Author: KTVZ

KTVZ

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Pump prices continue to ease in Oregon and most states, AAA Oregon/Idaho reported Tuesday, but a recent California refinery fire could send them the other direction locally.

Here’s this week’s gas prices report from AAA Oregon/Idaho:Cheaper winter-blend gas and relatively low crude oil prices are putting downward pressure on pump prices. However, drivers here on the West Coast may see prices rise again after last week’s refinery fire in Southern California.

For the week, the national average for regular declines three cents to $3.12 a gallon. The Oregon average loses six cents to $4.13 a gallon, while Bend’s average dropped about a nickel to $4.01 a gallon.

A huge fire broke out at the El Segundo Chevron refinery last Thursday evening. This facility is one of the largest in California, producing about 40% of Southern California’s jet fuel as well as about 20% of its fuel for cars.

“Having a major refinery like this offline can cause gas prices to rise due to reduced supplies,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho. “The refinery fire comes about a month after the Olympic Pipeline was out of operation. These types of outages can have a tremendous impact on retail gas prices in the West Coast region.”

The fire was contained to one processing unit and no injuries were reported. The full impact of the fire is still being assessed and there’s no estimate on when the refinery might reopen. 

Another factor that could impact gas prices this season is a major storm. This year’s Atlantic hurricane season has been less active than some years, but the season continues through November 30. Any storm that targets the Gulf Coast can have an impact on the production and distribution of oil and gas.

The Oregon average for regular gas began 2025 at $3.45 a gallon and is currently at $4.13. The highest price of the year so far is $4.297 on September 13 and 14. The lowest price of the year so far is just under $3.45 a gallon on January 2.  

The national average began 2025 at $3.06 a gallon and is currently at $3.12. The highest price of the year so far is $3.268 on April 4. The lowest price of the year so far is $3.06 on January 5.

This week, 26 Oregon counties have averages at or above $4, compared to 28 a week ago:

Clackamas $4.27

Clatsop $4.14

Columbia $4.24

Coos $4.13

Crook $4.09

Curry $4.25

Douglas $4.07

Grant $4.36

Harney $4.38

Hood River $4.03

Jackson $4.12

Jefferson $4.

Josephine $4.19

Klamath $4.04

Lake $4.26

Lane $4.00

Marion $4.04

Morrow $4.02

Multnomah $4.34

Polk $4.01

Sherman $4.08

Tillamook $4.24

Wallowa $4.20

Wasco $4.14

Washington $4.32

Yamhill $4.20

Demand for gasoline in the U.S. decreased from 8.96 million b/d last week to 8.52 million for the week ending September 26. This compares to 8.52 million b/d a year ago. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 216.6 million barrels to 220.7 million. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.3 million barrels per day compared to 9.7 million barrels per day the previous week.

Gas prices usually drop in the fall, due to the switch from summer-blend to winter-blend fuel, which costs less to produce. The switch starts in September. Many areas, including Oregon, can sell winter-blend fuel starting September 15. However, Northern and Southern California require summer-blend fuel through October 31. Prices usually decline to their lowest levels of the year in late fall and early winter before increasing again in the late winter and early spring.

Gas prices typically rise starting in mid-to-late winter and early spring as refineries undergo maintenance ahead of the switch to summer-blend fuel, which is more expensive to produce and less likely to evaporate in warmer temperatures. The switch occurs first in California, which is why pump prices on the West Coast often rise before other parts of the country. The East Coast is the last major market to switch to summer-blend fuel. Most areas have a May 1 compliance date for refiners and terminals, while most gas stations have a June 1 deadline to switch to selling summer-blend until June 1. Switch-over dates are earlier in California with some areas in the state requiring summer-blend fuel by April 1. Some refineries will begin maintenance and the switchover in February.

The U.S. price of crude oil (West Texas Intermediate) had been mostly in the low-$60s to mid-$70s since September 2024. Crude prices spiked to the mid-$70s in mid-June in response to the strikes between Israel and Iran, and then the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, but then prices fell back into the $60s on the belief that the conflict would not have a major impact on global oil supplies.

Crude prices fell in early April as markets reacted to President Trumps tariffs and the impact on U.S. and global markets. Additional downward pressure on crude prices came after the decision by OPEC+ to increase production. The lowest closing price since September was $57.13 on May 5, which was the lowest closing price since February 2021. The recent high price for crude was $80.04 per barrel on January 15, which was the highest price since last August.

