Author: KTVZ

Campbell Porter

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Mt. Bachelor will begin selling 2026/27 season passes on March 24, featuring a “Buy Now, Ski Now” perk that grants new passholders immediate access to the slopes starting April 1. The new incentive allows purchasers to use their passes for the remainder of the current spring season in addition to the full 2026/27 winter season.

The early sales period runs through June 2, 2026, offering the lowest rates of the year and renewal discounts of up to $100 for returning guests. Mt. Bachelor is also providing retail credits of up to $100 and a “Kids Ski Free” option for children age 12 or under with the purchase of an adult pass.

John Merriman, president and general manager of Mt. Bachelor, expressed gratitude to the local community for their support during the current winter. Merriman noted that the resort has a full schedule of activities planned for the upcoming month.

“I’m so grateful to our passholders for coming out and making the most of this season,” Merriman said. “This community is special and despite challenging conditions, our passholders continued to show up and have a great time on the mountain together. April is packed full of events and we look forward to welcoming new Mt. Bachelor passholders this spring with our “Buy Now, Ski Now” option.”

The Full Season Pass is priced at $1,249 for renewals and $1,349 for new purchasers. This pass offers daily access with no blackout dates or restrictions. Each purchase includes a $50 retail credit for the Mt. Bachelor Sports Pro Shop and allows the adult passholder to add a free season pass for a child age 12 or under. Full Season renewal prices have remained flat compared to the previous year.

The premier Outplay 365 Pass costs $1,899 for renewals and $1,999 for new members. This year-round multi-sport pass includes unlimited alpine skiing and snowboarding at the resort, an Ikon Base Pass and access to the Nordic Center. It also features a 2026 Mt. Bachelor Bike Park Season Pass and provides a $100 retail credit. Like the Full Season option, it includes the “Kids Ski Free” benefit for children age 12 or under.

Mt. Bachelor also offers several specialized pass tiers, including a Midweek Pass for $949 that provides access Monday through Friday. A five-Day Pass is available for $419, which breaks down to $84 per day of use. For those interested in cross-country skiing, the Nordic Pass is priced at $399 and covers 56 kilometers of groomed trails and three snowshoe loops with views of the Cascades.

The resort is located on a 9,065-foot volcanic peak and offers 4,323 acres of lift-accessible terrain. It is served by 12 lifts and three carpets, including seven high-speed quads and one high-speed six-pack lift. Mt. Bachelor is a part of POWDR, a family-owned and operated adventure lifestyle company. Beyond winter sports, the resort offers summer attractions such as mountain biking, zip-lining and whitewater rafting.

Season pass sales will begin March 24 and the early-pricing window will close June 2, 2026. Guests can use payment plans through Affirm to manage the cost of their pass purchases.

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Campbell Porter

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — High Desert Chamber Music is partnering with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to host a community donation drive during its upcoming concert on Sunday, March 29, 2026. The event will take place in Bend and aims to provide support for local individuals and families.

The drive focuses on collecting nonperishable food and essential household items for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Bend. This partnership allows audience members to contribute to local relief efforts while attending the scheduled musical performance.

Donations will be collected at a table located in the entrance of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon. Collections will take place prior to the start of the performance. A specific list of the most-needed food and household items is available on the High Desert Chamber Music social media, including:

Food items:

Canned soup and instant ramen

Canned fruits and vegetables

Pasta, rice, oatmeal

Canned proteins

Granola bars

Snacks (chips, crackers, fruit snacks)

Juice/juice boxes

Non-dairy milk

Cereal

Peanut butter and jelly

Non-food items:

Tampons and pads

Soap

Shampoo/conditioner

Hand warmers

Shaving razors

Deodorant

Toothbrushes and toothpaste

Diapers – 4, 5, 6, 2T, 3T

Toilet Paper

Isabelle Senger serves as the executive director of High Desert Chamber Music. She emphasized the value of using the concert as a platform for local outreach. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with St. Vincent de Paul and invite our audience to make a meaningful impact,” Senger said. “It’s a simple way to come together—through music and generosity—to support our neighbors.”

