Author: KTVZ

Kelsey Merison

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — There’s Good News in Prineville, where local high school students are putting their creativity and classroom skills to work in the community.

Students in Crook County High School’s graphic design program recently had the opportunity to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to a real-world project.

The students helped give a City of Prineville Railway locomotive a brand-new look, working with real equipment and materials, including a vinyl cutter, to bring their design to life.

The project gave students hands-on experience with the design process and allowed them to see their work applied to an actual locomotive.

The partnership is helping students build practical skills they can use in future careers while giving them an opportunity to contribute to their community.

Now, their creative work is part of the Prineville landscape — leaving a lasting mark on the city they call home.

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Claire Elmer

Warning: Contains graphic images

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — An 18-year-old Powell Butte man was arrested early today following a single-vehicle crash on Highway 97 in Bend that caused the vehicle to catch fire and closed all highway lanes for nearly an hour.

Courtesy: Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office

Deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded at 4:21 a.m. to the crash site on Highway 97 just south of 61st Street. The driver, Seoan Padraic Mooney, was able to get out of the 1992 Subaru SVX on his own before flames spread across the vehicle.

Witnesses reported seeing Mooney speeding in the southbound lanes of Highway 97 shortly before the vehicle hit the barrier. Mooney was the only person inside the car.

Courtesy: Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office

Bend Fire & Rescue responded to extinguish the vehicle fire. Emergency medical personnel transported Mooney to St. Charles–Bend for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Deputies cited and arrested Mooney on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, reckless endangering and first-degree criminal mischief.

Courtesy: Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Bend Fire & Rescue, the Oregon Department of Transportation and 911 Dispatch.

Courtesy: Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office

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Claire Elmer

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 24-year-old Prineville man faces multiple criminal charges after police say he vandalized several downtown businesses with graffiti, according to the Prineville Police Department.

Officers received initial reports of property damage on the morning of September 18th, 2026. Investigators determined multiple businesses were vandalized overnight, with each location displaying the same distinctive graffiti tag.

Courtesy: Prineville Police Facebook

Officers Adair and Moore led the investigation, reviewing surveillance footage from the area to identify a suspect in the vandalism.

Officer Moore located 24-year-old Prineville resident Ayden Hill at about 7:49 p.m. on September 19th. Police arrested Hill and booked him into the Crook County Jail on nine counts of second-degree criminal mischief and one count of resisting arrest.

Police said the investigation remains active. The Prineville Police Department asks anyone who finds similar graffiti on their property, or who possesses surveillance video or other information about the incidents, to call 541-447-4168.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Gov. Tina Kotek ordered flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown at half-staff on Tuesday in honor of fallen wildland firefighter Jesús Eduardo Olimpo Gutiérrez Toral.

Gutiérrez Toral, age 25, died on Sept. 9 while conducting firefighting operations on the Austin Fire in the Mount Hood National Forest.

Jesús Eduardo Olimpo Gutiérrez Toral worked as a tree faller, also known as a sawyer and as a wildland firefighter across both Oregon and Washington. His family resides in Springfield, Ore., and in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Gov. Kotek offered condolences to the firefighter’s family and colleagues while recognizing his service. “On behalf of all Oregonians, I extend my deepest condolences to Mr. Gutiérrez Toral’s family, loved ones and colleagues,” Kotek said. “Mr. Gutiérrez Toral gave his life in service of the communities he helped to protect. His courage and selflessness remind us of the extraordinary risks firefighters face so that others may be safe. We honor the empty place at the table that his passing leaves behind.”

Pursuant to the U.S. Flag Code, flags at state public institutions will fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced a settlement today resolving a lawsuit challenging the merger between Paramount Skydance Corporation and Warner Bros. Discovery.

The agreement includes a five-year commitment to boost film production, a minimum $1.5 billion investment in domestic production and a $47.5 million workforce fund for displaced employees.

The lawsuit, originally filed in July by Oregon and a coalition of 12 state attorneys general, sought to maintain competition and protect film industry jobs.

Under the terms of the settlement, Paramount must also negotiate basic cable channels separately for five years, establish a board for news independence at CNN and CBS and submit to compliance oversight by an independent monitor.

Oregon Rayfield led the state’s participation in challenging the transaction. “We stepped up to challenge this merger to limit rising costs for working families, to preserve competition and to protect Oregon’s film production industry,” Rayfield said. “Today’s agreement keeps real competition in place, ensures that productions will continue and ensures journalistic independence. That’s a win for Oregon workers and consumers.”

Attorneys general from 11 other states joined Oregon in securing the settlement, including California, Ariz., Colo., Conn., Mass., Minn., Nev., N.J., N.M., N.Y. and Washington.

The agreement outlines a five-year requirement for film releases. Paramount agreed to release 30 films annually, including 20 wide releases, during the first two years. In years three through five, the company must release 32 films per year, including 21 wide releases. The settlement mandates at least four independent film releases each year. If Paramount fails to meet the film output requirements, the company must divest Miramax Studios and pay $30 million per missed film toward health care and retirement trust funds for labor unions, the Motion Picture & Television Fund and the National Association of Attorneys General for antitrust enforcement.

