Category: ktvz-local-news

Lynsey Harris

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — June is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and each week, we’re sharing local stories of those living with memory loss, and those who care for them.

This week, Lynsey Harris sat down with Debbie McCune of Sisters, who has been caring for her husband Doug since his Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

“You’ve been a care partner for so long that it’s — I don’t know who I’ll be that day when I’m no longer that,” she said.

Debbie describes the journey as “the long goodbye,” losing small pieces of Doug — and their shared life — each day. Still, she finds joy in the little moments: Doug singing along to Elvis, or their dog offering comfort at bedtime.

She says the hardest lesson has been learning to ask for help, and encourages others to do the same. As a community educator with the Alzheimer’s Association, Debbie hopes more families seek out support groups and have important conversations early.

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Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Despite the closure of burning season and a recent illegal burn that sparked a wildfire that threatened homes, Redmond Fire Marshal Tom Mooney says crews are still responding to property owners burning cheatgrass and having their fires escape – and that could prove very costly.

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Isabella Warren

(Update: Adding video, Adding comments from executive directors, Rep. Janelle Bynum)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon nonprofits MountainStar Family Relief Nursery and the Deschutes Children’s Foundation are sounding the alarm as federal funding continues to be at risk for organizations nationwide.

“We are all in agreement that we don’t want the government to waste money on things that are not doing good in our community or across the country,” said Kara Tachikawa, executive director of MountainStar. “I think the frustrating part is the people with the smallest voices are the ones that are getting affected first.”

The executive director of Deschutes Children’s Foundation, Cassi MacQueen, said Tuesday,  “It has not changed for nonprofits here in Central Oregon. We are continuing to see high needs of our population, growing concerns – and less funding.”

Both nonprofits serve more than 30,000 people in Central Oregon.

They say they are experiencing the impacts, as federal funding and contracts are paused or cut as part of President Trump’s commitment to cut spending.

“We want to use our voice together to let the community know that we are here,” Tachikawa said. “We are the same groups that you have been trusting for years and years, and we are still doing good in the community. So will you please stand with us?”

The message comes as nonprofits like Shepherd’s House Ministries and NeighborImpact are cutting back on services.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would cut more than $1 billion in funding for local food banks and schools. For Central Oregon’s NeighborImpact, that means a 17% reduction in its food supply, amounting to more than half a million pounds of food, with the largest cuts in milk, cheese and meat.

And President Trump’s proposed budget could see cuts to SNAP benefits and Medicaid. Oregon District 5 Representative Janelle Bynum has been against the bill from the start.

“It’s a trash bill – let’s call it what it is,” Bynum told KTVZ News. “We’ve elevated the issues. We’re explaining it in plain English, and then we’re putting pressure on our Republican colleagues to stand up, wave their hand, have some sort of courage, and to recognize when their districts are in trouble, too.”

We reached out to District 2 Rep. Cliff Bentz, but he was unavailable for comment.

Both nonprofits warn of the impacts on the community if funding cuts continue.

Macqueen said, “While we are a small community, our nonprofits are robust, and they’re providing critical, life-saving, wraparound services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And so making sure that folks know that if nonprofits don’t exist, these services don’t exist.”

Below is the joint release:

DCF-MtStar Joint Release 6.5.25 Setting the Record StraightDownload

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Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Transportation Commerce and Compliance Division, with support from Oregon State Police, ticketed 122 truckers who illegally bypassed an open weigh station in late April and early May.

“We take weigh station bypass very seriously and are taking enforcement action against it,” said ODOT Commerce and Compliance Interim Division Administrator Carla Phelps. “The goal of this operation was to remove fatigued and unqualified drivers from Oregon roads to prevent fatal commercial truck collisions with the traveling public.”

Two commercial vehicle safety and enforcement events took place along I-84 at Cascade Locks, Umatilla, and Farewell Bend Ports of Entry and La Grande and Emigrant Hill Weigh Stations. More than 490 commercial truck drivers who bypassed an open weigh station were stopped and escorted back by Oregon State Police. They were then inspected for compliance with licensing and hours-of-service regulations.

Of those drivers stopped, 25% were placed out-of-service, meaning they were temporarily prohibited from driving a commercial vehicle due to a violation of safety or regulatory rules. Their vehicles were also inspected for violations of state and federal regulations, and the drivers were required to correct any violations before proceeding.  

Inspectors discovered false logs and multiple electronic logging devices that had been tampered with and were producing fictional logs. Commercial truck drivers use logs to record their daily activities, specifically their time spent driving, on duty, off duty and in sleeper cabs. Driver logs are crucial for ensuring compliance with federal hours-of-service regulations, which limit how long drivers can work without taking breaks. 

ODOT’s Commerce and Compliance Division ensures the safety and efficiency of Oregon’s highway system by regulating and enforcing laws related to commercial trucking. Learn more at oregon.gov/odot.

