Category: ktvz-local-news

Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– The world’s last remaining Blockbuster is about to celebrate a major milestone and it’s inviting the community to join the fun.

The iconic video rental brand began back in 1985, and while the Bend, Oregon store hasn’t been around that long, it now stands as the final Blockbuster on Earth. To mark the company’s 40th birthday, the store is throwing a massive party on October 18th.

The event is designed with locals in mind. Cascade Indoor Sports, Kona Ice, and the Humane Society will be part of the festivities, alongside food trucks, live music, and even a DeLorean decked out just like the one from Back to the Future.

Sandy Harding, the store’s general manager, says it’s all about celebrating Bend and the people who’ve supported Blockbuster through the years.

“We can’t express how much we love being part of the Bend community,” Harding said. “We enjoy being able to do events where we can really focus on the locals and get a lot of our local businesses behind us.”

And since no Blockbuster party would be complete without a movie twist, guests are encouraged to show up in costume dressed as their favorite film character from 1985.

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Barney Lerten

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jefferson County and the City of Madras announced this week that they are partnering to create a shared vision for the future through the development of a five-year strategic plan.

The strategic plan will serve as a roadmap for the next five years, guiding decisions about priorities such as economic growth, housing, emergency preparedness, communication, community livability, and more.

“Both organizations are aligning their efforts to ensure progress benefits everyone who calls Jefferson County home,” they said in a news release, which continues in full below:

Community members will play a central role in the process. Residents, businesses, and visitors have the opportunity to share their input to shape the strategic plan through an online survey and attending upcoming events this fall.

The strategic planning process will include:

Community Survey: Available September 16 – November 5.

Engagement Activities: In-person opportunities designed for different regions of Jefferson County.

Plan Development: Drafting the plan based on community feedback.

Plan Review: Community review of draft strategic plan and online survey to ensure alignment with community priorities

“This strategic planning process is an important opportunity for us to step back, listen, and chart a clear path for the future,” said Mark Wunsch, Jefferson County Chair. “Over the next several months, we will work closely with community members, staff, and partners to identify priorities and shape how we deliver services across the county. The result will be a five-year plan that helps ensure our resources are aligned with community needs, our services are accessible and effective, and our work continues to reflect the values of the people we serve.”

The City of Madras is joining the effort to support regional alignment in service to the community.

“The City of Madras is proud to be part of this county-wide effort,” said Will Ibershof, Madras City Manager. “Strategic planning at this scale gives us a chance to align our local priorities with the broader vision for the region, making sure that the services our residents rely on are coordinated, efficient, and forward-looking. By working together, we can strengthen our community, address challenges more effectively, and build on the opportunities that will shape the next five years.”

The draft strategic plan is expected to be shared with the public for review in winter 2025–26 before being finalized for adoption by the County Board of Commissioners and City Council.

To learn more about the strategic planning process, please visit: https://bit.ly/JCStrategicPlan. 

To take the survey, please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JCoPR1.

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — This Sunday, the Bend community will gather at Mountain Burger to celebrate the people who inspire the next generation—our teachers.

Hosted by National Solar, with support from Mountain Burger and Cascade Lakes Brewing, the Bend Teacher Appreciation Dinner will open its doors at 2747 Northwest Crossing Drive from 5:00 to 9:00 PM in a relaxed, open-house style event.

Educators attending will enjoy a free dinner from a special menu, while kids can choose from the full children’s menu. Guests 21 and over will also find complimentary beer provided by Cascade Lakes Brewing.

A family-friendly evening is planned with raffle prizes, good food, and a warm atmosphere designed to honor Bend’s dedicated teachers.

Attendance requires an online RSVP, and spaces are expected to fill quickly.

For many in the community, it’s more than just a meal—it’s a chance to say thank you to the teachers who give so much every day.

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Jillian Fortner

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Central Oregon recorded 15 new HIV diagnoses in 2024, marking the highest annual total on record for the region.

Most of those cases were in Deschutes County, which has the largest population.

Deschutes County Health officials caution that case numbers can fluctuate from year to year. So far in 2025, fewer than five cases have been reported.

