Author: KTVZ

Kelsey Merison

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon U.S. Senator Ron Wyden is demanding answers from Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano over a recent executive order that would create a national voter database. The order requires the Social Security Administration to share citizenship data with the Department of Homeland Security to establish a list of eligible voters across the United States.

Wyden, the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, expressed concerns that the directive undermines the rights of states to manage their own registered voter lists. The move comes amid ongoing debates over mail-in voting and the introduction of the SAVE America Act. That bill is currently under consideration by the Senate and contains similar provisions that would compel states to share voter registration lists with the Department of Homeland Security to verify citizenship.

Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, sent a formal letter to Bisignano characterizing the executive order as an attempt to suppress mail-in voting. He argued that the use of private Social Security Administration data acts as a “backdoor” to influence federal election eligibility.
“This latest brazen attempt to create a national voter database aims to undermine the rights of states to conduct their own elections, including manage their registered voter lists and use private SSA data as a backdoor to give Donald Trump power over who is eligible to vote in federal elections,” Wyden wrote. “Facilitating Trump’s directive to create a flawed voter database would be willing participation in blatant voter suppression ahead of consequential midterm elections.”

The U.S. Constitution grants states the power to establish the times, places, and manner of elections. This includes the creation and management of voter lists. The Trump administration has previously requested that states provide their voter registration lists, leading to concerns regarding privacy, security, and potential violations of the Privacy Act. The creation of a national database would give the administration unprecedented access to private voter data.

Oregon serves as a primary example in the debate over voting methods because it is one of nine states that conducts elections by mail. While the administration has claimed mail-in voting leads to higher cases of fraud, state data shows a low incidence of criminal activity.

A review by Oregon’s Legislative Fiscal Office found that approximately 61 million ballots were cast between 2000 and 2019. During that 19-year period, there were 38 criminal convictions for voter fraud in Oregon. This represents a fraud rate of .00006%. These findings contradict assertions that mail-in systems are prone to widespread abuse.

Wyden also addressed the timing of the executive order in relation to upcoming midterm elections. He criticized the administration’s broader policy agenda while questioning the motivations behind the database directive. “This is a desperate last-ditch effort by a failing president to suppress American votes because his agenda of pardoning pedophiles, embarking on his Iran war and ripping away health care is about to lose him the midterms,” Wyden said earlier this week of Trump’s executive order. 

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Kelsey Merison

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Forestry is inviting public comment starting April 3rd on planned timber sales, recreation projects, and forest management activities. The feedback period for the draft Annual Operations Plans for state-owned forests runs through May 18th.

These plans outline on-the-ground activities expected to occur during the coming fiscal year. By law, Oregon state forests must be managed to provide social, economic, and environmental benefits, including clean water, fish and wildlife habitat, and revenue for rural communities and timber-related economies.

The plans involve seven specific districts across the state: Astoria, Forest Grove, Klamath Falls, North Cascade, Tillamook, West Oregon, and Western Lane. These annual plans describe discrete activities designed to achieve broader objectives established in long-range Forest Management Plans and Implementation Plans. Participants can view the documents on the State Forests’ Annual Operations Plans website.

Common activities detailed in the operations plans include timber harvest operations, forest road construction, and maintenance and recreation improvement projects. The documents also cover reforestation and young stand management, habitat improvement for native species and invasive species management.

Department officials said the most useful public input identifies whether activities are consistent with longer-range plans, offers suggestions to improve efficiency, or provides additional solution-oriented information. The plans also undergo interagency reviews.

There are three primary methods for the public to submit feedback. Online comments can be submitted through the Oregon Department of Forestry website and digital comments can be emailed to odf.sfcomments@oregon.gov. Physical mail can be sent to ODF Public Affairs at 2600 State St. in Salem.

The public comment period closes at 5 p.m. May 18th. Following the review of public input and agency feedback, the plans will guide operations for the upcoming fiscal year.

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Kelsey Merison

SALEM, ORE. (KTVZ) — Emma Keen, an 11th-grade student at the Oregon School for the Deaf in Salem, will compete in the 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Semifinals in Washington, D.C., on April 28th. Keen will represent Oregon as one of the state champions vying for a spot in the national finals and a $20,000 grand prize.

