Category: ktvz-local-news

Triton Notary

 BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– A crucial scam alert for Oregon shoppers. Attorney General Dan Rayfield is warning about a rise in card skimmers on payment machines for EBT users. He says it’s especially prevalent in rural grocery and convenience stores. Rayfield added thieves target smaller retailers installing fake card. Readers that capture numbers and pins stealing benefits before users even notice. Here’s what you can do. Always check for loose or unusual attachments and look for broken security stickers before using your card. EBT users should change their PINs regularly, check their accounts often, and freeze their card when not in use.

News release:

Attorney General Rayfield Issues Consumer Alert: Scammers Targeting Oregonians with EBT Skimmers

AG Rayfield: “This is theft from Oregon families who can least afford it.”

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield today warned Oregonians about an uptick of scams involving card skimmers placed on payment machines at grocery and convenience stores across the state, especially in rural areas. These devices allow thieves to steal data from Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which are used by thousands of Oregon families to access food and cash assistance.

“This is theft from Oregon families who can least afford it,” said Attorney General Rayfield. “Families rely on programs like SNAP to feed their kids, and those who depend on these benefits deserve dignity and security – not to be preyed on when they’re just trying to get by.”

Law enforcement has identified a traveling group targeting Oregon retailers, especially discount stores and small markets, by installing skimmers that capture card and PIN information. Once stolen, this information is used across the country to make fraudulent purchases, often draining families’ benefits before they realize what has happened. ODHS has seen a reported 50% increase in dollars stolen from EBT cards in the first half of September compared to July and August combined.

“We know that many individuals and families in Oregon rely on the food and cash assistance they receive through their EBT cards to meet their basic needs and to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families,” said Oregon Department of Human Services Director Fariborz Pakseresht. “We urge everyone with an EBT card to take action today to protect their benefits.”

While many retailers are taking increased measures to protect payment machines and consumers from skimmers – including installing security stickers or bars and/or regularly checking point-of-sale systems – these scammers are getting increasingly sophisticated.

How the scam works

Scammers place an overlay device on card readers or keypads, often at smaller retailers such as dollar stores or community markets.

These devices look nearly identical to real machines but secretly collect card numbers and PINs.

Stolen card data is then used in other states to purchase high-demand items like baby formula or resold goods

Warning signs

Check for unusual attachments before using your card to pay: If the card reader or keypad looks loose or misaligned, do not use it. Ask the cashier when the machine was last checked.

Look for tamper-evident seals: Some machines have yellow security stickers or bars—if they appear broken, crooked, or replaced, they may be compromised by a skimmer.

Be cautious of distractions: In some cases, scammers use tactics like stationing someone outside a store to divert attention.

What EBT cardholders should do

Only use the official ebtEDGE website and mobile app to view and manage your EBT card. ODHS cannot guarantee the safety of any other EBT management apps or websites.

Change your PIN regularly. This can help protect your account if someone does gain access to your card number. Here are the ways you can change your PIN number:

Call 888-997-4447;

Log into the ebtEDGE website

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John Carroll

We start out with a garden playground for the whole family, followed by a greenhouse filled with a potpourri of plants that make up the “jungle” in the yard.

Finally, we have a surprise sunflower plant that has mingled into the rest of the plants in the garden. When you have squirrels and birds “dropping off” some seeds, you might never know what will pop up.

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Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend city councilors got a staff update Wednesday evening on the progress and challenges seen at the “Temporary Safe Stay Area” established at Juniper Ridge, which has a higher homeless population than expected – 231 at last count – making it even harder to solve the big question: What next?

There are hopeful signs, from more people receiving help and finding permanent housing elsewhere to quicker response when fires occur in the area of Juniper Ridge known to some as ‘Dirt World.’ 

Many of the homeless have found hope, help and some sense of safety, if not a new home elsewhere. But community members say it’s still a nuisance, a health concern, and dangerous.  

One of the main issues on the agenda addressed city staff recommendations as to how to clear and close the homeless camp no later than a late 2026 deadline set last fall by city and Deschutes County leaders.  

Here’s a bit of background:  

The Bend City Council and Deschutes County Board of Commissioners jointly adopted a resolution in 2024 establishing the temporary safe stay area (TSSA), which provides temporary overnight vehicle camping on publicly owned land in Juniper Ridge.  

But when the US Forest Service permanently shut down the China Hat homeless camp in May 2025, some of those people moved to the Juniper Ridge TSSA. A similar shift occurred when the city previously cleared out those living in RVs along Hunnell Road. 