Deschutes County Health also notes that nearly 40 percent of the new diagnoses last year were considered late, meaning many individuals had unknowingly lived with HIV long enough for their immune systems to become weakened.

“Early symptoms might resemble the flu, or some individuals might be completely asymptomatic. So it really makes the regular testing extremely important here,” said said Jessie Hunsaker, STI/HIV regional epidemiologist for Deschutes County. 

The International Journal of Sexual Health reports that the rise of dating apps and online platforms has contributed to an increase in anonymous sexual encounters. Experts say this can make it more difficult to trace partners and contain the spread of infections.

“Apps do pose a new challenge for public health for things like partner notification services,” Hunsaker said.

According to End HIV Oregon, the state records about 200 new HIV cases each year. They estimate more than a thousand Oregonians may be living with the virus without knowing it.

“It’s important for people to know that with an effective medication, individuals can live long, healthy lives and effectively stop the spread of the virus to others,” said Hunsaker.

Free or low-cost STI and HIV testing is available in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties.

The Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living (EOCIL) also provides local services for people living with HIV.

See upcoming dates for free STI/HIV testing in Bend here.

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KTVZ

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Next Tuesday evening, Sen. Lisa Reynolds, MD (D-Portland), who worked with Governor Tina Kotek on her recent executive order creating phone-free schools, will convene lawmakers and community leaders in a roundtable discussion on how to make the new rule work best for student success and well-being.

Here are the details, as released Friday by Reynolds’ office:

DATE: Tuesday, September 30

TIME: 5:30 p.m.

ONLINE LOCATION: Zoom; join the discussion here (bit.ly/Cell-EO-RT)

FOR: Students, families, and school communities

Senator Reynolds and bipartisan colleagues Rep. Kim Wallan (R-Medford), Rep. April Dobson (D-Happy Valley), and Rep. Emerson Levy (D-Bend) crafted bills in the 2025 legislative session to confront the distraction of cell phones in schools (House Bill 2251 and Senate Bill 1212).

In Tuesday’s roundtable, they will draw on that knowledge to lead a discussion on:

the value for students and families in the Governor’s executive order

the keys for successfully carrying out the order inside Oregon schools 

Advocates and stakeholders will participate in the discussion, giving students and families in the virtual audience their informed perspectives on what it will take to keep children safe, happy, healthy, and well-educated in the cell phone age. Those at the table will include:

Representatives from Oregon’s Department of Education

Jen Doty, a researcher from the University of Oregon

Sergeant James Kinsella of the Bend Police Department

The lawmakers will take questions from parents, students, teachers, school staff, or community members about the fresh changes in school cell phone policies.

Some early insights:

“As a pediatrician, I see every day how phones are affecting the mental health of our students and interfering with their learning,” Sen. Reynolds said. “This executive order puts students and teachers first. Every Oregon student deserves a distraction-free, harassment-free learning environment that fosters curiosity and community.”

Sergeant Kinsella, who works as a student resource officer for the Bend-La Pine Schools, noted that this cell phone ban helps keep students safe in a time of crisis.

“Our job as first responders is to protect lives. Phones in the middle of an emergency can interfere with that mission,” Sergeant Kinsella said. “Clear school safety plans, not constant cell phone access, are what give students, school officials, and law enforcement the best opportunity to keep everyone safe in a critical incident.”

“Having witnessed the benefits of this policy in my own community, it’s inspiring to see districts across Oregon experiencing the same results: teachers can concentrate on teaching, and students are once again filling lunchrooms with laughter and conversation,”  Representative Dobson said.

Background on Oregon’s new policy:

Oregon now is one of 31 states with similar classroom phone usage restrictions. Community leaders, teachers, mental health experts, and scientists have consistently called for restrictions to be placed on phone usage during the school day. Now, Oregon legislators are focused on ensuring that our schools are set up for success as they implement this change.

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About Senator Lisa Reynolds:

Senator Lisa Reynolds, MD, is a state lawmaker, a mom, and a pediatrician serving children and families in the Portland Area. Her pediatric practice grounds her work and informs everything she does in the legislature. She serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health, and her pediatric practice grounds her work and informs everything she does in the legislature.

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County provided new details Friday about how it will use a newly awarded $3.4 million USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant for its La Pine Wildfire Mitigation Project over the next five years.