Under the domestic production terms, Paramount must spend at least $1.5 billion over five years above its 2025 U.S. spending levels, expanding from its current baseline where approximately 5% of production occurs in the U.S. If a federal film tax credit of at least 20% is enacted, domestic production must rise to 20% in years one and two and at least 30% in remaining years. If California or New York enacts an expansive state film tax credit, U.S. production must increase to at least 40% of all film production.

The settlement also addresses television, streaming and news distribution. For five years, the company must negotiate Paramount’s basic cable channels separately from Warner Bros.’ basic cable channels. The merged company must maintain its free streaming service, Pluto TV, at current service levels and establish a News Editorial Independence Board to protect editorial independence at CNN and CBS. Additionally, the company will establish a $25 million fund, contributing $5 million annually over five years, to acquire independent films.

The $47.5 million Workforce Fund will support career development and training for employees displaced by the merger over a five-year period. The company is required to honor existing collective bargaining agreements and bargain in good faith with unions going forward. Compliance with all terms of the agreement will be overseen by an appointed independent monitor.

The settlement remains pending court approval.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Business and Industry released its 2027-28 Oregon Competitiveness Agenda today, urging state lawmakers to reform tax and regulatory policies to address ongoing economic stagnation. The statewide business group highlighted several indicators showing Oregon trailing national growth and employment averages over consecutive years.

Data cited in the report shows Oregon’s economy grew by 1% in 2025, less than half the national growth rate. Employment in the state fell by 0.5% during the same year, while national employment increased by 0.5%. Economic growth in Oregon has trailed the national average for five consecutive years, while state employment growth has lagged behind national figures for six straight years.

Per capita personal income in Oregon has remained at about 96% of the national average since 2020. The state ranked 35th in the nonpartisan Tax Foundation’s 2026 State Tax Competitiveness Index, dropping 28 places since 2019. CNBC also lowered Oregon’s standing to 42nd in its 2026 America’s Best States for Business ranking, representing a 25-place drop since 2017.

OBI is a statewide business association representing 1,500 member companies across all 36 Oregon counties, employing more than 250,000 workers. Angela Wilhelms serves as the president and CEO of the organization. “Oregon is on the wrong track,” Wilhelms said. “We can once again become an economic force and a beacon of opportunity. But that won’t happen without the right policy environment and determination to compete.”

The group’s agenda outlines four primary priorities for state leaders: prioritizing economic and business development, improving affordability for residents and businesses, establishing a solutions-oriented regulatory environment and making tax and budget policies sustainable and competitive. Specific policy recommendations include replacing the state’s Climate Protection Program with a market-based cap-and-invest system, echoing proposals from the Governor’s Prosperity Council formed following Gov. Tina Kotek’s 2025 Oregon Prosperity Roadmap.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Heritage Apple Corps and the U.S. Forest Service will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 2 at 12:00 noon to unveil new interpretive signs at Cyrus Historic Orchard on the Crooked River National Grassland. The signs detail the history of Central Oregon’s pioneer fruit trees and ongoing efforts to protect the historic sites.

More than a century ago, homesteading families planted fruit trees across the land that now makes up the grassland. The new interpretive displays at both McCoin and Cyrus Historic Orchards share the stories of the McCoin and Cyrus families who cultivated the land, as well as the heritage apple varieties that remain standing today.

Content for the interpretive signs was developed through a collaboration between Heritage Apple Corps, the U.S. Forest Service and historian Steve Lent of the Bowman Museum. The signage project was supported by funding and contributions from the Pacific Northwest Forest Service Association and Nora Scott.

Peter Loverso of Heritage Apple Corps emphasized the importance of preserving the historic fruit trees for the community. “These pioneer fruit trees are living pieces of Central Oregon history,” Loverso said. “The signs help visitors understand why these orchards matter and how we are protecting them for future generations.”

Each year, Heritage Apple Corps and the U.S. Forest Service host fruit tree restoration workshops and field days at the historic orchards. The events bring together volunteers, arborists, orchardists and community members to practice hands-on techniques for caring for veteran trees. The joint partnership also supports genetic preservation, DNA identification and wildfire risk-reduction efforts.

Cyrus Historic Orchard is located approximately one-half mile west of Cyrus Horse Camp. Visitors reaching the site must travel on unpaved roads, which can become rutted and muddy after rainfall. Access to the orchard may require a high-clearance vehicle.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 2, participants will conduct several hours of volunteer deadwood removal at nearby heritage trees.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon residents interested in affordable homeownership can attend a free housing fair this Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Bend. The event will run at 5:30 p.m. at the Larkspur Community Center, located at 1600 SE Reed Market Road.

The fair will connect prospective home buyers with local housing developers to explain qualification requirements, outline upcoming project opportunities and detail the steps needed to purchase a home.

The event is presented through a partnership among NeighborImpact HomeSource, Thistle & Nest, RootedHomes, First Story, Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity, Habitat for Humanity of La Pine Sunriver and Sisters Habitat for Humanity.

