Author: KTVZ

Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — About 600,000 Oregon Health Plan members are beginning to receive notices about federally required changes to Medicaid coverage, including new work or activity rules that will affect some adults beginning January 1st, 2027.

The Oregon Health Authority said the notices being sent this month are informational only, and members do not need to take action yet. The agency said members will receive more specific instructions before their next coverage renewal if information is needed.

Who may be affected

Starting January 1st, some Oregon Health Plan members ages 19 through 64 will need to meet work or activity requirements when applying for or renewing coverage.

Those requirements can be met through work, school, volunteer service, caregiving, job training or other qualifying activities. State information says people may meet the standard through at least 80 hours a month of qualifying activity, enrollment in school at least half-time or household income above $580 a month before taxes and deductions.

However, many members will not be subject to the new rules or may qualify for an exemption. The rules do not apply to several groups, including children and teens, people who are pregnant, people with Medicare or Supplemental Security Income, and people who qualify for Oregon Health Plan coverage based on disability or other factors.

Oregon also must send the initial notice to people who may ultimately qualify for exemptions, such as parents or caregivers of children younger than 14.

What members should do

OHA is encouraging Oregon Health Plan members to make sure their mailing address, phone number, and other contact information are current so they do not miss future notices.

Members can update their information through Benefits.Oregon.gov, by calling 800-699-9075, through the ONE Mobile app or by visiting a local Oregon Department of Human Services office.

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Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Motorcyclists of Central Oregon will hold its 28th annual Teddy Bear Run on Saturday, September 26th, collecting and delivering hundreds of new stuffed animals for pediatric patients at St. Charles hospitals across Central Oregon.

The event begins with registration at 9:00 a.m. at Cascade Motor Sports, 63028 Sherman Road in Bend.

Riders are scheduled to leave at 10:00 a.m. and travel as a group to all four St. Charles hospitals, making their first teddy bear drop-off at St. Charles Bend.

Organizers are asking participants to bring a new teddy bear or stuffed animal to donate. Motorcyclists of Central Oregon, also known as MOCO, has purchased more than 500 additional teddy bears for this year’s event.

Money raised during the ride will also benefit the St. Charles Child Life Specialist program, which supports children and families during hospital care.

The ride will wrap up at General Duffy’s Waterhole in Redmond, where organizers plan live music from Sagebrush Rock and other festivities.

Newport Avenue Landscaping is the title sponsor for this year’s Teddy Bear Run.

For more information, email MOCORiders2026@gmail.com or call 541-280-0478.

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Claire Elmer

SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — A neighborhood near Sunriver received a late-night visit from a black bear Saturday.

A viewer shared Ring camera video with KTVZ News showing the bear outside a home on Lazy River Drive, about a mile south of Thousand Trails and roughly five minutes from Sunriver.

The video shows the bear walking across the property, hopping over a fence, and running away.

The sighting comes amid several recent reports of bears near residential areas across Central Oregon. Residents are encouraged to stay alert, secure garbage and other potential food sources, and give bears plenty of space if they encounter one.

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Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Pacific Power is reminding eligible Oregon customers about available rebates for backup power equipment as the state transitions from wildfire season to winter storm season.

The program provides up to $1,000 for income-qualified residential customers who rely on medical equipment and up to $4,000 for licensed care facilities.

The Oregon Backup Electric Power Rebate Program covers qualified portable power stations, batteries and permanent backup generators.

To qualify for the residential rebate, applicants must hold an active Pacific Power account and be enrolled in both the utility’s Medical Certificate program and the Oregon Low Income Discount program.

Licensed residential care homes, care facilities, adult foster homes and hospices can qualify for the facility rebates of up to $4,000. To be eligible, facilities must have an active Pacific Power account number either directly or through a customer whose property they occupy.

Jurisdictions submitting applications for multiple facilities can use a batch application process. In 2025, Linn County utilized this option to assist 27 care facilities in securing $4,000 each, totaling $108,000 in rebates.

Carrie Laird serves as the vice president of wildfire mitigation and emergency operations for Pacific Power.

“We prioritize emergency preparedness education and communication in our communities so our customers are prepared in the event an outage whether related to wildfire safety or seasonal storms,” Laird said. “We want eligible customers and care facilities to know this assistance is available and encourage them to apply before the upcoming deadlines so that they can take advantage of these helpful programs, which can offer peace of mind.”

Pacific Power launched the Oregon Backup Electric Power Rebate Program in 2023. Since the program began, the utility company has issued 421 rebates totaling more than $1.2 million across Oregon.

Eligible backup power equipment must be purchased by December 31st, 2026. Pacific Power must receive completed applications and purchase receipts by January 31st, 2027. Rebates are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until annual program funding is exhausted.

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Claire Elmer

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Human remains were found Saturday near an Indian Health Services facility in Warm Springs, prompting an investigation by tribal police and the FBI.

The Warm Springs Police Department said it received a report of possible human remains around 10:53 a.m. in the area of the facility at 1270 Kot-Num Road.

Warm Springs police officers and FBI personnel responded and searched the surrounding area. During that search, investigators located human remains, according to a police department news release.

The FBI is processing the scene with assistance from the Warm Springs Police Department. Authorities have not released the person’s identity, cause or manner of death, or information about how long the remains may have been in the area.

Officials have not publicly confirmed whether the discovery is connected to any missing-person case.