“The project is a collaborative effort to reduce fire fuels, educate the public, increase wildfire preparedness, and mitigate wildfire risk within the La Pine Rural Fire District,” the county said in a news release that continues in full below:

“I’m proud to say that the La Pine Mitigation Project was one of 58 projects nationwide to receive a Community Wildfire Defense Grant,” said County Forester Kevin Moriarty. “The funds will be used by Deschutes County and its partner agencies to increase the community’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfire events.” 

Project activities over the next five years will include:

Fuel Reduction Efforts:

Treating 585 acres of County-owned land adjacent to critical infrastructure, private residences, and businesses

Enhancing 100 miles of county-maintained roads for better access during emergencies

Community Support:

Implementing annual sweat equity projects such as chipping or defensible space programs 

Offering defensible space funding for 125 senior and low-income properties in Upper Deschutes River Communities

Education and Outreach:

Hiring a full-time Fire Prevention Coordinator at La Pine Fire District to assist with project implementation and preparedness training for residents in the area

Offering two annual workshops focusing on defensible space and home assessments

Equipment and Resources:

Investing in modern fire mitigation tools like an air curtain burner and masticator head

Project partners include the Deschutes County Natural Resources Department, Deschutes County Property Management, Deschutes County Road Department, La Pine Rural Fire District, Upper Deschutes River Communities, Newberry Regional Partnership, Deschutes Soil & Water Conservation District.

To learn more about the USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant program, visit the USDA website.

For more information about the La Pine Wildfire Mitigation Project send an email to Lauren Street at lauren.street@deschutes.org.

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Jillian Fortner

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Tuff Shed is celebrating the grand opening of its new Redmond Sales and Design Center with a free three-day community event. 

“So we bring something a little bit different to Central Oregon when it comes to, sheds, barns and garages,” said Chris Olson, District Manager at Tuff Shed. “We build on site at no additional charge. We can customize any building.”

Festivities begin Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Redmond Chamber of Commerce scheduled at noon.

Visitors can take advantage of event-only offers available all weekend, including free paint, special financing options and other local Manager Discounts. They will also have the opportunity to register to win a Traeger grill.

The Redmond site is open from 10am to 7pm each day, but it’s closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -– A state agency issued a warning to Oregonians on Friday about a “gold bar” scam that’s rapidly spreading across the nation, causing millions of dollars in losses.

“This scam involves fraudsters impersonating government officials who convince victims to purchase gold bars to supposedly protect their nest eggs,” the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation advised Friday.

Here’s the full details in Friday’s DFR news release about the scam – and how to avoid it:

This scam involves contact from someone claiming to be a government official, often associated with the U.S. Department of Treasury, who convinces the victim to convert money held in financial accounts into gold bars. The fraudster claims the victim’s financial institution isn’t safe and that physical gold is the only way to protect the assets.

Once the victim agrees to convert the funds to gold, the fraudster either appears at the victim’s front door or arranges for the victim to meet them at a nearby location to pick up the gold bars. DFR urges the public to stay alert, informed, and safe. Do not become the next victim of this scam.

More generally, the scam goes like this: Victims are contacted through text, email, or phone call and told their financial accounts are at risk of being compromised for various reasons. The reasons given may include that the accounts were subject to a cyberattack or are being used for illegal activity and must be closed.

Victims are advised to empty the account, purchase the gold bars, and then deliver the bars over to the “government official.”

For those unable or unwilling to purchase the gold themselves, the fraudster will offer and even insist on making the purchase for them. Sometimes this includes giving the “government official” remote access to the victim’s electronic devices.

Victims are tricked into believing that converting their assets to gold and storing it with the government via the scammer, or “government official,” is necessary to protect their assets.

“This is positively – and always – a scam,” the agency said. “It has already caused millions of dollars in losses to Oregon investors and others across the country.”

“It is troubling that these criminals are using fear and a false sense of urgency to pressure victims into making devastating financial decisions,” said TK Keen, DFR administrator. “Even more troubling is the reality that they are in our communities and facilitating these crimes in person.”

As an additional precaution, DFR emphasizes that government officials will never contact you and demand payment using gold bars.