To ensure broad community access, the event will feature simultaneous Spanish interpretation as well as an American Sign Language interpreter. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak directly with representatives from each participating organization.

Last year’s housing fairs drew 106 attendees across Central Oregon. One attendee from last year’s event highlighted the value of bringing local resources together. “Being able to access the information all in one place,” the fair attendee said.

NeighborImpact HomeSource offers housing counseling, workshops and financial tools to help prospective buyers complete homebuyer education and prepare for homeownership. Its parent organization, NeighborImpact, is a private nonprofit Community Action Agency founded in 1985 that serves Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties along with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Participating housing developer Thistle & Nest uses a land trust model to provide permanent owner-occupied affordable housing opportunities. RootedHomes also focuses on permanent affordability for local workforce members and residents in Central Oregon.

First Story collaborates with builder Hayden Homes to offer move-in-ready homes to households earning 80% or below of the area median income through 30-year loans that require no down payment and no interest. Local Habitat for Humanity affiliates from Bend-Redmond, La Pine-Sunriver and Sisters also build and renovate homes in partnership with low-income families.

The fair is sponsored by Hayden Homes and Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty.

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Larkspur Community Center in Bend. Community members seeking further information can email homesource@neighborimpact.org or call 541-323-6567.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The short documentary “Cosmic Heirloom: Buried 400 Years” won Best Short Documentary at the Oregon Short Film Festival in Portland. Following its festival award, the film will be screened at Silver Moon Brewing in Bend, Ore., on Oct. 24, 2026.

Directed by Brian Craig Hinderberger, the documentary examines the historical suppression and modern rediscovery of psilocybin while challenging stigmas associated with psychedelic mushrooms. The Bend screening will feature a live panel discussion presented by Oregon Film, featuring the film’s central subject, David Moss and Kris Solis of Bend-based Drop Thesis.

The documentary made its theatrical debut at the Clinton Street Theater in Portland during the Oregon Short Film Festival, an independent film event series organized by Film Festival Circuit. Filmed by director of photography Jordan Chamberlain, the short film uses Moss’s perspective to connect centuries of obscured history with contemporary scientific and cultural interest in psilocybin.

Brian Craig Hinderberger, who directed the film and founded the event organization Song of Sunset, reflected on the initial response to the documentary. “Attending the festival in Portland was an incredible experience,” Hinderberger said. “To sit in a theater with independent filmmakers from across the country and around the world and experience our film with an audience for the first time, was deeply rewarding. Winning Best Short Documentary made the evening unforgettable.”

The filmmakers designed the production to address historical misconceptions surrounding psychedelics and foster public dialogue. “This film uncovers an intentionally hidden history of psilocybin and challenges the stigma that continues to surround the psychedelic mushroom,” Hinderberger said. “We created the film to start a conversation, which is why presenting it alongside a live discussion with Moss and Solis is such an important part of the Bend experience.”

Prior to its Bend presentation, the film will screen for Eastern Oregon audiences at the historic Granada Theatre in La Grande during the Eastern Oregon Film Festival on Oct. 16. “Traveling to our festival selections and meeting the filmmakers and audiences experiencing this work is one of the most rewarding parts of the process,” Hinderberger said. “I’m especially looking forward to bringing the film to Eastern Oregon before returning home for its Bend screening at Song of Sunset.”

The Oct. 24 screening is part of Song of Sunset: UNDERGROUND, a live-cinema production taking place at Silver Moon Brewing, located at 24 NW Greenwood Ave. Supported in part by a grant from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund, the evening will feature two short films, two live panels and performances by regional musicians. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the show running from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The tour begins with the La Grande screening on Oct. 16, followed by the Bend event at Silver Moon Brewing on Oct. 24, 2026. Tickets and additional event information are available through Song of Sunset.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Health Authority is holding a virtual media briefing Monday to outline upcoming federal changes to the Oregon Health Plan that will impact approximately 600,000 members.

The updates are required under new federal mandates in House Resolution 1, which states must implement to maintain federal funding.

Notices will begin going out to about 600,000 Oregon Health Plan members this month to inform them of upcoming policy changes. One of the first changes takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, introducing new work or activity rules for certain plan members ages 19 to 64.

While most adults covered by the Oregon Health Plan who can work are already employed, some individuals will need to submit documentation when applying for or renewing coverage after the requirements take effect. State health officials noted that the notices sent this month are informational only and require no immediate action from recipients.

Officials are encouraging members to verify and update their contact details to ensure they receive future correspondence. Members can update their records online at benefits.oregon.gov, by phone at 1-800-699-9075, through the ONE mobile app or by visiting a local Oregon Department of Human Services office.

Community partner organizations can access informational flyers and social media content through an online toolkit at ohp.oregon.gov/toolkit. The state agency is hosting a 30-minute media briefing via Zoom, with a stream available for community partners on YouTube.

The new work or activity rules for Oregon Health Plan members ages 19 to 64 will take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

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