Author: KTVZ

Adrielle Hasara

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Nine local bands will perform at Bands for Bread, a free benefit concert to fight food insecurity, on Friday, July 31. The second annual event takes place from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Boneyard Pub in Bend, Oregon, and supports the efforts of St. Vincent de Paul – Bend.

Boneyard Pub will donate $1 for every beer sold during the event to the nonprofit organization.

Paul – Bend is a social service nonprofit that operates one of the largest food pantries in Central Oregon, serving more than 30,000 individuals annually. The Bands for Bread event also includes merch sales, a silent auction and raffle prizes to raise additional funds.

Last year, the benefit concert raised $2,324 when it was held at Bend Brewing Company, despite facing wind, rain and snow.

The idea for Bands for Bread originated from Jonah, a member of the local band Long Operators. Jonah started the effort after the passing of his grandfather, a preacher in the Seattle archdiocese. He sought ways to perform service and learned about his own family’s past reliance on Paul.

“I had been thinking for a couple of years since his passing of ways to do something of service,” Jonah said. The plan for the event solidified after discussions with his mother.

Sue Shea, Board Chair of Paul – Bend, expressed the significant need for community support. “Our needs are great and sometimes overwhelming and this effort will have a huge impact,” Shea said.

The nonprofit also provides additional programs, including low-income rentals, a high-barrier shelter and support services for neighbors in need. Kaylee Graham serves as the Executive Director of Paul – Bend.

Bands for Bread started as an Instagram direct message from Jonah to Paul. The event, now in its second year, has gained community support and grown since its inception.

For more information, follow Bands for Bread on Instagram and Paul – Bend on Facebook. Inquiries can also be sent via email to stvincentbend@gmail.com.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — From concerns regarding the voter-passed 2020 Transportation GO Bond to reports of illegal firework use over the 4th of July weekend, KTVZ asked Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler your pressing questions.

Viewers can submit questions for Mayor Kebler at any time as part of our exclusive monthly segment and have your question featured on next months live visit to the studio. Just click here.

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend-born author Michelle Kutz has released her new children’s book, “Mrs. Moon.”

The short story is a bedtime rhyme was inspired by Kutz’s granddaughter and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.

Designed to help children fall asleep, “Mrs. Moon” offers a soft yet memorable pattern. The book also incorporates a religious message, providing a comforting narrative for young readers. The backdrop of the story is Lake Sammamish in Washington.

Kutz described the moment the inspiration for her book, came to her on a walk with her granddaughter: “The Pacific Northwest being so beautiful. We would get outside as much as possible,” Kutz said. “And I wanted her to enjoy nature. And obviously, I’m trying to teach her things as we walk and talk when she’s little. So, we walked and I looked up at the moon and said, Mrs. Moon, Mrs. moon, how are you this afternoon? And she giggled and I thought, oh, this is fun. So let’s roll with it.”

“Mrs. Moon” is currently available for purchase through online retailers Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Kutz, the author, has contacted several bookstores located in Central Oregon and hopes these local establishments will choose to carry her new children’s book soon.

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Lance Campbell

BEND, Ore. — Central Oregon is known for outdoor recreation, but for local ice sports athletes, access to year-round ice remains limited.

The Forge Community Iceplex, a proposed nonprofit indoor ice facility in northeast Bend, hopes to change that. The project would create Central Oregon’s first dedicated year-round indoor ice facility with two NHL-regulation ice sheets.

Rendering of the proposed Forge Community Iceplex, a planned year-round indoor ice facility in northeast Bend.Rendering courtesy: The Forge Community Iceplex

Organizers are raising $40 million to build a 70,000-square-foot complex featuring two NHL-regulation ice sheets, training space, a pro shop, event areas and a restaurant. Organizers hope to build the facility on a site near Northeast 18th Street and Cooley Road, across from Les Schwab headquarters in Bend, if fundraising goals are met.

Tyler Brower, vice president of The Forge and a founding board member, said the project is being funded entirely through private philanthropy rather than taxpayer-supported bonds or public debt.

“We want our community to feel not only that it’s for them, but it’s theirs,” Brower said. “We are building this as a place where our community can grow and shape and build a future together.”

The Forge operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Brower said the debt-free approach is designed to support long-term financial stability while giving the community ownership of the project.

