Author: KTVZ

Claire Elmer

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Back in 2024, KTVZ News introduced viewers to a Central Oregon baby facing extraordinary challenges. Now, as he celebrates his recent 2nd birthday, he’s exceeding all expectations.

Jackson was born with a rare brain disorder called hemimegalencephaly, a condition that affects only a handful of children worldwide each year. The disorder caused severe epilepsy for Jackson, triggering more than 200 seizures a day.

When medications failed to control the seizures, doctors determined there was only one option. At just three-and-a-half months old, Jackson underwent a complex operation in which surgeons removed half of his brain.

“We tried I believe it was seven or eight different medications, and none of those really seemed to mitigate the seizures,” said his mother, Kaitlyn Williamson. “So they met with the surgical team and decided disconnecting and removing the left hemisphere was really our only option for relief.”

Before the surgery, Jackson’s family was warned he might never walk, talk, or eat on his own. But today, he’s proving he can, and will, defy the odds.

“A day with Jackson is amazing,” said Brandy Ridgway, a direct support professional who works closely with him. “He can give you a high five, he’ll give you knuckles. He’s just an amazing little boy. The health care system doubted him on a lot of things, and he has just blown them all out of the water.”

Jackson now spends his days in therapy, playing, and spending time with his best friend.

“I was like, I don’t know if I like babies that much,” said Baylee Ridgway, Jackson’s best friend and Brandy’s daughter. “But then he gave me a hug and I was like, ‘Oh, I love this kid so much.’ And I’ve been going to work with her ever since.”

While Jackson has made remarkable progress, his journey isn’t over. He is now facing a new challenge: a gastrointestinal condition. His family is preparing for the possibility of a feeding tube as they search for specialists outside of Oregon.

Through it all, his mother says support from their medical team and community has helped them stay strong.

“Modern medicine has quite literally saved his life and given us the opportunities that we have today,” Williamson said. “We have a lot of really incredible people on our side, and they celebrate every—what they call inch-stones rather than milestones—every little thing he’s doing that we never thought was possible.”

As Jackson continues to grow, his family and care team say each new step forward is another reminder of how far he’s come, and how much hope his journey brings to others.

“Disability is nothing easy to go through, but you should still persevere through it, try your hardest, and look on the bright side of the world,” added Baylee.

To help with out-of-pocket medical costs and speciality care not available in Oregon, a fundraiser has been started to support Jackson and his family. You can visit the GoFundMe page for Jackson’s journey to learn more.

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Tyson Beauchemin

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Ember’s Wildflower Bunny Rescue is hosting an Easter event in April. It runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on on April 4th at its facility in Redmond.

The event features opportunities to meet adoptable rabbits, and the other friends they have on the farm, like pigs and goats. There will be photo ops, coffee, and face painting. They also offer private egg hunts by reservation.

The rescue was originally inspired by a single rabbit named Ember and has since grown to save approximately 400 rabbits during its se seven years of operation.

Founder Lindsey Provost said the rescue is committed to finding homes for the animals the right way.

“We really encourage doing research before adopting,” Provost said. “And one thing to consider is not all bunnies are a good fit for children. And we like to guarantee that the set ups are appropriate for bunnies before we adopt them out.”

The rescue is also organizing an upcoming Easter auction. The event will raffle off various items that have been donated by local businesses to support the facility’s mission.

If you are interested in their upcoming events, volunteering or donations, check out the website for Ember’s Wildflower Bunny Rescue.

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Tyson Beauchemin

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Meadow Sky Productions is opening its production of William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” March 13th at the High Desert Music Hall in Redmond. The play is scheduled to run for two weekends, concluding on March 22.

The show follows two pairs of lovers through a whirlwind week featuring confusion and the good-hearted naivete of youth. This production is an adaptation script adapted from William Shakespeare’s classic by David and Anna Purkey. This version is designed to be clear and concise for families.

The production highlights some of the most well-known characters from the play, including Beatrice and Benedick.

Performances are scheduled for March 13-15 and March 20-22. Doors at the High Desert Music Hall will open 30 minutes before the scheduled show time.

Tickets are $30 and are available for purchase online or at the door. Meadow Sky Productions offers group pricing for parties of 10 or more people upon request.