Occupancy increased from an estimated 100 to more than 230 people.  

So far, out of a budgeted $1 million, the city has already spent half a million dollars on closing and cleaning up the approximately 800 acres of city-owned property at Juniper Ridge outside of the TSSA (east of the railroad tracks) and to maintaining the safe stay area.

Asked how it could look if a portion of the TSSA was temporarily extended beyond 2026 and what that would mean, Matt Stuart, Real Estate & Housing Director for the City of Bend, explained: 

“The costs involved with just being able to provide the hygiene stations, which include providing water, handwashing stations and bathrooms for porta potties for individuals, as well as trash and cleanup, so we can maintain the area in an effective manner. The cost also includes having a service provider continue to do case management, so trying to continue to find housing for those individuals.  And then those dollars are just around the overall management in hiring the security and other staff that are present to kind of keep things in order. So, we estimate that would be about half million to a million a year.” 

Here are the current challenges:  

Over population  

Enforcing rules  

Land management cost  

Housing/shelter options  

 City staff must also enforce the rules which include:  

All pets on leashes  

No creating new structures or roads, or camping in tents  

Failing to utilize hygiene stations   

No dumping  

To close the TSSA by November of 2026 staff recommends:  

Increase the land management budget by 500,000 dollars – adding to the existing budget of $1million, Totaling $1.5 million 

Adding full-time (40 hours a week) staff members to help manage the TSSA camp 

Creating more housing for the displaced.   

During the meeting, Bend City Council floated the idea of extending a portion of the TSSA past the 2026 deadline to give people more time to find housing.    

If the city were to go this route, it’s looking at a smaller version of a camp around 60-70 acres – accommodating just over a hundred people, which would cost the city a half million to a million dollars a year to maintain.  

The city recommends that the first phase of notifications of closure will begin in March of 2026. 

Bend City Councilors will meet with the Deschutes County Commissioners on September 29th, for an update and to present their recommendations from Wednesday night’s meeting. 

City of Bend PresentationDownload

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KTVZ

ANTELOPE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division’s Madras office, is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying two individuals caught on camera committing criminal trespass and unlawfully taking an elk near Antelope.

Here’s the Oregon State Police news release on the incident:

On Saturday, Sept. 6 at 4:42 a.m., before legal hunting hours, a photo of a cow elk was taken by a trail camera on private property.

At 4:45 a.m., two unknown individuals were captured on camera standing over the carcass of the dead elk. The individuals entered the private property in a vehicle, gutted the elk, and left.

The suspect vehicle is believed to be a light-colored 2001–2004 Nissan Frontier with an older canopy and a roof rack.

Information leading to the identification and citation, or arrest, of these individuals could yield a reward of $1,000 or four preference points.

Anyone with information about the identity of the individuals or the location of the vehicle is asked to submit tips to TIP@osp.oregon.gov, or contact OSP’s Northern Command Center at 800-442-0776 or by calling OSP (677) on a mobile device. Please reference Oregon State Police case number SP25-396292.

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators

The Turn In Poachers (TIP) program is a collaboration between the Oregon State Police, Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Wildlife Coalition, Oregon Outfitter and Guides Association, and the Oregon State Marine Board.

The TIP program offers preference point rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of big game mammals.  

Preference Point Rewards

5 Points: Bighorn Sheep

5 Points: Rocky Mountain Goat

5 Points: Moose

5 Points: Wolf

4 Points: Elk

4 Points: Deer

4 Points: Pronghorn Antelope

4 Points: Bear

4 Points: Cougar

The TIP program also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of the following fish and wildlife species. Cash rewards can also be awarded for habitat destruction, illegally obtaining a hunting or angling license or tag, lending or borrowing big game tags, spotlighting, or snagging.

Cash Rewards

Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) cash rewards:

$2,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, or Moose

$1,000 Elk, Deer, or Antelope

$600 Bear, Cougar, or Wolf$400 Game Fish & Shellfish$400 Snagging/Attempt to Snag

$300 Habitat destruction

$200 Illegally obtaining an Oregon hunting or angling license or tags

$200 Unlawful lending/borrowing big game tag(s)

$200 Game Birds or Furbearers

$200 Spotlighting

Rewards for game fish and shellfish, as well as snagging and attempting to snag, are sponsored, in part, by the Northwest Steelheaders Association and the Coastal Conservation Association.