While the organization encourages all attendees to participate in the drive, donations do not replace the requirement for concert admission. Tickets are still required to attend the musical performance regardless of whether a donation is made.

Concert details and tickets are available on the High Desert Chamber Music website.

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Campbell Porter

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — NeighborImpact donated more than $5,000 in gift cards to support TSA employees at Redmond Municipal Airport who are working without pay during a partial federal government shutdown. The donation is intended to help approximately 70 affected workers and their families afford groceries, gas and other essential items.

The assistance comes as the shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security has disrupted paychecks since Feb. 14. NeighborImpact provided 70 gift cards valued at $75 each, ensuring every impacted officer at the airport received support.

The officers affected are a part of the daily infrastructure at the airport, supporting business, family, medical and tourism travel. A delayed paycheck for these households can lead to late fees, missed rent payments and high stress for families already managing tight budgets. NeighborImpact executive director Scott Cooper noted that the organization aims to provide stability for these workers.

“NeighborImpact is here to help people stay steady when circumstances change,” Cooper said. “These are working households dealing with a sudden gap in income outside of their control. In moments like this, a local response can help families bridge the gap.”

The gift card initiative was supported by local businesses and private donations. Jersey Boys Pizzeria hosted a fundraiser day to help fund the effort and several community members provided targeted gifts to purchase the cards. This type of local response is funded through flexible community support, which allows the organization to bypass traditional funding structures that may lag behind immediate needs.

NeighborImpact has a history of responding to urgent local events, including the Flat Fire and disruptions to SNAP benefits. While the non-profit manages ongoing services in housing, food, energy assistance and child care, it maintains the flexibility to address unexpected challenges as they arise. Since 1985, the private non-profit has developed resources for Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Alongside the gift card donation, Redmond Municipal Airport has started its own drive to support the staff. The airport is seeking nonperishable food and other household essentials to assist employees who have been working without pay for over a month.

Community members who want to support the TSA workers can drop off nonperishable food, household essentials or gift cards at the airport. Donations are being accepted at the badging office located across from the baggage claim area.

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Silas Moreau

CENTRAL OREGON (KTVZ) — The Central Oregon Wildfire Educators Group is launching a series of regional preparedness fairs starting in April 2026. These events highlight the group’s ongoing efforts to provide unified education on how to live safely in fire-adapted communities.

Established in 2022 as part of the Central Oregon Fire Prevention Co-Op, the organization coordinates wildfire outreach among city, county, state and federal agencies. The partnership includes fire departments, tribal partners, public health organizations and nonprofit groups.

The group’s educational programs reached thousands of residents in 2025. Outreach focuses on four critical pillars: defensible space, home hardening, evacuation preparedness and smoke readiness. These programs teach residents how to reduce flammable vegetation and strengthen structures against ember intrusion.

Leadership for the organization includes co-chairs Melissa Steele of Bend Fire & Rescue and Ariel Cowan of OUS Extension. Under their direction, the group acts as a regional amplification network to ensure a consistent message across different jurisdictions.

Beyond residential education, the group supports the use of prescribed fire tactics across Central Oregon. This practice is used as an ecological necessity to return fire to the landscape and reduce the risk of high-severity wildfires on private and public lands.

Outreach efforts also include creative media projects such as public service announcements and video content designed for all age groups. The group conducts school visits and youth events to encourage wildfire awareness among future community leaders.

The 2026 Wildfire Preparedness Fairs are free to the public and feature hands-on learning opportunities for adults and children. The first event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Sisters High School.

Two events will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026. The first will be held in Prineville at the Wilco parking lot from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., followed by a fair at La Pine High School from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunriver will host a fair at the SHARC facility on Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. In May, events are planned for Bend and Madras to conclude the series.

