Month: October 2026

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Gov. Tina Kotek led a coalition of five governors Thursday in requesting additional time from federal officials to implement upcoming Medicaid regulations set to take effect Jan. One.

The joint request to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seeks to delay the implementation schedule for policy changes enacted under President Donald Trump’s H.R. one to prevent disruptions in health coverage.

The letter was signed by governors from Oregon, Calif., Maine, N.Y. and Virginia. With fewer than 100 days remaining before the new federal rules take effect, notices warning residents about potential shifts in coverage have already begun arriving in mailboxes.

About one-third of Oregon families depend on Medicaid, which operates locally as the Oregon Health Plan. State leaders contend that a timeline extension is needed to reduce administrative barriers that could cause eligible residents to lose coverage.

Oregon officials are rapidly training eligibility workers and distributing information to health care providers and families across the state as they coordinate a statewide response. Gov. Kotek emphasized that state agencies are attempting to maintain coverage for eligible residents despite new administrative requirements.

“One-third of Oregon families – including seniors, disabled Oregonians and children – rely on Medicaid, which is the Oregon Health Plan. We’re working to ensure people who are eligible have a pathway to stay insured,” Kotek said. “The new rules institute additional administrative barriers that will lead to people losing their health care. That is why we are proactively getting information out to families and providers now and rapidly training eligibility workers as we coordinate our response to the changes across the state.”

The multi-state request follows a previous effort in May 2026, when Kotek and five other governors signed a letter urging federal officials to revise proposed implementation timelines and clarify ambiguous regulations. That earlier communication requested immediate written guidance, administrative flexibility and final rules aligned with early policy directions before taking effect. Federal officials did not grant those requests.

In the latest letter, the governors stated that extending the timeline would allow states to implement the federal law responsibly and ensure the new requirements are clear and navigable for Medicaid recipients.

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — October marks Fire Prevention Month in Oregon and state fire officials are warning residents about the growing hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries.

To address the issue, the Oregon State Fire Marshal is partnering with the National Fire Protection Association on a public safety campaign titled “Charge into Fire Safety.”

The campaign follows new data from the agency’s Center for Fire Analytics, Intelligence and Research showing that Oregon fire departments responded to 649 lithium-ion battery-involved fires from 2020 to 2025.

Incidents involving the high-energy batteries increased at an average rate of 19% annually over that five-year span. In 2025 alone, firefighters responded to 161 battery-related fires, more than double the total reported in 2020.

Mariana Ruiz-Temple serves as the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Ruiz-Temple highlighted the risks associated with everyday household electronics, including cellphones, laptops, power tools and e-bikes, noting that damaged or improperly charged devices can quickly trigger severe fires. “As lithium-ion batteries become more common in homes and garages, we’re seeing a steady rise in fires linked to damaged or improperly charged devices,” Ruiz-Temple said. “Lithium-ion batteries are safe when used correctly. This October, we’re asking Oregonians to take charge of fire safety by learning how to charge their devices the right way.”

Fire officials recommend several safety precautions to reduce the risk of battery-related blazes. Devices should only be charged using the cord and charger supplied by the manufacturer or specifically approved for the device. Officials also advise placing electronics on hard, flat surfaces while charging rather than on beds, couches or under pillows where heat can build up. Devices should be unplugged once fully charged and users should immediately stop using any item that feels very hot, swells, smokes or emits an unusual odor.

For larger equipment, such as e-bikes, electric scooters and power tools, officials recommend charging outside and away from building exits. Because larger batteries store more energy, fires involving them can spread more rapidly and block escape routes. For air travel, officials advise passengers to keep charging devices in sight, avoid charging items in overhead bins and never charge e-cigarettes or vapes aboard aircraft.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal has worked to protect life, property and the environment from fire and hazardous materials since 1917. The department officially became an independent state agency in 2023.

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced legislation to extend funding for the Secure Rural Schools program for three years. Idaho Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch joined as co-sponsors of the bipartisan bill after program funding expired yesterday, Sept. 30, 2026.

The proposed legislation seeks a three-year extension of the program while clarifying congressional intent for funding distribution to Oregon counties containing Bureau of Land Management lands. The program provides federal revenue to rural counties to support public education, infrastructure maintenance, environmental restoration and emergency services.

U.S. Sen. Wyden, D-Oregon, co-authored the original Secure Rural Schools law in 2000. Since its enactment, the program has delivered nearly $4 billion to Oregon counties. Wyden emphasized the need to move past temporary reauthorizations. “Secure Rural Schools is a lifeline for rural Oregon,” Wyden said. “I’ll be working as hard as I can to get this bill across the finish line, but the well-being of rural America shouldn’t be dependent on Congress getting its act together to renew this funding every few years. It’s past time to get rural communities off the financial rollercoaster and deliver a permanent funding solution.”

U.S. Sen. Merkley, D-Oregon, detailed the municipal and safety services supported by the federal program. “The SRS program provides crucial payments that are a lifeline for rural communities here in Oregon and across America—keeping schools open, maintaining roads, restoring watersheds and providing funding for police officers and firefighters to keep families safe,” Merkley said. “A three-year extension of the program and these common-sense updates are critical to ensuring the federal government upholds its promise to our communities and that local governments can reliably access these important resources.”

Funding for the Secure Rural Schools program previously lapsed in September 2023 before Congress restored funding two years later in September 2025. That multiyear interruption deprived rural counties across the nation of funding for local public schools, law enforcement agencies and infrastructure projects.

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes National Forest and nonprofit Discover Your Northwest will host “Batacular,” an educational event featuring bat-focused activities, games and crafts, on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Bend, Ore.

The free event runs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and marks the start of Bat Week, an annual international campaign designed to raise awareness for bat conservation.

The event will take place at the Deschutes National Forest headquarters at 63095 Deschutes Market Road in Bend. Admission is free and open to the public, with Halloween costumes encouraged for attendees.

Bat Week is an annual international initiative supported by multiple conservation and government organizations, including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bat Conservation International, the Organization for Bat Conservation, The Save Lucy Campaign and Wildlife Acoustics.

Discover Your Northwest is a Seattle-based 501(c)(three) nonprofit organization founded in 1974. The group funds educational programs and public land initiatives across Oregon, Wash., northern California, Idaho and Montana.

Bat Week will run internationally from Oct. 24 through Oct. 31.