Author: KTVZ

Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The High Desert Museum announced Thursday it’s starting construction on a $40 million expansion project that will add a 24,000-square-foot wing to the facility, featuring new classrooms, expanded gallery space, and event and gathering spaces for the community.

The new wing will increase the museum’s capacity for exhibitions, education, and engagement. In addition, plans have the addition as fully electric with solar-ready infrastructure and designed for potential net-zero energy and water expenditure.

The project is set to open in the winter of 2027.

The project will add a new 24,000‑square‑foot wing connected to the main building, with new classroom space, an expanded art gallery, and flexible event and gathering areas designed for both locals and visitors. Museum staff say the additional space will allow them to host larger exhibitions, expand school programs and field trips, and offer more community events and public conversations.

A centerpiece of the project is a complete renovation and reinstallation of the museum’s permanent exhibition featuring the Doris Swayze Bounds collection, a nationally significant collection of Plateau Indigenous objects that has been at the museum for about 30 years. Executive Director Dana Whitelaw said the museum is working closely with Native and non‑Native advisors to rethink how those stories are told.

“We’re working with a team of advisors, Native and non‑Native advisors, who are helping us bring the stories of today into that renovation,” Whitelaw said. “With this deep partnership, we’re really excited to be able to bring our visitors in [to] a 4,500‑square‑foot gallery with objects from the Doris Swayze Bounds Collection that’s been at the museum for about 30 years. It’s a really incredible and powerful way to bring Indigenous stories to our visitors.”

The new art gallery will be the only space of its kind east of the Cascades, with high ceilings and flexible exhibition design that will support modern and contemporary art, traveling shows and larger, more immersive installations. Museum leaders say they will continue to highlight artists whose work broadens understanding of the American West and elevates underrepresented voices.

Beyond galleries, the expansion will add:

“The Gathering,” a central commons area described as the museum’s “living room,” with a fireplace and space for informal meetups, workshops and facilitated dialogue.

A new Learning Center with four classrooms and an outdoor “learning porch” and amphitheater, more than doubling the museum’s current education space and giving students and teachers more room for hands‑on programs.

High Desert Hall, a 5,000‑square‑foot event center with room for about 300 people, plus an outdoor terrace that opens into the surrounding ponderosa forest and trail network. It’s designed to host lectures, performances, film screenings, conferences and community conversations.

Portland‑based architecture firm Hacker is designing the addition. The building will mirror the surrounding High Desert landscape, using materials like weathered steel, stone and glass, with floor‑to‑ceiling windows and a nature‑inspired color palette that blur the line between indoor spaces and the sagebrush and pines outside.

The museum says the new wing will be fully electric, with solar‑ready infrastructure and a design that aims for potential net‑zero energy and water use.

Since opening in 1982, the High Desert Museum has grown into the largest cultural institution east of the Cascades, welcoming nearly 225,000 visitors a year and housing more than 28,000 objects and 170 animals. Attendance has climbed about 40% over the last 15 years, and programming has doubled, putting pressure on the museum’s existing footprint.

“The transformed campus will deepen our ability to evolve alongside the diverse audiences we serve and to reinforce the museum’s integral role in our community as a leading cultural, educational, and civic institution,” Whitelaw said in a prepared statement.

So far, the museum has raised about 87% of its $40 million goal through government grants, private foundations and individual donors, including a $6 million grant from the Roundhouse Foundation. The expansion and reimagined Indigenous galleries are expected to open to the public in winter 2027.

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Tracee Tuesday

LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The La Pine Fire District has shut down all debris burning in its service area after a wildfire yesterday and amid an unseasonably warm weather pattern.

Officials issued the closure just hours ago, warning residents that any outdoor burning of yard waste or other debris is no longer allowed. The move is aimed at reducing the chance of new fires igniting as temperatures remain above normal for this time of year.

The district said the restriction will remain in effect until further notice and urged residents to keep an eye on official channels for updates. Fire crews are also asking the public to report any illegal burning or suspicious activity near wildland areas.

