Author: KTVZ

KTVZ

(Update: St. Charles statement on OHA findings)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — An Oregon Health Authority report released Monday said costs for insured patients at Central Oregon’s St. Charles Health System jumped 26.3% in 2023, well beyond the state’s target limit of 3.4% health care spending growth a year.

The OHA says St. Charles and four other health care entities around the state did not provide an acceptable reason for their large cost increases, so St. Charles and two others must provide performance improvement plans.

St. Charles officials told KTVZ News later Monday that they will ask OHA to reconsider its decision and explained that many of the factors in the large price increases were beyond its control.

Here’s OHA’s full news release on the findings; followed by the full statement provided by spokesperson Alandra Johnson:

Seeking health affordability,  OHA finds five organizations didn’t meet acceptable cost growth standards in 2023 

SALEM, Ore. – In support of its efforts to make care more affordable, a detailed review of statewide health care spending data led Oregon Health Authority to determine most of the state’s health care organizations had acceptable reasons for high cost growth in 2023. However, OHA also found five entities didn’t have an acceptable reason for their spending increases that year.

For the first time, OHA will require three organizations to develop plans to meet the state’s health care spending target. In a related analysis, OHA also found compensation for frontline health care workers grew slower than for others who worked for Oregon hospitals and medical groups in 2023.

“Making health care affordable benefits everyone: People can more easily maintain their health, employers can better support their workers, and the health care industry can serve more members of their communities,” said OHA Health Policy & Analytics Division Director Clare Pierce-Wrobel.

“As directed by state law, OHA’s Sustainable Health Care Cost Growth Target Program provides additional transparency into what the state spends on health care,” Pierce-Wrobel said. “In the few cases where OHA finds cost growth is unreasonably high, the program follows thoughtful and gradual accountability standards. When the state, insurers, hospitals, providers and others work together, we can make health care affordable and accessible for everyone in Oregon.”

Health care costs in Oregon and around the country are rising at an alarming rate, outpacing wages and making care unaffordable for working families. Rising costs also strain the budgets of businesses and government agencies that pay for employer health coverage. In addition, reduced federal support for Medicaid and Affordable Care Act health plans is expected to further increase costs by causing people to lose coverage and avoid care until they need more expensive emergency care.

Measuring spending

Each year, OHA’s Sustainable Health Care Cost Growth Target Program collects and analyzes data from health insurance companies and other sources to measure what people and organizations in Oregon spend on health care. The program has aimed to limit health care cost growth to a 3.4% average annual increase per person since 2021. The Oregon Legislature established the program to help control health care spending.

While evaluating how spending changed between 2022 and 2023, OHA found most entities had an acceptable reason for higher-than-hoped cost growth, including for things like increased frontline workforce costs, high drug costs or increasing services to meet growing community needs.

OHA made a total of 120 comparisons between insurance plans, hospital systems and medical groups while examining how those organizations spent while serving people with commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid coverage. These comparisons led OHA to determine three insurance plans, one hospital system and one medical group did not have an acceptable reason for spending more than the state’s target.

The following five entities were found to have unreasonably high health care cost growth in 2023: 

St. Charles Health System, whose costs for serving people with commercial insurance increased 26.3%

ModaHealth’s Medicare Advantage insurance plans, which increased 15.4%

The Corvallis Clinic, whose costs for serving people with commercial insurance increased 8.7%

PacificSource’s commercial insurance plans, which increased 7.3%

UHC Company’s Medicare Advantage insurance plans, which increased 6.3%

Improvement plans

The 2022-2023 measurement period marks the first time that OHA can require organizations to submit performance improvement plans if their high cost growth didn’t occur for an acceptable reason. OHA is requiring three of the above organizations – St. Charles Health System, UHC Company and PacificSource – to submit plans.

As allowed by state law, OHA is excusing two others with unreasonable cost growth. ModaHealth’s Medicare Advantage insurance plans don’t need to submit an improvement plan because they are no longer offered. OHA is also excusing The Corvallis Clinic this year so it can focus on holding its parent company, Optum, accountable in future measurement periods.

The organizations’ performance improvement plans must identify what is causing their high cost growth, name actions they will take to address those cost drivers, and provide a timeline by which their cost growth will be reduced. OHA must approve the plans, which will be due by the end of January 2026.