Crude oil is trading around $61 today compared to $62 a week ago and $77 a year ago. In 2024, West Texas Intermediate ranged between $66 and $87 per barrel. In 2023, WTI ranged between $63 and $95 per barrel. WTI reached recent highs of $123.70 on March 8, 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and $122.11 per barrel on June 8, 2022. The all-time high for WTI crude oil is $147.27 in July 2008.

Crude prices are impacted by economic news as well as geopolitical events around the world including the current economic uncertainty, unrest in the Middle East, the war between Israel and Hamas, and the war between Russia and Ukraine. Russia is a top global oil producer, behind the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Crude prices have been volatile after the attack on Israel by Hamas in October 2023.

While Israel and the Palestinian territory are not oil producers, concerns remain that the conflict could spread in the Middle East, which could potentially impact crude production in other oil-producing nations in the region. In addition, production cuts by OPEC+ in previous years tightened global crude oil supplies, which continued to impact prices.

But this year, the cartel boosted production by 411,000 barrels per day in May and June, and July, 548,000 barrels per day in August, 547,000 barrels per day in September, and 137,000 barrels per day in October.  

Crude oil is the main ingredient in gasoline and diesel, so pump prices are impacted by crude prices on the global markets. On average, about 51% of what we pay for in a gallon of gasoline is for the price of crude oil, 18% is refining, 16% distribution and marketing, and 16% are taxes, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Meanwhile, crude oil production in the U.S. remains near record highs. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that crude production in his country is holding steady at 13.50 million barrels per day for the week ending September 26. The record high is 13.63 million barrels per day for the week of December 6. Production has been at 13.5 million barrels per day many times since October 2024. The U.S. has been the top producer of crude oil in the world since 2018 and has been increasing its oil production since about 2009.

Quick stats

Oregon is one of 42 states and the District of Columbia with lower prices now than a week ago. Delaware (-12 cents) has the largest week-over-week decline in the nation. Oregon (-6 cents) has the ninth-largest decrease. Texas (+1 cent) has the biggest week-over-week increase in the nation.

California ($4.65) is the state with the most expensive gas in the nation for the third week in a row. Washington took over the top spot for a week in September when the Olympic Pipeline was out of operation. This week, Washington ($4.51) is second, Hawaii ($4.48) is third, and Oregon ($4.13) is fourth. These are the four states with averages at or above $4 a gallon. This week 18 states and the District of Columbia have averages in the $3-range. There are 28 states with an average in the $2 range this week.

The cheapest gas in the nation is in Oklahoma ($2.59) and Mississippi ($2.68) and. No state has had an average below $2 a gallon since January 7, 2021, when Mississippi and Texas were below that threshold. At the time, the COVID-19 pandemic drove significant declines in crude oil and gasoline demand in the U.S. and around the world.

The difference between the most expensive and least expensive states is $2.07 this week, compared to $2.02 a week ago.

Oregon is one of nine states with higher prices now than a month ago. The national average is eight cents less and the Oregon average is six cents more than a month ago. This is the third largest month-over-month jump for a state in the nation. Utah (+10 cents) has the largest month-over-month increase in the nation, while Alaska (+7 cents) has the second largest monthly increase. Colorado (-27 cents) has the largest month-over-month drop.

Oregon is one of 11 states with higher prices now than a year ago. The national average is five cents less, while the Oregon average is 46 cents more. Oregon has the second largest year-over-year increase in the nation. Washington (+48 cents) has the largest increase. Colorado (-40 cents) has the largest yearly drop.

West Coast

The West Coast region continues to have the most expensive pump prices in the nation with all seven states in the top 10. It’s typical for the West Coast to have six or seven states in the top 10 as this region tends to consistently have fairly tight supplies, consuming about as much gasoline as is produced. In addition, this region is located relatively far from parts of the country where oil drilling, production and refining occurs, so transportation costs are higher. And environmental programs in this region add to the cost of production, storage and distribution.

Last week’s refinery fire at the Chevon El Segundo refinery in Southern California could cause prices in the region to rise, depending on how long the facility is out of operation.

Rank
Region
Price on 10/7/2025

1
California
$4.66

2
Washington
$4.51

3
Hawaii
$4.48

4
Oregon
$4.13

5
Nevada
$3.91

6
Alaska
$3.85

7
Arizona
$3.52

8
Idaho
$3.48

9
Utah
$3.39

10
Illinois
$3.29

As mentioned above, California is the state with the most expensive gas in the nation for the third week in a row. Washington is second – it held the top spot for one week in September due to the outage of the Olympic Pipeline. Hawaii, Oregon, Nevada, Alaska, and Arizona round out the top seven. Oregon is fourth most expensive for the 20th week in a row.

