Author: KTVZ

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — An accidental house fire caused an estimated $315,000 in damage in Northwest Bend this morning before firefighters quickly contained the blaze, officials said.

Bend Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched just before 9 a.m. to a reported structure fire in the 1200 block of NW Fresno Avenue.

Firefighters arrived on the scene within four minutes of the initial 911 call and quickly knocked down the flames. Crews observed severe damage to at least one window of the residence during containment efforts.

No injuries were reported, and officials confirmed no one was inside the home at the time of the fire.

Traffic on nearby NW 13th Street was temporarily closed to allow emergency personnel and apparatus to conduct operations safely.

Investigators determined the cause of the fire was accidental. The estimated total loss to the structure and its contents is $315,449.

Department officials credited vigilant community members for spotting smoke and dialing 911 immediately, noting the swift reporting allowed crews to arrive without delay and significantly reduced potential property damage.

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Ruffwear, a dog clothing company based in Bend, donated approximately $15,000 in cash and gear to the Humane Society of Central Oregon in recognition of International Dog Day. The holiday is observed to celebrate dogs and encourage pet adoption.

In addition to the financial and product donation, Ruffwear employees spent the day volunteering at the shelter. Staff members walked dogs, assisted with cleaning and created gift bags for both dogs and cats.

The donated items included a combination of new, used and returned Ruffwear products.

Robb Little, president of Ruffwear, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting animals. “We believe that every dog is an adventure and we love to support the dogs wherever they are, however they show up in the world. So this is just one opportunity for us to support dogs and and their future homes,” Little said.

Ruffwear aimed to encourage others to volunteer at and donate to the shelter, as a way to show care for animals.

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Spencer Sacks

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Redmond City Council has passed a total ban on the use and sale of fireworks following a second reading. The council voted 5-1 in favor of the measure.

The city considered the ban this month following a public hearing where several residents raised complaints. First responders reported to the council that emergency resources were stretched thin on July 4 after responding to multiple fires, some of which were linked to fireworks.

The second reading served as a formality because the ban had already technically passed. Under the ordinance, using any type of firework is illegal in Redmond, even on the Fourth of July. The measure also prohibits the sale of fireworks, affecting local small clubs and charities that rely on fireworks sales for revenue.

Mayor Ed Fitch supported the ban after emergency personnel reported being overwhelmed during the holiday. “I love fireworks. I enjoyed it with the kids. I enjoyed it growing up,” Fitch said. “But we. The fire risk is too much.”

Councilor Jay Patrick cast the single vote against the ban. “I feel it’s unfairly penalizing those who who want to do right and are trying to do right and are just having fun with their kids on on a national holiday,” Patrick said.

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Kelsey Merison

OREGON (KTVZ) — More than 1,900 Oregon households have received long-term rental assistance since July of last year through a program run by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS).

The program helps people stay housed after exiting homelessness.

More than 500 people in rural Oregon have received help since the program expanded to those communities. That includes people in Curry, Benton, Clatsop and several Eastern Oregon counties.

The assistance can help with rent, utilities, and supportive services.

Officials say the goal is to give people the stability they need to remain housed — especially in rural areas where housing and services can be limited.

OHCS says more than 3,000 Oregonians have received long-term rental assistance since July 2025.

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Kelsey Merison

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon’s latest revenue and economic forecast is holding steady overall, but some numbers are raising concerns about the state’s economy.

The forecast shows corporate income tax and corporate activities tax revenue projections dropping by a combined $187 million.

House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer of McMinnville says the numbers are a warning sign for Oregon.

The forecast also comes as Oregon continues to see losses in manufacturing jobs.

According to the figures cited by Elmer, Oregon has lost about one in ten manufacturing jobs since 2023 — with losses continuing for 14 straight quarters.

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Kelsey Merison

OREGON (KTVZ) — Happening next, AAA is expecting a busy, and more expensive, labor day weekend for travelers.

AAA booking data shows Alaska cruises, national parks, Central Oregon, and the Oregon coast are among the top destinations for Oregonians.

Many travel expenses are up compared to last year, including domestic flights, hotels, cruises and gas–but rental cars and international flights are costing less.

AAA also says drivers should be prepared for roadside issues.

Last year, AAA responded to more than 404,000 roadside assistance calls nationwide during the holiday travel period — including more than 4,300 in Oregon.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, ORE. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes National Forest lifted the temporary emergency closure for the Akawa Butte Fire area today, reopening the land to the public while urging visitors to exercise caution.