Starting in 2028, OHA can begin issuing fines to health care entities that consistently fail to meet the target in three out of five years. By design, the Cost Growth Target Program does not immediately penalize an organization for their high cost growth in a single year or two, even if it is determined to be unreasonable. The program may only penalize organizations that fail to meet the cost growth target – without an acceptable reason – three times in a five-year period.

Workforce costs 

Because workforce costs are a significant driver of health care spending and OHA considers spending on frontline workers an acceptable reason for exceeding the state’s health care cost growth target, OHA has also published a related report that examines frontline worker compensation at a subset of the hospitals and medical groups that are subject to the target.

Frontline health care worker compensation recently grew at a slower rate than compensation for others who work at hospitals and medical groups, concludes the report. Frontline worker compensation grew 3.3% in 2023, compared to 13.0% for non-frontline workers. Further, frontline worker compensation represented 60% of total compensation in 2023, down from 62% in 2022.

The 2023 state law that created a requirement for OHA to conduct this analysis defines frontline health care workers as those who aren’t managers and receive total compensation that is less than $200,000 a year. While some providers – including many physicians and nurse anesthetists – earn more than that, they are not considered frontline workers in this analysis.

As planned when Oregon’s Cost Growth Target was first created, OHA is currently revisiting the target’s rate for 2026 through 2030. A short-term workgroup is expected to make a recommendation to OHA after its last meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

More information is in the following reports: 

Health Care Cost Growth Trends in Oregon, 2022-2023

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Kelsey Merison

FOREST GROVE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon National Guard formally welcomed home approximately 230 members on Sunday in Forest Grove following a year-long deployment.

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment were mobilized in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and returned from eight separate geographically dispersed sites in the Middle East countries of Jordan, Iraq, and Syria.

Welcome home, soldiers.

Read more about the ceremony and the soldier’s mission below:

“The Oregon National Guard formally welcomed home Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment during a formal demobilization ceremony on Nov. 16, 2025, held at Neil Armstrong Middle School in Forest Grove, Oregon.

The 2-218th mobilized approximately 230 members in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, bearing the designation Task Force Defender, while conducting Short Range Air Defense operations at eight separate geographically dispersed sites in the Middle East countries of Jordan, Iraq, and Syria during their year-long deployment.

“On behalf of Governor Kotek and the entire Oregon National Guard, it is my honor and privilege to officially say, ‘Welcome Home,’” said Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon National Guard. “During Task Force Defender, you took on one of the most demanding and technically complex missions in modern warfare. Every single day, American forces, coalition partners, and local populations relied on you for their protection.”

Their mission was to provide capabilities for countering rockets, artillery, and mortars, as well as combating unmanned aerial systems using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods, all while offering warnings of incoming threats.

Before deploying overseas, the Soldiers underwent specialized training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. This training aimed to enhance their skills in operating the equipment and systems essential for their role as primary air defenders, which American and Coalition partners rely on for force protection.

The 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment has a long history of answering the State and Nation’s call for service. In the post 9/11 era, they have deployed to the Middle East to support Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Spartan Shield, and now Task Force Defender.”

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) —  a new petition from Oregon’s GOP is challenging the state’s latest controversial transportation funding bill—pushing to let voters decide its future.

After the passing of the ODOT funding bill earlier this fall and was recently signed by the Governor, Oregon Republicans are working around the clock and around the state trying to get over 78 thousand signatures by December 30th in order to get the measure on the ballot.

KTVZ spoke with State Senator Bruce Starr whose leading the petition. 

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we get 100,000 signatures today,” St. Sen. Starr told KTVZ News. “Oregonians are upset. they’re not happy. they want to have the opportunity to vote on this, and we intend to give it. we intend to give Oregonians that opportunity.” 

This petition comes off the heals of the controversial passing of the ODOT funding bill that raises gas taxes by six cents a gallon and raises registration rates on all gas and electric cars.

Additionally, the bill also mandates that ev vehicles sign up for Orego, charging ev users by the mile.

St. Sen. Starr told KTVZ News, “Right now when we have the fourth highest gas prices in the nation, when Oregon families are struggling to to just pay their bills, when energy costs are going through the roof, I mean, natural gas and electricity, Oregonians can’t afford to pay more right now.”

The petition must receive the required more than 78 thousand signatures in order to be on the ballot.

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Harley Coldiron

(Update: adding video from court hearing on November 24th regarding employment of Ms. Stigall)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Sierra Stigall, a 22-year-old former La Pine Middle School volleyball coach, went before a judge on Monday at the Deschutes County Courthouse. Stigall faces a growing list of charges related to sexual abuse of minors, with a second alleged victim identified.