The competition is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with state arts agencies. Designed to improve public speaking skills and teach literary history, this year’s event coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States. Participating students will recite poems from an anthology that celebrates historic American voices.

Keen is scheduled to participate in the third semifinal session at 2:00 p.m. PST (5:00 p.m. ET) on Tuesday, April 28th. This session includes champions from 19 jurisdictions, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Minnessota, and Washington. Keen is the 2026 Oregon champion and is one of more than 130,000 students to compete in the program nationwide this year.

2026 Oregon Poetry Out Loud competitors (Emma Keen is third from the right, dressed in all black)

The national semifinals consist of three separate sessions. A total of nine students will advance to the national finals. To qualify for the finals, students must place in the top three of their respective semifinal sessions. Judges will evaluate each recitation based on physical presence, articulation, interpretation, and accuracy.

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Mary Anne Carter highlighted the educational impact of the competition. “Poetry Out Loud helps students discover the power of language while building confidence, communication skills, and a deeper connection to literature,” Carter said. “We are thrilled to welcome our champions to Washington, DC, during America’s 250th birthday. In reciting works that helped shape our nation’s history, they are honoring the past while developing the skills to shape the future.”

A total of $50,000 in cash prizes and school stipends will be awarded during the competition. The national champion receives a $20,000 grand prize. The second and third place finalists will be awarded $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. These monetary prizes are administered by Mid Atlantic Arts.

All competition sessions are free and open to the public at the George Washington University Lisner Auditorium. The organizers will provide American Sign Language interpretation and closed captioning in English and Spanish for both the semifinals and finals. Those unable to attend in person can view the events through a one-time-only webcast at arts.gov.

The 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Champion will be announced at the conclusion of the finals on the evening of April 29th. Full results and a list of all participating champions are available at PoetryOutLoud.org.

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Kelsey Merison

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A measles exposure has been confirmed at a Safeway in Portland, prompting health officials to warn the public of potential risks. The Oregon Health Authority and Multnomah County public health officials identified the grocery store at 2800 SE Hawthorne Blvd. as the site of the exposure.

The potential exposure occurred during specific time windows between March 26th and March 29th. The exposure windows occurred over four consecutive days. Potential exposures are linked to Thursday, March 26th, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, March 27th, from 2 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, March 28th, from 2:20 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, March 29th, from 2 p.m. to midnight.

Health officials are urging anyone who visited the location during those times to contact their health care provider to determine their immunity based on vaccination records, age, or prior infection history.

For individuals who do not have a primary care provider, Multnomah County offers services at seven primary care clinics and nine student health centers. While the health centers are located at high schools, they are available to anyone between the ages of 5 and 18. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 503-988-5558.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Viral particles can remain suspended in the air for up to 2 hours after an infectious individual has left the area. Those infected are contagious for four days before a rash appears and for four days after the rash develops.

Symptoms of the virus generally begin 7-21 days after exposure. Early signs include a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. A rash typically follows, starting on the face before spreading to the rest of the body. Common complications include ear infections, lung infections, and diarrhea, though swelling of the brain can occur in rare cases.

Health officials identified several high-risk groups, including children under age 5, adults more than 20, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems. In developed countries, the fatality rate for measles is between one and three deaths for every 1,000 cases.

Vaccination provides the highest level of protection against the virus. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing infection. Public health officials noted that the risk of severe disease is very low for those who are up to date on their vaccinations.

To prevent further community spread, individuals experiencing symptoms are asked to contact their medical provider or an urgent care center by telephone before arriving. This allows clinics to establish an entry plan that prevents exposing other patients in waiting rooms.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — At Assistance League Bend, volunteers don’t just fill roles, they stretch beyond them.

“We do. I mean, that’s what you get with an all-volunteer organization,” said Lisa Sarmiento, the assistant treasurer. “Everybody’s pitching in, and maybe they’re out of their comfort zone. I’ve learned a ton about how to work on websites. I never expected to know how to do web anything.”

