Author: KTVZ

Kelsey Merison

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Developing now, here in Oregon, a sixth victim has been linked to a suspected serial killer currently behind bars.

On Wednesday, Jesse Calhoun was charged with manslaughter in the death of Elizabeth Gibson in Multnomah County.

Officials believe the 32-year-old woman was killed in 2022, although she wasn’t reported missing until the next year.

Gibson’s body hasn’t been found.

“Our office has been in communication with Libby’s family, and as you can imagine, they’re devastated, not only by the confirmation of her death, um, but of the realization that, uh, Jesse Calhoun was involved in that,” said Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Melissa Marrero.

Calhoun has been charged with murder in the deaths of five women in the Portland area.

His trial is set to begin in 2027.

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Kelsey Merison

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Right now, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley is calling for more federal oversight of artificial intelligence.

Senator Merkley says experts heard during a recent briefing recommended creating a regulatory agency similar to the FDA.

“You need the equivalent of FDA controlling new drugs,” Senator Merkley said Wednesday. “In this case, you’re really talking about having an agency that’s dedicated to making sure any new models coming out that are available are safe to use. And we don’t really all understand what that means. Even the experts don’t know what that means. This is all changing so fast in just a few years.”

Senator Merkley says the agency could review new AI models and help ensure they’re safe before they’re made widely available.

He also says AI is developing so quickly that even experts are still trying to understand the potential risks.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Mt. Bachelor has an adorable new team member!

Scribble is a young black lab navigating the world of Mt. Bachelor Ski Patrol, in training to become an Avalanche Rescue Dog.

He recently got to go on his first chairlift ride and is taking his time exploring the mountain.

Instagram: @scribbleonpatrol

From all of us here at KTVZ News, good luck in your training, Scribble!

You can follow along with his journey on instagram, @scribbleonpatrol.

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Lance Campbell

As millions of birds migrate through Oregon this fall, residents are being asked to dim unnecessary lights at night.

Many birds travel after dark, and artificial light can disrupt their migration and increase the risk of window and building collisions.

KTVZ’s Lance Campbell is looking at why darker skies matter during migration season, what people can do at home, and how Central Oregon communities are working to reduce light pollution. Tune in for the full story tonight at 6PM on KTVZ News.

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Claire Elmer

(Update: adding video, comments from Deschutes County Health Services & St. Charles Health System)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Flu activity is beginning to increase in Central Oregon as students return to classrooms and colder weather brings more people indoors.

Dr. Cynthia Maree, medical director of infection prevention for St. Charles Health System, said the health system is already seeing early flu activity.

Based partly on trends in the Southern Hemisphere, she expects the coming season could be moderate.

“We’re already starting to see some flu numbers, so we know that it’s starting to rise already,” Dr. Maree said. “That’s pretty much on schedule.”

Health officials often look to countries such as Australia, where winter occurs during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, for clues about what the United States could experience. 

Dr. Maree cautioned, however, that the comparison is not always exact.

“We never have that crystal ball,” she said. “Trying to predict a flu season is very difficult.”

During the 2025-26 season, participating Central Oregon laboratories reported 2,283 positive flu tests through early April, representing 16% of the tests reported, according to a Central Oregon Public Health report⁠.

The vaccine has also been updated for the 2026-27 season.

Federal health officials changed all three virus components, including the component targeting H3N2. That strain accounted for nearly 70% of positive flu samples typed by the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory last season, according to the Oregon Health Authority⁠.

Sarah Van Meter, immunization program coordinator for Deschutes County Health Services, said the vaccine may not prevent every infection, but it can reduce the risk of severe illness.

“The flu vaccine isn’t keeping you from getting the flu, period, full stop,” Van Meter said. “It’s keeping you from possibly worse illness. It’s keeping you from urgent care visits, from emergency department visits, from being hospitalized.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention⁠ recommends an annual flu vaccine for nearly everyone 6 months and older. 

September and October are generally considered the best times to receive it, with vaccination ideally completed by the end of October. It takes about two weeks for protection to develop.

“Any time is a good time to get a flu vaccine,” Van Meter said. “If it’s more effective for you to get it while you’re thinking about it, while you’re at the grocery store and they have a walk-in flu clinic, just get it.”