Stigall was originally charged with 20 counts in connection with alleged abuse of a boy under 14, covering incidents between May and July of this year. Though four of those counts were dropped prior to Monday’s court appearance, authorities now say a second victim has been identified. 

With the formal grand indictment on new charges including a second alleged victim filed Monday, Stigall now faces 39 counts –including multiple counts of rape and sexual abuse, luring a minor and online sexual corruption of a child. All are Class B or C felonies, except a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a minor.

Prosecutors allege that her contact with one or both alleged victims may have lasted through November.

During Monday’s hearing, prosecutors read a letter from an alleged victim’s parent. In it, they urged the court not to lower bail. Stigall’s lawyer said her employer indicated she could return to work if released, however – her former employer posted on KTVZ’s Facebook page Monday evening that she would not be welcomed back at their establishment.

Stigall’s defense asked the judge that her bail be reduced to $50,000. Prosecutors recommended $350,000, referencing Stigall’s lack of prior criminal history, but stressing the seriousness of the charges. Circuit Judge Raymond Crutchley ultimately reduced her bail to $100,000. He also ordered Stigall to surrender her passport, submit to electronic monitoring and avoid contact with minors if released.

Stigall was arrested November 14 and remains in jail following Monday’s decision. It is not yet clear if she will be able to post bail at the reduced amount. Her plea hearing is scheduled for December 15.

The district attorney’s office continues to investigate, as the scope of the case widens.

KTVZ will continue to follow this developing story and keep you updated. 

Earlier Story — November 17th — BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Sierra Beverly Ann Stigall, a former volleyball coach from La Pine charged with rape and abuse of a minor, also coached a traveling under-14 baseball team in the La Pine area, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.

While detectives said they had no information at this time indicating any other victims, they also asked to hear from anyone with concerns about Stigall having inappropriate contact with minors.

Stigall, now 22, was arrested Friday and remains jailed on 20 counts of rape, sexual abuse and luring a minor under the age of 14, according to court documents filed on Monday.

The charges against Stigall include multiple counts of sexual abuse in the first and second degree, sodomy, rape, and luring a minor, all allegedly occurring between May and July of this year. The alleged victim is a boy under the age of 14, who reportedly was coached by Stigall after her tenure as a seventh-grade volleyball coach at La Pine Middle School in the fall of 2024.

Court documents allege that Stigall had at least three sexual encounters with the minor during the specified period. The incidents reportedly took place in a vehicle and a hotel room, where Stigall allegedly engaged in various forms of sexual contact with the victim.

Stigall’s coaching role with the alleged victim occurred after her employment with Bend-La Pine Schools, where she was only employed for the six-week volleyball season in 2024. The district confirmed that this was the only time she was employed with them.

Stigall, who attended La Pine Middle School and then graduated from La Pine High School in 2021, is currently being held in jail on $500,00 bail pending her indictment on an expected grand jury indictment, which is scheduled for next Monday.

The case has raised significant concerns within the community, given Stigall’s previous role as a coach and her ties to the local schools. As the legal proceedings continue, further details are expected to emerge about the nature of the alleged offenses and Stigall’s relationship with the victim.

Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jason Carr issued a news release with some more information Tuesday afternoon.

Carr wrote that that “DCSO does not believe Stigall was employed by the Bend-La Pine School District during these (crimes). However, Stigall was involved in coaching a U14 traveling baseball team in the La Pine area.”

Based on the investigation and an interview with Stigall, she was lodged in the Deschutes County Jail on the following charges:

Sexual Abuse in the First Degree (X5)

Sodomy in the Second Degree (X2)

Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree (X8)

Rape in the Second Degree (2)

Luring a Minor (X2)

Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the First Degree

“Detectives with DCSO have no information concerning additional victims,” Carr wrote. “If you or someone you know have concerns about Stigall having inappropriate contact with minors, please call the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office at (541) 633-6655 and ask for Detective Porter.”

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KTVZ

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The beloved Old Fashion Christmas event is back, bringing classic holiday charm to the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center through the weekend.

Visitors can browse arts, crafts, antiques and unique gifts while enjoying festive food, hourly prize drawings, holiday movies and a visit from Santa.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a canned good for the Lil’ Bit Food Pantry to receive extra tickets for the prize drawings.