Debris burning in Central Oregon is already tightly regulated during dry periods, and local fire agencies often lean on these temporary closures to manage risk when conditions turn favorable for fast‑moving flames.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Bend is finalizing plans to expand Franklin Avenue, a project scheduled to begin this May. The construction will add new vehicle lanes, bike lanes and expanded sidewalks to the thoroughfare.

The expansion is part of the city’s five-year capital projects plan. Franklin serves as a busy corridor for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians and the project aims to improve safety and infrastructure along the route.

To accommodate the expansion, the city is using eminent domain to acquire necessary land. This legal process allows the government to seize private property for public use in exchange for market value. One specific location included in this acquisition is the Les Schwab Tire site on Franklin.

The first phase of the construction will focus on replacing a water pipe that dates back to the 1930s. City officials stated the land acquisition is necessary to provide enough space for the additional vehicle lanes, bike lanes and expanded sidewalks planned for the corridor.

Garrett Sabourin, primary engineer for the City of Bend, said the project will be divided into stages to manage the flow of traffic on the busy thruway.

“So looking at some stage closures along the portion of the road and then the main foreclosures at the crossing, spreading those out into two separate phases to try to limit some of the impacts to the downtown area,” Sabourin said.

While the project aims to improve multi-modal transportation, some local residents have expressed concern regarding the impact on daily travel. One resident noted that Franklin serves as a primary route for many people in the city and raised questions about how the work will affect east-west crossings during the construction period.

A town hall meeting regarding the project is scheduled for April 7 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Newberry Hotel.

Sabourin said the city is currently working with contractors to finalize the construction schedule.

“Our next steps now are to, to start kind of putting a little bit more detail to that schedule with our contractor and come to an agreement with them for an amendment that will come back to council in June,” Sabourin said.

The amendment will include a set schedule and completion date for the project.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County announced Wednesday it has chosen Jeff Merwin to serve as its new solid waste director, following a nationwide recruitment.

Merwin succeeds current director Tim Brownell, who will retire March 21.

“We’re so pleased Jeff will step up to serve as our next solid waste director, especially at such an important time,” said county Administrator Nick Lelack.

“With more than 30 years of experience in the solid waste industry, including here in Deschutes County, Jeff is the right person at the right time to guide the department as we complete the process of siting a new landfill, continue meeting the requirements of Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act, and much more,” Lelack added.

Merwin has served as compliance and infrastructure manager at Deschutes County Solid Waste since April 2023. During that time, he played a key role in the construction of the new Negus Transfer Station in Redmond. He also helped lead work on the Knott Landfill renewable natural gas project and the county’s landfill siting project.

Before joining Deschutes County, Merwin served as the Crook County landfill manager for five years.

Merwin earned a bachelor’s degree in public health from Oregon State University. He also completed additional graduate work in environmental health and occupational safety.

As solid waste director, Merwin will oversee waste disposal and recycling operations at Knott Landfill and the rural transfer stations in Deschutes County, including the Negus Transfer Station in Redmond, the Northwest Transfer Station near Sisters, the Southwest Transfer Station between Sunriver and La Pine, and the Alfalfa Transfer Station near Alfalfa

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Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced Wednesday that he will hold 10 open-to-all town halls starting March 28 in Eastern, Central and Southern Oregon, as well as in the Columbia Gorge. His local town hall will be in Prineville on Wednesday, April 1.

Heading into these 10 town halls from March 28-April 2, Wyden has held 1,152 open-to-all town halls statewide in keeping his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties.

“I made my town hall pledge because all Oregonians’ voices matter,” Wyden said. “I very much look forward to these upcoming town halls to hear questions, concerns and ideas from rural Oregonians to make their hometowns and neighborhoods even better places to live, work and raise a family.”