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Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. [KTVZ] — With Father’s Day this Sunday, we have a heartwarming story from Bend that celebrates family—both at home and at work. 

KTVZ News shines a spotlight on Ed and Andy Mosman of Right at Home. 

“Probably the most important thing we do is companionship. We give them lots of company, give them lots of love and caring and compassion,” said Ed Mosman. 

Right at Home, is a flourishing senior care and elder assistance business—now proudly expanding to a father–son team – Ed and Andy Mosman.   

Ed says, their partnership, built on a deep family bond, traces back to the father’s early career and values.  

“I needed to find a way not only to make money, but to give back to my community.” 

In 2012, Ed opened the first Right at Home in Eugene, which later inspired his son, Andy Mosman.  

His path became even more personal when Andy’s grandmother developed pancreatic cancer during his freshman year of college.   

He stepped up to be her primary caregiver, cementing his passion for serving others. Andy would go on to open Right at Home Central Oregon” located in Bend.  He credits his dad’s dedication as his driving force.  

“I learned a lot from working with my dad. It has its challenges, certainly. One of the cool things about working for your dad is you can talk back to your boss, which is nice. But there are a lot of, great things that come from it too. I learned how to be in this business, with my dad, and how to carry myself.  How to lead with compassion and integrity. And I feel like I learned a lot of that from my dad.” 

Andy says, caring for seniors includes everyday tasks.  

“A variety of different supports, mobility help. We can help people with showering, medications and just being there to play, puzzles and games with people, things like that.  We also help people do shopping and errands and meal preparation, things like that too. Just anything to keep them at home.” 

Ed Mosman adds:  

“You just want to work with them in their world and their realm and make them feel comfortable. Yeah. And make them feel safe where they live.” 

This Father’s Day, Andy and his father Ed, are honoring two generations of caregiving. Together, they deliver compassionate support across Central Oregon—helping seniors live with dignity and independence, right where they belong, home. 

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Barney Lerten

Thinning, mowing and burning could begin next spring, last to 2040 – or longer

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes National Forest announced Monday it has signed the final decision for the 25,000-acre Green Ridge Landscape Restoration Project, located 13 miles north of Sisters on the Sisters Ranger District. 

The forest said the purpose of the Green Ridge project is to restore and maintain forest health and resiliency and reduce the risk of large-scale, high-severity fires. Also, they said, the project will maintain or improve habitat for northern spotted owl, mule deer and other sensitive species. 

Here’s the full text of Monday’s announcement, with links to more information:

“My final decision incorporates dozens of public and agency comments and field visits, best available science, and strikes a solid balance between active forest and fuels management and protection of habitat critical to some of the last remaining northern spotted owls on the Sisters Ranger District,” said Sisters District Ranger Ian Reid. 

Forest restoration treatments are needed to move the area towards more natural, historic forest conditions, which will increase landscape resilience to large-scale wildfires and insect and disease outbreaks. Alternative 3-modified was selected and approves treatment activities on about 17,500 acres of the project area. Several meaningful changes were made to address concerns about impacts to northern spotted owl habitat, large trees, deer habitat, and the Metolius Late Successional Reserve.  

“The planning and approval process for the Green Ridge Landscape Restoration Project has taken many years and Friends of the Metolius has been involved at every step along the way,” said Doug Hancock, President of the Friends of the Metolius, a nonprofit group. “As the process is near conclusion, we support the project because it is a compromise necessary to begin restoring forest health on the Green Ridge landscape.”  

Treatment activities will include commercial and noncommercial thinning, mowing and mastication, prescribed burning, trail reroutes, road closures and decommissioning, and tree planting. The road closures and decommissioning will provide a 10% increase in core wildlife habitat across the project area. 

Austin Smith Jr., Natural Resources Manager for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, said, “Given the importance of maintaining timber and other crucial resources as well as protecting our region from wildfire throughout our ceded lands, we offer our full support of the Forest Service’s Green Ridge project. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs were closely involved through every step of the process, including offering input upon the scope and project management plan. We value our continued, productive partnership with the USDA and the US Forest Service.”  

Restoration treatments may begin within the project area as soon as the spring of 2026 and are tentatively slated to continue through 2040, with prescribed burning continuing beyond this date. This summer, Forest Service employees will be preparing the project area for upcoming vegetation management contracts to start implementation of forest thinning.  

Project documents can be viewed on the Deschutes National Forest website here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/deschutes/projects/48454. A copy of the signed Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact is available at: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/sfza5zlaz6vj4prxj6g7iao0nk8d57yp. Members of the public may also contact Lauren DuRocher, Environmental Coordinator on the Sisters Ranger District by email at lauren.durocher@usda.gov with questions about the project. 

For more information about the project, visit this storymap: https://arcg.is/1TaT003, or reach out to the Sisters Ranger District at (541) 549-7700.  

