist-Aligned Church

KIFI on May 20, 2025

Seth Ratliff

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the City of Troy, Idaho, alleging that the city violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by denying a conditional use permit (CUP) to a small evangelical church. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, claims the city’s decision was influenced by bias against the church’s beliefs.

The church in question, Christ Church, is a Moscow-based fundamentalist congregation founded by Doug Wilson, whom the Idaho Capital Sun has identified as a prominent figure in the Christian Nationalist movement. According to the lawsuit, Christ Church had outgrown its previous worship space and was unable to find suitable rental alternatives. In March 2023, the church sought a CUP to hold weekly services at the Ye Olde Bank Event Center on Main Street in Troy.

The Ye Olde Bank Event Center is owned by a member of the Christ Church congregation, as reported by the Moscow-Pullman Daily News. The building is located within the City’s C-1 zoning district, which permits non-religious assembly uses such as clubs, museums, auditoriums, and art galleries.

The lawsuit asserts that Troy residents largely opposed the church’s CUP application, with “many of their written and verbal comments reflected animus against Christ Church’s beliefs.” While residents at a January 2023 meeting cited concerns about parking, downtown traffic, and limited commercial tax revenue, the lawsuit specifically alleges that the City Council, in its March denial of the CUP, pointed to significant public opposition.

The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported that the council also echoed fears about parking and the potential impact on commercial growth in downtown Troy, noting that Idaho code prohibits businesses selling liquor by the drink within 300 feet of a church.

However, the DOJ’s complaint highlights that the City’s denial explicitly cited the fact that the public was “heavily against” the permit and that the “great majority of the city residents” opposed granting it.

“RLUIPA unequivocally forbids local governments from deciding zoning matters based on their dislike of certain religious groups,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will not hesitate to file suit against jurisdictions that discriminate in land use matters on the basis of the applicants’ religious beliefs.”

The lawsuit contends that the City’s denial of the CUP placed an undue burden on Christ Church and was motivated by discriminatory attitudes within the community. It further argues that Troy’s zoning code treats religious assembly differently and less favorably than non-religious assembly.

In 2023, Troy City Attorney Todd Richardson posted a letter on the Troy City Hall Facebook page, acknowledging the city’s voluntary cooperation with the DOJ. The Moscow-Pullman Daily News initially reported that Richardson’s letter noted the presence of at least five religious denominations already holding services in Troy, none of which are located in the central business zone (approximately two blocks on Main Street).

For more information on RLUIPA, click HERE.

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Local students receive scholarships from Agriculture groups

KYMA on May 20, 2025

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Students from around Yuma county are receiving scholarships from local Agriculture groups.

The local 4-H program gave nine students scholarships, while the Seed Trade Association of Arizona gave them out to 11 students.

Each year the organizations provide scholarships for kids who are looking to go to college or trade school.

James Romney, a local student who received two scholarships, shares how influential the 4-H program has been for him.

“It’s changed me to who I am today and it’s kind of hard to measure how much 4-H has affected me because I’d be completely different if it wasn’t for 4-H it taught me a lot,” Romney says.

Since 2011 the Seed Trade Association has raised over $75,000 and given it out to 85 local students.

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Wildfire burns over 100 acres south of Highway 371 in Aguanga

KESQ on May 20, 2025

City News Service

AGUANGA, Calif. (KESQ) – Fire crews worked through the night hitting hotspots and improving control lines to contain 85% of a brush fire south of Highway 371 in Aguanga that has scorched 126 acres and destroyed one structure.  

The Crossing Fire was reported at 1:38 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Petes Crossing and Janell Drive, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said multiple engine and hand crews from the county, Hemet Fire Department, Riverside Fire Department and surrounding agencies were sent to the location, encountering flames moving at a moderate rate in light brush.   

One Hemet firefighter suffered heat exhaustion and was taken by ambulance to a regional trauma center for treatment. Temperatures in the Anza Valley Tuesday topped out in the low 90s.

One outbuilding in the fire’s path was destroyed, but no occupied properties were damaged or destroyed.   

At the fire’s peak, five Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters were making runs on the brusher as it pushed eastward. An evacuation order was issued for the dozen or fewer properties near Dove Drive and Gold Creek Lane.

The aircraft fire retardant and water drops had largely cut off the fire’s prospective fuel, enabling ground crews to establish tentative containment lines, relying on dirt roads to fortify defensive space, according to officials at the scene.   

The fire’s rate of spread was halted at 5:02 p.m. Tuesday.  

Minutes later, all fixed-wing aircraft departed the location. Several helicopters remained for targeted drops on hot spots threatening to jump containment lines.

The flames were 40% contained by 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, and working through the night, fire crews were able to bring containment up to 85% by 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

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Neighbor shocked to learn Palm Springs bombing suspect may have assembled explosives next door

KESQ on May 20, 2025

Garrett Hottle

A neighbor of Guy Edward Bartkus — the 25-year-old man identified by the FBI as the suspect in the deadly Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing — says they are “shocked” to learn explosives may have been assembled next door.

“He had an explosives laboratory in there, and although he built a pretty big bomb that he took down in Palm Springs, there is still enough material in there to do serious damage. That’s why it took almost three days for them to clear the area, because they had to be really careful. And so that’s pretty much what they told me,” said Thomas Bickel, a neighbor. 

Bartkus was killed in the blast early Saturday morning at the American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs, an explosion now investigators said was an act of intentional terrorism.

The FBI has identified Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, of 29 Palms as the primary suspect in the #PalmSprings vehicle explosion. The vehicle was a silver Ford Fusion sedan, plate 8HWS848. Please call 1800 CALLFBI with information or upload relevant video/images at https://t.co/CnxyRN1YIv pic.twitter.com/dYAG26xCYY

— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) May 18, 2025

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