The public is being asked to stay away from the area while investigators continue processing the scene. Police said additional information will be released when it is appropriate and confirmed.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Hundreds of people attended the 2026 Great Bark Bash in downtown Bend. The event took place as part of the local Oktoberfest festivities.

The event was organized by the Central Oregon Humane Society. According to the organization, the gathering served to raise awareness for its mission to advocate for animals, provide compassionate care, strengthen the human-animal bond and place pets into loving homes.

The dog racing schedule featured several breed-specific competitions, including a wiener dog sprint that ended in a photo finish. Woody won the wiener dog race, earning the championship title for three consecutive years.

The event also featured the bulldog race, which was won by Ollie. Participants in the bulldog race demonstrated varying paces, ranging from fast sprints to a meandering pace. Additionally, the event included a Corgi Crush race that showcased the speed and intensity of the breed.

Beyond the racing events, the schedule featured costume contests and competitions for best tricks.

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Spencer Sacks

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A delegation of 50 Central Oregon veterans and their guardians recently traveled to Washington, D.C., as part of this year’s Honor Flight.

Honor Flight Central Oregon organizes the annual trip to take local veterans to the nation’s capital to visit memorials built in honor of their service. The group included two Korean War veterans and 48 Vietnam War veterans.

Community supporters welcomed the group during homecoming festivities held at Redmond Airport and Ridgeview High School. Veteran motorcycle groups led a procession accompanying the veterans between the two locations.

Tony Gibler, a veteran who served from 1990 to 2001, joined the escort with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. Gibler noted that many returning service members did not receive proper recognition when they first came home from war. “A lot of these veterans are from the Vietnam generation and stuff like that,” Gibler said. “The welcome home wasn’t what it should have been, so they do this Honor Flight to get these gentlemen some of the recognition that deserve maybe some of the recognition they didn’t get before they came when they came.”

Gibler emphasized the shared bond among motorcycle escort members who accompanied the group. “There’s a sense of pride,” Gibler said. “There’s a sense of ownership and taking care of each other. Part of our slogan with Combat Veteran Motorcycle Association is vets helping vets are we understand. We been there.”

Dane Prevatt serves as president of Honor Flight Central Oregon. Prevatt managed the efforts required to transport the large delegation to the capital and safely back. “The impact in their lives in this trip is unbelievable,” Prevatt said. “And to take so many. It was a task. But we made it happen. Got everybody home safe and well, it’s a beautiful trip. These guys, a lot of guys get a lot of guys from Central Oregon to DC to see all the things that make this trip really special.”

Gary Worth, an Honor Flight participant who served in the military from 1963 to 1967, spoke about the experience of visiting the national landmarks dedicated to military service members. “It’s a thrill that you can’t believe how much they do treat the veterans just to go on this to Washington, D.C., to see all these memorials every day,” Worth said. “We went there. And it was every day was just it was breath taking to see all this stuff. And people thank you all the time. We went something like they would appreciate what we did.”

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Lance Campbell

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Fall is just getting underway, but now is a good time for Central Oregon drivers to start thinking about getting their vehicles ready for winter.

Les Schwab says drivers planning to travel in snow, ice or temperatures at or below 40 degrees should consider switching to winter tires. The company says winter tires can help improve traction and control in colder conditions.

For drivers who use studded tires, there is still some time to wait. Oregon allows studded tires from Nov. 1 through March 31. Because studded tires damage pavement, the Oregon Department of Transportation encourages drivers to use chains or non-studded traction tires when appropriate.

ODOT says tires that meet industry standards for severe snow conditions carry a three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol on the sidewall. Drivers should check TripCheck before heading out during winter weather for the latest road conditions and chain requirements.

KTVZ News is reaching out to tire experts to find out when local drivers should schedule their seasonal changeover, what they can expect to pay this year and whether tire inventory or pricing has changed heading into winter.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crook County and the Oregon Department of Forestry will host a Multi-Agency Resource Center event on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at the Crook County High School Gymnasium.

The event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to support residents affected by recent wildfires.

The event brings representatives from local, state and federal agencies into one location. The gathering offers residents a direct way to ask questions, discover relief programs and connect with recovery organizations.

Assistance at the gathering will focus on various wildfire recovery areas, including coverage for housing needs, health services, insurance inquiries and government assistance programs.

State and federal partners collaborating on the effort include the Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon State University Extension, the USDA Farm Service Agency and the Oregon State Fire Marshal.

Local organizations and emergency service groups involved include Crook County Public Health, the Crook County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Crooked River Watershed Council, the Red Cross and Crook County Fire & Rescue.

Residents with questions regarding the gathering may contact Crook County Administration by phone at (541) 447-6555 or in person at 300 NE 3rd Street in Prineville, Ore.

County organizers plan to publish a complete list of participating agencies and additional logistics as details are finalized.

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Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Happening next, Redmond Fire & Rescue is inviting you to their community day!

The fun takes place this Saturday, September 19th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Station 401, located at 341 NW Dogwood Avenue in Redmond.

The family-friendly day is free to attend, and will include tours of the station’s vehicles, demonstrations, and activities for all ages.

You’ll have the chance to meet your local firefighters and enjoy shaved ice, popcorn, a chance to win raffle prizes, and free hot dogs!

You can also stop by the Redmond Senior Center next door for live music, food trucks, vendors, and wellness resources.

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