The schedule for the upcoming town halls is as follows:

Saturday, March 28

Sherman County, 1:30 pm, Wasco School Events Center, 903 Barnett St., Wasco

Wheeler County, 5 pm, Fossil High School, 600 E B St, Fossil

Sunday, March 29,

Gilliam County, Noon, Veterans Memorial Hall, 120 Main St., Condon

Morrow County, 4 pm, SAGE Events Center, 101 Olson Road NE, Boardman

Monday, March 30

Umatilla County, 5 pm, Pendleton High School Auditorium, 1800 NW Carden Ave., Pendleton

Tuesday, March 31

Wasco County, Noon, Fort Dalles Readiness Center, 402 E Scenic Dr, The Dalles

Hood River County, 4 pm, Hood River Valley High School, 1220 Indian Creek Rd, Hood River

Wednesday, April 1

Crook County, 10 am, Crook County Fairgrounds, Grizzly Mountain Pavilion, 1280 S Main St., Prineville

Thursday, April 2

Lake County, 12:30 pm, Lakeview Elks Lodge, 323 N F St., Lakeview

Klamath County, 5 pm, Oregon Institute of Technology, College Union Building, Auditorium, 3201 Campus Dr., Klamath Falls

For everyone’s security, backpacks and large bags will not be allowed in the town halls. Similar to major sporting events, there is a clear bag policy for town halls, allowing only clear bags (max 12″x 6″x12″), one-gallon clear plastic bags, or small clutches (max 4.5″x 6.5″), plus essential items like medical bags or infant necessities, with no storage for disallowed bags. Backpacks and non-clear bags are prohibited, though medical/infant needs have exceptions. Doors will open one hour before the town hall start time for attendees, except in Hood River where doors will open at 3:30 pm.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A well-known name in downtown Bend’s retail scene is expanding to the Old Mill District. 

REVOLVR, the boutique men’s clothing retailer that has operated a successful store in downtown Bend since 2015, will open a second Bend location in the Old Mill District this spring, the Old Mill District announced.

The new shop will operate from the space formerly occupied by Francesca’s and is expected to open in early May. Here’s the rest of Wednesday’s announcement.

Founded by Bend residents Christine and Jon Davis, REVOLVR specializes in contemporary men’s apparel and accessories, curating a mix of casual, everyday styles and elevated wardrobe staples. The Old Mill District store will offer a similar experience to its downtown location, though inside a more compact footprint. 

At roughly 1,500 square feet, the new space will feature a carefully edited selection of the store’s best-selling labels. 

“We didn’t necessarily have plans to open another location in Bend,” Jon Davis said. “Our downtown store has been great for us for more than a decade. But it’s hard not to love what’s happening at the Old Mill. Being right on the river, seeing people out walking, the concerts and events — it’s just an amazing area.” 

After being approached by Old Mill District leadership about this expansion opportunity, Davis and his team visited the space and began exploring how REVOLVR might fit into the district’s retail mix. 

“The location itself made sense,” Davis said. “It’s a smaller space, which means we can focus on our best-selling brands and make it feel like a natural extension of what we’re doing downtown.” 

The new shop at 520 Southwest Powerhouse Drive, Suite 601 will retain REVOLVR’s signature aesthetic while incorporating elements of the building’s industrial character. Renovations will include exposing ceiling beams and updating interior finishes to create a clean, modern retail environment. 

For the Old Mill District, the addition fills a long-standing gap in its retail offerings. 

“We’re thrilled to have REVOLVR join the district,” said Beau Eastes, marketing director for the Old Mill District. “They’ve been on our wish list for a while. We don’t currently have a dedicated men’s clothing store here, and I don’t think anyone in town does menswear quite like they do.” 

The opportunity came together quickly after Francesca’s announced it would vacate the space. 

“As soon as we heard the news, REVOLVR was one of the first retailers we reached out to,” Eastes said. “We had a couple of sit-downs with Jon and his team, and the timing just lined up.” 

In addition to downtown, REVOLVR also operates stores in Bozeman and Missoula, Montana, and in Portland’s Pearl District.  

If construction stays on schedule, the Old Mill District store will open on or around May 1, just in time for the start of the district’s busy summer concert season. 

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The city of Bend is warning about a recent “phishing” scam involving emails sent to people regarding city permit payments.

Here’s the details, as the city posted to social media late last week:

What You Need to Know

• Phishing messages may reference real permit numbers or application details.