The Bend event is set for Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Central Oregon Community College from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The final fair is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at the Jefferson County Fire and EMS Station in Madras from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The upcoming fairs will share educational resources and demonstrate wildfire readiness practices for property owners. Residents seeking more information or organizations looking to get involved can contact Steele or Cowan.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Former Deschutes County Sheriff’s Captain William Bailey is appealing his firing from the agency. The termination followed an investigation into comments Bailey made during a radio appearance in June of last year.

The appeal will move to a hearing before the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners. The Deschutes County administrator confirmed the hearing will provide Bailey an opportunity to contest the county’s disciplinary decision.

The investigation into Bailey’s conduct focused on comments he made during a radio broadcast. In those remarks, Bailey criticized then-Sheriff Kent Van Der Kamp. Bailey alleged that he and his supporters were the targets of retaliation within the sheriff’s office following the election.

Bailey also addressed the internal atmosphere of the department during the radio appearance. He described the morale within the sheriff’s office as “broken.” The Deschutes County administrator is coordinating the next steps in the appeal process.

The matter is scheduled to go before the Board of County Commissioners, where Bailey will be permitted to challenge the county’s decision to terminate his employment.

A specific timeline for the hearing before the Board of County Commissioners is still being developed.

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Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) Cycle Oregon is expanding its Summer Kids Bike Camp to serve children in Portland, Hillsboro and Bend for the 2026 season. The week-long day camps are designed for young riders ages 8 to 12.

The expansion follows a pilot program conducted in 2025. The camp is led by the team behind Jump Start, a statewide bicycle education program and aims to provide children with the skills and confidence needed to navigate their communities on two wheels.

The program’s curriculum focuses on developing technical skills, including shifting, hand braking, signaling and group riding. Beyond basic mechanics, the camp emphasizes safety and wayfinding. Participants apply these skills during supervised rides to local parks, picnics and playgrounds while utilizing city bike lanes and existing infrastructure.

To ensure the program is accessible to families from various backgrounds, the Cycle Oregon Foundation provides scholarships that cover between 50% and 100% of the tuition. Cycle Oregon also provides loaner bikes and helmets at no additional cost to participants who do not have their own gear.

The registration fee for the weeklong sessions is $550. Camps operate Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The schedule begins in Hillsboro during the week of June 22. Portland sessions are scheduled for July 13-17 and Aug. 3-7.

In Bend, the organization is partnering with R.A.D. Camps to offer three separate sessions. These are scheduled for the weeks of July 6-10, July 27-31 and Aug. 17-21.

Scholarship applications are being accepted through March 29. The first 2026 camp session is scheduled to begin on June 22 in Hillsboro.

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Triton Notary

UPDATE: The Teaters Fire is now 9.3 acres, burning near Paulina.

CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Watch Duty confirmed a new wildfire in Crook County totaling 15 acres, labeled as the 0068 Fire.

There are no evacuation orders throughout the area. It is south east of Prineville in the North Fork Wilderness Study Area, just north east of the Juniper Hills Preserve.

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Campbell Porter

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Shepherd’s House Ministries was awarded a $3 million grant today, to expand housing for women and children in Central Oregon. The funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank will support the expansion of Abi’s House in Bend, allowing the organization to triple its current capacity.

The expansion aims to address the urgent needs of women and children experiencing homelessness. Abi’s House currently accommodates up to 10 people but frequently reaches its limit, resulting in families being turned away due to a lack of space.

The $3 million award will fund the purchase of additional residences located near the existing Abi’s House facility. This expansion will establish a network of trauma-informed housing for women and children overcoming challenges such as addiction, abuse and chronic instability. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, women make up more than one-third of the homeless population in Oregon.

Gina Stout serves as the CEO of Shepherd’s House Ministries. She noted that the additional space will change how the organization interacts with those seeking help.

“This project represents what’s possible when community partners come together to address homelessness and promote long-term stability for people with compassion and intention,” Stout said. “It will allow us to say “yes’ to women and children who too often hear “there’s no room.” By expanding Abi’s House, we’re creating more than just shelter. We are creating safe, healing spaces where women can rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.”

