Month: June 2025

Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) —The Oregon Health Authority issued a recreational use health advisory Wednesday for Lake Billy Chinook in Jefferson County due to the presence of cyanotoxins above recreational use values for human exposure.

OHA said people should avoid swimming and high-speed water activities, such as water skiing or power boating, in areas of the reservoir where blooms are present, as the major route of exposure is ingestion of water. Toxins are not absorbed through the skin. However, those with skin sensitivities may get a puffy red rash.

OHA encouraged people to visit Lake Billy Chinook and enjoy activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, bird watching, canoeing, and kayaking. Boating is safe, as long as speeds do not create excessive water spray. Sprays could lead to the risk of inhaling cyanotoxins.

Drinking water

Drinking water directly from areas of the lake affected by a bloom is especially dangerous. Toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters. Contact campground management or the local health department with questions about water available at nearby campgrounds or day use areas.

Not all private treatment systems are effective at removing cyanotoxins. People who do not use a well or public water system and draw in-home water directly from an affected area are advised to use an alternative water source.

Children and pets

Children and pets are at increased risk for exposure because of their size and level of activity. Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water, licking their fur, or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore. This is regardless of a recreational use health advisory in place. This is regardless of a recreational use health advisory in place.

Dogs can become ill and die from water intoxication after drinking excessive amounts of water while swimming or fetching objects for long periods of time. Intoxication is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain function resulting from an imbalance of electrolytes in the body. Water intoxication and heat stroke can cause similar symptoms as exposure to cyanotoxins.

Symptoms

Exposure to cyanotoxins can be serious and cause a range of symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to food poisoning such as stomach cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms may also be more serious, such as numbness, tingling, dizziness and shortness of breath. These symptoms may require medical attention.

Dogs can experience weakness, difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and more. If a dog exhibits symptoms, veterinary treatment should be sought as quickly as possible.

Fishing

Fish caught from areas where cyanobacteria blooms are present may pose unknown health risks, so OHA recommends not eating fish from those areas. Those who decide to eat the fish should remove fat, skin and organs before cooking or freezing. Toxins are more likely to collect in these tissues. Fillets should also be rinsed with clean water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek convened a roundtable in Bend on Wednesday afternoon to hear from rural Oregon health care experts, providers and food system specialists about what she fears will be the severe, widespread impacts of proposed cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (known as SNAP).

“The proposed bill, sponsored by Republican lawmakers in Washington, D.C., will cut vital health care and food services for Oregonians in order to fund tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans,” Kotek’s office said in a news release after the event, which was followed by a news conference on the same issues.

KTVZ+ provided livestream coverage of both events, which you can view above.

During the news conference, Kotek said, “This isn’t about tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. It’s about what we do for our state.”

The event was held at Mosaic Community Health, whose CEO, Family Nurse Practitioner Megan Haase, told reporters she is “deeply concerned about the potential impacts” of cuts to Medicaid, a program that more than half of Mosaic’s 34,000 clients depend upon.

“Without Medicaid, many people we be forced to avoid or delay seeking care,” which Haase said will “actually cost more in the long run.”

Kotek said, “This is not the time to cut. This is the time to invest.” And she added that the impacts of SNAP benefit cuts for those in need could be far-reaching, to the point of some grocery stores closing.

“It’s a big deal,” she said. “And frankly, it’s not smart economic policy.”

Here’s the rest of a news release from the governor’s office about the roundtable event:

Governor Kotek said: 

“More often than not, if you live in rural Oregon, it means traveling 30 miles or more to get your health care needs met. Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP threaten hospitals, clinics, medical offices, and services Oregonians depend on. These proposed cuts by Congressional Republicans put families who are planning to have children at risk, jeopardize health care access for kids, and could strip health insurance coverage from over 200,000 Oregonians.

“Today, I heard from caregivers of children who rely on the Oregon Health Plan. I wish every single member of Congress considering supporting the bill could have sat across from these folks today, because that’s who they were elected to answer to, not the ultra-wealthy who are getting tax breaks at the expense of children and families’ health care – especially in rural communities. To the 1 in 3 Oregonians who rely on Medicaid and SNAP:  I will continue to fight against this proposal and uplift your voices at every turn.”

If the current proposal was signed into law, 100,000 to 200,000 Oregonians will likely lose coverage, resulting in $718 million to $1.4 billion in reduced federal funding coming to Oregon per year, or $8 billion to $16 billion over the next 10 years. New red tape that will burden nearly 500,000 Oregonians and require significant taxpayer dollars and new positions could cost more than $100 million to implement. Overall, Congress is poised to make accessing health care more difficult, more costly, and available to fewer Oregonians.