• Messages may request payment for invoices, fees, or unexpected charges.

• Some messages direct recipients to fake websites or request sensitive information.

How to Protect Yourself

• Verify the sender’s email address. Official City communications will only come from addresses ending in @bendoregon.gov.

• Do not click links or open attachments from suspicious or unexpected messages.

• Be suspicious of any request funds. City of Bend will never request payment by wire transfer or urgent, unconventional means. The City of Bend will only ever request payments either in person at City Hall or through the Permit Center Portal.

• Log in to the official City permitting system directly instead of using email links.

• Contact Customer Service if you are unsure whether a request is legitimate.

If You Have Already Responded or Made a Payment

• Contact your bank or payment provider immediately to report the transaction as fraudulent.

• Report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at https://www.ic3.gov.

• Save all related emails, messages, and payment confirmations.

• Monitor your accounts and consider fraud alerts or credit freezes if information was shared.

The city urged anyone with questions or concerns to contact their Customer Service team at (541) 388-5580, extension 1, or email permitcenter@bendoregon.gov

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Gregory Deffenbaugh

UPDATE: As a result of the Riverview fire which burnt 12 acres, the La Pine Rural Fire District has decided to close debris burning. The fire district also cited ‘unseasonably warm’ weather as a factor in the increased wildfire risk.

UPDATE: Fire crews contained a 12-acre wildfire in La Pine on Tuesday afternoon after the blaze threatened hundreds of homes and jumped the Little Deschutes River.

The Riverview Fire was first reported at 2:15 p.m., and its spread was mostly halted by 5 p.m.

Approximately 362 structures were threatened by the fire, which prompted local evacuations.

About 40 firefighters from seven different agencies responded to the scene to protect property and establish containment lines.

The fire crossed the Little Deschutes River and moved toward the east. While rivers and waterways often act as natural barriers against wildfires, the flames moved across the water and into the surrounding bitterbrush.

Before the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders, some residents used garden hoses to wet down the hillsides and vegetation near their homes. The sheriff began evacuations once the fire reached the edge of the river.

The Riverview Fire occurred amid regional concerns regarding a lack of significant snowfall. A small snowpack this winter has led to fears that the area will experience larger fires during the upcoming season.

Most of the personnel were released from the scene by 6 p.m.

Crews will monitor the burn area through the late hours of Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. Personnel will continue to patrol the perimeter to ensure no new spots ignite.

UPDATE: Watch Duty: All evacuation orders throughout the area have been lifted.

UPDATE: According to the La Pine Rural Fire District, the riverview fire is now in mop-up. 232 structures were at level 1 evacuation orders and 131 were in level 3 evacuations. The cause is still under investigation. An estimated 40-50 firefighters from 10 agencies responded along with law enforcement and emergency management.

UPDATE: Watch Duty: The Temporary Evacuation Point has been changed from the La Pine Senior Activity Center to La Pine High School. Residents who have evacuated their homes and need a temporary place to stay are encouraged to visit La Pine High School at 51633 Coach Road.

Fire behavior has moderated on the Riverview Fire near La Pine, and the fire’s spread has slowed. There is a large number of resources on the scene. The Level 3 and Level 1 Evacuation Orders will remain in place until the winds die down and concerns about further spread of the fire subside.

Per the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Oregon Facebook page.

UPDATE: Watch Duty: The fire has now been estimated at 20 acres, per the National Interagency Fire Center. Continue following this web article for the very latest information.

The La Pine Activity Center has been established as a temporary evacuation point for people needing to evacuate. It’s located at 16450 Victory Way in La Pine.

A Level 3 (GO NOW) Evacuation notice has been issued for Timber Lane Loop, Riverview Drive, Bridge Drive, and homes along the Little Deschutes River. This area is located north of Burgess Road and west of Huntington Road, east of Forest Road, and south of Elk Court and Deer Run Lane.A Level 1 (Be Ready) Evacuation notice has been issued for the neighborhood north of Burgess, east of Huntington Road, and west of Hwy 97. This includes Cagle Road, Railroad Street, Skidgel Road, Antler Lane, Doe Lane, Pine Drive, Pine Place, Ash Drive, Oak Drive, Elm Drive, Santa Barbara Drive, and Murray Drive.