Summit Bank acted as a partner in the project and facilitated the grant through the Federal Home Loan Bank. Gary O’Connell, Central Oregon market president for Summit Bank, expressed the bank’s commitment to community investment.

“Supporting efforts like this are one of the most meaningful parts of what we do at Summit Bank,” O’Connell said. “We are proud to partner in bringing Federal Home Loan Bank grant funding into our communities and to support organizations that are making a real difference in people’s lives every day. This kind of investment helps strengthen the places we call home and we are honored to be a part of it.”

Beyond its residential programs, Shepherd’s House Ministries provides assistance to hundreds of people each year. The organization operates mobile outreach, serves meals and provides shelter and case management services for vulnerable populations throughout the region.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to what it calls “unfavorable conditions, the Deschutes National Forest canceled Thursday’s planned prescribed burning operations on the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters ranger districts

“Firefighters cancelled prescribed burning today upon receiving updated weather forecasts showing low relative humidity and elevated winds,” Forest Service Public Affairs Specialist Jaimie Olle told KTVZ News.

The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement for much of the region, warning of elevated fire weather risk due to much warmer than normal temperatures and dry conditions with low humidity. Winds also could gust to 20-30 mph.

Firefighters on the Sisters Ranger District had planned to conduct up to 42 acres of ignitions on the SAFR 9 and 78 Prescribed Burn units, located 1 1/2 miles south of Sisters, on the east side of Forest Service Road 16 (Three Creek Lake Road) and the south side of FSR 4606 near the junction of the two roads.

The Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District had planned to continue prescribed burning operations on the Flank 5 Prescribed Burn 15 miles southeast of Bend, on the west side of Forest Service Road 18, just north of FSR 18 and FSR 25 junction and Camp II OHV Staging Area.

Trail closures remain in place for the Opine OHV Trails System for Trail #020, #021, #025 and #028 following Wednesday’s ignitions, officials said. The closures will remain in place for several days while mop-up and patrol operations continue after the prescribed burn is complete. Firefighters will reopen trails once conditions have been assessed and are determined safe for the public.

More information from the Forest Service:

Prescribed burns can protect homes from tragic wildfires. Fire management officials work with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are conducted when weather is most likely to move smoke up and away from our communities. While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn.

What does this mean for you?During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight and in the early morning hours. 

All residents are encouraged to close doors and windows at night to avoid smoke impacts.

If available, use a portable air cleaner. Air cleaners work best running with doors and windows closed. You can also create a DIY air cleaner.

If you have a central air system, use it to filter air. Use high-efficiency filters if possible.

When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down, turn on headlights and turn air to recirculating.

If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, pay attention to how you feel and if symptoms of heart or lung disease worsen, consider contacting your health care professional.

Go to centraloregonfire.org to learn more about smoke safety and prescribed burning in Central Oregon and visit centraloregonfire.org/protect-your-health for more smoke preparedness resources.

For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest visit fs.usda.gov/deschutes. Follow us on X @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.

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Matthew Draxton

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend woman is taking legal action against the operators of Desert Sage Memory Care after her 90-year-old mother, Doris, suffered second-degree burns and a high fever when she was allegedly left unattended in a courtyard during a high temperatures.

Nancy Kerrigan claims the facility was negligent in its care of her mother, who was hospitalized with a temperature of 101 degrees following the incident. The $3 million lawsuit names the facility’s operators and owners, including Avamere and Areté Living.

The facility previously operated under the name Aspen Ridge Memory Care. In 2024, resident Celia Hess died after suffering a heat stroke when she was left outside in temperatures nearing 100 degrees. KTVZ News started a 3-part investigation when Celia Hess died, speaking to former employees of the facility, as well as family members of former patients, and the long term care ombudsman. Attorney Jason Kafoury is representing the families in both cases. The family of Hess is suing for $17 million.

“The precursor to her being in the hospital and dying was their negligence,” Kerrigan said, referring to the similarities between her mother’s experience and the death of Hess.