Forest Service officials warned that burned landscapes contain safety hazards that did not exist prior to the fire or were worsened by its impact. These hazardous conditions may persist for several years following a wildfire.

Visitors entering the burned area are advised to stay situationally aware and watch for overhead, ground and environmental hazards. Officials recommend looking up for snags, exposed rocks and burned upslope areas that could fall, noting that wind and rain events increase the risk of tree falls.

Travelers should also inspect the ground for rock debris, trail and road edge erosion and ash pits formed by burned tree stumps or root pockets. Weather conditions should be checked prior to travel, particularly at higher elevations, as rain, wind, ice and snow heighten the risk of rock falls and slides. Areas located below severely burned terrain face an elevated risk of flash floods and landslides.

The announcement was issued by Forest Service Public Affairs Officer Kaitlyn Webb. Members of the public seeking more information or with questions can contact the Sisters Ranger District at (541) 549-7700.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, ORE. (KTVZ) — Oregon state revenues increased by $55 million in the latest quarterly revenue forecast released Wednesday. The overall increase was driven largely by higher personal income tax collections.

Despite the gains in personal income tax revenue, collections from Oregon’s Corporate Activity Tax came in below initial expectations during the forecast period.

State Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, who serves as the Senate Republican Leader, commented on the forecast following its release on Wednesday. Starr pointed to economic pressures facing both residents and commercial enterprises across the state.

“Oregonians are doing their part to keep our economy moving, even as energy bills and the cost of living take a bigger bite out of their paychecks. But their resilience shouldn’t distract us from the warning signs in Oregon’s economy,” Starr said. “The drop in expected Corporate Activity Tax revenue reinforces that we need businesses staying and growing in Oregon, not packing up and taking jobs with them. We are ready to lower costs, grow our job base and make Oregon a place where people and businesses can afford to succeed. What’s been missing is a willing partner in the Governor’s Office.”

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Adrielle Hasara

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced a $17.1 billion multistate settlement Wednesday with Meta, requiring the company to redesign safety features on Instagram and Facebook for young users. Under the agreement, Oregon will receive more than $125.

The settlement involves 47 states, Washington, D.C., American Samoa, Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands. It addresses claims that Meta designed its platforms to keep children scrolling while providing misleading information to parents and the public regarding youth mental health.

Oregon Rayfield detailed the impact of the agreement on young users and state families. “Kids are not a business model. For too long, Meta chose profit over the well-being of the young people using its platforms and Oregon families paid the price,” Rayfield said. “This settlement changes that – not just with a record payment, but with real, independently verified changes to how these platforms work for kids.”

Under the terms of the settlement, Meta must implement a combined two-hour daily time limit across Instagram and Facebook for minors, featuring mandatory pauses after 15 minutes of continuous use, as well as at 60 and 90 minutes. This daily cap will remain in place for five years, but will drop to 60 minutes for 10 years if platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube adopt similar limits.

The platforms will also enforce nighttime access blocks between midnight and 6 a.m., along with a ban on push notifications for minors from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays during the school year. Meta is required to install stronger age verification systems, more user-friendly parental controls and restrictions on features such as beauty filters and visible like counts.

The agreement mandates stricter controls on content related to bullying, eating disorders, suicide and self-harm. An independent auditor, working alongside the settling states, will regularly verify that Meta implements these product changes and ensure they function as intended.

In addition to the $17.1 billion payout to states, a separate contingency payment of up to $5.7 billion could become available if states reach similar agreements with other social media firms, potentially delivering an extra $54 million to Oregon. The agreement also resolves claims that Meta improperly shared nonpublic Facebook user data with third parties, including political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica, prior to the 2016 election, providing Oregon an additional payment of more than $10.1 million.

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Kelsey Merison

LINCOLN COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State Police are investigating extensive vandalism at multiple state parks in Lincoln County.

The damage happened sometime between 10 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday.

Police say several restrooms were targeted, with paper towel dispensers removed and other fixtures destroyed or taken. Fires were also intentionally started at several locations.

The affected parks may include:

Agate Beach State Wayside

Otter Rock State Park

Gleneden Beach State Park

Fogarty Creek State Park

OSP is asking anyone who saw suspicious activity or has relevant video to contact police.

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