The proposed cuts threaten to take food off the table for Oregonians, place unsustainable financial burdens on the State, and risk the well-being of families and local economies. If passed, the legislation would dismantle SNAP’s federal-state structure, forcing Oregon to absorb $850 million in new costs per biennium and slashing food aid for families, children, seniors, and immigrants. 

The Governor convened the following people Wednesday:

Andrea Carr, Medicaid and SNAP recipient

Dr. Logan Clausen, Chief Medical Officer, Central Oregon Pediatric Associates

Jeremy Davis, CEO, Grande Ronde Hospital 

Kellie Frank, Harney Food Systems Coordinator

Sean Jessup, CEO, Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization 

Dr. Jinnell Lewis, MD, (multiple employment), Presenting as a Full Spectrum Family Medicine Physician and Residency Leader 

Megan Haase, CEO, Mosaic Community Health

Olivia Quiroz, Executive Director, Oregon Latino Health Coalition

Dr. Linda Selby, Chief Medical Officer, Harney District Hospital Family Care

Jenny Widder, Medicaid and SNAP recipient 

“I appreciate Governor Kotek coming to Central Oregon to learn more about the impacts that loss of Medicaid and SNAP benefits would have on rural Oregonians,” Megan Haase, FNP and CEO of Mosaic Community Health, said. “I am deeply concerned about the potential impacts that proposed cuts to Medicaid would have on our patients and our entire Central Oregon community. More than half of our 34,000 patients rely on Medicaid for health coverage, including low-income families, children, people with disabilities, seniors, and pregnant women. Cuts to Medicaid will leave even more Central Oregonians without health insurance, moving us further away from our goal of a healthy community.”

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Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Public Safety Campus soon will become a temporary home for people with nowhere else to go. 

Nonprofit Mountain View Community Development, which operates eight Safe Parking & Microshelter sites in Redmond, is expanding into Bend and has been working with staff at the Deschutes County-owned property to add a site on the southeast corner of the campus, just north of Bend Animal Hospital. 

Deschutes County commissioners Patti Adair and Phil Chang voted to approve the lease at the board’s meeting Wednesday, a week after an initial discussion of the project brought another 2-1 vote, with Commissioner Tony DeBone opposed. 

Here’s the rest of the Mountain View Community Development news release on the program:

The property is home to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, as well as 911, Community Justice, Health Services and Oregon State Police. 

“I’m very familiar with this program,” said Undersheriff Aaron Wells, “and it has always been a helpful tool for law enforcement, so we’re happy to see it expand. Wherever Safe Parking sites have been hosted, we have not seen an increase in law enforcement calls. The Sheriff’s Office is committed to being part of the solution to homelessness in the county, and this is one more way we can provide support.” 

The Safety Campus will host up to six vehicles, RVs or microshelters — garden-shed-sized structures with electricity, heating and cooling. 

“The site was first brought to our attention by Commissioner Adair,” said Rick Russell, executive director of the nonprofit. “We look for any property that’s available. Law enforcement has always been a strong partner for us and has seen the benefit of this program. And we asked the Sheriff’s Department to be a partner on this with us.” 

Bend currently has six Safe Parking sites run by other organizations, but this would be the first on public property. Mountain View Community Development operates three sites on publicly-owned land in Redmond. Participants in the program are required to meet regularly with case managers, and there are security cameras on each site. 

Russell said Safe Parking is an important option for many unhoused people, particularly those with children and pets, as well as survivors of assault. 

“We provide a safe, legal, sanitary place for people to park,” Russell said. “Being homeless often leads to feelings of hopelessness, and our case managers help our participants believe that stable housing is possible for them. It’s not an easy road. We’ve all seen the effects of the increase in housing costs and the lack of affordable housing. This is one way to bridge the gap between unauthorized camping and getting back to stability.” 

The Safety Campus is the first site the nonprofit is seeking to develop, but it won’t be the last. Russell said Mountain View Community Development has a contract with the city of Bend to operate 20 spaces, and it is in talks with property owners at three other sites. 

“The City of Bend is addressing houselessness across the community, and Safe Parking is a valuable tool,” said Mayor Melanie Kebler, adding that there are currently six sites throughout the city. “The City works closely with Safe Parking operators and property owners. These sites have proven to be cost-effective and have integrated into their neighborhoods. Households accessing Safe Parking are often the most vulnerable, and we are committed to transitioning people into safe settings and on to permanent housing.” 

“We know this program works,” Russell added, “and there is significant need in Bend to provide a place for people to get the services they need while living in vehicles. The best way to move people out of homelessness and into housing is to get them stabilized in a Safe Parking environment. We’re grateful to the commissioners and to the City of Bend for their commitment to helping unhoused people.” 

For more information, visit www.mvcdoregon.org. 