Four of the seven West Coast states have week-over-week decreases: Oregon (-6 cents), Washington (-4 cents), Arizona (-3 cents), and Alaska (-2 cents). California (+1 cent), Hawaii (+1/2 cent) and Nevada (+4/10ths of a cent) have small increases.

The refinery utilization rate on the West Coast rose from 87.9 to 88.5% for the week ending September 26. This rate has ranged between about 72% to 93% in the last year. The latest national refinery utilization rate fell from 93.0% to 91.4%.

The refinery utilization rate measures how much crude oil refineries are processing as a percentage of their maximum capacity. A low or declining rate can put upward pressure on pump prices, while a high or rising rate can put downward pressure on pump prices.

According to EIA’s latest weekly report, total gas stocks in the region increased from 30.05 million bbl. to 30.29 million bbl. An increase in gasoline stocks can put downward pressure on pump prices, while a decrease in gasoline stocks can put upward pressure on pump prices.

Oil market dynamics

Crude oil prices rose slightly to start this week after OPEC+ agreed to only a relatively small boost in production instead of a more robust increase. The cartel says it will increase production by 137,000 barrels per day in November, the same amount it announced for October. On Friday, oil prices traded near a four-month low.

Meanwhile, the EIA reports that crude oil inventories increased by 1.8 million barrels from the previous week. At 416.5 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 4% below the five-year average for this time of year.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI added 40 cents to close at $60.88. At the close of Monday’s formal trading session, WTI gained 81 cents to settle at $61.69. Today crude is trading around $61 compared to $62 a week ago. Crude prices are about $16 less than a year ago. ($77.14 on October 7, 2024)

Drivers can find current gas prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.

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KTVZ

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — As a member of the Oregon State Bar for over 50 years, David C. Glenn has served as a role model for professionalism within the 22nd Judicial District. Throughout his career, Mr. Glenn has exhibited civil and courteous behavior in court proceedings, shown the utmost respect for his clients, fellow attorneys, court staff and the bench.  

The judges of the 22nd Judicial District present the David C. Glenn Professionalism Award annually to an attorney who exhibits exceptional professionalism in promoting the legal profession with the 22nd Judicial District. The 2025 David C. Glenn Professionalism Award recipient is Timothy R. Gassner.  

The David C. Glenn Professionalism Award 2025 

During the award presentation, Presiding Judge Annette C. Hillman stated, “Mr. Timothy Gassner and I both started working in this community around the same time in 2004 on opposite sides of the table, he was hired at the law firm of Glenn, Sites and Reeder and I was hired by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.  Mr. Gassner went on to become a partner in the law firm before establishing his own practice. 

“Over the last 21 years, I have had the pleasure to see Mr. Gassner grow and develop in the legal profession and become a valuable member of this community.   He works diligently for his clients and advocates strongly for those with mental health and substance abuse issues caught up in the legal system.  I have observed his compassion for his clients and his professional demeanor often makes a challenging and emotional court hearing so much easier to handle as a judge.”  

Judge Daina A. Vitolins added, “Mr. Timothy Gassner is a zealous advocate for his clients.  He thoroughly evaluates and investigates his cases and is a good trial attorney.   He is also professional and courteous to opposing counsel.  Not only does Mr. Gassner bring excellence to the legal profession, he invests his time and energy into building a stronger community, especially for kids.”  

Judge Wade L. Whiting shared his appreciation for Mr. Gassner’s dedication to the Recovery Court program. “As a founding member of our Recovery Court program almost 20 years ago, Mr. Gassner has consistently shown a passion in assisting defendants on their path to sobriety. Mr. Gassner maintains excellent contact with his clients outside of court proceedings and ensures they are compliant with court orders. Going above and beyond the typical role of attorney is what enables his clients to be so successful in the program. Mr. Gassner works hard every day to ensure his clients achieve their best outcome in court.”    

   

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Claire Elmer

(Update: adding video, adding interview with departing Fire Chief Jeff Blake)

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jefferson County Fire and EMS is grappling with a severe financial shortfall that has forced deep spending cuts, the temporary relocation of its headquarters, and the upcoming departure of Fire Chief Jeff Blake.

What began as a successful merger of the county’s fire and ambulance services has now spiraled into a budget crisis, draining reserves and straining operations.

Blake says the funding gap is not a result of overspending, but of missing revenue and slow reimbursements — problems that began after the former EMS district was dissolved.

“When we merged EMS and fire together, the merger went really, really well,” Blake explained Tuesday to KTVZ News. “But from the time the dissolution happened, we weren’t able to bill for any revenue from Medicare, Medicaid, or any insurance companies.”

