Author: KTVZ

KTVZ

CULVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jefferson County authorities are investigating an incident in which gunfire from apparent target shooting crossed a canyon and struck near a worker in the Opal Springs area southwest of Culver, according to Sheriff Jason Pollock.

Pollock said in a Facebook post late Thursday that deputies were called on Tuesday to a report of shots fired in the canyon between Crooked River Ranch and Culver. An employee of Deschutes Valley Water reported hearing rounds hitting the gravel close to a building where he was working.

Map of shots fired investigation.

Deputies and detectives responded and determined the shots came from the Crooked River Ranch side of the canyon, on Bureau of Land Management property near the far north end of the ranch, Pollock said.

The sheriff said evidence indicates someone had been target shooting at an old garbage can about 30 yards from the canyon rim — apparently unable to see what was beyond their target.

Because of the steep elevation drop separating the two sides of the canyon, bullets that passed through the target continued across the canyon and landed near the worker’s location, Pollock said, adding that no one was injured.

Pollock said the sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate and is reminding recreational shooters to always be sure of their backstop – and to know what lies beyond the area they are shooting toward.

Anyone with information about what happened is being asked to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 541‑475‑6520 and ask for Deputy Brandon Talbott.

Pollock told KTVZ News on Friday that he had no new information to share about the investigation.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — According to Bend Fire and Rescue, a 911 call shortly before 4 a.m. Friday morning led responders to a storage facility on Bend’s east side, where a caller reported smoke coming from the building.

Upon arrival, crews spotted smoke coming from the Storage Solutions complex on Twin Knolls Drive. They quickly extinguished the fire and worked with the owner of the storage complex and its managers to identify and notify those with units impacted.

The fire is still under investigation but Bend Fire said it appears to have been accidental. Damages are estimated to be around $125,000.

Read the full press release below:

“A passerby called 911 just before 4am Friday morning after noticing smoke coming from a storage complex that backs up to Bear Creek Rd at Janalee Pl. Crews responded to the area and searched both storage complexes in the area until finding smoke coming from a building in the Storage Solutions complex on Twin Knolls Dr. Fire was found in one unit and spreading to adjacent units in that building. The fire was quickly extinguished, and crews began removing contents from adjacent units to prevent further damage to property.  

The owner of the storage complex and the managers assisted in identifying the owners of the individual units and notification will be on going. The fire is still under investigation but appears to be accidental. The building damaged consisted of seventh (17) 10ft x 30ft large storage units, all but 2 were occupied with storage. Three units were damaged by fire and the rest have differing levels of smoke damage. Estimated loss to the building is $25,000 and content loss is $100,000.

Most storage locations require, or at least suggest, occupants obtain insurance coverage for your contents. Check with your insurance provider to see if storage items are covered under your current policies or if additional coverage may be needed. The design of these storage complexes does limit damage to just the single building, one of 16 buildings in the complex. Any storage outside of the building that burned was not affected.”

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KTVZ – News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ). — This morning KTVZ News at Sunrise Anchor Matthew Draxton welcomed in Luke Pickerill, the CEO and founder of MonteVista Homes. MonteVista homes is a Central Oregon based company with developments throughout the state. He was here to discuss all things housing Market.

Draxton asked Pickerill if he could explain the impact homebuilders and the housing market has on the local economy, the biggest challenges homebuilders are experiencing right now, and what the company is doing different than others to address the affordability crisis in Central Oregon.

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CNN Newsource

By Aaron Cooper, CNN

(CNN) — Alaska Airlines has resumed operations after a failure at a data center forced hundreds of its flights to be grounded Thursday night.

A ground stop for all Alaska Airlines flights and flights of its subsidiary, Horizon Air, was lifted at 11:30 p.m. PT, the airline said in a statement. The ground stop was requested by the airline about eight hours earlier as the IT outage began, the FAA said.

“Alaska Airlines is working to restore operations to normal as quickly and safely as possible,” the airline said Friday morning, noting more than 360 flights had been canceled during the outage. “Additional flight disruptions are likely as we reposition aircraft and crews throughout our network.”

The airline said the outage took place when “a failure occurred at our primary data center,” and noted it was “not a cybersecurity incident.”

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, where Alaska Airlines is based, was particularly hard hit Thursday night.