Assistance League Bend volunteers

That spirit of adaptability fuels a nonprofit that runs a wide array of programs serving Deschutes County and beyond. From youth-focused initiatives to outreach for seniors, volunteers power nearly every aspect of the organization.

Supporting Youth and Seniors

Most of the league’s programs are designed for students and youth, but volunteers say their impact extends across generations.

Senior-focused efforts from the nonprofit include providing free personal hygiene items to to seniors in 17 long-term memory care and assisted living facilities throughout Deschutes County.

Assistance League Bend’s Secret Santa

‘Senior Connections’ is another example, where detailed handmade cards, designed and created by members, are delivered year-round.

“When you’re in a facility, you’re so separated from the rest of society,” Sarmiento said. “We just want people to know that they’re not forgotten.”

Signature Programs Make a Difference

Among the organization’s most visible efforts is Cinderella’s Closet, chaired by Dianne Benson. The program offers a boutique-style experience where students can select formalwear at no cost.

“They can get shoes, handbags, jewelry, and just feel like a princess for the night,” Benson said.

Cinderella’s Closet

Another cornerstone program, Operation School Bell, serves roughly 2,700 children each year. Students are invited to shop for new clothing with a set budget, allowing them to choose items that reflect their personal style.

“We want kids to have fewer barriers to their education,” Sarmiento said. “We want them to feel confident and excited about going to school.”

Operation School Bell

In addition, Assistance League Bend provides emergency clothing to children entering or transitioning in the foster care system through a partnership with Every Child Central Oregon, another one of our 21 Cares for Kids partners.

Teaching Life Skills Through Cooking

Beyond clothing assistance, the nonprofit is also helping children build practical skills through ‘These Kids Are Cooking’, which is an after-school initiative led by retired educators.

These Kids Are Cooking

The program goes beyond basic nutrition education: teaching students how to plan meals, prepare ingredients, and cook independently.

“If you don’t know how to cut things or cook things, it doesn’t matter if you know what’s healthy,” Sarmiento said. “It’s taking kids from knowing to actually doing.”

Volunteers Find Purpose and Community

For many volunteers, the work offers both personal fulfillment and connection.

Lisa Sarmiento (left) and Dianne Benson (right) in Cinderella’s Closet

“I don’t have kids in my house anymore, they’re all grown and gone,” Sarmiento said. “This is a way for me to care for children, especially local kids that maybe need a little extra.”

Benson said the reward comes from seeing the impact firsthand.

“Seeing the kids when they come into Cinderella’s Closet or Operation School Bell, to see the looks on their faces when they can go ahead and just be like everyone else. It’s a wonderful, wonderful feeling,” Benson said.

Volunteers also build lasting friendships through their shared mission.

Assistance League Bend volunteers

“You get to meet different people, and you build friendships,” Benson added. “We’re all here for the same thing, to help our community.”

Fundraisers and Community Support

The nonprofit is currently inviting community members to get involved through donations, volunteering, and upcoming events.

One major fundraiser, the Dream Trip Raffle, offers travel prizes with $30 tickets. Proceeds help fund programs like Operation School Bell, with ticket sales closing April 15th and a drawing set for April 17th.

Another highly anticipated event, the Kitchen Kaleidoscope Home Tour, returns June 20th in Eagle Crest. The event features tours of local homes paired with culinary experiences from area chefs.

“You get to meet a local chef, sample some food,” Sarmiento said. “It’s just a fun day out!”

A Growing Need for Help

As the organization expands its reach, the need for volunteers continues to grow.

“We always need volunteers,” Sarmiento said. “Many hands make light work.”

From sewing chemotherapy hats to confidence through clothing, opportunities span a wide range of interests and skills.

“We kind of do it all,” Sarmiento said.

For Assistance League Bend, that all-hands-on-deck approach is exactly what keeps its mission moving forward.

Click here to learn more about Assistance League Bend.

To learn more about our 21 Cares for Kids partners, click here.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend-area man charged along with his nephew with murder and conspiracy in the 2020 deaths of a couple at their northeast Bend home has pleaded guilty to reduced manslaughter charges and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. 