Green Ridge Landscape Restoration ProjectDownload

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Elk Meadow Elementary School in Bend will have a new principal next school year. Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook announced Monday that Kit Galloway has been selected for the position and will begin July 1.

She is replacing Principal Ben Johnston, who has resigned to relocate.

“We are delighted to welcome Kit to our administrative team as the new principal at Elk Meadow,” Dr. Cook said. “Kit is an experienced leader who has demonstrated a powerful commitment to systems-level thinking and inclusive practices throughout her career. Across the interview process, Kit displayed an impressive level of student-centered thinking and an understanding of the importance of leading with joy in shaping a school culture where everyone can thrive.”

Kit is currently the principal at Maplewood Elementary School in Portland Public Schools, a position she has held since 2021. Prior to her current role, she served as an Assistant Principal with PPS and in the United Arab Emirates, which followed over 15 years as an elementary classroom teacher.

“I believe leadership is about service, connection, and creating spaces where everyone belongs,” Galloway said. “I’m thrilled to be joining the Elk Meadow community and can’t wait to work together in support of our kids.”

In other administrative hiring, Quinn McAndrews was hired as the Athletic Director/Assistant Principal at Summit High School and Cory Young was hired as the Athletic Director/Assistant Principal at La Pine High School. Both positions begin July 1.

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Isabella Warren

(Update: Adding video, details, comments by lawmakers)

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ)– With only two weeks remaining in this year’s session, Democrats have proposed the state’s new transportation package, and it comes with major tax increases.

House Bill 2025, or the Oregon Transportation Reinvestment Package (TRIP), would include a 15-cent increase to the state’s gas tax, already at 40 cents. It includes a 10-cent increase in January 2026 and another 5-cent increase in 2028.

 It also would create a new tax on car sales and add a new per-mile fee for electric and hybrid vehicles.

We spoke with local leaders earlier this year, when legislators were first discussing transportation, on what needs to be funded in Central Oregon.

State Senator Anthony Broadman, D-Bend, said, “We’re just seeing a lot more need, with the amount of housing that is developing. We’re one of the fastest-growing regions, and it’s really important that our street system matches the growth and the need for safety that we have throughout Sisters, Redmond, Bend, and all of Deschutes County.”

State Rep. Emerson Levy, D-Bend, said last month, “We would love to see funding at 35th and (Highway) 126 (in Redmond). We would like a four-way light there. Right now, people are making unsafe turns, and we’ve even heard from our kids at the local high school saying that that turn is not a great place.”

According to the state Department of Transportation, only a small share of the funding that comes into ODIT can be used to maintain the state’s transportation system and run the agency.

Almost half of the state highway fund must be allocated to cities and counties. Half of what is left is dedicated to paying back bonds for past projects, and to investing in new projects.

That leaves about 20 cents of every dollar available for state highway maintenance.

The new package also proposes audits of ODOT after many complaints over major spending, like Bend’s Highway 97 renovations.

KTVZ News reached out to state Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson but did not hear back.

It’s unclear yet how much exactly could be raised from taxes and fees in the proposed package. It’s set to be discussed in the coming days.

It comes as ODOT continues to struggle with a funding gap. It is facing shortfalls to meet the needs that are so severe, non-interstate routes like U.S. Highways 97, 20, and 26 could see little to no paving after 2027.

Below is the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment’s press release, issued Monday:

Today, the co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment introduced the Oregon Transportation Reinvestment Package (Oregon TRIP) to keep Oregon’s roads and bridges safe, support city and county transportation needs, and provide needed oversight of the Oregon Department of Transportation.

The bill (House Bill 2025) is based on more than a year of public engagement, stakeholder conversations, and legislative work groups that balances the various needs and perspectives brought before the committee.

“Every conversation we’ve had has helped make this bill stronger,” said Sen. Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham), co-chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment. “We’ve sought input from legislators across the political spectrum, and from people on the front lines: county leaders, transit providers, road crews, and Oregon families. That collaboration has led to a final package that strikes a balance while staying focused on the problems we need to solve.” 

Oregon’s transportation systems are in crisis. More than 90 state-owned bridges across the state have major structural defects, potholes are going months without repair, many streets are dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists, and promised major projects are still unfinished.

Oregon TRIP addresses these challenges by investing in Oregon’s roads and bridges at the city, county, and state levels; funding programs that are proven to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety; and stabilizing funding for Oregon’s multimodal transportation systems for years to come. 

It also establishes new legislative and executive oversight of ODOT, including frequent performance audits of the agency, quarterly reporting requirements, and a new major projects legislative oversight committee to review progress and limit scope creep.