Dr. Maree said flu symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from COVID-19 or a common cold, although influenza often begins more suddenly and severely.

“The flu feels like a Mack truck hit you,” Dr. Maree said. “It’s a severe fever right at the beginning, and it can be a lot of those aches and body aches.”

At-home combination tests can detect influenza and COVID-19. Dr. Maree said testing can be especially important for people at greater risk of serious illness who may benefit from antiviral treatment.

Flu antiviral medications work best when started within two days of symptoms beginning, although treatment may still help high-risk or severely ill patients when started later.

Those at higher risk include adults 65 and older, young children, pregnant people, and people with conditions such as diabetes or chronic lung disease.

People should seek medical attention if they are having difficulty breathing, experiencing significant shortness of breath, or continuing to have severe symptoms for more than a week, Dr. Maree said.

“If you’re really short of breath, having trouble breathing, or the flu symptoms last over a week with severity, you would want to get medical attention,” she said.

Health officials also recommend frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when sick. 

Dr. Maree said people should remain home until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are improving.

People who do not have insurance or are unsure where to receive a vaccine can contact their local public health department for help finding available services.

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Felicity Desuasido

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Police and the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team arrested four people yesterday, Sept. 16, in connection with multiple assault, sexual assault and robbery cases. The arrests followed the execution of a search warrant at an apartment on NW Monterey Pines Drive in Bend.

Officers arrested 19-year-old Jonah Dawit Crooks, 18-year-old Jarixtsa Iriani Johnson, 20-year-old Eldon Wilson Miller and a 17-year-old resident from Redmond. During the search of the apartment, police recovered a commercial quantity of cocaine, a scale, packaging materials consistent with drug sales and a 9mm handgun.

According to police, Crooks, Johnson and the 17-year-old resident were arrested on suspicion of assault stemming from a fight at a house party in late July. The incident occurred on NE Watson Drive in Bend, where an 18-year-old woman was assaulted by the trio and suffered a broken jaw.

Crooks was also arrested on suspicion of a sexual assault reported at Cassity’s Bar in Bend on Aug. 23. Police reported that a 21-year-old woman and Crooks were allowed back into the bar after closing to use the restroom, where Crooks sexually assaulted her. The victim reported the incident to police the following day.

In a separate incident, police arrested Miller and Crooks on suspicion of committing a robbery in Sunriver. Crooks faces charges including first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, second-degree assault, third-degree assault, third-degree robbery, second-degree criminal mischief, first-degree theft and second-degree criminal conspiracy.

Miller faces charges of third-degree assault, third-degree robbery, second-degree criminal mischief, first-degree theft and second-degree criminal conspiracy, while Johnson and the 17-year-old each face second and third-degree assault charges.

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Tyson Beauchemin

Madras, Ore. (KTVZ) — Construction is underway at the McDonald’s in Madras following a fire earlier this year.

The fast food restaurant suffered a minor fire in February. The owners told KTVZ the damage required a full replacement of the plumbing and electrical systems, prompting the owners to opt for a complete renovation.

As one of the more popular options in Madras, the McDonald’s team wants to scale up the number of customers it is capable of serving. The lobby will feature an increased number of kiosks, and the kitchen area is set to be enlarged. Additionally, the busy drive-through will gain a third lane.

Local residents are eager for the restaurant’s return to service. While KTVZ was filming, a would-be customer drove into the construction zone to attempt to place an order at the closed drive-through. Mason Rodby, owner and operator of the Madras McDonald’s, said this has been a regular occurrence. “Yes. You know, we’ve been under construction for three weeks and we’ll get anywhere from five to 10 customers trying to go through the drive-through, trying to go come inside, to get McDonald’s. But unfortunately, they won’t be open till December to serve those guests,” Rodby said.

Despite the renovations, certain elements will remain unchanged. The location will preserve its play area, a feature that is uncommon for modern McDonald’s restaurants.

During the closure, a large portion of the restaurant’s employees found positions at nearby McDonald’s locations in Redmond and Prineville. Workers received financial assistance from the corporation to cover travel and housing expenses during the transition.

The Madras McDonald’s is scheduled to reopen to customers in December.

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crater Lake Spirits Hazelnut Espresso Vodka has been named as one of 16 finalists in the annual “Coolest Thing Made in Oregon” competition. The contest is hosted by Oregon Business and Industry to highlight products created across the state.

