Author: KTVZ

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 25-year-old Roseburg woman died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, following a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 in Douglas County.

Deanndra Elaine Hamlett was traveling southbound near milepost 127 at approximately 8:18 p.m. when the vehicle left the roadway and overturned.

According to a preliminary investigation by Oregon State Police, Hamlett was driving a black 2009 Toyota Scion TC when the car left the road for an unknown reason and rolled over. Hamlett was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash disrupted travel along Interstate 5 southbound for approximately 5 hours while emergency crews conducted an on-scene investigation. Oregon State Police were assisted at the location by Central Douglas Fire & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon highways are routinely analyzed by the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit. The specialized team includes accredited reconstructionists who use advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems to document and analyze complex crash scenes across the state.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Emergency Management demobilized the State-level Emergency Coordination Center today, transitioning its activation status to Level four – Steady State.

The transition reflects current wildfire conditions and a reduced need for state-level support and supplemental firefighting resources on the ground. State emergency officials emphasized that the downgrade does not signal a decrease in wildfire risk, noting that dry conditions and wildfire potential persist across Oregon.

The activation shift allows state agency personnel who assisted response operations to return to their regular duties. Regular fire suppression and monitoring activities will continue under the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon State Fire Marshal throughout the remainder of the wildfire season.

Continuous monitoring will maintain through the Oregon Emergency Communications and Coordination Center, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. State officials stated the agency remains available to coordinate assistance and can rapidly elevate activation levels if fire conditions change.

As wildfire suppression progresses, emergency management officials are directing focus toward long-term recovery efforts. OEM will work with local, Tribal and county partners to navigate damage assessments, mitigation planning and federal recovery programs.

Alaina Calhoun serves as the manager of the Emergency Coordination Center. “OEM’s transition to Steady State ensures we can continue supporting wildfire-impacted communities while also allowing state partners to return to their core responsibilities,” Calhoun said. “Our team will maintain close situational awareness, remain ready to increase activation if conditions change and stay engaged in both response and long-term recovery efforts.”

State officials urged residents to continue fire prevention efforts, including following local fire restrictions, properly disposing of cigarettes and limiting activities that could produce sparks. Drivers should keep tires inflated, prevent tow chains from dragging and avoid parking on dry grass. Residents are also advised to report smoke or fire immediately and sign up for emergency alerts at ORAlert.gov.

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Spencer Sacks

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz held a town hall meeting in Prineville, Ore., to speak with local residents about the Rowe Creek Complex fire and hear about its impacts. The meeting lasted for more than 2 hours.

The gathering marked Bentz’s fifth fire-related town hall as he has traveled across his district. The Oregon representative organized the events to better understand local perspectives on wildfire impacts and to help leaders in Washington, D.C., gain a clearer understanding of the issues facing the state.

During the meeting in Prineville, residents raised concerns on a variety of topics, ranging from rebuilding efforts after the fire to the use of firefighting aircraft. Nationwide, 80 aircraft are designated for firefighting operations, though their deployment depends on very specific conditions.

Bentz addressed the community’s frustrations regarding immediate response during massive blazes, explaining the inherent challenges officials face when dealing with large-scale wildfires.

“I think what people are most were concerned about is that they would see the fire coming and they wouldn’t instantly have an engine and a team helping,” Bentz said. “But when you have fires of this immense size, as one of the people persons said, you could have thousands of people and still not be able to slow it down, particularly if there’s wind.”

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Lance Campbell

DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. — The November election is beginning to take shape in Deschutes County, with local candidate filings finalized and election officials now turning their attention to ballots, voters’ pamphlets and some important upcoming dates.

Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison says the county now has its slate of local candidates for November.

That includes races for county commissioner, sheriff, clerk and treasurer, along with city council and mayoral contests across the county.

“Everything as of Tuesday afternoon at 5 p.m. became finalized,” Dennison said. “And now we have our full slate of local candidates that will be on the ballot in November.”

Election workers are now moving into the next phase of preparations.

“The ballot content is again final locally,” Dennison said. “We’re waiting to hear from the state who those federal and state position candidates are.”

Once all of that information is in hand, Dennison says the county can begin putting together ballots for voters across its different districts and preparing the countywide voters’ pamphlet.

Two dates voters should know

For voters, the next major deadline comes October 13.

That is the voter registration deadline for people who still need to register, including new Oregon residents who have not yet registered and younger voters who may not have pre-registered.