UPDATE: Watch Duty: The La Pine Activity Center has been established as a temporary evacuation point for people needing to evacuate. It’s located at 16450 Victory Way in La Pine. Per Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook.

UPDATE: Watch Duty: A Level 3 Go Now Evacuation Notice has been issued for Timber Lane Loop, Riverview Dr, Bridge Dr, homes along the Little Deschutes River. The area is depicted above, per Deschutes Alerts via Everbridge. See an interactive version of this evacuation map at this link.

LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Level 3 evacuation alert due to a grass fire burning north of downtown La Pine.

The fire is approximately 10-15 acres, per radio traffic, per Watch Duty.

Watch Duty: A Level 1 Be Ready evacuation notice has been issued for the neighborhood North of Burgess, East of Huntington Rd and West of Hwy 97, per Deschutes Alerts via Everbridge.

A Level 3 Go Now Evacuation Notice has been issued for Timber Lane Loop and the area depicted above, per Deschutes Alerts via Everbridge. See an interactive version of this evacuation map at this link.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Under bright lights and national attention, 22-year-old Bella Emry is quickly becoming a name to watch. But behind her recent appearance on American Idol lies a story rooted in small-town Oregon, family influence, and a deep connection to the Central Oregon community.

From Yamhill to Bend

Bella Emry’s journey began in the small town of Yamhill, Oregon.

“I am originally from Yamhill-Carlton, Oregon. So I am Oregon born and raised,” she said. “But I moved to Bend about seven or eight years ago, my freshman year of high school.”

Bella and her family // Credit: Bella Emry

The move, prompted by family, marked a major shift from a tight-knit town of roughly 1,000 people to a growing Central Oregon hub.

“You literally know everybody,” she said of her hometown. “You walk down the street and there’s Bob and Janet. You know everybody.”

Despite the change, Bend quickly became home.

“Bend was our favorite vacation spot (growing up) and Yamhill is very small. My parents came to me and my brother and were like, ‘Wanna do something different?’ And we were like, ‘Sure.’ And so then we moved,” Bella said. “That’s how I ended up here.”

A Lifelong Connection to Music

Music wasn’t a sudden discovery for Bella. It always had a presence in her life.

“I’d say music was just… always there,” she said. “My dad was the lead pastor and worship leader of our church growing up in Yamhill. My sister, she’s six years older than me, and she always did music. So I was just her little shadow and wanted to do everything she did.”

Young Bella // Credit: Bella Emry

She quickly found herself in piano lessons and also learned how to play the guitar.

“My repertoire is just singing piano and guitar at this moment. But, you know, I haven’t really crazy obsession with the cello,” she said with a laugh.

The ‘American Idol’ Break

Unlike the long audition lines many associate with the show, Bella’s path to American Idol started online.

“I sent in a video to American Idol… I saw an ad online. And then they emailed me,” Bella said. “I thought it was a scam, but tried it anyway. I was like, ‘I’m not going to get scammed.’ It was real!”

After several virtual auditions, she was flown to Nashville to perform in front of celebrity judges including Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.

“That was just scary,” she admitted. “But honestly, the exact moments of going in there, I completely blacked them out.”

The audition process // Credit: Bella Emry

Watching her audition later was almost like seeing it for the first time.

“There were things I didn’t even remember happening,” she said, laughing. “Like Luke Bryan saying ‘Hella Yella Bella’, I had no memory of that.”

Bella was relieved to find that some of the moments had been edited out.

“There’s also things that happened that got cut. For example, when Lionel Richie said I had a ‘cool vibe’, I responded with, ‘Period, thank you very much.’ Regretted it so badly walking out of that room,” Bella said. “And they did cut it out. So, thank you.”

She even had a camera crew follow her home to Central Oregon.