Without that billing capability, the district has been surviving on its reserve funds.

Even when payments do come in, they amount to only about a third of what the district bills. In response, Blake says the agency has cut $1.5-1.6 million from its budget while simultaneously seeing a 15 to 20 percent increase in call volume.

One of the latest cost-saving measures is temporarily relocating the headquarters to the old EMS station on Culver Highway during construction on its fire station. The move is expected to reduce expenses by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Despite the budget cuts, Blake emphasizes that service levels for residents remain strong. However, the strain of managing the crisis has weighed heavily on leadership. By mutual agreement with the district’s board, Blake will step down as chief on Nov. 29.

“It’s really hard,” he said. “I am passionate about the fire service and about this community. I don’t want to be any sort of barrier for the success of this organization moving forward. It’s bittersweet — some days I think I made the right decision, other days it’s a little difficult.”

The district’s board is now reviewing options to stabilize funding and ensure that Jefferson County’s fire and medical services can meet demand. As he prepares to leave, Blake says he hopes residents will continue to back the agency and its first responders through the challenges ahead.

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KTVZ – News Team

(KTVZ) Tuesday, October 7th marks National Taco Day!

National Taco Day used to be celebrated on October 4th but was adjusted so that it would always fall on the first Tuesday in October.

Many restaurants, like Taco Bell, are celebrating with taco specials.

Are you celebrating the occasion?

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KTVZ – News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Happening this Friday, October 10th, from 4 to 7 p.m., head on down to Café Yumm! in Bend’s Old Mill District to support Think Wild Central Oregon!

20% of sales will be donated to the wildlife rehab hospital to care for its wildlife patients.

Think Wild says the money will fund wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and education programs in Central Oregon.

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KTVZ – News Team

OREGON (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is inviting the public to view artwork entered in the annual stamp art contest!

That’s happening on Tuesday, November 4th from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m. at the ODFW headquarters in Salem. The event is free and open to the public.

The headquarters will host the display of submissions for the 2026 Habitat Conservation Stamp, Upland Game Bird Stamp, and Waterfowl Stamp art contests.

Visitors will be able to cast their vote for the ‘People’s Choice’ in each category.  

The winning artist in each contest receives a $2,000 award and winning artwork will be used to produce collector stamps and other promotional items with sale proceeds benefitting Oregon’s fish, wildlife and their habitats. 

Sales from the purchase of Waterfowl, Upland Game Bird and Habitat Conservation stamp products help fund research, surveys, habitat improvement and conservation projects.

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KTVZ – News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Celebrate an unforgettable evening of music, community, and connection as the Central Oregon Mastersingers proudly present ‘Rooted in Song’, featuring internationally acclaimed vocalist and composer Moira Smiley for one night only.

That’s happening Wednesday, October 29th at 7:00 p.m. At the Tower Theatre in Bend.

As a special highlight of the evening, concertgoers will experience the world premiere of ‘Northern Flicker’ which is a new work commissioned by the Central Oregon Mastersingers to commemorate the choir’s 20th anniversary.

The piece honors the ensemble’s two decades of musical excellence and community impact while also drawing inspiration from the rugged beauty and natural rhythms of the Central Oregon landscape.

During Smiley’s visit, she will also lead outreach workshops with local high school choirs, fostering connection and creativity among the next generation of singers.

Choirs from Central Oregon high schools have been invited to participate as well, with students joining from Trinity Lutheran School, Caldera High School, Bend High School, and more.

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KTVZ – News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Happening this Saturday, October 11th, at Silver Moon Brewing in Bend, there’s a Moonlight Haunted Market!

Get in the spirit of spooky season–you can shop from local vendors, enjoy live music, and more.

The all-ages market is from 4 to 11 p.m. and is free to attend.

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Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Monday is World Habitat Day, a time for communities around the globe to reflect on the fundamental right to housing and the ongoing challenge of ensuring that everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home.

In Bend, this year’s observance carries special weight as local advocacy group Bend YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) stages an event titled “Remembering Our Neighbors.” The gathering serves to honor residents forced to leave the area because rising costs have made it impossible for them to remain.

Bend YIMBY, a volunteer-driven organization, is dedicated to advocating for an increase in all types of housing throughout the city—ranging from townhomes and apartments to infill development. The group’s central goal is to promote affordability and ensure that people who work in Bend can also afford to live there.

With the city’s rapid growth and soaring cost of living, many long-term residents find themselves priced out of their neighborhoods, resulting in a loss that, organizers say, resonates across the wider community.