The legal action comes amid broader allegations of understaffing and a focus on corporate profits over resident safety at the facility. Families and their legal representation claim, among others, that the facility lacks proper high-temperature weather policies and failed to provide adequate supervision for vulnerable residents.

Kerrigan said the incident occurred on a day when temperatures in central Oregon reached more than 90 degrees. While residents were expected to be kept cool indoors, Kerrigan said her mother was left unattended in an outdoor courtyard. According to Kerrigan, the heat was so intense that her mother’s nylon pants burned a waffle pattern into her legs.

Kerrigan, the daughter of the affected resident, recalled finding her mother in distress. “My mom was found out in the courtyard… she had fallen,” Kerrigan said. “She was unattended, she had second degree burns, she had a temperature of 101 when they got her in the hospital… she was just laying there screaming in pain.”

Kerrigan said the facility’s management initially attempted to downplay the role of the heat, focusing instead on the fall. She said a staff member described Hess’s previous heat-related issues as “fake news” and suggested the facility would sue the state.

“I was appalled that they couldn’t even bring themselves to say, ‘We’re sorry this happened to Doris,’ and here’s what we’re changing so it never happens again,” Kerrigan said.

Kafoury, an attorney representing Kerrigan, said internal whistleblowers have described a pattern where staffing levels at the facility only increased when state regulators were present. He attributed the safety issues to the business model of large health care corporations.

“This is another tragic example of a memory care facility owned by a big, huge national corporation that put profits in front of patient safety,” Kafoury said. He added the consolidation of these companies is a big problem right now saying it “leads to cost-cutting and the sad result is people are suffering.”

The lawsuit claims Desert Sage was negligent for allowing courtyard use during extremely high temperatures and failing to monitor the area. Other allegations include insufficient staffing, a lack of shade or seating and the absence of a high-temperature weather policy.

Kerrigan also raised concerns about the facility’s “hospice first” mentality. She said staff asked her four times to have her mother evaluated for hospice care and told her that physical therapy for residents was a “waste of time and money.”

She also alleged the facility used medication to manage behaviors related to Alzheimer’s disease without informing her. Kerrigan said, “I the found out that they had went though her primary care doctor and basically reported to him that she was having a lot of agitation…the symptoms — exit seeking and trying to find a relative — those are normal Alzheimers behaviors.” She added that rather than redirecting her by using techniques that memory care facility should have, they instead would choose to medicate. 

“This isn’t traditional health care, it’s a business, with owners and shareholders who need to produce profits,” Kerrigan said.

Following the incident, Kerrigan moved her mother to a different memory care home. She said the new facility provides more staff and activities, resulting in a significant improvement in her mother’s health and disposition.

“She’s gained weight, she’s eating, she’s where the action is,” Kerrigan said. “The care providers are fantastic. She’s engaged physically and mentally and her full personality is back.”

Kerrigan said she previously did not believe in lawsuits but now feels litigation is the only way to protect her mother and advocate for others. “I would like to get justice for my mother. She suffered a lot of things during the time that the new management came in,” Kerrigan said.

Attorney Kafoury emphasized that the legal action is intended to send a message to the industry. “The big takeaway from these cases is that if you’re going to take someone’s money and promise to take care of their elderly family member and you don’t do that, you’re going to be held accountable — in a public way,” Kafoury said.

Kerrigan hopes for accountability, not just for her mother but for all those who don’t have advocates or who cannot advocate for themselves. “We need to give them the best quality of life…if you think there is abuse or neglect, contact Adult Protective Services,” said Kerrigan. She added, “if it doesn’t seem right and you don’t get an answer, don’t be afraid to call. I was afraid to call…I didn’t want to be that relative.”

Kerrigan repeatedly expressed gratitude for the hardworking caretakers at Desert Sage Memory Care and the current facility her mother is housed at. However, she does emphasize the need for higher standards of care and better managerial support for the caretakers.

Owners and operators Avamere and Arete Living did not respond to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit. Kerrigan encouraged other families to contact Adult Protective Services if they suspect neglect in long-term care facilities.

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