“I ended up getting a full story, a full home story. So they came to Bend,” she reflected. “They came to my house, they met my family. They came to my my work. It was super cool.”

A Community Behind Her

Bella made it to the Top 30 before she was ultimately eliminated–but she said she’s forever grateful for the opportunity and support.

Local businesses, like General Duffy’s in Redmond, hosted watch parties, and social media lit up with encouragement.

Bella with some young fans // Credit: Bella Emry

“It’s a different form of validation that I’ve never received for my music,” she said. “It’s been nothing but positivity.”

That support has shaped her future goals—not just as a performer, but as a local artist.

“I think right now I’m trying to build this kind of goal aspect of looking at what comes next, so I’m still learning that as well… A big part of it is going to be putting my own songs out there, putting my own music out there,” Bella said. “I sing music that I love and that I resonate with lyrically now of other people’s. But I want to be the one to create that.”

Looking Ahead

While her journey on American Idol helped build confidence, Bella says it also clarified her direction.

“My mindset going into this whole process wasn’t necessarily, I’m going to be the next American Idol. It was just… I haven’t really done anything to actually pursue music. It’s just been my hobby,” she said. “But this, it was kind of that moment where I was like, I can prove to myself that I can, I could do something like this. Or that I can sing in front of people, specifically very famous people that have a lot of history and experience.” 

And she couldn’t have done it without Central Oregon’s support.

“I just want to say a big thank you to Bend, to Central Oregon. I have received nothing but positivity and it really means the world to me,” Bella said.

As she continues to grow as an artist, Bella remains grounded in the place that helped shape her.

“I want to be in Bend, I want to stay in Bend. I love Bend. And now I’ve got a big backing of people that I don’t really even know, but that are here for me. And that just feels amazing,” she said. “My goal is to play music here and locally. I’ll go around Oregon because I love Oregon, but I want to live in Bend, Bend’s my home base. So, I think that’s really special.”

Bella playing guitar by the river // Credit: Bella Emry

If you want to see Bella perform live, she’ll be opening for Jacquie Roar on May 22nd at General Duffy’s in Redmond. You can also follow along on her journey and get performance announcements on Instagram, @bellaemryofficial.

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Triton Notary

TERREBONNE, Ore. (KTVZ)– Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards will host the annual Crush Cancer 5K, 10K and Half Marathon Trail Run on May 16, 2026. The event serves as the primary fundraiser for the FHC Crush Cancer nonprofit, which provides financial relief to local cancer patients and their families.

Organizers expect more than 1,200 participants and spectators to attend the race. All proceeds from sponsorships and registration fees are used to cover basic necessities for those undergoing cancer treatment in the community.

The organization focuses on providing immediate support to ensure Central Oregon residents do not have to choose between life-saving medical treatment and essential costs. Since December 2025, funds raised through the initiative have provided critical assistance to 12 families in the region.

Assistance from the nonprofit covers a range of essential living expenses, including mortgage and rent payments to maintain housing security. The organization also pays for basic utilities such as power and heating bills, as well as child care to support parents during their treatment periods.

Support also extends to treatment logistics that are often not covered by insurance. These costs include food, pharmaceutical expenses and travel-related needs such as gas and lodging for families traveling to receive care.

The organization maintains a commitment to transparency regarding its fundraising. According to event organizers, 100% of all money raised through sponsorships and race participation fees goes directly to support local families in the region. every mile completed on the trail is intended to contribute to a neighbor’s rent, grocery bill or medication costs.

Cindy Grossmann serves as the leader of the FHC Crush Cancer organization. She said the group aims to remove the financial weight of the disease so families can prioritize their health.

“Our vision is to create a community where every cancer patient feels supported and empowered,” Grossmann said. “By removing the weight of financial hardship, we allow these families to focus entirely on what matters most: healing and hope.”

The event takes place at Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards, featuring a trail-running course through the Central Oregon high desert. Participants can choose between three different race distances depending on their preference.

Registration is currently open for the 5K, 10K and Half Marathon distances. Community members and local businesses are also invited to support the movement by cheering for runners from the sidelines on May 16, 2026.

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