Author: KTVZ

Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– A new study finds that a pilot program combining direct cash payments with wraparound support is helping Oregon youth experiencing homelessness get and keep stable housing. The Direct Cash Transfer Plus (DCT+) program provides cash assistance alongside housing navigation, financial education, and other services, and was found to significantly boost both housing stability and independence for young adults.

DCT+ is run through a partnership between Point Source Youth and the Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (YEHP) at the Oregon Department of Human Services, with services delivered by three community partners: the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), Antfarm, and JBarJ Youth Services. In a study by Young People to the Front, 63 of the first 120 participants completed surveys over two years; 94 percent of them self-reported being housed at the end of the program.

“We are very encouraged by the early results showing that Direct Cash Transfers help youth move beyond survival mode and toward building more stable, independent lives,” said YEHP Program Manager Matthew Rasmussen, adding that the approach helps build emotional stability, financial skills, and rental history, and reduces the likelihood of chronic adult homelessness. The cash support can be used for rent, deposits, furniture, and transportation, helping youth overcome barriers like lack of credit history and insufficient income.

Larry Cohen, co-founder and executive director at Point Source Youth, said Oregon’s outcomes match earlier results in New York: when the real cost of shared housing is covered for two years and paired with support, “young people stay housed.” He said flexible cash gives youth the time and “breathing room” needed to build long-term stability.

Other findings from the first two years of the pilot include: 72 percent of participants were working or enrolled in school; the share of youth with a high school diploma rose by 8.1 percent; and participation in financial literacy workshops increased by 23 percent. Program leaders say the combined supports give young people a real chance to change the trajectory of their lives.

“DCT helped me move from survival mode into a place where I could heal, grow, and plan for a sustainable future,” said participant Gabrielle Huffman of Bend. She said that one year after finishing the program she is in her own home, halfway through a business degree, focused on creating stability for herself and her daughter, and working toward becoming a nonprofit leader in her community.

The pilot first operated in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Deschutes counties and has since expanded to Jackson County for a second group of 120 participants. Youth must be 18 to 24 when they apply and can receive up to two years of support. The second cohort has already been selected, and the pilot is not currently accepting new applications.

Participants work with a case manager to set self-directed goals around long-term housing stability and overall well-being, while the cash assistance helps meet ongoing needs as they work toward permanent housing. Initial funding for the pilot came through an agreement between ODHS and Oregon Housing and Community Services, with the second cohort supported by a $1 million philanthropic gift and additional funds from Senate Bill 5526.

Direct Cash Transfer Plus is one of several services offered through YEHP, which serves youth ages 14–24 experiencing homelessness via a network of community partners. Those partnerships connect youth with essential services such as showers, laundry, academic and employment support, as well as temporary shelter and housing opportunities.

YEHP’s tuition and fee waiver assistance is also showing impact: from fall 2023 to now, the program has approved 267 tuition and fee waivers for eligible youth experiencing homelessness through agreements with Oregon’s public universities and community colleges, which waive costs for qualifying students. YEHP continues to expand prevention and housing-stability efforts with the goal of keeping youth from entering homelessness in the first place and helping those who do to secure and maintain stable housing into adulthood.

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KTVZ

LAKEVIEW, Ore.—The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory Monday for Lake County and southern Klamath County and extends the advisory for southern Deschutes County due to stagnant air conditions trapping smoke and other air pollutants near the ground where people breathe.

DEQ said expects the air quality advisory to last through Friday morning at 10 a.m.

Here’s the rest of their news release:

Check current air quality conditions and advisories on DEQ’s Air Quality Index or by downloading the OregonAIR on your app on your smartphone.

Check with your local heath or air agency for current restrictions on woodstove use. There are often exceptions for those who use wood exclusively to heat their homes and those with limited income.

People can take the following precautions to protect their health:

• Follow local burn restrictions to prevent deteriorating air quality.• Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions.• People with heart or lung problems and young children are especially vulnerable. These people should stay indoors while smoke levels are high.• Use certified High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in indoor heating, ventilation, cooling and air purification systems.• Avoid using wood-burning stoves and other sources of indoor smoke if possible.

DEQ’s color-coded Air Quality Index provides current air quality conditions and ranks air quality as follows: Green is good. Yellow is moderate. Orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory conditions. Red is unhealthy for everyone. Purple is very unhealthy for all groups. Maroon is hazardous.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend man arrested four times last year pleaded not guilty Monday to nearly 30 counts in two cases alleging luring a minor online and use of child sex abuse material, and two jury trials were set for October. 