Then comes another important date just one day later.

“October 13th is that deadline,” Dennison said. “And then the very next day, October 14th, is the day that we’re going to be mailing ballots to voters — to all voters.”

Despite broader conversations surrounding elections across the country, Dennison says Deschutes County is preparing for November under Oregon’s existing election laws and procedures.

“As of right now, like I said, it is business as usual,” Dennison said.

And he offered a simple reminder for voters heading into the fall:

“The vote by mail is still alive and well in the state of Oregon.”

For Deschutes County voters, that means watching the calendar, keeping an eye on the mailbox and getting ready to cast a ballot this November.

Watch the video above for more from Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison on what voters should know ahead of the November election.

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Claire Elmer

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The skies over Madras will come alive with precision jets, aerobatic maneuvers, and historic warbirds as the 26th annual Airshow of the Cascades returns to the Madras Municipal Airport Friday and Saturday.

Organizers describe the event as more than an airshow. The two-day festival combines aerial performances with aircraft displays, rides, a car show, live music, food and drink vendors, and activities for children.

According to the festival’s official website, the event attracts an average of about 20,000 visitors each year.

This year’s aerial lineup includes the Patriots Jet Team, Undaunted Airshows, a microjet performance, aerobatic pilot Yuichi Takagi, and aircraft from the Erickson Aircraft Collection.

The Patriots Jet Team is a civilian-owned, six-jet precision aerobatic team flying L-39 aircraft. Its pilots include former members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

Visitors will also be able to see more than 40 privately owned fly-in aircraft expected from around the country. Owners and pilots will display their planes and talk with attendees along the flight line.

“You show up thinking you’re going to just come for an airshow,” Airshow of the Cascades board member Isaac Fisher said. “I’d say get here the second the gates open because we have so much to look at. You can come, and you can touch the airplanes. You can meet the pilots, you can ask them questions, and everything’s approachable here.”

Fisher has attended the event since he was 5 years old. He said meeting pilots and standing close to historic aircraft helped make the festival memorable for him as a child.

“I was so enamored by the airplanes and being able to be so close to these pieces of history and being so impressed by what they could do,” Fisher said. “It almost defies physics, what they’re up there doing.”

For people who want to experience aerobatics from inside an airplane, Specialized Aero Works will offer 30-minute rides in a Super Decathlon, a basic aerobatic and tailwheel trainer. The flights cost $295 and can be adjusted for passengers who want a milder introduction or a more intense experience.

Mike Kloch, the company’s CEO and chief flight instructor, has flown for about 35 years and is a former Marine Corps F/A-18 pilot. He said the rides can include loops, hammerheads, and other maneuvers.

“The thrills from people’s faces when we give them rides is really great, and there’s always great performers and a great crowd, so everything here is really great,” Kloch said.

One of the featured acts, Undaunted Airshows, pairs Stephen Christopher in a red-and-white RV-7 with Todd Rudberg in an orange RV-8. Their performance will open with a simulated aerial dogfight, followed by close formation flying and choreographed maneuvers.

“No matter how sad or upset or worried you are about life, it all disappears as soon as the engine starts,” Christopher said. “It’s just magical. Flying is amazing.”

Rudberg said the performance will end over the crowd with scissors and tight turns.

“One of us is going to win,” Rudberg said. “Come find out who.”

The festival’s ground attractions include the Les Schwab Car Show, static aircraft displays, the Erickson Aircraft Collection, live music on two stages, and more than 50 vendors. Fisher said organizers planned bounce houses, train rides, ice cream, and other activities for children.

Friday’s gates open at 1:00p.m., with static displays, the car show, food and drink vendors, and the Erickson Aircraft Collection available during the afternoon.

Live music begins at 4:30 p.m., Precious Byrd takes the north stage at 5:15 p.m., and a fish-and-chips dinner will be served to the first 1,000 people beginning at 5:30p.m.

Aerobatic performances begin at 7:00p.m., followed by an intermission at 8:30p.m. and fireworks at 9:00p.m. Precious Byrd returns after the fireworks, and the festival closes at 11:00p.m.

Saturday’s gates open at 9:00a.m. The day begins with an Elks breakfast, static displays, the car show, and food and drink vendors.

Live music begins at 10:00a.m., afternoon aerial performances start at 1:00p.m., and the airshow closes at 4:30p.m.