“Anyone who’s lived in Central Oregon for some time has likely faced the heartbreak of seeing neighbors and friends uprooted as housing prices climb,” explains John Heylin, volunteer and organizer with Bend YIMBY. “Frankly, the cost of living here is incredibly high, making it increasingly difficult for people to stay. After years of watching friends leave, I wanted to host a memorial event—because those departures represent a real loss for the community.”

The “Remembering Our Neighbors” event goes beyond simply recalling those lost to the housing crisis. The aim is to prompt honest conversations about what Bend stands to lose if the trend persists and to motivate collective action around solutions.

Bend YIMBY hopes the event will spark dialogue about practical steps to address the crisis—such as boosting the overall housing supply and supporting policies that lower barriers and costs for building new homes. The organization’s message remains clear: maintaining Bend’s vibrance depends on enabling residents of all income levels to call the city home.

The “Remembering Our Neighbors” event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday night at Bevel Brewing, creating space for community members to gather, reflect, and chart a path toward a more affordable future for all.

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) announced Monday the five Growth Stage finalists who will compete at the 2025 Bend Venture Conference, taking place October 16–17 at the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend. 

In just a few days, these exceptional finalists will take to the main stage. The Growth Stage competition at BVC highlights companies that have demonstrated significant traction and are poised for rapid expansion. Following considerable due diligence, companies in this category have historically been awarded funding ranging from $100,000 to $ 2.5 million from the BVC LLC and partner venture capital (VC) funds. 

In alphabetical order, the Growth Stage finalists that will compete at the BVC are: 

Airbuild (Portland, OR) – Airbuild creates modular, self-powered systems that capture carbon, purify water and turn waste into biochar. 

Bold Reuse (Portland, OR) – Bold Reuse reduces costs and waste from single-use packaging through reusable packaging systems, a Bold Reuse is critical infrastructure for the circular economy. 

MarineSitu (Seattle, WA) – MarineSitu provides marine infrastructure monitoring through their AI software platform, preventing costly interventions, saving time and increasing efficiency. 

Photon Marine (Portland, OR) – Photon Marine is building the world’s most capable electric fleet. 

Rapta (Tigard, OR) – Rapta supercharges U.S. manufacturing by increasing capacity 30% through eliminating 98% of errors and accelerating workflows 10x faster. 

“The Growth Stage finalists are a powerful reflection of where the market is heading,” said Jon Stark, CEO of EDCO. “These companies are proving that innovation and scalability go hand in hand, and the Bend Venture Conference provides the stage for investors to connect with founders who are ready to accelerate their growth.” 

Now in its 22nd year, the Bend Venture Conference is the Pacific Northwest’s largest angel investment conference and a hub for entrepreneurship in the region. Since its inception, BVC investors have awarded more than $14 million to startups. The event is the cornerstone of the High Desert Innovation Week, happening Oct 13-17 in Bend, a multi-day program that brings together local entrepreneurs, innovators and investors to showcase the region’s startup resources and celebrate its collaborative culture. 

The Bend Venture Conference cannot guarantee that investments will be awarded in any specific amount. The final amounts to be distributed depend on the investment commitments received from third-party investors, as well as the ability of the winning companies and investors to agree on the terms and conditions of the investment. 

Tickets for the 2025 Bend Venture Conference are available at bendvc.com. 

2025 BVC Title Sponsors 

About Bend Venture Conference (BVC) The annual BVC, hosted by EDCO, is one of the largest angel conferences in the country. Over the past 22 years, BVC has served to evolve and grow the startup ecosystem throughout Central Oregon and beyond. Since its inception, more than $14 million has been invested in 59 companies as a result of the conference. This year’s conference will gather entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and students at the Tower Theatre in Bend, Oregon on October 16-17, 2025. bendvc.com 

About Economic Development for Central Oregon  

EDCO is a non-profit corporation supported by private and public members and stakeholders, whose mission is to create middle-class jobs in Central Oregon by: recruiting new employers to move to the region; helping entrepreneurs start new, scalable businesses; and working with businesses that are already here to grow their operations. For more information, visit www.edcoinfo.com. 

About High Desert Innovation Week 

High Desert Innovation Week is an annual celebration of Oregon’s entrepreneurial spirit, held each October in Central Oregon. Organized by the Central Oregon Innovation Network, Cultivate Bend, Bend Outdoor Worx, and Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO), the week brings together organizations, startups, and innovators from across the region to showcase the unique resources, collaborative culture, and diverse industries that make Oregon a hub for innovation. Over five days, events highlight craft, technology, and community, spanning sectors from consumer products to climate tech and outdoor recreation. hdinnovationweek.com. 

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