The event runs Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $6, or $5 for veterans and seniors, with free parking available for all guests.

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Spencer Sacks

(Update: adding information from latest hearing)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend woman was arraigned on arson and other charges Monday in Deschutes County Court, accused of setting fire to her home in northwest Bend.

Rachel Kidwell, 33, was arrested Nov. 15 at the triplex where she resided when Bend Police responded to a structure fire.

When officers arrived, they found Kidwell on the front porch. Police said she told them she had started the fire herself, a blaze that also damaged two adjacent units before firefighters could stop it.

Kidwell has been indicted on three counts of first-degree arson, as well as first-degree criminal mischief and two counts of reckless endangering. A hearing on her fitness to proceed has been set for December 8th.

KTVZ News will continue to follow this developing story and will keep you updated.

Earlier Story — November 15th — BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend Woman was arrested on Saturday after allegedly starting a fire in the 1200 block of NW Stannium Road.

33-year-old Rachel Joy Kidwell is being investigated for Arson after telling officers that she’d started the fire at the home.

Bend Fire & Rescue was able to prevent the fire from spreading but other units in the multifamily building sustained Damage

This story is developing and we will continue to update it as we learn more.

Read the Press Release Below:

“At approximately 12:17 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, Bend Police responded to a report of a fire in the 1200 block of NW Stannium Road.  

When officers arrived, they found a second-story apartment in a triplex fully engulfed in flames. A woman, later identified as 33-year-old Bend resident Rachel Joy Kidwell, was on the porch when officers arrived and told them she’d started the fire at the home.  

Bend Police evacuated the surrounding residences. 

Bend Fire & Rescue was able to prevent the fire from spreading and successfully extinguished the flames. Other units in the multifamily building sustained damage. 

Officers took Kidwell into custody and transported her to the Bend Police Department. She will be lodged at the Deschutes County Jail. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.”

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KTVZ

Update: Adding video

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — It’s a good time to be a pika in Oregon, or a volunteer trained to spot them. New survey data from Cascades Pika Watch – which included Central Oregon for the first time – shows numbers of the potato-sized mammals, as well as the people who survey them, are on the rise.  

Pikas, tiny rabbit relatives known for their distinctive, squeak-toy-like calls, typically live on mountain slopes at elevations above 6,000 feet, but a unique low-elevation population is living at the Columbia River Gorge, just a half-hour from Portland. 

Since the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, surveys indicate the pika ((the preferred pronunciation is PIKE-uh) population in the area has been steadily increasing. Last year, volunteers spotted pikas at more than two-thirds of the sites surveyed, and that number rose even higher in 2025.

“This year, we found pikas at 82% of sites surveyed, which is close to the pre-fire population numbers,” said Dr. Johanna Varner, scientific adviser for the Cascades Pika Watch program. “This is great news for the Gorge pika population.”  

There is growing concern among scientists about the future of pikas, as climate change has caused population declines and local extinctions in parts of the pika’s range. But Varner says the season’s results are very encouraging — particularly in the Gorge.  

“The data from this program tell us this population might be more resilient than some others,” Varner said. “We’re really hopeful that pikas in Oregon continue to thrive.”

For the first time, Cascades Pika Watch ventured east as well this year, partnering with the High Desert Museum and Discover Your Forest to survey for pikas in Central Oregon. Trained volunteers detected pikas at 11 out of 27 sites in the region.

“We’re excited to begin the process of monitoring pikas in Central Oregon,” said Jon Nelson, who oversees citizen science programming at the High Desert Museum. “Pikas may be small, but they can tell us a lot about the larger ecosystems where they live.” 

Pikas aren’t the only creatures increasing in number this year — the ranks of pika watchers grew as well. More than 287 trained citizen scientists submitted 683 surveys from 109 locations throughout the Gorge and Central Oregon. In the Gorge, that’s a 62% increase in survey respondents from last year, which was itself a record-breaking year for the program.

 Every summer, volunteers from Cascades Pika Watch — a program of the Oregon Zoo — head into the field with binoculars to stake out pika hot spots, record their locations and listen for the pika’s telltale squeak. Then they upload their data to a website, helping biologists to better understand where pikas live and whether their range is shifting.  

“Each year, this program has gotten bigger and better,” Varner said. “The future of Cascades Pika Watch is really bright, and there’s still plenty of room for more people to get involved.”