The show runs for approximately 2 hours, which includes a 15-minute intermission. Concessions will be available for purchase at the venue during the performance.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend Park & Recreation District is launching a new study to evaluate options for connecting the Deschutes River Trail in southwest Bend and it wants your input. The project aims to link the trail to the Deschutes National Forest and recreation sites along the Cascade Lakes Highway.

The Deschutes River Trail South project seeks to complete one of the final remaining gaps in a trail system that extends from Sunriver to Tumalo State Park. The study, led by the consulting firm Kittelson & Associates, will evaluate trail alignments, environmental factors, and engineering feasibility to inform future design and construction decisions.

The study will analyze various factors including possible trail alignments, river width, engineering feasibility, and environmental conditions. Researchers will also consider federal and state designations and requirements for the area. Options under review include the potential construction of a new trail bridge over the Deschutes River and at least one “no-build” alternative that would utilize existing or pending trails and roadways.

The project is intended to update data from previous planning efforts conducted by the district between 2015 and 2019. Henry Stroud, Bend Park & Recreation District principal planner and project leader, said the initiative will help prepare for future phases of the trail’s development.

“The intent of this study is to provide the district, the public and other stakeholders with more detailed and accurate information to inform future community conversations and possible project design engineering,” Stroud said.

Kittelson & Associates, a transportation engineering and planning firm, is serving as the third-party consultant for the project. Stroud said the firm was brought in to expand on prior information and account for growth in the area.

“The goal is to reflect changes in the community over the past 10+ years since alignment options were last explored,” Stroud said.

A dedicated stakeholder group is scheduled to meet multiple times throughout the duration of the study. Project details and updates are being maintained on the district’s project website.

A public open house is scheduled for Thursday, April 2nd, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the gymnasium of Elk Meadows Elementary School. An online open house will also be hosted on the project website from April 2nd through April 23rd, 2026.

Click here for more information.

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Kelsey Merison

CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crook County High School celebrated the opening of a new student-run apparel shop Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The shop, named the Cowboy Corral, was designed and built by students over the last six months and will be fully managed by the school’s business programs.

The project was funded through a grant from Meta. The initiative combined the efforts of the school’s construction and business programs to create a functional retail space that generated more than $1,500 in sales during its first 24 hours of operation.

Construction students spent six months renovating an existing space within the high school to create the retail storefront. Under the guidance of instructor Ron Berg, the students handled all aspects of the build, including framing, finishing, design details, and the store layout. School officials said the process allowed the construction program to apply classroom skills to a real-world project.

With the build complete, the shop is now transitioning to the school’s Business and Marketing program. Students in that program will manage the Cowboy Corral alongside the high school’s existing coffee shop. The student-run business model is intended to provide experience in retail management, customer service, financial tracking, and marketing strategy.

“Our students are incredibly excited,” said Kim Crofcheck, the Business and Marketing teacher. “They’re seeing firsthand how the concepts they learn in class translate into a real business. The response from the school community has been amazing, people are always asking where they can buy CC gear and now we can say right here at CCHS.”

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator Ryan Cochran said the collaboration between the different programs is a hallmark of the school’s vocational goals. He noted that the project helps prepare students for high-demand careers.

“This project is a great example of what Career and Technical Education can look like,” Cochran said. “Students in multiple programs worked together to create something really meaningful — construction students built it and business students will operate it. These kinds of experiences prepare students for high-demand, high-wage careers while they’re still in high school.”

School leaders said the curriculum focuses on developing practical skills including leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving through the management of the store.

As the Cowboy Corral begins regular operating hours, students will continue to manage the daily business operations and inventory. School officials said students are looking to grow the business and expand the learning opportunities associated with the retail space.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ). — From concerns for the upcoming fire season following a dry winter to questions about if Bend would entertain a data center proposal, 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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Tracee Tuesday

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The partial federal government shutdown is not slowing things down for travelers at Redmond Municipal Airport, where flights and security screening are operating normally.

While some larger airports around the country are reporting longer security lines and delays as Transportation Security Administration staffing is strained, Redmond officials say they are not seeing those issues locally. The airport’s arrivals and departures board Wednesday night showed all departures on time, with only a couple of delayed arrivals and no widespread cancellations.

Redmond Airport Director Zackary Bass said the shutdown has had no impact so far on how quickly passengers move through TSA screening or on airport operations.