Kenneth Wayne Atkinson, now 61, and his nephew, Nathan Shane Detroit, now 35, were arrested on murder and conspiracy charges in October of 2021, more than a year after the August 2020 alleged murder-for-hire killings of Atkinson’s younger brother, Ray Atkinson Jr., 34, and his fiancé, Natasha “Tasha” Newby, 29.  

The couple’s bodies were found in the basement of their Northeast 12th Street home by a concerned friend and relative checking on their welfare. Then-District Attorney John Hummel said they died of blunt force trauma. 

Kenneth Atkinson, Nathan Shane Detroit II (Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office)

Court records show Atkinson filed a guilty petition on March 20 to two counts each of first-degree manslaughter and conspiracy to commit murder. Two murder charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal, and he was sentenced that day on the four Class A felonies by Deschutes County Circuit Judge Wells Ashby.

Detroit, who also pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder and two counts of conspiracy, is still scheduled for an eight-week jury trial that’s currently set to begin on June 15, although a two-day settlement conference in that case is scheduled for April 13-14, court records show. A similar settlement conference took place last May. 

Deputy District Attorney Matthew Nelson told KTVZ News on Thursday, “Our office cannot disclose specifics of negotiations, as the co-defendant’s case is still pending trial.”

“However,” Nelson added, “with this resolution, Mr. Atkinson has admitted guilt, waived all rights to appeal and will serve the full 25 years in prison. Finality was important to our office, and to the victims’ families.

“Should Mr. Atkinson survive his time in prison, he will be 82 years old if released,” the prosecutor said. 

The 2 victims in this case: Ray Atkinson (left), and Natasha Newby (right).

Court records filed since the killing quoted several witnesses who said Kenneth Atkinson had threatened the couple several times. The brothers had been in a dispute since their father’s death in 2019 over the house where Atkinson and Newby were living. There was no will, and the brothers were named co-executors of the $400,000 estate.

A judge in June 2022 set late 2023 and early 2024 trial dates for the two men, but further delays ensued.

Damian Lawson, 38, a Texas resident who called Kenneth Atkinson “Uncle Kenny,” told KTVZ News Thursday he was a “really good friend” of his parents and that they had been following the case “since day one.”

But he said he didn’t believe Atkinson had done what he was accused of – until learning of his recent guilty plea.

“I”m still blown away he pleaded guilty,” Lawson told us. “Until I found out and was told, I still had the belief that he was innocent.”

Lawson said around the time of the killings, Kenneth Atkinson moved to Nevada and came back to Central Oregon to help his father move.

He said he thought back to everything that happened around that time. The day after the alleged killings, Lawson said they’d picked him up for dinner and he sat with Lawson’s children in the car.

“To be sitting next to my kids — I’d have never thought it of him,” until he heard” Atkinson admitted to the killings.

Now, Lawson said, “I can’t say that I feel that enough justice has been done, honestly – it being true, what he did to his own brother. As much as I loved the guy growing up, after what he did, I can’t think of him the same any more. If the families feel that justice has been done for (the killings), I’m happy for them. I feel it should have gone to the death penalty.”

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Mountain View Roadhouse has opened its doors in East Bend, taking over the former location of “The Phoenix.” The new restaurant features a broad, roadhouse-style menu designed to serve families and large groups.

The establishment is one of the few restaurants in Bend to remain open past 9 p.m., serving its full dinner menu until midnight from Friday through Tuesday. The cuisine includes pizza and burgers alongside local salmon and trout.

The establishment is designed to accommodate families, sports teams, and other large gatherings. It occupies the space which previously housed “The Phoenix” in East Bend.

The menu features a variety of roadhouse-style options. In addition to standard fare like burgers, the restaurant serves locally sourced salmon and trout.

Michael Andrusco is the managing partner of Mountain View Roadhouse. He said the restaurant has already seen interest in several menu items following its initial opening phase.

“Oh, man, the pizzas. So we’ve we’ve had our soft opening. A lot of people were saying the pizzas are amazing. Our Brie plate is… just divine, I think is what one person said. But definitely the Salmons. Yeah,” Andrusco said.

