Month: September 2025

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — St. Charles Health System announced Tuesday it has reached contract agreements with two insurance providers – Aetna and Cigna – that it said address concerns about denials, inefficiencies and administrative burden and will allow patients using those insurance plans to remain in-network for elective services at St. Charles facilities. 

St. Charles and Cigna Healthcare had announced that Cigna would no longer be considered in-network starting Oct. 1, potentially impacting thousands of patients across Central Oregon, after talks reached a stalemate.

Here’s the rest of Tuesday’s announcement by St. Charles:

“For the past several years, St. Charles has asked insurance companies to work with us to address concerns about coverage denials for medical treatments, increasing administrative burdens for our care teams, inefficiencies and delays in patient care,” said Matt Swafford, Chief Financial Officer for St. Charles.

“Though not perfect, both contracts with Aetna and with Cigna include elements that better address these issues. We will remain in-network for both insurance companies,” Swafford added. 

The contract with Aetna was resolved recently, and Aetna estimates it covers about 7,500 people in Central Oregon. The contract with Cigna was set to expire on Sept. 30, which would have affected about 5,000 patients. 

“We understand that some individuals were concerned about potentially losing or having to switch coverage, and that’s a worry we take seriously,” Swafford said. “We are moving ahead with these newly negotiated agreements because we believe it is in the best interest of patients and for preserving health care access in Central Oregon.” 

About St. Charles Health SystemSt. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates hospital campuses in Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond along with primary and specialty care clinics throughout the Central Oregon region. St. Charles is a private, nonprofit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 5,200 caregivers. We proudly partner with our local medical community to provide a wide variety of health services. 

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KTVZ

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Gas prices in Oregon and Washington are retreating as operations of the Olympic Pipeline resume, AAA Oregon/Idaho reported Tuesday

The major pipeline was down starting about September 2, creating very tight supplies in the region. Wholesale prices for gasoline shot up and consumers were hit with double-digit increases at the pumps. The pipeline’s return to operations and the switch to winter-blend fuel are now putting downward pressure on gas prices.

For the week, the national average for regular loses two cents to $3.17 a gallon. The Oregon average falls six cents to $4.23 a gallon, while Bend’s average dropped about eight cents to $4.11.

“The outage of the Olympic Pipeline as well as refinery maintenance in the West Coast region created very tight supplies here and drivers sure felt pain at the pumps earlier this month. Prices should keep falling in the coming weeks now that the pipeline is back in operation,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho. “Also, gas stations in Oregon can now sell winter-blend fuel, which costs less to produce than summer-blend gas, so that will also help to lower pump prices.”

The 400-mile Olympic Pipeline carries refined petroleum products from the refineries in Washington State to distribution terminals in the Pacific Northwest, including Portland. During this month’s outage, some fuel was sent by barge, which takes more time and is more expensive. Gas prices in Oregon and Washington shot up as a result. The Oregon average went from $3.98 on September 2 to its year-to-date high of just under $4.30 on September 13 and 14. The Washington average went from $4.39 on September 2 to its year-to-date high of $4.66 on September 14 and 16. Last week, Washington had the most expensive gas prices in the nation.

While this year’s Atlantic hurricane season has been quitter than some years, a major storm remains the wildcard. Any storm that targets the Gulf Coast can have an impact on the production and distribution of oil and gas.

The Oregon average for regular gas began 2025 at $3.45 a gallon and is currently at $4.23. The highest price of the year so far is $4.297 on September 13 and 14. The lowest price of the year so far is just under $3.45 a gallon on January 2.  

The national average began 2025 at $3.06 a gallon and is currently at $3.17. The highest price of the year so far is $3.268 on April 4. The lowest price of the year so far is $3.06 on January 5.

This week 32 Oregon counties have averages at or above $4, compared to 33 a week ago:

Benton $4.03

Clackamas $4.39

Clatsop $4.27

Columbia $4.37

Coos $4.25

Crook $4.17

Curry $4.41

Deschutes $4.07

Douglas $4.16

Grant $4.50

Harney $4.45

Hood River $4.15

Jackson $4.27

Jefferson $4.08

Josephine $4.32

Klamath $4.16

Lake $4.28

Lane $4.14

Lincoln $4.08

Linn $4.04

Marion $4.11

Morrow $4.04

Multnomah $4.39

Polk $4.07

Sherman $4.23

Tillamook $4.47

Umatilla $4.03

Union $4.03

Wallowa $4.30

Wasco $4.30

Washington $4.40

Yamhill $4.28

Demand for gasoline in the U.S. increased from 8.50 million b/d to 8.81 million for the week ending September 12. This compares to 8.78 million b/d a year ago. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 220 million barrels to 217.6 million. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.4 million barrels per day compared to 9.6 million barrels per day the previous week.