To stay safe:

Be cautious of someone contacting you and claiming to be a government official. The imposter scam was the most common scam reported to the Federal Trade Commission in 2024. Government officials will never threaten you or demand that you make a payment using cryptocurrency, gift cards, or gold. If you need to communicate with a government agency, look up the contact information yourself, verify that you have not been directed to a scam site, and – only then – contact the agency using the information provided on its official website. Never share your home address with strangers who contact you.

A government official will never give you a top-secret password. Some victims are given a supposedly top-secret password and instructed to give assets to a person who provides them with the password. This is always a scam.

Never click on suspicious links or respond to unsolicited messages. If you receive an email or text from an unknown sender (even if the details appear accurate), do not respond, and do not click on any links or attachments found in that email. You could unknowingly download malicious software.

Never give out your personal and financial information. Do not share personal and financial information with strangers. Steer clear of communication and calls from strangers.

Those seeking employment might be tempted to accept positions as a driver or courier from these scammers. This is part of the scam, to use outsiders – referred to as “money mules” – to help facilitate the crime. Be very skeptical about these employment offers. Research a company thoroughly before agreeing to become involved in any “employment” of unusual activity.

DFR cautions Oregonians to remain cautious and informed. Contact local law enforcement to report this scam.

You can also contact DFR to report suspected fraud, inappropriate securities business practices, or to obtain consumer information. Free investor education and fraud prevention materials are available at dfr.oregon.gov or by calling one of DFR’s consumer advocates at 888-877-4894 (toll-free) or dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.

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About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: More information, background from USGS spokesman)

BANDON, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 5.9-magnitude earthquake rumbled off the southern Oregon coast late Thursday night, and several people felt it onshore, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

No tsunami alerts were issued, but by midday Friday, 25 people had reported feeling the quake. It occurred around 11:45 p.m. Thursday nearly 150 miles west of Bandon at a depth of 10 kilometers, or more than six miles, the USGS said.

The quake was followed by a 3.0-magnitude aftershock around 12:22 a.m. on Friday, nearly five miles farther west and at the same depth, and another 3.0 shake to the north shortly after 3 a.m.

The USGS says earthquakes of that magnitude are not uncommon off the Oregon coast, with more than 160 of magnitude 5 or greater in the past 25 years.

USGS spokesman Steven Sobieszczyk told KTVZ News the latest quake occurred along the southern margin of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, well north of an area known as the Mendocino triple junction. where three major tectonic boundaries meet:

The San Andreas Fault, where the Pacific Plate slides past the North American Plate (a transform boundary, ie. north/south moving),

The Cascadia Subduction Zone, where the Juan de Fuca and Gorda Plates dive beneath the North American Plate (a convergent boundary, ie. one plate moves beneath another), and

The Mendocino Fracture Zone, another transform boundary between the Pacific and Gorda Plates.

‘Mendocino Triple Junction’ (U.S. Geological Survey)

“This unique intersection of plate boundaries causes the Mendocino triple junction to slowly migrate northward over time,” Sobieszczyk told us. “As it moves, the San Andreas Fault extends farther north, while the southern end of the Cascadia Subduction Zone retreats. This ongoing shift leads to a reorganization of the plate boundaries in the region.

“The earthquakes and seismic activity we see in this area are a direct result of these complex and dynamic interactions between the plates and the movement of the triple junction itself,” Sobieszczyk explained.

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KTVZ – News Team

OREGON (KTVZ) — Two project proposals led by the Oregon Department of Forestry along with four other projects in Oregon have been selected to be funded by the Community Wildfire Defense Grant.

In total, organizations in Oregon have received $28.5 million to fund six projects, all with the end goal of creating more wildfire resilient communities.

ODF’s project proposals focus on assisting communities in reducing wildfire risk through mitigation work, education, defensible space assessments, and more.

ODF is also a partner on two other state projects that have been selected for funding.

The ODF proposals that have been selected for funding are the South Lane Wildfire Risk Reduction in the ODF Western Lane and South Cascade District, receiving $2.6 million, and the Cave Junction-Takilma-Illinois Valley Mira Fuels Mitigation Project in the ODF Southwest Oregon District, receiving nearly $2.4 million.

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