“There’s been no effect on our operations or the time it takes to pass through TSA at this point,” Bass said. “So far, and what we’ve seen in the past with government shutdowns, is we have a great TSA crew here that continues to come to work, and we haven’t seen any impacts so far during this partial shutdown.”

Bass said the airport remains in close contact with federal partners and is continuing to monitor the situation.

For now, he said people flying in and out of Redmond should plan for business as usual, even as the shutdown continues in Washington, D.C.

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Barney Lerten

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 2-day-old burn pile that was believed to be out rekindled in Wednesday’s strong winds northeast of Sisters, burning nearly two acres before crews stopped its spread.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District crews were dispatched around 1:25 p.m. to a wildland fire reported to be spreading into brush and trees.

It was being pushed by high winds in an area between the 17000 block of Wilt Road and Whychus Canyon Estates northeast of Sisters.

Fire crews arrived on scene and began an initial attack on both flanks of the fire. They were able to stop the forward progress at 2:27 pm, then transitioned into mopping up the blaze.

The total area burned was estimated at 1.8 acres.

“The cause of the fire is a rekindle of a burn pile from two days prior that was believed to be out,” Fire Marshal Jeff Puller said in a news release.

Puller also told KTVZ News, ‘No citations were issued, as this was determined to be an accidental burn and was contained on the homeowners’ property.”  The land owner has a permit issued by the Oregon Department of Forestry to burn on the property, he told us.

Puller offered thanks to their firefighters and partner agencies, Black Butte Ranch Fire District, Cloverdale Fire District, Sisters Ranger District, Oregon Department of Forestry, and our Fire Corps Incident Support Unit (ISU) for their response.

“Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District would like to remind homeowners; with these high winds we are experiencing; to double- and triple-check any old burn piles, to ensure they are completely out and cold to the touch,” he said. “Even piles that appeared extinguished days ago can rekindle under windy conditions and quickly spread.”

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The stage is set for a busy Central Oregon campaign season leading up to the May 19 primary election, with dozens of incumbents and challengers vying for new and existing positions, and several funding measures sharing the ballot. 

Now that Tuesday’s filing deadline has passed, here’s a look at who’s seeking what positions. 

KTVZ News will have complete Decision 2026 coverage throughout the spring and fall election seasons. 

To vote in the May primary, you have until April 28th to register or change your party affiliation. 

Meanwhile, candidates have until this Friday to withdraw from a race and not appear in the Voters Pamphlet.

The only measure possibly on the statewide ballot – depending on the final outcome of a legal fight – is the gas tax and vehicle fee increase passed by Legislature, sent to the fall ballot on a citizen referendum and moved up to the May primary by the Democrat-led Legislature. Opposing Republicans have challenged that move in court.

You can search for the candidates and their filings in any Oregon congressional, statewide and legislative races at this spot on the secretary of state’s website.

Congress 

Senate Democrat Jeff Merkley is running for his fourth term and faces one party challenger in May, Paul Damian Wells. Seven Republicans are competing to take him on in November: Brent Barker, Deborah C. Brown, David Burch, Russell McAlmond, Jo Rae Perkins, Timothy Skelton and David Brock Smith. 

In the race for House District 2, incumbent Republican Cliff Bentz has drawn two GOP challengers, Andrea Carr and Peter J. Larson. The winner will face one of six Democrats in the race: Chris Beck, Mary Doyle, Rebecca Mueller, Peter Quince, Dawn Rasmussen and Patty Snow. 

The House District 5 race finds incumbent Janelle Bynum with one Democratic challenger, Zeve Rosenbaum. Two Republicans filed for a chance to unseat her: Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair and Jonathan Lockwood. 

Governor

Democrat Tina Kotek, seeking her second four-year term, has drawn nine Democratic challengers: Forest (Fora) Alexander, James Atkinson IV, Donnie Backwith, David W. Beem, Brittany Jones, Cal Kishawi, Steve William Laible, Tristan Sheppard and Miranda Weigler.

And 15 people are on the GOP ballot: Danielle Bethell, Hope A. Dalrymple, Ed Diehl, Christine Drazan, Chris Dudley, Kyle M. Duyck, David Medina, Robert Neuman, Brad T. Peters, Matthew Platt, Paul J. Romero Jr., DeAngelo Leroy Turner, Wen Waddell, Martin Ward and Tim O. Youker.