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — One of Central Oregon’s largest facilities for finding help getting off the streets, now has a new face leading the high-barrier emergency shelter. Michael Hancock spoke exclusively with KTVZ News on what he plans to change, and what he wants to keep the same.

The shelter’s been operating in Bend for 25 years and for 15 of those years, it’s been led by longtime director Gwen Wysling.

Michael Hancock is now stepping into the position. Hancock joined the organization in 2019 and was being trained to take over for a while.

He plans to keep the organization on the same course but adapt to the changing landscape of homelessness in Central Oregon, “Our mission is to transform lives together through shelter, help and hope, and that means with our community members, donors, community partners. So what direction this organization is going to go in really depends on where there’s a need. We’re constantly evaluating our services, the services of our partners, and seeing where people falling through the cracks, and that’s where we’re gonna adjust and move”.

Hancock extended an invitation to anyone watching this. He wants you to come and see the Bethlehem Inn. He’s eager to show people exactly what services are provided for the community and explain how they operate.

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Matthew Draxton

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Sledgehammers were the tool of the day Wednesday as the Redmond Municipal Airport officially broke ground, demolition-style, on its $180 million terminal expansion project.

 There were about 20 people in attendance, including Mayor Ed Fitch and the granddaughter of J.R. Roberts, a former Redmond mayor and namesake of the airport, also known as Roberts Field.

Redmond’s airport has seen passengers traveling through the greater Central Oregon region double in number over recent years. In response to this growing tourism, Redmond Airport developed the 2021 Terminal Area Concept Plan to address the increased demand. The main focus to improve ADA accessibility, operational efficiency, and terminal capacity while bringing economic benefits to the region.

“In general, the airport is a huge economic driver,” said Airport Director Zachary Bass.

He said almost 70% of the construction work will stay local, through a local subcontractor, “so we’re going to see a boom just for the construction.

“But with the growth, we’re also expecting another 107 full-time jobs as we kind of grow out to the building and its size,” he said. “And then of course, hopefully more airlines, more aircraft, larger aircraft, more destinations, more frequencies to allow for that ease of travel for our customers.”

The project will add more than 80,000 square feet of new space, including seven new jet bridges and expanded waiting areas, plus more than 6,000 square feet of new concessions and double the amount of terminal seating. The project is expected to last about two years.

Our new KTVZ.COM Poll asks if you’re excited to see the airport terminal expansion.

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Tracee Tuesday

TERREBONNE, Ore. [KTVZ] — Wildfires continue to challenge communities in central Oregon as the Alder Springs Fire approached Crooked River Ranch on June 16th.  

Residents who were forced from their homes during Level 3 – Go Now evacuations, had so much on their minds like:  

Is their home destroyed 

Will their home be burglarized 

Did they bring all of their important documents and family photos, etc.  

The Oregon State Fire Marshal hosted a community meeting at Terrebonne Community School Gymnasium, Wednesday evening. Residents were able to receive first-hand updates on the Alder Springs Fire and ask questions. 

A few takeaways from Wednesday’s meeting: 

The Oregon State Fire Marshal said law enforcement agencies are brought in to specifically curtail neighborhoods to discourage theft  

Right before the meeting began at 7PM, the County Sheriff Offices along with local fire agencies, canceled Level 3 – Go Now evacuations for all areas related to the Alder Springs Fire 

Law enforcement reiterated that the fire was human-caused and said that formal charges have been filed against the perpetrator  

Crook County resident Sandy said she is exhausted.  

“I’m tired. I want my house back. I hope it’s still there.” 

“We haven’t had an evacuation before, and so it was new,” said Walt.  

Other residents said they were “frazzled,” but threw what they could into their car and left. 

Some residents say securing their belongings before evacuating was essential. 

“Like I took a virtual my whole home and took the phone and just took a picture of everything in my home.  And then I took out the safe. I took out the passports and all my belongings and all my insurance information, everything that I needed for the house 

Public Information Officer, Gert Zoutendijk, of the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office, said one of the toughest jobs they have is at the beginning of a fire because they must survey the area and make unpopular decisions, fast.  

“We don’t have all the resources either, When a big fire happens, we have to pick and choose, and we  have to do it fast, and that survey really helps us to pick and choose and see if we have to spend a lot of time on somebody’s home, which we probably don’t want to do that, because we want to do the most amount of good for the most amount of homes.” 

Still, residents remain grateful to all fire and law enforcement agencies for protecting their homes while those responsible are held accountable. 

The Oregon State Fire Marshal said one of the most specific guidelines, particularly with residents whose properties are in areas where it’s prone to fire: 

Make sure you have defensible space around your property 

Have an overnight bag at the ready, filled with your personal belongings and things you don’t want to part with in case you’re issued a Level 3 – Go Now alert . 

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