Triton Notary
BEND, Ore. –(KTVZ)– Four artists get their creative works displayed at the new city of Bend’s public works campus, including two artists from Bend. Ben Hull and Eli Logan both made artwork paying homage to Central Oregon’s rugged landscape. The art will be seen on a bike shelter and trash enclosure. To see the other winning artists go to the City of Bend’s website.
Triton Notary
BEND, Ore. –(KTVZ)– They’re the first to greet students in the morning and the last to see them home safely. Now some of the Bend-La Pine School’s bus drivers are being recognized for their excellence behind the wheel in this year’s state school bus safety exercises.
Bend-Lapine School’s transportation department brought home 10 awards. That’s up from 7 awards last year. You can see the team holding up their trophies with some big smiles on their faces. Drivers showed off their skills by expertly navigating a tough course and going head to head with other districts bus drivers. We appreciate all you do for our students and big congrats.
Barney Lerten
(Update: More comments from Senator Broadman, Bend import mechanic, Kei vehicle supporters)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Sen. Anthony Broadman (D-Bend) introduced legislation Wednesday to legalize the registration and on-road use of Kei trucks in Oregon, calling them an efficient, affordable alternative to full-sized trucks. Many would support such a move, but a Bend mechanic shared some of his concerns with KTVZ News, promptly disputed by defenders of the vehicle.
Broadman says Senate Bill 1213 has strong bipartisan support and is co-sponsored by Rep. Emily McIntire (R-Eagle Point), Rep. Hai Pham (D-Hillsboro & W Beaverton), and Sen. David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford).
“Small businesses, farmers, and Oregonians across our state are asking for practical, cost-effective transportation options,” Broadman said. “Kei trucks are nimble, fuel-efficient, and ideal for navigating rural roads, job sites and tight urban corridors. This legislation simply makes it legal to use a tool that’s already proving useful across the Pacific Northwest.”
Kei trucks — small, lightweight utility vehicles originally manufactured in Japan and South Korea — are increasingly popular in neighboring states for their affordability, fuel efficienc, and versatility. They are often used to haul equipment, transport goods, and complete maintenance work on farms, campuses, parks and private properties.
Their small size and low environmental impact also make them an attractive option for municipalities and contractors in need of flexible fleet vehicles, the senator said.
As recently reported by OPB, these compact vehicles are already being used for everything from farm work and landscaping to local deliveries and municipal services. Despite their growing use elsewhere, Oregon law prohibits Kei trucks from being registered for on-road use.
“Big trucks come with big price tags,” said John Heylin, owner of Unofficial Logging Company, an axe-throwing bar in Bend. “Kei trucks are practical, affordable rigs. They’re a great option for some businesses. I hope the Legislature takes this step to support small businesses and commerce in Oregon.”
SB 1213 defines Kei trucks based on size, age and engine capacity, and allows individuals to register them for a standard fee, bringing Oregon in line with states that have already recognized their utility.
Right now, there are a few ways to have them in Oregon, by registering them in another state and then transferring them in. You can drive them on private property, but they’re not street-legal.
Broadman told us, “I heard from constituents throughout the state that this was a tool they wanted to use for small business, for recreation. I think that they can be managed and regulated effectively in a way that makes them an option for Oregonians.”
KTVZ News also reached out to mechanics and car enthusiasts for their views of these small trucks.
Darin Moore, the owner of Thompson’s Import Specialties, has worked on a few of the Kei trucks, and while he’s not opposed to the bill, he does have a question regarding federal safety standards.
“Why make a loophole in safety laws for these trucks?” he asked. “And they’re bypassing the very problems that in fact they voted for when they passed these rules, of having tire monitor system, backup cameras, a lot of the emissions stuff.”
So a bill such as this, he said, “just goes down the slippery slope” and sets a precedent for other foreign vehicles that don’t meet standards.
Moore also brought up another point: Even if they’re legalized in Oregon, they’re still not federally legal, making Kei trucks a “gray market” vehicle. He said it’s not easy to get parts for them in the U.S., or English-language manuals and documentation.
KTVZ News heard off-camera from other shops whose reaction ranged from mixed to enthusiastically endorsing Kei trucks.
KTVZ News also heard from David McChristian, the founder and president of Lone Star Kei, a national nonprofit that advocates for fair policies and laws for Kei vehicles.
McChristian said Kei trucks over a certain age are legal to import under a 1988 federal law that exempts older vehicles from federal safety standards and emissions requirements, “treating them as historical vehicles.”
He noted that Broadman’s bill “simply ensures Kei vehicles are treated like other imports of the same age, leveling the playing field.”
McChristian also said parts for the Kei trucks “are readily available in the U.S,” as are English-lanugage manuals.