Oregon Legislature 

House District 54 Representative Jason Kropf faces Democratic challenger Andrew Caruana in May, but no Republican filed to run for the seat in November.

House District 59 Representative Vikki Breese-Iverson faces no GOP challengers, but Democrat Lawrence Jones has filed in a bid to unseat her this fall.

It’s a similar situation for House District 53 Representative Emerson Levy, who is unopposed for the Democratic nomination. One Republican, Michael Summers, will be trying to take the seat in November.

Deschutes County 

One closely watched race – between incumbent Interim Sheriff Ty Rupert and James (Mac) McLaughlin – moves to the November general election, under state constitutional requirements, since fewer than three candidates filed for the position. 

County Commissioner Tony DeBone faces two challengers for the Position 1 seat in May, Jamie Collins and Brooke West. John Heylin filed but withdrew his candidacy Dec. 1, while Gary (GW) Campbell pulled out of that race and filed for the Position 3 race. 

Six candidates have filed for the Position 3 seat now held by Adair, who decided to run for the U.S. House seat held by Bynum.  Along with Gary Campbell, voters will choose among  Charles Webster Baer, Lauren Connally, Samuel Facey, Amanda Page and Amy Sabbadini. 

Deschutes County voters who recently approved expanding the three-member, non-partisan commission to five members will have several candidates to choose from for the two new positions, both of which begin with two-year terms.  

Two candidates are now in the Position 4 race – Rick Russell and Chet Wamboldt. Another candidate, Maddie McKinney, announced Wednesday she’s withdrawing from the race and endorsed Russell. Two others, Kathryn Osborne and Samuel Facey, withdrew earlier, and Facey switched to the Position 3 commission race. 

Four candidates are seeking the other new commission seat, Position 5: Ron (Rondo) Boozell, Rob Imhoff, Jennifer Letz and Morgan Schmidt. Two others, Baer and John Nielsen, withdrew from the race last fall. 

Two candidates are on the May ballot for county assessor. Zachary Hastings and Tana West will vie for the position, after Scot Langton’s recent retirement. The race only continues to the November ballot if neither candidate gets more than 50% of the vote.

Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels also is on the May ballot, and is running unopposed.

As KTVZ News recently reported, three Deschutes County fire districts are seeking new or renewed five-year levies for staffing and other needs. They are the only money measures on the county ballot. 

Crook County 

There’s a three-way race for Crook County Commission Position 2, the seat currently held by Brian Barney, who did not file for re-election. Zach Berger, Rick Steber and Julie Thompson, will be vying to fill that seat. 

It’s a similar situation for county treasurer, as two candidates – Bill Anderson and Jessica Barnes – face off to fill the seat currently held by Treasurer Galan Carter, who decided not to run for re-election.

District Attorney Kari Hathorn is also on the ballot, running unopposed.

There are no local money measures on the Crook County ballot. 

Jefferson County 

Jefferson County Sheriff Jason Pollock will face former deputy Tyler Anderson for the position – but not until the November general election, since only two candidates filed by Tuesday’s deadline. 

One of the three seats on the Jefferson County Commission in on the ballot. Incumbent Mark Wunsch has two men seeking to unseat him – Tony Chard and George Curtiss. 

Meanwhile, current Commissioner Kelly Simmelink has drawn three challengers: Bill Atherton, Ara Erdekian and Greg Mead. 

Just one person has filed as a candidate for the district attorney post: Eric Nisley, the former Wasco County DA.

As we reported earlier, Jefferson County Library District voters will decide on a $15.9 million bond measure to build new libraries in Madras and Culver. The current Madras library would be remodeled as a multi-use facility, with community meeting space.  

The Camp Sherman Road District will ask for a five-year renewal of its local option tax levy to fund snow plowing, grading and maintenance. 

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Barney Lerten

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Madras City Council is overseeing city management collectively after the recent departure of an interim city administrator, the continuing struggle to appoint a new police chief and now the resignation of the city’s finance director, officials said Wednesday.