In one case, Conner Duhn, 27, entered the pleas to three counts of luring a minor and three counts of using a child in a display of explicit conduct, court records show. Deschutes County Circuit Judge Beth Bagley scheduled a five-day, 12-person jury trial to begin Oct. 13. 

In the other case, Duhn entered not guilty pleas to one count of luring a minor and 20 first- and second-degree counts of encouraging child sexual abuse. A separate three-day jury trial is scheduled for Oct. 21 on those charges. 

Bend Police said in September the case began with a November 2023 cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding possible child sex abuse material being uploaded, saved or shared on Snapchat, using a local IP address. 

A nearly year-long investigation led to Duhn, whose home was raided in October 2024. He was arrested on March 5, 2025, and agreed in a release agreement to have no contact with minors or access the internet, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said. 

Detectives later learned that same month, Duhn allegedly was in contact online with a 17-year-old boy who lived in another state, Miller said. A warrant was issued in June, and Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies arrested Duhn again that month. 

He was arrested a third time in July after detectives learned he allegedly tried to meet with at least one underage boy in Central Oregon and exchanged explicit messages online with several others. 

Then, last August, detectives learned that Duhn was still active on Snapchat, and he was arrested yet again., Miller said.

Duhn was booked into the Deschutes County Jail, where he remained held Monday on $500,000 bail, according to jail records. 

Bend Police said last fall that detectives continued to investigate Duhn’s online communications and believed there could be more victims.  

 Duhn has also been known to use the names Luca and August in his communications, Miller said. Anyone with information was asked to contact Det. Alyssa Snyder at asnyder@bendoregon.gov or by calling non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911. 

No new charges have been filed, court records show, but Miller told KTVZ News on Monday that the investigation is continuing. 

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KTVZ

TERREBONNE, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office reminded residents Monday about this week’s community Town Hall meeting on Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Terrebonne Community School.

Rupert said the Town Halls offer residents the opportunity to connect directly with their Sheriff’s Office, ask questions, share concerns, and provide ideas to help shape the future of public safety in Deschutes County.

Rupert also said he he will make a stop in Sisters on Wednesday, January 21, at Sisters Elementary School from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Additional Town Halls are in the works, including several in Bend.

Sheriff’s Town Hall Meeting Schedule

Terrebonne

Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Location: Terrebonne Community School, 1199 B Ave., Terrebonne, OR

Sisters

Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Location: Sisters Elementary School, 2155 McKinney Butte Rd, Sisters, OR 

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Triton Notary

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ)– Congresswoman Janelle Bynum is kicking off 2026 with a town hall in Sisters, giving Deschutes County residents a chance to share their concerns directly with their representatives in Washington. The event will be co‑hosted by Senator Ron Wyden.

The Deschutes County town hall is set for Saturday, January 17th, 2026, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at Sisters High School, 1700 W McKinney Butte Road in Sisters. Community members are invited to attend, ask questions and discuss priorities ranging from rural issues and public lands to housing, health care and the economy.

“Hearing directly from Oregonians is the most important part of my job,” Bynum said, noting that she held 21 town halls last year and is starting 2026 with more in‑person events. Senator Wyden said town halls are an opportunity for people in rural, suburban and urban areas to share opinions and ideas in an open forum with their neighbors.

The Sisters stop is part of Bynum’s first round of 2026 town halls, which also includes events in Clackamas and Linn counties later that weekend. All events are free and open to the public.

Below is the full release:

Oregon City, Oregon – Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) announced her first three town halls of 2026, in Deschutes, Clackamas, and Linn Counties. Senator Wyden will co-host the town halls in Deschutes and Clackamas Counties, while Merkley will take on Linn County. Rep. Bynum hosted 21 town halls in 2025 and is picking up right where she left off with three more this January.

“Hearing directly from Oregonians is the most important part of my job,” said Rep. Bynum. “That’s why I held 21 town halls last year and that’s why I’m so excited to join Senator Wyden for 2 more to kick off 2026. I’ll see you out there, Oregon!”

“A new year means new opportunities for all Oregonians to share opinions, ask questions and discuss ideas in open-to-all town halls in community gatherings with their neighbors,”Wyden said. “These face-to-face meetings are always important, and I look forward to these town halls at the start of 2026 to hear Oregonians’ thoughts on priorities for the year ahead in rural, suburban and urban parts of our state.”

“I’m looking forward to again visiting wonderful communities all over our state. By talking directly to folks in each county my team and I can go to work for the interests and needs most important in each corner of our state,” Merkley said.

The time and location details for her upcoming town halls are below. Media availability information to come.