Harley Coldiron
WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Students of all ages at Jefferson County 509J School District competed in the Native Language Knowledge Bowl. They strictly used Ichishkin, Kiksht, and Numu, which are the three languages of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
Students honored their heritage and celebrated their learning in this knowledge showcase.
They were joined by the Culture and Heritage team from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, who are dedicated to making these languages accessible and alive in our local schools.
Barney Lerten
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Central Oregon Suicide Prevention Alliance hosted an event Wednesday morning focused on community safety and the reduction of suicide deaths by firearm in Central Oregon through secure firearm storage.
COSPA hosted the Central Oregon Secure Firearm Storage Summit at Redmond City Hall. The intent behind the summit was to raise community awareness and reduce suicide deaths by firearm in Central Oregon, especially among young people.
Partner agencies from around the tri-county region attended the summit, including law enforcement, health agencies, social service providers, school district representatives, firearms retailers and club owners.
Bend Deputy Police Chief Paul Kansky said the effort “is not about gun control, but rather about responsible gun ownership. Our partners at the level of gun clubs, gun dealers, and of course our law enforcement partners and our health educators and educational institutions at large have all been supportive. We have found nobody making this a political event.”
You can learn more about secure firearm storage and find resources to prevent suicide deaths by firearm at SafeFirearmStorage.com.
Isabella Warren
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ)– Mop-up efforts continued Wednesday on the Euston Fire northwest of Redmond after a resident burning cheatgrass out of season sparked a 20-acre brushfire, another sign that fire season isn’t coming – it’s here.
It was an illegal burn, as Redmond Fire and Rescue banned debris burning just days ago, as did other Central Oregon communities.
“Someone was burning cheatgrass. So the message from us is to please don’t burn anything, because it’s just so hot and so dry right now,” said Kimberly Johnson, Public Information Officer for the Central Oregon Wildfire Agencies.
Tuesday afternoon, fire officials arrived at a small brushfire, which quickly grew, threatening a dozen homes and other structures. The resident responsible for the burn could receive a fine and be found liable for the firefighting costs.
The Euston Fire caused Level 2 ‘BE SET’ evacuations (later lowered to Level 1 ‘Be READY’ and a temporary evacuation point at a Redmond church. The Red Cross reported no residents used the center, but says it’s a sign of wildfire season.
“Redmond fire, other structure agencies, the BLM, Forest Service, units all got on scene. And it was just an aggressive attack trying to stop things, because there were structures threatened,” Johnson added.
Wildfire season officially started in Deschutes County on June 2nd, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry, and predictions show this season will not be any better than last.
ODF Public Affairs Officer Jessica Neujahr said, “We’re expecting above-average temperatures, below-average precipitation. So all that means is that it’s going to be hot, and it’s going to be dry.”
And with the Euston Fire and small brushfires starting across the region in recent days, it’s an early start for the year.
“Because we have had several districts go into fire season, we’re expecting more within the next week to go into fire season,” Neujahr said. “We’re really trying to urge people to check their local restrictions before they bring any fire hazards onto the landscape.”
Barney Lerten
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A new study shows that Oregon State University-Cascades contributed $89.9 million in economic impact to the Central Oregon region in 2024, reflecting the campus’s growth, spending, research and other contributions to the surrounding community.
The report, commissioned by OSU, details the collective impact of the university’s contributions to the economy and society, which totaled more than $3.5 billion.
The full report was unveiled Wednesday by OSU President Jayathi Murthy at the Portland Metro Chamber’s annual meeting.
The economic analysis showed that OSU-Cascades generates 701 jobs in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties and drives $6.6 million in state and local taxes. In all, OSU supports and sustains 933 jobs in the tri-county region and drives $9.4 million in state and local tax revenues, with OSU-Cascades driving the majority of that impact.
“This report is confirmation of how OSU-Cascades is working in partnership with the Central Oregon community to fulfill its decades-long quest to bring a four-year university campus to serve both the region’s educational and economic needs,” said Sherm Bloomer, chancellor and dean of OSU-Cascades.
Since OSU-Cascades was founded in 2001, it has developed 24 undergraduate degrees, three master’s degree programs and a doctoral program. Several academic programs were developed in collaboration with regional industries as they sought a local and skilled workforce to boost employee recruitment and retention.
These include degrees in energy systems engineering, which has boasted a 95% job placement rate since 2012; and outdoor products, which was launched in 2020 with a $250,000 gift from Hydro Flask and in the 2024-2025 academic year enrolled nearly 80 students.
In 2024, the first cohort of 44 students graduated from OSU-Cascades’ Doctor of Physical Therapy program. The program was created in 2021 to address the need for physical therapists in Oregon and the nation, especially in rural areas, and to help diversify the physical therapy workforce. Alumni of the program are now working in Central Oregon, Portland and around the state, as well as in California, Idaho and Washington.