Oregon Wildlife Coalition (OWC) Cash Rewards:

$500 Hawk, Falcon, Eagle, Owl, Osprey

$500 Cougar, Bobcat, Beaver (public lands only), Black bears, Bighorn Sheep, Marten, Fisher, Sierra Nevada Red Fox

$1,000 Species listed as “threatened” or “endangered” under state or federal Endangered Species Act (excludes fish)$10,000 for Wolves east of Highway 395 and $11,500 for Wolves east of Highway 395 and north of Highway 20

Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association (OOGA) Cash Rewards:

$200 Acting as an Outfitter Guide for the Illegal Killing of Wildlife, Illegally Obtaining Oregon Hunting or Angling Licenses or Tags, or Illegally Offering to Act as an Outfitter Guide as defined in ORS 704.010 and 704.020.

How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity:

TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or OSP (677)

TIP email: TIP@osp.oregon.gov (monitored Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

For more information, visit: www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/fw/Pages/tip.aspx

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – In celebration of Welcoming Week 2025, three local organizations are bringing back the popular Health and Wellness Fair to be held Saturday, Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Ponderosa Park (225 SE 15th St.) in Bend.

Mosaic Community Health, Deschutes County Health Services and Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades are co-hosting the third annual outdoor event to welcome immigrant, refugee, Latino and other community members and provide easy access to useful information for improving health and well-being.  

“We aim to improve the health and wellness of community members who are most affected by health disparities and inequities,” said Shana Falb, Community Partnerships and Engagement, Deschutes County Health Services. “This year, the event convenes vetted healthcare providers and social service organizations to provide on-site services—improving community access and ultimately reducing those health inequities.” 

Welcoming Week takes place Sept. 12-21 citywide, with events that celebrate inclusivity and belonging in Bend. The City of Bend became a Welcoming City in 2017 and participates in this national event every year. Welcoming Cities are guided by the principles of inclusion and creating communities that prosper because everyone feels welcome, including immigrants and refugees. This year’s national Welcoming Week theme is Stories We Share—recognizing and celebrating voices in our community who are actively building welcoming spaces by practicing belonging and resilience.  

The Health and Wellness Fair increases awareness of where community members can receive medical and dental care, mental health and wellness services, social services, vaccine education and other care addressing social determinants of health. In addition, the event will provide on-site health services such as emergency dental care, blood pressure checks and education on hypertension, skin health screenings and education, diabetes wellness and more. 

“This year we’re expanding access to on-site health services, including oral health screenings, and making sure Latino families receive information in their language about where and how to get care,” said Jason Villanueva, Mosaic Spanish Communications Coordinator. “Beyond connecting people with the resources they need, we also want the fair to be a time for the community to come together, celebrate and have fun.” 

The event will also offer activities such as group fitness classes facilitated in Spanish, free nutritious food from a local vendor and fun health education activities for children and families. Interpretation services in multiple languages will be provided for any community member to access, and most participating vendors will have bilingual staff available.  

This year, the event organizers received sponsorships to increase the number of on-site health services at the event. Sponsors include Pacific Source Community Solutions, St. Charles Health System, City of Bend, Deschutes County Health Services, Central Oregon Health Quality Alliance, Central Oregon Health Council, Central Oregon Independent Practice Association and Northwest Credit Union, plus a grant from First Interstate Bank.  

“Thanks to generous support from sponsors, we are glad to host this community event again,” said Courtney Gallant, Director of Philanthropy and Community Outreach at VIM Cascades. “Especially now, with policy changes and subsequent shifts in care delivery, it is important that community members know where and how they can access the healthcare and social care service providers they need.” 

About Welcoming Week 

Welcoming Week is a national campaign and celebration held annually to bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity. Launched in 2012 by Welcoming America and its members, Welcoming Week provides individuals and organizations the opportunity to showcase their values through events and initiatives that foster connections and collaboration between immigrants and non-immigrants, as well as belonging for all. Learn more about the national campaign at welcomingweek.org. Learn more about the City of Bend’s Welcoming Week at https://www.bendoregon.gov/events/welcoming-week 

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State University-Cascades students will have new opportunities to gain valuable workplace experience through a new career accelerator program, the school announced Tuesday.

OSU-Cascades is one of a handful of universities from around the country selected to participate in the National Work-Integrated Learning Accelerator, which aims to help university institutions pilot scalable models of career-integrated learning that align with regional workforce needs.

Here’s the rest of the OSU-Cascades announcement:

The accelerator is a two-year project led by Arizona State University, a recognized leader in advancing student career preparation, and funded by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation and Strada Education Foundation.