General admission is $23 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 through 12, before ticketing fees. Children 5 and younger receive free general admission when accompanied by an adult.

Active-duty, retired, Guard, and Reserve military members also receive free general admission with a military- or VA-issued identification card. Admission to reserved or VIP areas costs extra.

Tickets are available online and at the gate. Organizers recommend bringing a lawn chair or blanket, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, comfortable shoes, and an extra layer for Friday evening. Pets are not allowed, except for service animals, and outside food and drinks are prohibited.

The festival is held at the Madras Municipal Airport, 2028 NW Berg Drive. The complete schedule, festival information, and visitor guidelines are available on the Airshow of the Cascades website.

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Emergency room visits for E-bike injuries in Saint Charles are reaching new highs. Today, the number of injures reached 83 for this year, matching the total number of injuries recorded for all of 2025. The trend puts the area on track to see roughly 50% more E-bike before the end of the year.

Dr. Jon Roberts, an emergency medicine doctor in Saint Charles, issued a warning about the growing frequency and severity of E-bike crashes.

“The increased speed that they have, I mean a normal bike rider by bike, ten miles an hour, e-bikes can go 20 or even 30 miles an hour and they’re heavier,” Roberts said. “The injuries you see are much more severe and they’re more in line with like a moped or a motorcycle. And so the range of injuries can be the simple things like a broken wrist or broken collarbone. But we also see major injuries to the spine, to the brain and unfortunately, even fatalities.”

At the time of his interview, four people were in the emergency room receiving treatment for E-bike-related injuries.

To prevent serious accidents, Roberts stressed three critical safety recommendations for riders. He emphasized that riders must wear a helmet, avoid consuming alcohol before operating an E-bike, and recognize that E-bikes are not as easy to ride as traditional bicycles, requiring more practice and experience to handle safely.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Local organizations in Bend can now apply for funding to help make a positive impact on the environment.

The City of Bend’s Climate Action Partner grant program provides funding for projects that support the city’s community climate action plan.

The deadline to apply is September 8th, 2026.

To learn more about the program and how to apply, click here.

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Kelsey Merison

(Update: added information about Sister-Camp Sherman’s Fire Corps’ Car Seat Safety Program)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is joining law enforcement agencies across Central Oregon for a child passenger safety enforcement blitz through Sept. 6.

Deputies will be watching for children who are unbuckled or improperly restrained. Sheriff Ty Rupert says the effort is focused on education and awareness, rather than issuing citations.

In 2024, 103 people died in Oregon crashes involving a lack of seat belt use or a child who was not properly secured. Nearly 2,000 children were injured in crashes statewide that year, and 12% were unrestrained.

Oregon law requires children to ride rear-facing until at least age 2. Children must then use a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4 feet, 9 inches tall, whichever comes first.

Parents and caregivers in the Sisters area can also get free help checking or installing their child’s safety seat. Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Corps offers free child car-seat inspections and installation assistance by appointment through its Car Seat Safety Program.

A certified National Child Passenger Safety Technician can help ensure a car seat is installed correctly and appropriate for the child’s age, size and development. The service is available for families installing a seat for the first time, transferring it to another vehicle, moving a child into a new seat or seeking a routine installation check.

Appointments can be scheduled through the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Corps Car Seat Safety Program.

The department says the safety blitz and available inspection services offer parents a reminder to take a few minutes to ensure young passengers are properly secured.

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Kelsey Merison

CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Right now, evacuation levels are continuing to be reduced around the Rowe Creek Complex thanks to the ongoing work of fire crews.

The Crook County Sheriff’s Office says there are now no Level 3 – Go Now or Level 2 – Be Set evacuation notifications remaining for the fire. A Level 1 – Be Ready notification is still in effect for areas east of Mill Creek Road to Highway 26 and Ochoco Ranger Station Road.

Fire crews continue to actively work in the area, and residents are urged to stay alert and be prepared for changing conditions.

The sheriff’s office is also thanking fire crews and the community for their continued efforts and support throughout the month-long response.

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Kelsey Merison

OREGON (KTVZ) — Fire restrictions remain in effect on all BLM public lands in Oregon and Washington as the Pacific Northwest faces a record-setting wildfire season.

More than 2.5 million acres have already burned across the Northwest.

BLM officials are urging hikers, hunters, and other recreators to use extreme caution and follow all fire restrictions and closures.

Officials say anyone heading to public lands should check local restrictions before they go.

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