“They were like, OK, we’re going to be taking off. It’s an hour and 58 to Burbank, and then we didn’t move,” passenger Wilder McCullough told CNN affiliate KOMO. “That is scary, to have an IT shut down, when people are trying to get in the air.”

She ended up going home and trying to fly on a different day, but many passengers waited in the airport for flights to resume.

“People were everywhere. They were sitting in the hallway on the floor. They were calling people. They were freaking out,” a different passenger said.

One traveler in Austin, Texas, said the Alaska Airlines gates there were also “jammed” as the delays piled up.

Alaska Airlines had a similar outage in July and one after a systems upgrade in April of 2024.

Alaska is the fifth largest US airline and flies 44 million passengers each year to 120 destinations in five countries, accoring to its website.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

CNN’s Jordan D. Brown and Martin Goillandeau contributed to this report.

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KTVZ

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon and the Internal Revenue Service are once again recruiting people to assist in the free preparation of taxes as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs.

Here’s Thursday’s news release about the need, and how you can help:

“Oregon needs more VITA sites and volunteers. For low- and moderate-income families, claiming the tax credits available to them can be a starting point on the path to stronger financial security. But too often those tax credits go unclaimed,” said Codi Trudell, Oregon’s Taxpayer Advocate. “The cost and complexity of filing a tax return is a hurdle for too many people. By volunteering to help them file their returns and claim their credits, Oregonians can make a difference for people in their local community.”

The IRS estimates that one in five Oregon taxpayers eligible to claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit are not doing so. One Oregon organization estimates that the unclaimed credits have totaled nearly $100 million in recent years.

Including free tax help offered by AARP, so far in 2025, free tax assistance has been made available to nearly 38,000 taxpayers at 108 sites across the state. That’s up from 104 sites and 33,000 taxpayers at this point in 2024. Every year, however, the sites are forced to turn away people who need assistance due to a shortage of volunteers.

In addition to the need for volunteers, the IRS is also seeking organizations to sponsor VITA and TCE clinics.

The VITA and TCE programs train volunteers to help low- to moderate-income families prepare their tax returns. Across the country, thousands of people volunteer each year and prepare millions of tax returns at thousands of tax sites nationwide.

Volunteers are assigned to work with a sponsoring organization, first to receive training and then to begin volunteering at a location in the community. Training is offered both online and in the classroom. Tax sites are generally open nights and weekends, and the hours are flexible.

Additional information is available on the IRS website. Interested persons can submit an inquiry now using the VITA/TCE Volunteer and Partner Sign Up moving them one step closer to becoming a VITA or TCE tax volunteer and giving back to their community. The IRS will share information about those interested in volunteering with sponsoring organizations for follow-up contact.

Organizations with an interest in partnering with the IRS to sponsor or host a free tax preparation site in Oregon can also complete and submit the VITA/TCE Volunteer and Partner Sign Up form.

To find a VITA site near them, Oregonians can use the IRS Site Locator tool or check the DOR’s Free Tax Help map with VITA sites marked in blue.

VITA sites at 15 locations in Oregon receive funding from the Oregon Department of Human Services Tax Infrastructure Grant Program. Those interested in volunteering at one of these sites should contact the organizations below in December.

Beaverton, Eugene, Gresham, Portland: 

CASH Oregon

503-461-7388

volunteer@cashoregon.org

Bend, Redmond: 

Latino Community Association

541-382-4366

info@latinocommunityassociation.org

Bend, Corvallis, Eugene:

Oregon State University

541-737-3371

vita@oregonstate.edu

Coos Bay, Roseburg:

Moneywise Oregon

541-670-5054

dan@moneywiseoregon.org

Medford:

United Way Jackson County

541-864-5092

office@unitedwayofjacksoncounty.org

Ontario, Portland:

Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization

 971-331-9811

elizabethz@irco.org

Woodburn:

Centro de Servicios Para Campesinos

503-902-0367

debbiec@centrodspc.org

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John Carroll

John Carroll took the weather on the road today and spoke to the 3rd grade class at Lava Ridge Elementary School. The students were well prepared with several questions about the weather and were very well behaved.

John read from his children’s book, The Adventure of Robbie the Raindrop, about the water cycle. They also learned how to forecast the weather by looking for clues in the sky, becoming weather deputies.