OSU-Cascades was selected in part for its success launching activities that integrate career readiness into the student experience, including the Cascades Edge career preparation program launched in 2023, and SnoPlanks Academy, where students lead and manage all functions of a snowboard company. The award will help launch similar opportunities in the coming years. 

Other participating universities, also noted for prioritizing undergraduates’ academic learning in conjunction with career preparation, include Bowling Green State University, Morgan State University, Rowan College at Burlington, University of Central Florida, University of Maryland Baltimore County and University of North Texas.

“At OSU-Cascades, our goal is for every student to graduate with the ability to articulate the leadership and career outcomes they’ve cultivated during their academic experience,” said Cynthia Engel, director of the OSU-Cascades’ Career Development Center. “Through the Work-Integrated Learning Accelerator pilot, we’ll scale that vision and design, test and build a dynamic and inclusive model that prepares students for even more meaningful and durable professional success — and work with employer partners to collaborate in that success.”

OSU-Cascades’ Work-Integrated Learning Accelerator pilot will be led by a cross-functional team of faculty, staff and administrators to include representatives from across degree fields, as well as information technology and industry relations experts. The team’s work will be guided by input from students and industry partners. 

The team will collaborate with ASU and participating institutions to co-develop and test innovative approaches to work-integrated learning, such as embedding work experiences into courses through micro-internships, project-based learning and employer challenges. 

The pilot will also consider future opportunities to take place within OSU-Cascades’ planned innovation district, which is designed to foster collaborations between the university, industry and the community. 

OSU-Cascades’ pilot activities are anticipated to launch in spring 2026.

Participating universities were each awarded $150,000 in funding to support startup costs and technology adoption.

Through learnings from the pilots, accelerator leaders at ASU will develop an open-access digital resource available to share with higher education institutions, employers and others.

The pilot at OSU-Cascades will support OSU’s strategic goal of becoming a university where every student graduates, and complement a new university-wide requirement launched in summer 2025 that ensures every student graduates with career skills and connections.

About OSU-Cascades:  Oregon State University’s campus in Bend brings higher education to Central Oregon, the fastest growing region in the state. Surrounded by mountains, forest and high desert, OSU-Cascades is a highly innovative campus of a top-tier land grant research university, offering small classes that accelerate faculty-student mentoring and experiential learning. Degree programs meet industry and economic needs in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship, natural ecosystems, health and wellness, and arts and sciences, and prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges. OSU-Cascades is expanding to serve 3,000 to 5,000 students, building a 128-acre campus with net-zero goals.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) —   Representative Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., held his second of two previously announced town halls on Wednesday evening.

During the town hall, he spoke about rural hospitals, rural schools and wolves. Additionally, the congressman was asked about timber and wildfires 

Bentz said: “This situation is becoming more and more difficult because the more fuel that we have in the woods, the more dangerous the fires are and the more difficult it is to put them out, and the more difficult it is to find anybody that wants to sell insurance to people who have homes anywhere in the neighborhood of a forest. And so these kinds of problems can only be addressed by reducing the amount of wood in the forest.”

Representative Bentz also took a question about nuclear power.

He said: “I support nuclear, completely. The question has always been with nuclear. How do we how do we ever actually get any of it in Oregon, any generation, when the Constitution years ago was amended to prohibit it? So the first thing that would have to happen in Oregon to make it happen is to change the constitution. and I think there’s some enthusiasm for doing so. I hope there is, because nuclear reactors, small nuclear reactors, I think are the future

The congressman was also asked by a constituent about the Jeffery Epstein investigation. 

 He reiterated his remarks from last week’s town-hall, saying that he supports Representative James Comer and the house oversight’s committee’s investigation, rather than Representative Thomas Massie’s discharge petition.

This town hall wrapped up the two he had scheduled after previously announcing that he will no longer be holding in person town halls due to the protests and disruptions that have taken place before.

Representative Bentz also shared some remarks about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, condemning the assassin.

   

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KTVZ

McKENZIE BRIDGE, Ore. (KTVZ) — More than 350 firefighters continued Tuesday to battle the 437-acre Foley Ridge Fire on the Willamette National Forest east of McKenzie Bridge. A 21-mile stretch of Highway 242 remained closed and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 2 (BE SET) evacuation alerts in the area.

Here is Tuesday’s daily update from fire officials:

Start Date: 09/06/2025

Percent Containment: 0%

Size: 437 Acres

Cause: Lightning

Personnel: 353

Full suppression efforts continue on the southern and eastern flanks of the Foley Ridge Fire. Firefighters are actively engaged in securing the perimeter. Crews are patrolling and extinguishing hot spots along direct portions of handline and dozer line.