If completed, the facility would become Central Oregon’s first dedicated year-round indoor ice complex with two NHL-regulation sheets. Bend’s existing public rink, The Pavilion, is a seasonal, open-air facility.

Site plan rendering of the proposed Forge Community Iceplex, showing the planned two-sheet indoor ice facility.Rendering courtesy: The Forge Community Iceplex

Brower said the project is intended to serve families throughout Central Oregon, including Bend, Redmond, Sisters, Prineville, Madras, La Pine, Sunriver and communities beyond.

He said weather and direct sunlight can delay or cancel games on outdoor ice, creating challenges for youth hockey, figure skating and visiting teams.

“Creating this indoor facility is going to solve a lot of troubling problems that our community has had to face and grind through,” Brower said.

According to The Forge, hosting regional and national tournaments could bring as many as 16,000 visitors to Central Oregon each year and generate an estimated $4.4 million in annual visitor spending.

But Brower said the project’s biggest purpose goes beyond tourism.

“Our local athletes are forced with the decision, and their families with the decision, of stay in Bend and give up the performance pursuit of the sport that they love … or leave Bend and have to relocate to another city and state to pursue the sport that they love,” Brower said.

Brower knows that decision firsthand.

He said he moved away in eighth grade to pursue competitive hockey before eventually playing at the collegiate and professional levels. Now, as a coach in Bend, he said he wants future generations of athletes to have opportunities without leaving home.

Graphic showing The Forge’s fundraising progress toward its $40 million capital campaign. Organizers say construction will begin once the remaining funding is secured.Graphic courtesy: The Forge Community Iceplex

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Spencer Sacks

(UPDATE: Meeting took place where board decided on reduced service)

ALFALFA, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Alfalfa Fire District Board of Directors voted today to temporarily reduce emergency services for residents and property owners.

Chief resignation, staffing shortage drive decision

This decision comes as the district searches for a new fire chief following the resignation of former Chief Chad LaValle earlier this month and a current shortage of volunteer firefighters.

Reduced response, increased reliance on partners

The temporary reduction means emergency response capabilities will be substantially reduced, leading to delayed service times. This may require partner departments, such as Bend Fire and Rescue, to respond in place of Alfalfa Fire District crews.

Wildfire season heightens concern

The staffing challenges have created a significant hole in the department, leaving only a fraction of its previous firefighter strength. This situation places additional strain on residents during wildfire season and raises concerns regarding insurance implications.

Board explains cause, recruitment efforts

Mark Laucks, an Alfalfa Fire District Board Member, stated that the reduction in services is due to the departure of the district’s fire chief and the current lack of volunteer firefighters. The district is actively seeking to recruit a new chief and additional volunteers.

Laucks clarified the board’s position, saying, “The Fire District Board of Directors wishes to advise residents and property owners of significant temporary reductions in emergency services resulting from the heart of the district’s fire chief and the current shortage of volunteer firefighters. The district is actively recruiting a new chief. However, until qualified personnel are hired and additional volunteers are recruited, emergency response capabilities will be substantially reduced.”

Board outlines chief qualifications

The board discussed the open chief position at today’s meeting, outlining specific qualifications. Laucks detailed the requirements, stating the role needs a “minimum of five years of progressively responsible fire service experience, supervisory and command level experience, Firefighter II certification, Fire Officer II certification, Engine Boss certification, ICS 100, 200, 300 and 400, and current EMT certification or ability to obtain.”

District open to training qualified candidate

While acknowledging the high qualifications for the position, the board seeks a candidate willing to work toward achieving all necessary certifications. Former Chief LaValle took a year to meet the desired qualifications when he assumed the role, and the department intends to follow a similar approach with the next chief.

Residents want accountability, community focus

Residents, who declined to be identified, expressed their hopes for the new chief. They desire a leader who is inclusive, accountable, understands the community’s constraints—such as a lack of hydrants—and values community input. They also want a chief who upholds a high standard of service.

Early interest in chief position

The Alfalfa Fire District Board has already received interest in the open chief position and will continue its search.

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Adrielle Hasara

BEND, OR (KTVZ) — The High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon will host “Welcome the Night” on July 15, an after-hours event celebrating nocturnal wildlife, astronomy and the importance of protecting dark skies.

The event offers hands-on discovery and activities designed to engage visitors in the wonders of the dark.

“Welcome the Night” runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., inviting visitors to explore the Museum after dark alongside community partners, Museum experts and local naturalists.