John and Shannon enjoy going to elementary schools “talk weather” so I you want them to come to your school, send them an email. weather@ktvz.com

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Silas Moreau

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend Park and Recreation District has received three statewide awards from the Oregon Recreation and Park Association, recognizing excellence in innovation, heroism, and leadership in community recreation.

The district’s Miller’s Landing Renovation Project earned the 2025 ORPA Innovation Award, celebrating its accessibility upgrades that make river recreation safer and more inclusive.

The renovated park now features new entry and exit points for boaters and paddlers, with an emphasis on mobility access to better serve users with different levels of mobility, the organization said Thursday.

Alongside the innovation accolade, BPRD was also honored with the Life Saving Award. The distinction recognizes individuals or teams who demonstrate exceptional response during emergencies or training situations.

The district earned this award for its quick and effective actions during two real-life medical emergencies at the Larkspur Community Center, where staff intervened to save lives through their training and rapid response.

Rounding out the honors, Shannon Gilman, BPRD’s Aquatics Supervisor, was named 2025 Aquatics Professional of the Year. Over her nearly 30-year career, Gilman has mentored generations of lifeguards and swim instructors, shaping the safety culture across Bend’s aquatic facilities and leading countless community members to confidence in the water.

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Barney Lerten

Update: Adding video 

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — EquipmentShare, a leading technology-driven equipment rental and solutions provider across the United States, opened its new branch in Redmond Thursday, marking an important milestone in a statewide expansion.

Here’s their full announcement news release:

The company’s $185 million investment in Oregon is expected to create up to 120 new jobs and bring its total footprint in the state to 10 locations.

State and local officials joined EquipmentShare leadership for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new facility at 2475 NW Canal Blvd.

“Oregon has a long tradition of building things that last, from its infrastructure and communities to its culture of innovation,” said Jabbok Schlacks, co-founder and CEO of EquipmentShare. “Our growth here reflects that same spirit. We’re investing in the people and projects that keep Oregon moving forward, bringing our connected jobsite technology and world-class service to help contractors build safer, smarter and more efficiently across the state.”

“Business Oregon (the state’s economic development agency) proudly supports EquipmentShare’s expansion in Oregon. Their substantial investment not only boosts our industrial capacity and housing inventory but also brings meaningful public benefits that will strengthen communities across the state. We’re excited to welcome such an innovative and forward-thinking company to Oregon’s growing economy.”

Held at EquipmentShare’s new Core and Advanced Solutions facility in Redmond, the ceremony featured remarks from the Oregon Department of Economic Development and EquipmentShare leadership. During the ceremony, company leaders highlighted EquipmentShare’s long-term commitment to making jobsites safer and more efficient through next-generation technology.

“Redmond Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) is excited to welcome EquipmentShare to the Redmond community,” said Steve Curley, director of REDI. “Their commitment to the Redmond and Central Oregon markets validates the growth we are seeing both in industrial development as well as the residential sector.”

The five new Oregon locations will deliver a full suite of solutions across Core, Advanced and Tooling. Every asset connects through the proprietary T3® platform for real-time visibility and utilization insights, backed by rapid on-site support to keep projects safe and on schedule. The company’s offerings include:

Core Solutions: For day-to-day work, including modern earthmoving, aerial, compaction and material-handling equipment.

Advanced Solutions™: For complex projects, providing engineered pump, power, and climate-control packages, as well as storm response support.

Tooling Solutions: For specialized needs, supplying calibrated torque, welding tools and industrial supplies for mechanical, electrical and industrial crews.

This expansion extends the company’s T3® smart-fleet technology, safety-driven security features and productivity-boosting service model to more jobsites, accelerating industry transformation one project at a time.“From the Coast to the High Desert, Oregon crews need reliable gear that shows up ready to work. Our Core Solutions fleet brings modern earthmoving, aerial, compaction and material-handling equipment to every kind of jobsite. With T3 visibility and fast field service, we help contractors cut downtime, improve safety and keep projects on schedule,” Redmond Core Solutions General Manager Joe Hudak said.“Oregon takes on complex work in industry, infrastructure and technology. Our Advanced Solutions team designs engineered pump, power, and climate control packages that stand up to shutdowns, emergency response and precision-environment needs. Connected through T3, we deliver the uptime, control and data that contractors need to finish critical work with confidence,” Redmond Advanced Solutions General Manager Rourke Ketchum said.