Deschutes County Town Hall with Senator WydenDate: Saturday, January 17th, 2026Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM PTLocation: Sisters High School – 1700 W McKinney Butte Rd, Sisters, OR 97759

Clackamas County Town Hall with Senator WydenDate: Sunday, January 18th, 2026Time: 12:30 PM – 2:15 PM PTLocation: Camp Withycombe – 15300 SE Industrial Way, Happy Valley, OR 97015

Linn County Town Hall with Senator MerkleyDate: Sunday, January 18th, 2026Time: 4:30 PM –6:30 PM PTLocation: Linn County Russell Tripp Performance Center – Ellingson Rd SW, Albany, OR 97321

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The trial of Bend murder suspect Caleb Cegers has been pushed back another three months, to early April, at the request of both the prosecution and defense. 

Cegers, now 22, appeared by video Monday from the Deschutes County Jail, where he’s been held without bail since his East Coast capture and arrest in the August 2023 fatal shooting of Taylor Wyss, 33, of Redmond on the sidewalk outside a downtown Bend bar. 

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Beth Bagley, who a year ago had delayed the 10-day jury trial by a year, rescheduled the trial to begin on Tuesday, April 7th. 

Prosecutors and defense attorneys filed a mid-December joint motion for trial postponement that was granted by Bagley. In their request for a delay, defense attorney Bryan Boender and Deputy District Attorney Brooks McClain said the defense attorneys’ investigation was not finished and that they had provided new evidence to prosecutors that they need to analyze and investigate. 

Boender also filed a supporting declaration, stating, “The defense is also still conducting its investigation and locating witnesses that were never interviewed by law enforcement, nor the prior defense team.” 

It’s the third trial postponement in the case of Cegers, who pleaded not guilty in January 2024 to second-degree murder, first-degree assault and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon. 

The judge on Monday agreed to the April 7 trial date proposed by both sides in the case. She also set a March 16 date for a trial readiness hearing, when she will also consider several pending defense motions, as well as whether Cegers has to wear restraints during the trial. Any new motions must be filed by Jan. 30, Bagley said, and each side has until Feb. 13 to respond.

Cegers’ older brother, Dahnte Cegers, now 27, pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution in the case and was sentenced to nearly four months in jail, with credit for time served, and three years probation, court records show.

Last year, he was arrested again and later pleaded guilty to a second-degree disorderly conduct charge after getting into a fight with three others outside Vector Volcano in downtown Bend. He was sentenced to a 10-day jail term, with credit for time already served.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — According to VISOR, the Victim Information System in Oregon, Ian Cranston was released from the custody of the Deschutes County Jail on Monday.

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jason Carr confirmed to KTVZ News that Cranston was released Monday afternoon, after posting the required 10 percent of the $500,000 bail set earlier in the day by Circuit Judge Beth Bagley.

Earlier Monday story:

After hearing arguments by both sides and a tearful plea from the victim’s mother, a Deschutes County judge set bail at $500,000 Monday for a Redmond man whose manslaughter conviction was recently overturned by the Oregon Court of Appeals. 

Circuit Judge Beth Bagley, who sentenced Ian Cranston to 10 years in prison in the September 2021 shooting death of Barry Washington Jr., sided with prosecutors on the bail amount, saying it was “the least onerous amount of security” that she felt was appropriate, considering the nature of the crime, a fatal shooting on a busy downtown Bend street. 

If he is released from jail, the judge ordered Cranston, now 31, to not possess any firearms or ammunition, use, possess or consume any alcohol, or go anywhere alcohol is the main item for sale. She also ordered him to stay away from the downtown Bend bar The Capitol, outside of which the shooting occurred. 

A jury acquitted Cranston on a second-degree murder charge but found him guilty of first- and second-degree manslaughter for shooting Washington, an act he claimed was in self-defense, after being punched by Washington, who was 22 at the time of his death. 

Last fall, the state appeals court reversed and remanded Cranston’s manslaughter conviction due to a special instruction related to self-defense that the defense had sought but was not given to the jury.  

He recently was returned to the Deschutes County Jail after serving part of his sentence at the Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario. 

Defense attorney Kevin Sali cited Cranston’s ties to the community  and said he should not be considered a flight risk. He asked that Cranston be released without posting bail, but that if the judge disagreed that the amount be no more than $150,000, not the “excessive” amount sought by prosecutors. 

Deputy District Attorney Brooks McClain requested the higher bail amount, noting that Cranston is still charged with manslaughter for firing a gun in “downtown Bend, in a fairly busy night, on a public street.”

Washington’s mother, LaWanda Roberson, also appeared by video Monday, speaking tearfully, as she had at trial and other occasions, about how her life was “forever changed by a tragedy that no mother should ever have to endure.”  