Tickets for the event are $10 for adults and children ages 3 and older, with Museum Members receiving a 20% discount. Children two and younger are admitted free.

Guests will receive an adventure card and a map to guide them through 20 stations located across the Museum. Participants can collect a stamp at each stop before turning in their card for a chance to win a raffle prize.

This year features the new Ribbits and Hoots Station, where visitors can create frog hand puppets or owl finger puppets. At the Twilight Art Station, guests of all ages can make stenciled twilight art using scratch paper. A local face painter will also be on-site, offering designs inspired by favorite twilight creatures.

Three 15-minute owl encounters are scheduled to take place at the E. L. Wiegand Pavilion in the Donald M. Kerr Birds of Prey Center. During these sessions, Museum wildlife staff will share information about how owls use their large eyes, silent flight and keen hearing to hunt by day and by night.

At Cheney Pond, experts from the U.S. Forest Service will lead the Bat Detectives Station. This station will explore bats and their role in the High Desert ecosystem, teaching visitors why bats dip and dive over water and how researchers track these remarkable flying mammals.

Experts from Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory will guide visitors at the Mighty Meteor Station, uncovering the science behind falling stars, shooting stars and meteorites. Guests will also have the opportunity to peer through telescopes and explore a model solar system.

Representatives from Pollinator Pathway Bend will introduce visitors to the world of nighttime pollinators, including moths, at the Pollination Station. They will teach attendees how to create outdoor spaces that support these important pollinators. In the Desertarium, visitors can view a collection of insects and examine specimens under magnification.

DarkSky Oregon will share information about how light pollution affects not only our view of the stars, but also the health and well-being of nocturnal wildlife.

The Rimrock Café will be transformed into the Crepuscular Café, featuring food available for purchase from Luckey’s Woodsman. No-host bars will offer alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.

The High Desert Museum, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, opened in Bend, Ore., in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and is a Smithsonian Affiliate. It received the 2025 Autry Public History Prize from the Western History Association and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

Visitors are encouraged to bring a flashlight or headlamp, as outdoor trails will be unlit.

To learn more and purchase tickets, visit highdesertmuseum.org/welcomethenight26.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — An important reminder from the Bend Park and Recreation District: Bridge jumping is not a harmless summer activity– and it’s extremely dangerous. 

Already this summer, the district says its seen more jumpers than ever.

Bend Parks and Rec says this year’s low water levels and drought conditions make bridge jumping even more risky.

What often seems to be a fun jump can quickly turn into a serious injury—or worse.

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Kelsey Merison

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A new casino at the Plateau Travel Plaza in Madras is set to celebrate its Grand Opening this Saturday (July 11th), featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Chamber at noon, alongside a cultural blessing and a series of exciting events.

From noon-9 p.m., visitors can enjoy live music, art vendors, special deals, and more. The ribbon cutting will take place at noon.

It all happens Saturday, July 11th, at 215 NW Cherry Lane in Madras.

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Tracee Tuesday

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A new Junior Law Enforcement Camp for Women in Redmond is giving local girls a hands-on look at careers in criminal justice, far beyond the traditional image of a police officer. The camp was created by Redmond Police Lieutenant April Huey, a 20-year veteran of the department, to help young women see themselves in a wide range of public safety roles.

Huey said the idea is to introduce participants to the many different areas of law enforcement, including patrol, dispatch, parole and probation, police records and forensics. She shared that her own career started in police records, and she wants students to understand that there are multiple pathways into the field, whether or not they ever put on a badge.

During the camp, the girls rotate through stations that highlight different parts of the job. At one point, they step into a mock dispatch center, where they listen to and practice the kind of rapid, coded communication that helps keep officers and the public safe. In one training scenario, an officer and dispatcher trade information about a stolen car and share identification numbers over the radio, giving campers a feel for how precise and fast those interactions need to be.

The camp also emphasizes the physical demands of law enforcement work. Participants are asked to complete a dummy drag, a common part of law enforcement physical fitness testing. Huey explains and demonstrates how to safely lift or drag the dummy from one point to another, and notes that every participant in this academy has successfully passed the test. She said seeing the girls accomplish that challenge gives her “forward momentum” and reinforces why the camp matters.