Gas prices usually drop in the fall, due to the switch from summer-blend to winter-blend fuel, which costs less to produce. The switch starts in September. Many areas, including Oregon, can sell winter-blend fuel starting September 15. However, Northern and Southern California require summer-blend fuel through October 31. Prices usually decline to their lowest levels of the year in late fall and early winter before increasing again in the late winter and early spring.

Gas prices typically rise starting in mid-to-late winter and early spring as refineries undergo maintenance ahead of the switch to summer-blend fuel, which is more expensive to produce and less likely to evaporate in warmer temperatures. The switch occurs first in California, which is why pump prices on the West Coast often rise before other parts of the country. The East Coast is the last major market to switch to summer-blend fuel. Most areas have a May 1 compliance date for refiners and terminals, while most gas stations have a June 1 deadline to switch to selling summer-blend until June 1. Switch-over dates are earlier in California with some areas in the state requiring summer-blend fuel by April 1. Some refineries will begin maintenance and the switchover in February.

The U.S. price of crude oil (West Texas Intermediate) had been mostly in the low-$60s to mid-$70s since September 2024. Crude prices spiked to the mid-$70s in mid-June in response to the strikes between Israel and Iran, and then the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, but then prices fell back into the $60s on the belief that the conflict would not have a major impact on global oil supplies. Crude prices fell in early April as markets reacted to President Trumps tariffs and the impact on U.S. and global markets. Additional downward pressure on crude prices came after the decision by OPEC+ to increase production. The lowest closing price since September was $57.13 on May 5, which was the lowest closing price since February 2021. The recent high price for crude was $80.04 per barrel on January 15, which was the highest price since last August.

Crude oil is trading around $64 today compared to $65 a week ago and $70 a year ago. In 2024, West Texas Intermediate ranged between $66 and $87 per barrel. In 2023, WTI ranged between $63 and $95 per barrel. WTI reached recent highs of $123.70 on March 8, 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and $122.11 per barrel on June 8, 2022. The all-time high for WTI crude oil is $147.27 in July 2008.

Crude prices are impacted by economic news as well as geopolitical events around the world including the current economic uncertainty, unrest in the Middle East, the war between Israel and Hamas, and the war between Russia and Ukraine. Russia is a top global oil producer, behind the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Crude prices have been volatile after the attack on Israel by Hamas in October 2023. While Israel and the Palestinian territory are not oil producers, concerns remain that the conflict could spread in the Middle East, which could potentially impact crude production in other oil-producing nations in the region. In addition, production cuts by OPEC+ in previous years tightened global crude oil supplies, which continued to impact prices. But this year, the cartel boosted production by 411,000 barrels per day in May and June, and July, 548,000 barrels per day in August, 547,000 barrels per day in September, and 137,000 barrels per day in October.  

Crude oil is the main ingredient in gasoline and diesel, so pump prices are impacted by crude prices on the global markets. On average, about 52% of what we pay for in a gallon of gasoline is for the price of crude oil, 16% is refining, 15% distribution and marketing, and 17% are taxes, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Meanwhile, crude oil production in the U.S. remains near record highs. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that crude production in his country dipped from 13.49 to 13.48 million barrels per day for the week ending September 12. The record high is 13.63 million barrels per day for the week of December 6. Production has been at 13.5 million barrels per day many times since October 2024. The U.S. has been the top producer of crude oil in the world since 2018 and has been increasing its oil production since about 2009.

Quick stats

Oregon is one of 37 states and the District of Columbia with lower prices now than a week ago. New Mexico (-11 cents) has the largest week-over-week decline in the nation. Ohio (+10 cents) and Maryland (+10 cents) have the biggest week-over-week jumps in the nation. The average in Hawaii is flat.

After one week, California ($4.66) bumps Washington ($4.60) as the state with the most expensive gas in the nation. Hawaii ($4.47) is third, and Oregon ($4.23) is fourth. These are the four states with averages at or above $4 a gallon. This week 24 states and the District of Columbia have averages in the $3-range. There are 22 states with an average in the $2 range this week.

The cheapest gas in the nation is in Oklahoma ($2.68) and Mississippi ($2.70) and. No state has had an average below $2 a gallon since January 7, 2021, when Mississippi and Texas were below that threshold. At the time, the COVID-19 pandemic drove significant declines in crude oil and gasoline demand in the U.S. and around the world.

The difference between the most expensive and least expensive states is $1.97 this week, compared to $1.96 a week ago.

Oregon is one of 34 states with higher prices now than a month ago. The national average is two cents more and the Oregon average is 26 cents more than a month ago. This is the largest month-over-month jump for a state in the nation. Arizona (+26 cents) has the second largest month-over-month increase in the nation, while Washington (+20 cents) has the third largest monthly increase. Wisconsin (-19 cents) has the largest month-over-month drop.