Increased activity was seen on the Western flank yesterday afternoon, crews were able to reinforce containment lines and secure the fires edge. Crews are still scouting and looking for any viable options for direct attack on the west flank of the fire.

On Highway 242, heavy equipment is conducting chipping operations, while engine crews lay hose to support containment. Due to these activities – and reduced visibility – a road closure is in effect from the Highway 126 junction to milepost 76.

Meanwhile, four helicopters are providing aerial support, performing water drops to cool the fire’s edge and slow its spread.

Strategic firing operations are taking place in small portions on the southern flank. These operations aim to eliminate ground fuels and create a buffer zone. This strategy employs a lower-intensity fire that can help secure the perimeter in terrain too hazardous for direct engagement. 

Evacuations- Lane County Sheriff has issued Level 2 (Get Set) evacuation notices for HWY 242, Yale Camp, White Branch Youth Camp, Alder Spring Campground, Scott Lake Campground, and private residences off HWY 242. For more information on evacuation status, please visit:  https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/3293a4e0f6c1432f9d5b4e27380609fa/page/Wildfire-Evacuations

Closures – Road closures include Foley Ridge Road (Forest Service Road 2643). Closed recreation sites include Rainbow Falls Trailhead and Separation Lake Trailhead. Foley Ridge Trailhead will be inaccessible due to the closure. For the complete Foley Ridge Fire closure order, including a map, visit our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/willamette/alerts/foley-ridge-fire-closure-order.

Weather- Mostly sunny skies are forecast for the remainder of the week. Temperatures are consistent and a slight increase in relative humidity is expected. Winds will be light 3-5 mph, with potential gusts up to 15 mph.

McKenzie River Highway (HWY 242)- HWY 242 is closed until further notice from HWY 126 intersection to MP 76. Please use an alternate route and expect delays. Visit the Oregon Department of Transportation’s webpage for additional information https://tripcheck.com  

For more information, visit the incident website: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-foley-ridge-fire.

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KTVZ

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (KTVZ) — State Representative E. Werner Reschke, R-Klamath Falls, announced Tuesday two resolutions he will introduce during the legislative short session in 2026.

The first will be a resolution declaring October 14th as Charlie Kirk Day. The second resolution is a voter referendum to preserve parental rights in Oregon’s Constitution, Reschke said in a news release issued Tuesday, which you can read in full below:

“Creating strong families is a central them to both these resolutions. Without strong families, we cannot have strong communities, a strong state or strong nation. These resolutions acknowledge, strengthen and encourage the need for strong families.” 

“Charlie Kirk was a once-in-a-lifetime person of character, change and charisma. His focus on families, young adults, and his fearless approach to cultural and political issues was second to none. He exemplified how our political discourse should take place — peacefully and respectfully. He modeled how to live life to its fullest, positively impacting hundreds of millions of people around the world. We should honor such a man. Therefore during the short session I will introduce a resolution declaring October 14th, Charlie Kirk Day. This date was Charlie’s birthday.”

“I will also be reintroducing a resolution that ensures parents have a fundamental right to the upbringing, education and care for their children. In light of AB 495’s serious consideration in California’s legislature, Oregon parents need the protection of such a constitutional provision,” said Rep. Reschke.

The legislative “short session” will begin on February 2, 2026 and concludes no later than March 9, 2026. During the short session, each legislator is allowed to introduce two bills.

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Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The City of Redmond will implement a single-lane, signalized closure on NW Northwest Way from Euston Lane to the new Redmond Wetlands Complex access at 5801 Northwest Way beginning next Monday, September 22, through mid-December.

The closure is necessary to install a 48-inch interceptor line linking the Wetlands Complex to the existing wastewater treatment plant in Dry Canyon, the city said in this week’s news release, which continues below:

Drivers should expect delays in the area and are encouraged to plan alternate routes when possible. Traffic control measures will be in place to ensure safety for both motorists and construction crews. Local access will be maintained for residents and businesses within the construction area.

The Redmond Wetlands Complex is a multi-year investment to expand wastewater treatment capacity while creating engineered wetlands that improve water quality, provide wildlife habitat, and offer community recreation opportunities. Construction began in summer 2025 and is expected to continue through fall 2027.

For more project information or to sign up for updates, visit www.redmondwetlandscomplex.com. If you have questions, please contact Project Engineer Julie Thiessen directly at 541-504-2016, or by email julie.thiessen@redmondoregon.gov.

Northwest Way Redmond mapDownload

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