For some campers, the interest in law enforcement started with a television character or episode that made the job look compelling. One participant, 12-year old Alisyah, said she was inspired by seeing a character on a show and thought, “That character is so cool.” Now, instead of just watching from home, she and other local girls are getting real-world experience in Redmond, with mentors who work in the field every day.

The camp also introduces students to forensics, where evidence collection and analysis play a key role in solving crimes. From learning how information moves through dispatch, to seeing how physical and digital evidence are handled, organizers say they hope the experience helps Central Oregon girls imagine themselves in these roles and consider law enforcement as a future career close to home.

Lieutenant Huey encourages anyone interested in learning more about the Junior Women’s Law Enforcement Academy to contact her directly at april.huey@redmondoregon.gov.

Reported: July 7, 2026; 11:56 am

Teen girls in Central Oregon are stepping into the world of law enforcement this week through a unique, hands-on academy designed to inspire the next generation.

The Junior Women’s Law Enforcement Academy in Redmond is giving participants a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to serve, with interactive activities led entirely by women in the field. From high-intensity scenarios to real-world demonstrations, organizers say the experience is about more than just skills — it’s about building confidence and opening doors.

The free two-day camp runs July 7 and 8 and brings together local agencies to mentor and guide young women curious about careers in criminal justice.

KTVZ’s Tracee Tuesday will have a full report tonight during our 6 PM newscast on our NBC affiliate.

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Kelsey Merison

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Health Authority is awarding about $97.1 million in additional federal funding to improve the health and well-being of Oregon’s rural communities this year. These grants will support 136 new projects across all counties in the state.

This announcement brings Oregon’s total awarded for rural health initiatives to about $175.3 million this year.

The funding originates from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, which aims to address critical health care needs in rural areas.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek noted the significant interest in the program, highlighting its role in supporting maternal and child health, bolstering the behavioral health workforce, and sustaining safety net providers.

“Overwhelming interest in this program demonstrates the need across Oregon,” Gov. Kotek said. “At a time when Oregon’s health care system is facing significant funding shortfalls due to federal policies, I’m pleased to announce this next step in distributing funding to innovative projects that further the state’s goals to support maternal and child health, bolster the behavioral health workforce and sustain safety net providers. Our goal is to move these funds as quickly as possible to these critical partnerships.”

The federal Rural Health Transformation Program, created by U.S. House Resolution 1, a federal tax and spending bill that became law in July 2025, will distribute a total of $50 billion nationwide between 2026 and 2031 through the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

OHA Director Dr. Sejal Hathi emphasized the community-driven nature of these awards. “These awards support practical, community-driven efforts to improve access to health in rural Oregon,” Dr. Hathi said. “Rural communities know their needs best and this funding is intended to help them strengthen local services, expand workforce capacity and address barriers that make it harder for people to get care close to home.”

The new grants are offered through two funding pools established by OHA. The largest, competitive Catalyst Award grants, will provide about $80.1 million to 85 organizations, leading 103 projects. These projects will address maternal and child health, co-occurring mental health conditions and substance use disorder, aging in place, or chronic disease in every Oregon county.

Another $17 million will go toward Immediate Impact Awards, funding 33 new projects this year. These direct grants supplement OHA’s April announcement of $6.5 million in Immediate Impact Awards for 12 other projects. New Immediate Impact Award projects include expanding mobile health units, creating a new family medicine residency training program and connecting patients with nutritious food.

Clare Pierce-Wrobel, OHA Health Policy & Analytics Director, highlighted the swift distribution of funds. “OHA is quickly distributing grants through this unique federal funding source and looks forward to supporting Oregon’s rural communities as they improve their own health for years to come,” Pierce-Wrobel said. “While the total funding Oregon is receiving through the Rural Health Transformation Program is relatively small when you consider the full impact of recent federal Medicaid cuts, these awards can make a huge difference for individual organizations that are doing much-needed work in rural Oregon.”

Oregon is receiving a total of $197.3 million in 2026 and could receive more in the following four years, potentially totaling an estimated $1 billion through the program. Earlier rural health awards from Oregon included $35 million in direct funding for rural hospitals, $21.7 million for the Tribal Initiative, $10 million for rural health clinics and $5 million for local public health authorities.

Exact grant amounts and other details for the newly announced awards will be finalized when award negotiations are completed this summer. Oregon’s first annual progress report is due to the federal government by the end of August. The federal government will determine 2027 funding after reviewing Oregon’s first annual progress report.

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