The establishment is one of the few restaurants in Bend to remain open past 9 p.m., serving its full dinner menu until midnight from Friday through Tuesday.

The restaurant expects to have video poker machines installed near the bar area very soon.

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Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – As Easter approaches and families plan holiday gatherings, the Oregon Health Authority is urging people not to buy chicks, ducklings or other baby poultry as gifts.

Close contact with the cute and cuddly critters can make children ill from salmonella, which can sometimes be carried by chicks and the other Easter-themed animals, OHA said Thursday.

“Giving chicks and ducklings as gifts should be avoided,” said Emilio DeBess, DVM, public health veterinarian in the Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention Section at OHA’s Public Health Division.

Here’s the rest of their news release:

“Young children characteristically will hug and even sometimes kiss the animals and often may not wash their hands afterward,” DeBess added. “Handling live poultry can lead to Salmonella infection, which can be especially virulent in children younger than 5 because their immune systems are not fully developed.”

Salmonella infections cause salmonellosis, which can result in diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever lasting three to seven days. Anyone with compromised immune systems, the very young and older adults could become very ill and even die of the infection.

Since 2020, five outbreaks of illnesses caused by Salmonella bacteria from baby chicks have occurred in Oregon, affecting at least 55 cases of salmonellosis. About half of the cases were children younger than 18.

OHA offers the following tips:

Children younger than 5, older adults, or people with weak immune systems should not handle or touch chicks, ducklings or other live poultry, or rabbits.

Make a general rule that after kids touch any animal, they immediately wash their hands with soap and water.

If kids handle chicks, discourage them from nuzzling or kissing them.

Don’t eat or drink in an area where animals roam.

For a quick reminder, check out this video.

For more information about baby birds and salmonella, visit http://public.health.oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/CommunicableDisease/Pages/FS-Baby-birds-and-Salmonella.aspx

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Tyson Beauchemin

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Madras City Council is exploring new law enforcement models, including a possible contract with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. In a meeting on March 31st, officials reviewed the pros and cons of supplementing, or even replacing, their police force with the sheriff’s officers.

To this end, they consulted with former Deschutes County Undersheriff, and former interim Madras Police Chief Paul Garrison. Garrison is also acting as the city’s Interim Police Services Director.

However, Garrison cautioned the council against replacing their police force with sheriff’s officers. He highlighted the legal complexities that could be involved in a contract between the city.

During the meeting, Garrison also cited a study of more than 500 cities that terminated their agreements with sheriff’s offices.

“And, oftentimes municipalities now are canceling their contracts that they have the sheriff’s offices because, they’re dissatisfied with the level of service that they’re being provided,” Garrison said.

Council Member Lamar Yoder asked Garrison what he would do in the city’s current situation. Garrison said he would hire additional staff for the existing Madras Police Department rather than contracting out services.

The city of Madras has budgeted for 14 police officers, but currently employs only four or five.

This has created to a situation where Jefferson County Sheriffs respond to a majority of calls in Madras, especially major incidents and dangerous situations.

The council said they wanted to explore grants to hire additional officers.

In a meeting on April second, Jefferson County Sheriff Pollock suggested the city could use salary savings from unfilled police positions as a potential funding source for a drug enforcement program. Pollock noted that recruitment remains a challenge for all law enforcement agencies.

This comes amid a search for a new chief of police after the firing of former chief Tim Plummer in July 2025

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County reminded community members Thursday to watch out for email scams that try to steal personal or financial information. Some scams may appear to come from county email accounts and reference real permit numbers or application details.

These messages may request urgent payment, ask for bank account or Social Security numbers, or include suspicious links or attachments.

“Do not click links, open attachments, or share personal information in response to unexpected emails,” the county advised in a news release that continues below.

To stay safe, verify the sender’s email address and be cautious of messages that create a sense of urgency. Official communications from Deschutes County will only come from email addresses ending in @deschutes.org.

For more tips about phishing scams, visit www.cisa.gov/recognize-and-report-phishing.

If you believe you were the victim of a scam, call Deschutes County 911 non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911 or visit www.deschutes.org/911 to report a crime online.

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