Here ‘s the details as laid out in a news release that KTVZ News received Wednesday afternoon:

City of Madras Provides Update on Leadership Transitions and Ongoing Operations

The City of Madras is currently navigating several leadership transitions while continuing to maintain daily operations and services for the community. The City Council and City staff are actively working through these transitions in a transparent manner, with discussions and actions occurring during publicly noticed City Council meetings.

City services remain fully operational during this period. The City Council expressed appreciation for the work of City staff who continue to support the delivery of services to the Madras community while recruitment efforts move forward for several key leadership positions.

City Administrator Transition

On January 16, 2026, the City Council appointed Public Works Director Jeff Hurd to serve as Interim City Administrator while the Council evaluated next steps for the position.

On February 26, 2026, Mr. Hurd notified the Mayor and City Council of his intent to step down from the Interim City Administrator role and return his full attention to the Public Works Department. The Mayor acknowledged that transition on February 27, 2026, leaving the City Administrator position vacant.

The Madras City Charter establishes the City Administrator as the administrative head of the City organization, responsible for supervising City personnel and administering City operations in accordance with Council policy. The Charter also provides that when the office becomes vacant, the City Council may appoint an Administrator Pro Tem to perform the duties of the office until further action is taken.

Until an interim administrator is appointed, the City is operating in a council-managed structure. Under this structure, the City Council acts as the governing body collectively, and direction to staff occurs only through formal action of the Council during publicly noticed meetings. Individual councilors do not independently direct staff outside of that process.

At the March 4, 2026 City Council meeting, the Council directed staff to begin scheduling interviews with candidates for an interim City Administrator. On March 10th a small panel of councilors interviewed three prospective candidates and is currently working toward a potential agreement. If finalized, the selected candidate would likely be available to begin service in April.

During that March 4th meeting, the Council also discussed how best to maintain continuity of operations during this transition period.

While operating without a City Administrator is not ideal, it is not uncommon during periods of leadership transition. To help ensure timely decision-making, the Council has temporarily scheduled additional special meetings during weeks when a regular council meeting is not otherwise scheduled.

These brief meetings allow the Council to address operational items that may require action without delaying City business until the next regularly scheduled meeting.

At the March 10, 2026 City Council meeting, the Council approved the position profile for the permanent City Administrator recruitment, which was the final step required before formally launching the recruitment process. The position is expected to be posted this week through the City’s recruitment firm, Prothman.

Police Chief Recruitment

The Police Chief position has been under recruitment since July 2025, following the Council’s decision to terminate the former chief (Timothy Plummer).

From July 2025 through January 2026, the City retained Paul Garrison under contract to serve as Interim Police Chief while recruitment efforts were underway. When that agreement concluded in January, the City Council appointed Sergeant Angela Elder to serve as Acting Police Chief.

The Council interviewed candidates earlier this year but was unable to reach an agreement with the preferred candidate. As a result, the Council directed that the recruitment be reopened with assistance from GMP Consultants.

That recruitment effort closed on March 9, 2026. The City Council expects to review candidate materials later this month and determine whether finalists will be invited to participate in interviews anticipated to occur in April.

Finance Department Update

At the March 10, 2026 City Council meeting, Council announced that it had received the immediate resignation of the City’s Finance Director on March 9, 2026.

During the same meeting, the Council took action to ensure continuity of financial operations while the City evaluates interim support options. The timeline for recruitment of a permanent Finance Director has not yet been determined as the City works through the current leadership transitions.

Clarification Regarding Short-Term Project Management Agreement

On February 10, 2026, the City Council approved a short-term professional services agreement with Christy Wurster to provide limited project management support during the administrative transition. This agreement was structured as a short-duration assignment focused on specific projects and was not intended to serve as an interim City Administrator role.

As the City transitioned to a council-managed structure and operational priorities shifted, the project scope outlined in that agreement was no longer necessary. The City Council therefore made the decision to conclude the short-term agreement.

The City appreciates Ms. Wurster’s willingness to offer her professional experience during this transition.

Commitment to the Community

The City Council’s priority remains maintaining stable operations, transparency, and continuity of services for the Madras community while recruitment efforts continue for these key leadership roles.

The Council also expressed appreciation for the work of City employees who continue to support city operations and provide essential services during this transition period.

The Mayor will serve as the primary spokesperson for recorded media interviews regarding these transitions. Media inquiries may be coordinated through the City Recorder’s office.

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