Oregon is one of 12 states with higher prices now than a year ago. The national average is four cents less, while the Oregon average is 52 cents more. Oregon has the largest year-over-year increase in the nation. Washington (+49 cents) has the second-largest increase. Colorado (-25 cents) has the largest yearly drop.

West Coast

The West Coast region continues to have the most expensive pump prices in the nation with all seven states in the top 10. It’s typical for the West Coast to have six or seven states in the top 10 as this region tends to consistently have fairly tight supplies, consuming about as much gasoline as is produced. In addition, this region is located relatively far from parts of the country where oil drilling, production and refining occurs, so transportation costs are higher. And environmental programs in this region add to the cost of production, storage and distribution.

This month’s pipeline and refinery issues in the region have also impacted pump prices.

Rank
Region
Price on 9/23/2025

1
California
$4.66

2
Washington
$4.60

3
Hawaii
$4.47

4
Oregon
$4.23

5
Nevada
$3.91

6
Alaska
$3.89

7
Arizona
$3.58

8
Idaho
$3.52

9
Utah
$3.39

10
Illinois
$3.37

As mentioned above, California bumps Washington as the state with the most expensive gas in the nation. Washington held the top spot for one week due to the outage of the Olympic Pipeline. Hawaii, Oregon, Nevada, Alaska, and Arizona round out the top seven. Oregon is fourth most expensive for the 18th week in a row.

Four of the seven West Coast states are seeing week-over-week decreases: Washington (-6 cents), Oregon (-6 cents), Nevada (-1 cent), and Alaska (-1 cent). Two states have tiny increases: Arizona (+4/10ths of a cent) and California (+3/10ths of a cent). The average in Hawaii is the same as a week ago.

The refinery utilization rate on the West Coast dropped from 86.2% to 82.4% for the week ending September 12. This rate has ranged between about 72% to 93% in the last year. The latest national refinery utilization rate fell from 94.9% to 93.3%.

The refinery utilization rate measures how much crude oil refineries are processing as a percentage of their maximum capacity. A low or declining rate can put upward pressure on pump prices, while a high or rising rate can put downward pressure on pump prices.

According to EIA’s latest weekly report, total gas stocks in the region inched up from 30.21 million bbl. to 30.37 million bbl. An increase in gasoline stocks can put downward pressure on pump prices, while a decrease in gasoline stocks can put upward pressure on pump prices.

Oil market dynamics

Crude oil prices are up slightly to start this week on concerns over potential disruptions in Russian oil supplies after NATO’s response to Russian incursions into its airspace and calls for sanctions on countries that are buying oil from Russia.

Meanwhile, the EIA reports that crude oil inventories decreased by 9.3 million barrels from the previous week. At 415.4 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 5% below the five-year average for this time of year. 

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI fell 89 cents to close at $62.68. At the close of Monday’s formal trading session, WTI slipped 4 cents to settle at $62.64. Today crude is trading around $63 compared to $65 a week ago. Crude prices are about $6 less than a year ago. ($70.37 on September 23, 2024)

Drivers can find current gas prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.

Diesel

For the week, the national average ticks down one cent to $3.69 a gallon. The record high is $5.816 set on June 19, 2022. The Oregon average also edges down one cent to $4.49. The record high is $6.47 set on July 3, 2022. A year ago the national average for diesel was $3.58 and the Oregon average was $3.90.

Find current fuel prices at GasPrices.AAA.com.

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Claire Elmer

(Update: Adding video, interview with maternal-fetal medicine specialist)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Concerns are rising after federal officials flagged potential risks with acetaminophen use in pregnancy. Acetaminophen — or Tylenol — is one of the most common over-the-counter medications doctors recommend during pregnancy. 

Now, headlines and federal statements suggest a possible link between the medication to autism and developmental delays. The controversial claims have sparked debate and even push-back from many doctors and health officials. 

KTVZ News spoke Tuesday with a physician specializing in maternal-fetal medicine on the topic. Dr. Stephanie Ros Saposnik, also a representative of the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, raised concerns over the risks of trusting what she calls shaky science. 

“When you rely on folks who really know the scientific method well and really understand how research works, when those folks separately and independently have come to the same conclusion over and over that this drug is safe, I think that should really be the source that is trusted,” she said. 

Dr. Ros Saposnik warns the effects of not treating conditions such as maternal fever and infection has been linked to autism, and even fetal death.

She says she is concerned the recent federal statements are based on correlation, not causation. And she hopes the federal health authorities will dig deeper into the studies which have deemed acetaminophen safe, to compare their findings. 

“There are, I will very quickly admit, so many things we just don’t know about pregnancy,” Dr. Ros Saposnik said. But this is not one of them. Roosters sing every morning and the sun comes up — that doesn’t mean the rooster’s song is what caused the sun to rise, they just happen at the same time.”