“I was angry with God and questioned him,” she said. “I did not want to be on this Earth without my son.” 

Roberson also addressed Cranston directly, saying at one point: “You didn’t just take my son’s life. You took mine, too.” 

“I will never forgive you, and I know I will have to answer to God for that.” 

Bagley said she will set a future status hearing to schedule the retrial, depending on whether Cranston is able to post bail. 

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Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — An Oregon State Penitentiary inmate serving a 30-year term for killing his girlfriend in Bend nearly 35 years ago has died in the Salem state prison, the Oregon Department of Corrections said Monday.

James Byron Coon, 76, died on Sunday morning in the infirmary while on hospice care. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, the agency said.

Coon was sentenced to 30 years in prison in the February 2001 killing of Patty Darlene Flynn, 41, The Bulletin reported at the time. That included a mandatory 25-year term for Flynn’s murder and five years for threatening to kill the woman if she testified against him in an earlier domestic violence case.

Bend Police found the woman dead at Coon’s home, and an autopsy found she died of probable asphyxiation.

Coon entered Department of Corrections custody on Oct. 26, 2001, from Deschutes County, with an earliest release date of August 11, 2029.

The agency said his next of kin has been notified.

DOC said it takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of about 12,000 men and women incarcerated in 12 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

OSP is a multi-custody prison located in Salem. Additional information about the Oregon Department of Corrections can be found at www.oregon.gov/doc.

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Tracee Tuesday

People across the country — including here in Central Oregon — participated in anti-ICE protests over the weekend following the deadly shooting in Minnesota and a recent shooting in Portland.

Central Oregon turned out in numbers on January 10 to demand accountability, to honor the life lost, and to protest the unchecked violence and abuse carried out last week by federal immigration enforcement authorities both in Minneapolis and Portland.

Rallies took place in Sisters, Redmond, Bend, and La Pine.

An estimated 300 people lined the streets of downtown Redmond Saturday afternoon to protest what organizers described as the increasing authoritarian policies and violence of the Trump administration, according to Redmond Indivisible.

An estimated 60 people showed up in Sisters and 1,115 people in Bend, stated Redmond Indivisible.

“Once again our people did not disappoint,” said Barbara Tate, a Redmond Indivisible spokesperson. “Three hundred plus turned out with 24 hours notice.”

The peaceful protest drew the attention of more than 100 passing motorists who honked their horns in support.

Protesters filled the sidewalks at Wall Street and Greenwood Avenue in Bend, while similar events were held in Sisters, Prineville, and La Pine.

A vigil was held Sunday night at Drake Park.

Saturday’s protest was a prelude to a nationwide day of protest set for Tuesday, January 20.

The “Free America Walkout” will encourage individuals to walk out of their workplaces, schools, and commercial activities to defend democracy and protect civil liberties.

Nationwide, protests in cities across the country drew large crowds, including massive demonstrations in Minneapolis following Wednesday’s fatal ICE shooting.

Minneapolis police said one hotel sustained damage, with 29 arrests and one officer injured.

Federal officials released surveillance video showing the aftermath of the shooting as Renee Good’s SUV crashed into parked cars.

The Department of Homeland Security said Good had been following officers over the course of the morning.

The shooting, caught on multiple cameras, involved ICE officer Jonathon Ross, who fired the deadly shot.

The Trump administration said the officer fired in self-defense.

Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and Representative Angie Craig visited local ICE headquarters but were only briefly admitted before being turned away.

“What happened today is a blatant attempt to obstruct members of Congress from doing their oversight duties,” Omar said.

Craig added, “We are better than this. This is not a partisan statement. We are better than this, America.”

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Tracee Tuesday

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash along U.S. Highway 97 near Falcon Lane in Madras is under investigation. Authorities say the incident happened Saturday, along the busy highway corridor through Jefferson County.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, a vehicle struck a pedestrian on Highway 97, prompting an emergency response and initial investigation at the scene. Officials have not yet released information on the pedestrian’s condition, and it is not known if there were any injuries or fatalities connected to the crash.

Oregon State Police have since taken over as the lead investigative agency. This remains an open investigation, and troopers are working to determine what led up to the collision, including any possible contributing factors.

KTVZ News has reached out to Oregon State Police by phone and email for additional details, including any updates on those involved and whether the highway was closed or restricted. As of Sunday evening, no further information has been released.

Drivers in the area may see an increased law enforcement presence as the investigation continues. Anyone who was in the area of Highway 97 and Falcon Lane around the time of the crash and witnessed the incident is encouraged to contact law enforcement, if they have not already done so.

This is a developing story. As more details are confirmed by investigators, we will provide updates on air and online.

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