“Maintaining Oregon’s roads and bridges is a shared priority, and must be a shared responsibility,” said Rep. Susan McLain (D-Hillsboro), co-chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment. “We’ve worked collaboratively across the aisle and with our stakeholders, community advocates, and constituents to develop this package. We remain committed to finding common ground as we move forward.” 

The hearing schedule for HB 2025 includes:  

Monday, June 9, 5 p.m.

Informational Hearing: House Bill 2025 walkthrough

Tuesday, June 10, 5 p.m.

Public Hearing: Anchor projects and ODOT accountability

Wednesday, June 11, 4 p.m.

Public Hearing: Transit, rail, bike, and pedestrian safety

Thursday, June 12, 4 p.m.

Public Hearing: Operations, maintenance, and preservation

Below are two drafts of TRIP:

Oregon TRIP 2025_starting point (002)Download

308125Download

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Claire Elmer

(Update: adding video, comments by neighbor; suspect arraigned)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Redmond woman was arrested on a murder charge Sunday night, accused of fatally stabbing her mother at their southwest Redmond home, police said.

Officers were dispatched to the home in the 3300 block of SW Glacier Avenue around 9:42 p.m. They found a woman’s body and arrested her 42-year-old daughter in the killing.

Jail and court documents reviewed by KTVZ News identified the suspect as Jessica Marie Andersch and the victim as Tracy Lynn Berry. Andersch was being held without bail at the Deschutes County Jail on two initial felony charges – second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon (you can see the court document below this article).

“The suspect was the daughter of the victim, and they resided together at the residence,” Lieutenant April Huey said in a news release. “This was an isolated incident, no threat exists to the community. “

Andersch was arraigned by video from the Deschutes County Jail Monday afternoon before Circuit Judge Michelle McIver. She ordered Andersch to continue to be held without bail until arraignment in a week on an expected grand jury indictment.

During the brief hearing, a prosecutor said Andersch “called 911 to report she had murdered her mother.”

When police showed up, he said, she had blood on her clothing, hands and face, and her mother was found deceased.

A neighbor who spoke with KTVZ News off-camera at the scene Monday said Andersch apparently moved in with her mother about a year ago and that Berry hoped moving in with her would help her daughter get off of drugs.

On Sunday afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., the neighbor said Andersch was acting erratically and told them “there was someone in her home.” The neighbor told KTVZ News that Andersch’s behavior was concerning, even frightening to another neighbor.

—

Here is the initial charging document (DA’s information) for Jessica Marie Andersch:

DA’s Information – Jessica Andersch chargesDownload

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Camp Fire Central Oregon is excited to announce two important changes related to school-year programs for the 2025/2026 season. First and foremost, registration for its school-year programs for youth in Grades 5-12 (up to age 17) will launch on Sunday, June 8 at 4 p.m., significantly earlier than the traditional mid-summer opening.

This change is designed to give families more time to plan and secure spots in its very popular programs, including Camp Fire Afterschool and FIRST® LEGO® League Competition Teams. By moving the launch to June 8, Camp Fire hopes to better meet the scheduling needs of Central Oregon families eager to lock in high-quality, youth-centered enrichment opportunities before the busy back-to-school season begins. In the 2024/2025, Camp Fire’s school-year programs served 469 kids throughout Central Oregon.

“We’ve heard from parents and caregivers that earlier access to registration would help with school-year planning,” said Melanie Feltmate, Camp Fire Central Oregon’s program director. “This shift allows us to be more responsive to their needs and to ensure even more youth can benefit from our programs. Our core school-year offerings will be ready for sign-ups first, with additional program announcements and sign-ups coming soon.”

Registration will open to the public on Sunday, June 8 at 4 p.m. via the Camp Fire Central Oregon website: https://campfireco.org/. Families interested in financial assistance are invited to pre-apply now, visiting campfireco.org/financial-assistance/.

Important Location Change for Camp Fire Afterschool in La PineIn addition to the registration date change, Camp Fire is also announcing a location shift with its afterschool program in South County, offering CFA at Rosland Elementary to all K-5 youth in the La Pine community, starting this fall. La Pine Elementary students enrolled in CFA will have the option to take a short bus ride to Rosland Elementary.

“We are thrilled that La Pine Elementary students will have a quick commute to Camp Fire Afterschool, where our friendly staff will greet kids at the bus and walk them into the program at Rosland Elementary,” Feltmate says. “This means everyone in that program will have lots of time to dive into fun, activities, and connection, instead of having to be on the bus for a longer period of time. It’s a win-win for all!”

Camp Fire also offers its afterschool program at Three Rivers School in Sunriver and two locations in Bend.

Support for Registration and Financial AssistanceWith school-year registration right around the corner, families are encouraged to save the date of June 8, 4 p.m., tune into Camp Fire’s website for registration alerts, and sign up for Camp Fire’s newsletter. Specific questions around registration and financial assistance can be directed to info@campfireco.org or 541.382.4682.

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