Dr. Ros Saposnik reiterated that physicians and patients have the same goal: to keep mother and baby healthy through pregnancy and beyond. Ensuring you have a doctor whose expertise you trust to discuss your concerns with is critical. 

KTVZ News contacted numerous local, state, and national officials and organizations for a variety of prospectives on the controversy. Most declined to speak or provide comment on the matter. 

The Oregon Health Authority did provide a statement to KTVZ, saying: 

“The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists has reaffirmed safety and benefits of acetaminophen during pregnancy and clearly stated that there is no definitive evidence to suggest that a mother’s acetaminophen use causes autism in her child. Guidance about the use of medicines in pregnancy should be determined with careful review based on clinical expertise and science-backed data.

“Oregon Health Authority remains focused on providing clear, evidence-based information, expanding health care access, protecting communities, and helping all people in Oregon lead healthy lives.”

Representative Emerson Levy, D-Bend, also commented on the issue, saying:

“Outside of the Legislature, I’m a mom, sister and an aunt. A sister to a brother with Down syndrome and an aunt to a nephew with autism. People with disabilities are a gift, a gift to my family and a gift to this community. 

“Anyone who has had to wrangle the disability system in this country knows we need more services, not less. For access to be easier not harder. I’m just one person, but my gentle advice to the federal government is to listen to moms, don’t blame them. They know what their kid needs.”

In response to President Trump’s claim regarding acetaminophen and autism, the company Tylenol (makers of acetaminophen products) released the following statement: 

“We stand with science, and we stand with you. 

“For generations, families have trusted TYLENOL when it matters most. 

“Tylenol is one of the most studied medications in history-and is safe when used as directed by expecting mothers, infants, and children.

“The facts remain unchanged: over a decade of rigorous research, endorsed by leading medical professionals, confirm there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism. 

“Acetaminophen is used worldwide as a first line of defense for pain relief and fever reduction, at the recommendation of independent public health and leading medical professionals and in accordance with the product label. 

“High fevers and pain are widely recognized as potential risks to a pregnancy if left untreated, especially in the first trimester. Remember to talk to your doctor.

“We prioritize science as the core of how we provide care, and that will never change. 

“Have questions about recent media coverage of TYLENOL? Click here.”

With conflicting information and confusing medical terminology circulating, discussing concerns with your trusted medical professional is the most safe, effective route to clarity. 

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Kelsey Merison

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Right now, no active large fires are burning on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected land, but three are burning statewide, according to the agency.

So far this year, 2,867 fires have burned statewide, 1,060 fires of them on ODF-protected land..

In total, more than 322,000 acres have burned this year across the state. That’s compared to nearly 2 million acres that burned during the 2024 fire season.

Here’s Monday’s report on the fire situation:

ODF Complex Incident Management Teams

Team 1 on rotation

Team 2 is on standby.

Team 3 is on rest.

ODF Priority Fires

FIRE NAME
TOTAL ACRES
ODF ACRES
CONTAINMENT
LOCATION
COMMAND

Moon Complex
3,958
0
10%
12 miles NE of Agness
NW Team 13

Emigrant
32,388
0
41%
24 miles SE of Oakridge
RM Team 1

Foley Ridge
437
0
37%
7 miles SE of McKenzie Bridge
IMT 3

*These numbers may change as we receive more data.

There are approximately 2,113 personnel assigned to the 3 large fires across the state, not including many of the local and agency government employees, landowners, forestland operators, and members of the community who are contributing every day.

Initial attack remains ODF’s top priority.

Prevention: Fire season is not over and no season ending events are forecasted at the moment. Remaining informed of local fire restrictions is a simple way to prevent you from bringing prohibited fire hazards onto the landscape and from potentially starting the next wildfire. Find danger levels and restrictions across the state here.

Weather: A warming and drying trend will begin today. Overnight humidity recovery will range from moderate to poor, particularly on exposed ridges. North to northeast winds develop west of the Cascades as a thermal trough builds along the coast, drifting toward the crest each afternoon. Westerly winds return across the crest Thursday as a weak front passes through British Columbia bringing gradual moderation west of the Cascades, but also dry, gusty winds through the Cascade gaps and east slopes. Pressure gradients weaken Friday and Saturday, with hot and dry conditions persisting.

ODF Highlight: Happy first day of fall! We’re so excited for the beauty of the trees this season, and it’s already beginning at the Tillamook Forest Center!🍂 Autumn hours at the Tillamook Forest Center are Wednesday through Sunday, 10a.m. to 4p.m.

Resources

ODF wildfire blog and Public Fire Restrictions/Danger Levels map

Regional situation report and national situation report

Inciweb (information, photos, videos, and maps from specific incidents)

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