The report also notes how OSU-Cascades’ transformation of nearly 120 acres of unusable land, a former pumice mine and demolition landfill near downtown Bend is a cost-effective use of public money and a long-term investment that will produce future economic benefit for the region.
Expansion plans include a 24-acre innovation district where entrepreneurs, established businesses, researchers and students will advance research, technology commercialization, incubation and economic development. Land remediation for the first eight-acre phase of the district is complete and roadways and utilities are under construction.
OSU-Cascades is currently seeking $42 million in capital funds for the last phase of its land remediation for the academic campus, and for a student health and recreation center, for which students have raised $20 million since 2017.
“As legislators face difficult budgeting decisions, this economic impact report can give them even more validation of the return of an investment in OSU-Cascades,” said Bloomer.
As a branch campus of Oregon’s leading research university, OSU-Cascades’ research portfolio has steadily climbed with expenditures for research and sponsored activities totaling $5.8 million in the 2024 fiscal year. Challenges addressed by researchers have local and global impact related to water, energy, natural resources, human health and resilience, sustainable tourism and intervention strategies for injuries.
To date, the university campus’s energy systems engineering program has spun off two companies based on licensed commercial technologies. Onboard Dynamics and Espiku are both based in Bend.
A news release is also available outlining OSU’s overall economic impact in 2024.
Conducted by Parker Strategy Group, the economic impact report used data available through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, as well as OSU operational and capital expenditures, employee payroll, and student and visitor spending.
About OSU-Cascades: Oregon State University’s campus in Bend brings higher education to Central Oregon, the fastest growing region in the state. Surrounded by mountains, forest and high desert, OSU-Cascades is a highly innovative campus of a top-tier land grant research university, offering small classes that accelerate faculty-student mentoring and experiential learning. Degree programs meet industry and economic needs in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship, natural ecosystems, health and wellness, and arts and sciences, and prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges. OSU-Cascades is expanding to serve 3,000 to 5,000 students, building a 128-acre campus with net-zero goals.
Tyson Beauchemin
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners and the Public Health Advisory Board recognized the winners of the 2025 Health Heroes Awards at a special ceremony Tuesday at Ponderosa Park.
Every year, the County honors one individual and one organization with Health Heroes Awards for their contributions to promoting the mental, physical, spiritual and social well-being of Deschutes County citizens.
This year’s Individual Award winner is community health worker Lourdes Reyes, who serves as the Healthy Families Coordinator for the Latino Community Association.
Reyes uses a bilingual and bicultural approach to help her clients navigate the healthcare system. According to her nominator, Reyes’ work helps to reduce health care barriers, improve health literacy and build healthier futures for Latine families in Central Oregon.
The Organization Award winner is Volunteers in Medicine. Volunteers from a network of more the 300 dentists, counselors and doctors provide free and low-cost health care to the uninsured and underserved members of our community.
According to the group’s nominator, Volunteers in Medicine has provided over $155 million in medical treatment and services to more than 15,000 patients since 2004.
Barney Lerten
(Update: Burn complete)
SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — After a successful test fire, firefighters on Tuesday ignited a three-acre burn about a mile west of Sunriver and roughly two miles north of Besson Day Use Area to support the field portion of a FI-210 Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination course.
Deschutes National Forest officials said smoke will be visible from Sunriver and the surrounding area. Smoke impacts may occur in the Sunriver vicinity overnight and in the early-morning hours. Residents are encouraged to close windows and doors to minimize smoke impacts.
Ignitions were complete by mid-afternoon, but officials said crews “will remain on scene into the evening and patrol the unit throughout the weekend.”
No trail or road closures are anticipated. Firefighters will conduct regular patrols to monitor the burn area until they declare the burn out.
The objective of the FI-210 Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination course is to prepare participants to perform wildland fire investigator roles and responsibilities and provide an opportunity to practice investigation methods, evidence collection, and documentation in a variety of scenarios.
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.
Barney Lerten
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A small but very visible fire broke out Wednesday along Highway 126 in Prineville and was quickly extinguished by Crook County Fire & Rescue crews.
The 217 Od Grade Fire was reported in the Lookout Butte area on the north side of “the grade” into Prineville shortly after 1 p.m. and was reportedly doused within a half-hour, Central Oregon fire officials said.
Officials told KTVZ News the fire burned into a previously burned scar area, stopping its forward progress. It was estimated to have burned less than a quarter-acre.
Some residents said the Redmond-Prineville Highway was closed for a time, though ODOT’s TripCheck did not show a closure, only advising motorists to use caution in the area of milepost 16. ODOT Region 4 Public Information Officer Kacey Davey told us just one lane of the highway was affected.
ODOT TripCheck