While Hood River Distillers recently acquired the rights to distribute the vodka, the product continues to be manufactured at Bendistillery in central Oregon.

Korrie Dodge, vice president of marketing at Hood River Distillers, emphasized the broader economic impact of supporting local producers. “When you’re supporting a brand Made in Oregon, you’re supporting a lot of people,” Dodge said. “We employ around 60 people, in Oregon. And also: fun fact about this product is that we buy the coffee from Sisters Coffee Company, which is also, you know, a family-owned business in central Oregon. So, if you’re voting for us, you’re not only voting for one Oregon company, but you’re you’re kind of technically voting for two. So it’s just really nice to keep business and money in the state we all live in.”

Beyond the state contest, the beverage has earned industry recognition. Chilled Magazine gave the vodka an award this year, with a of 95 out of 100.

Voting for the first round of the “Coolest Thing Made in Oregon” contest ends Sept. 28.

You can vote for it on the contest’s website.

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Campbell Porter

LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The La Pine Rural Fire Protection District has received a $2,499,000 grant for seismic upgrades and expansion at its main headquarters, Station 101 on Huntington Road. The funds will support facility improvements aimed at enhancing firefighter safety and emergency response capabilities.

Station 101 serves as the central operational hub for the district’s firefighters, paramedics and emergency responders. District officials noted that many fire stations across Oregon were built before modern seismic standards and firefighter health-and-safety guidelines were established. The grant will cover most project costs to bring the facility into alignment with current best practices without imposing new taxes on local residents.

The planned remodel and expansion will add new dormitory accommodations for emergency response personnel, modern contamination-reduction spaces and expanded apparatus bays. Dedicated turnout gear cleaning and storage areas will be created specifically to help reduce firefighter exposure to carcinogens.

Fire Chief Erick Holsey highlighted the importance of strengthening the district’s primary operational base to withstand severe natural disasters and support future community growth.

“This grant is a transformational investment in the future of public safety for our community,” Holsey said. “Station 101 serves as the operational heart of our District. These seismic upgrades will help ensure that our firefighters, paramedics and emergency responders can continue serving our citizens when they are needed most, even following a major seismic event. At the same time, the expansion project allows us to improve firefighter safety, increase our response capabilities and prepare for the future growth of our community.”

The expanded facility will also house a specialized firefighting vehicle being donated by the Clatskanie Rural Fire Protection District. The aerial telesquirt fire apparatus provides specialized firefighting and rescue capabilities for commercial buildings, multi-family housing, schools and other low-rise structures throughout the district.

Holsey noted that having adequate space to house and maintain the donated vehicle is essential for maintaining operational readiness.

“The addition of this apparatus gives our firefighters another valuable tool to protect lives and property,” Holsey said. “Having the facility space to properly house and maintain this unit ensures it will be ready when our community needs it and the facility will have the capacity for any necessary future aerial upgrade.”

District officials confirmed that the project will not require additional taxes or impose added costs on constituents. If extra funding is needed for the remodel, the district will use its existing capital fund. Board President Michael Vietzke emphasized the long-term value of securing external funding.

“This project represents a responsible investment in both community resilience and taxpayer resources,” Vietzke said. “The Board has worked diligently to position the district for opportunities like this. By securing outside grant funding, we are able to make critical infrastructure improvements that will benefit our community for generations while reducing the financial burden on local taxpayers.”

Planning and design activities are expected to begin in the coming months. Construction timelines will be announced as the project advances.

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Felicity Desuasido

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Redmond Fire & Rescue is holding a blood drive in honor of Michael Kienzle, a firefighter-paramedic and community mentor who passed away on June 7, 2026, following a battle with leukemia.

Kienzle was diagnosed in early 2024 with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

Kienzle dedicated his career to public service as a firefighter-paramedic while also serving as a mentor to young athletes in his community.

The blood drive was organized to carry forward his legacy of helping others and supporting community health.

Community members can participate in the drive by visiting the American Red Cross website and entering the sponsor code KienzleStrong to schedule a donation.

Those who want to donate can also visit the Redmond Fire & Rescue Station on NW Dogwood Ave. between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m on Sept. 22.

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