As part of its “People First” culture, EquipmentShare is committed to giving back to the communities it serves. The company will allocate $2,500 in revenue annually from each of its Oregon locations to support local nonprofits. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the company announced that a portion of the Oregon funding will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House.

“We are deeply grateful to EquipmentShare for their generous $2,000 gift to Ronald McDonald House Oregon and for joining our community of caring partners. Your support helps provide comfort, compassion and a home away from home for families with seriously ill children receiving medical care right here in Oregon,” said Penny S Whipps, Director of Development for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon & SW Washington.

“When families walk through our doors, they find more than a place to stay — they find a community standing beside them. By joining our mission, EquipmentShare is helping ensure that every family can stay close to their child when they need it most. Welcome to the Ronald McDonald House Oregon family!”

To learn more about EquipmentShare or view current job openings, visit www.equipmentshare.com/careers.

About EquipmentShareFounded in 2015 and headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, EquipmentShare is a nationwide construction technology and equipment solutions provider dedicated to transforming the construction industry through innovative tools, platforms and data-driven insights. By empowering contractors, builders and equipment owners with its proprietary technology, T3, EquipmentShare aims to drive productivity, efficiency and collaboration across the construction sector. With a comprehensive suite of solutions that includes a fleet management platform, telematics devices and a best-in-class equipment rental marketplace, EquipmentShare continues to lead the industry in building the future of construction. For more information, visit www.equipmentshare.com.

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State University-Cascades will host Eboné F. Bell, a nationally recognized entrepreneur and anti-bullying advocate, for a talk on leadership and inclusion.

The event will take place 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 14 in the Charles McGrath Family Atrium in Edward J. Ray Hall on the OSU-Cascades’ campus, according to the school; here’s the rest of this week’s announcement: 

The event is free and open to all, although registration is required.

Bell is an international keynote speaker. She is also a voiceover artist and founder of Tagg Magazine, an award-winning publication serving LGBTQ women nationwide. 

In 2019, she was recognized by Forbes as one of five “Inspiring Black Entrepreneurs Changing Our World.” Bell is known for her work in allyship, belonging and leadership. She created the Tagg Scholarship Fund to support queer women of color in higher education. 

Bell also lends her voice to national campaigns and anti-bullying initiatives in schools across the country. 

Her talk, titled “Level Up Leadership,” will explore inclusive leadership practices and challenge attendees to lead with authenticity and courage. 

Bell is speaking as part of a larger leadership development program for OSU-Cascades students.

To register, visit beav.es/eb. For accommodations for disabilities, contact events@osucascades.edu

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County 9-1-1 congratulates two of its team members who recently received top honors from the Oregon chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and the National Emergency Number Association (APCO-NENA).

Here’s the full county announcement:

9-1-1 Dispatcher Trinity Diggs was named Telecommunicator of the Year, an award recognizing a telecommunicator who shows an outstanding commitment to professional growth, teamwork, leadership, and making a positive impact on their center.

Trinity joined Deschutes 9-1-1 in 2020. According to her nominator, Trinity leads with integrity and accountability as a Communications Training Officer and Acting in Charge supervisor. She mentors co-workers with patience and encouragement, fostering a positive and supportive work environment. Trinity handles every call with empathy and professionalism, especially when assisting callers in crisis or distress.

9-1-1 Operations Manager Chris Perry received the Commitment to Excellence Award, recognizing telecommunicators, groups, or agencies for their dedication to 9-1-1 telecommunications through expertise, innovation, ethics, leadership, and quality improvements.

Since 2005, Chris has worked every position on the dispatch floor, joining the leadership team in 2010. His nominator wrote that he plays a vital role coordinating communication between fire, police, and behavioral health partners while overseeing the daily operations of a high-volume dispatch center. Chris leads thoughtfully, balancing firm convictions with an openness to new ideas. He frequently asks, “Tell me more,” to invite discussion and gather more information when opportunities for change arise.

“We are proud that two of our team members have been recognized by the Oregon APCO/NENA,” said Deschutes 9-1-1 Director Sara Crosswhite. “Trinity and Chris exemplify dedication and excellence in public safety communications.”

The Oregon APCO-NENA provides training, recognition and advocacy for public safety communications professionals across the state. The awards were presented to Diggs and Perry during the group’s annual conference in Bend last month.

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