 Cascades Pika Watch will return next year, and aspiring pika watchers are encouraged to sign up for free in-person or online trainings. Sites are accessed via public hiking trails, and no special skills are required. Sign up for updates at oregonzoo.org/pika. 

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Did you know our consumption accounts for half of our greenhouse gas emissions? Did you hear that Knott Landfill is close to full? Have you heard contradictory things about recycling and whether it matters? 

This July, Oregon became the first state in the nation to pass a sweeping bill, the Recycling Modernization Act, that modernizes Oregon’s recycling infrastructure, and makes producers responsible for their packaging (The Environmental Center asks that you see their Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act post for more info). 

Do you have questions about what has changed or what is about to change? Or maybe, are you skeptical that these changes will have any meaningful impact? 

At Rethink Waste Project’s 4th annual America Recycles Day free virtual event on Tuesday, November 18th (6-7:30pm), everyone is invited to come learn from a panel of experts about recycling and the Recycling Modernization Act. This is an opportunity for all residents to get clarity on our recycling system and what’s recyclable and not here, while also learning why recycling by itself won’t save us from our climate and waste crises. 

All who are interested can learn more and register for this free event at https://envirocenter.org/event/rma/ or by clicking the link from www.RethinkWasteProject.org 

Panel: 

Colin Teem, Materials Management – Eastern Region Specialist, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 

Rachel VanWoert, RMA Technical Assistant, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 

Susan Baker, Diversion and Franchise Services Manager, Deschutes County Solid Waste 

Moderator: Kavi Chokshi, Rethink Waste Program Manager, The Environmental Center 

A big thanks to our panelists! 

Questions? Contact kavi@envirocenter.org  

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About the Rethink Waste Project 

The Rethink Waste Project (RWP), a program of The Environmental Center, envisions a community that understands the upstream and downstream impacts of using Earth’s resources and makes responsible decisions about the consumption, use, and disposal of materials. RWP provides waste prevention and reduction education for Deschutes County residents, businesses, and organizations through a partnership with Deschutes County Department of Solid Waste and local garbage and recycling service providers. RWP offers free presentations around waste reduction, recycling, food waste prevention, and more. Learn more at: www.RethinkWasteProject.org. 

About The Environmental Center 

The Environmental Center’s mission is to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon. We translate sustainability into practical, local action in order to create a healthy future for people and the planet. We are focused on building community, educating kids, revolutionizing energy, rethinking waste, and advocating for change. Learn more at www.envirocenter.org or by visiting our facility at 16 NW Kansas Ave. in downtown Bend, Oregon. 

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KTVZ

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Central Electric Cooperative is accepting applications for its 2026 Washington, D.C. Youth Tour program. CEC will select two high school juniors to visit the nation’s capital for a one-week trip in June.  

Participants will join hundreds of student leaders from electric cooperatives nationwide to learn about cooperatives’ contributions to rural America, leadership, the political process and interact with elected officials.

The trip includes visits to the nation’s capital and other notable sites, such as Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, the Washington Monument, Mount Vernon, and the Smithsonian.  

High school juniors interested in applying can find the application here. Applications will be accepted through Friday, January 9, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. and can be completed online, mailed, or dropped off at any Central Electric office. 

To be eligible, students’ families must be CEC members. Applicants must include information about their interests and a 500 to 1,000 word essay on the following topic: “What is the greatest issue facing your community, and how can you be a part of the solution?” Applicants will participate in an interview conducted by a committee comprised of CEC employees. 

The Youth Tour is an all-expense paid trip as the co-op will cover the selected student’s transportation, lodging, meals, and one checked bag.  

The selected students will share their trip experience with CEC’s membership at the co-op’s annual meeting in April 2027. For more information, https://www.cec.coop/in-your-community/youth-tour/ or call (541) 548-2144. 

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Lynsey Harris

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) –The Central Oregon Avalanche Center is gearing up for its 26th annual Powderhound Preview and Fundraiser, and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever.

We sat down with a COAC forecaster to talk about what the event is, why it matters, and how locals can get involved.

Powderhound is not just a fundraiser—it’s a way to bring the community together around snow safety, avalanche awareness, and fun winter activities.

The event includes educational sessions, local guest speakers, and opportunities to support avalanche research and safety programs in Central Oregon. Whether you’re a seasoned backcountry adventurer or just curious about snow safety, Powderhound offers something for everyone.

Tickets and more information are available on the COAC website. Don’t miss your chance to learn, connect, and support avalanche safety in our community.

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