Category: ktvz-local-news

Kelsey Merison

OREGON (KTVZ) — Oregon gas prices are down slightly this week, but they’re still well above where they were a year ago.

According to GasBuddy, the average price for a gallon of regular in Oregon is now $5/gallon, down about three cents from last week. But that’s nearly 91 cents more than this time last year.

Prices are also down nationwide. The national average is now $4.30/gallon, down about 12.5 cents from last week.

In Oregon, prices range from $4.27 to $6.89 a gallon.

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Claire Elmer

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 31-year-old Sisters man was arrested Sunday night after allegedly breaking into an apartment and assaulting a woman and two juveniles inside, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

Royce Shipley was taken into custody following a brief standoff at his nearby residence on North Woodson Street.

Deputies responded to the apartment at 10:01 p.m. on October 4th after dispatchers reported hearing children screaming during a disturbance call. Upon arriving at the scene, officers found an adult woman and two juveniles who had sustained injuries.

According to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Shipley entered the apartment without permission and immediately began assaulting the woman and two children before fleeing to his nearby home.

Believing Shipley might be armed, deputies consulted the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team and deployed a sheriff’s office K-9 unit to establish a perimeter around his residence. After deputies issued repeated commands over a loud-hailer for approximately 10 minutes, Shipley came out of his apartment and surrendered without incident.

Shipley was booked into the Deschutes County Adult Jail on charges of first-degree burglary, strangulation, fourth-degree assault, harassment, menacing and interfering with making a report.

Medics with the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District evaluated the victims at the scene. All three were subsequently transported to St. Charles Bend for further medical examination.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Museum at Warm Springs will host an opening reception for the “33rd Annual Warm Springs Tribal Member and Youth Exhibit” on Nov. 18, 2026. The exhibition displays work by adult and youth tribal members and will remain on view through Feb. 20, 2027.

The annual exhibit is curated by Angela Anne Smith, museum curator and exhibit coordinator. Selected artwork displayed during the exhibit will be available for purchase, with 20% of sales proceeds going to support the museum.

The opening reception will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the facility, located at 2189 U.S. Highway 26 in Warm Springs, Ore. The public reception will feature light refreshments for attendees.

The Museum at Warm Springs opened on March 14, 1993 and was constructed to Smithsonian Institution professional standards. The facility’s mission is to preserve, advance and share the traditions, cultural heritage and artistic expression of The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Ore., as well as other Indigenous peoples.

Regular museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free for museum members, $7 for adults, $6 for senior citizens over age 60, $4.50 for students ages 13 to 18 with a student body card, $3.50 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for children age 4 and younger.

The museum announced several upcoming holiday closures, including Nov. 11 for Veterans Day, Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 for Thanksgiving, Dec. 25 for Christmas Day and Jan. 1, 2027, for New Year’s Day. Annual museum memberships start at $25 for elders and students, offering yearlong free admission, gift shop discounts and access to reciprocal museum programs across Oregon.

The exhibit opening reception is scheduled for Nov. 18, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., with the display remaining open through Feb. 20, 2027.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce awarded a $5,000 grant to the Family Access Network to support children and families in Crook County.

The grant, provided through the chamber’s Capital Grant program, will help low-income families gain access to essential resources, including food, clothing, school supplies and stable housing.

The Family Access Network connects families to essential resources by placing two dedicated advocates across seven school sites in Crook County. During the 2025-26 school year, the organization served 679 children and family members in the county.

Tasha McFarland serves as the FAN Foundation board chair. “We are very grateful for this partnership with the Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce,” McFarland said. “FAN has been serving Crook County since 2016 and thanks to the Chamber, we’ll continue to strengthen our impact on the lives of local children.”

The Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce Capital Grants program focuses on supporting business beautification, marketing with education and community projects that benefit the broader Crook County community.

Founded in Central Oregon in 1993, the Family Access Network employs 27 advocates at 65 sites across Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties. Regionally, FAN advocates assist more than 7,600 children and family members each year.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Economic Development for Central Oregon announced eight finalist companies on Monday for the 2026 Bend Venture Conference. The businesses will present on the main stage Oct. 15–16 at the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend, Ore.

Now in its 23rd year, the conference serves as the flagship event of High Desert Innovation Week, scheduled for Oct. 13–16 in Bend. Finalists in the Growth Industries and Growth Tech categories compete for funding that historically ranges from $100,000 to $2.5 million from the BVC LLC and partner venture capital funds. Since the event’s inception, participating investors have awarded more than $14 million to participating startups.

The Growth Stage competition highlights businesses that have demonstrated market traction and established operational concepts. Jon Stark, the chief executive officer of EDCO, stated that the selected companies have moved past the initial proof-of-concept phase. “What stands out about this year’s Growth Stage finalists is the progress they’ve already made and the scale of the opportunity in front of them,” Stark said. “These are founders who have moved beyond proving the concept and are now focused on building durable, growing companies. We’re excited to give them a platform to connect with the capital and expertise to support that growth.”

The Growth Industries category features companies whose primary differentiation lies in physical products, brand, science or engineering. The four finalists in this group include Aquagga, a Tacoma, Wash., company that destroys per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in industrial waste streams and groundwater and Looptworks, a Gresham, Ore., textile-to-textile recycling platform using certified recycled fiber. Joining them are Osheru, Inc., a Bend-based business that develops medical devices for surgical use and Penderia Technologies, a Eugene, Ore., startup that developed implantable orthopedic sensors based on University of Oregon research.

The Growth Tech category focuses on businesses with core innovations in software, artificial intelligence and digital platforms. The four tech finalists are Caravel Bio, a Portland, Ore., protein engineering platform; CleanHaus, a Portland-based company that manages scheduling, cleaners and contractors for short-term rental properties; Permeta, a Lake Oswego, Ore., business using artificial intelligence for energy sector permitting operations; and Zing Drone Solutions, a Pendleton, Ore., firm specializing in drone threat detection and remote identification compliance.

The Bend Venture Conference will take place Oct. 15–16 at the Tower Theatre in Bend. Tickets for the event are available online through the conference website.

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Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Students and families across Central Oregon can join people around the world Monday in recognizing the educators who help children learn, grow, and prepare for their futures.

World Teachers’ Day is observed each year on October 5th to celebrate teachers and draw attention to the support, training, and working conditions they need to succeed.

The date commemorates the adoption of the 1966 International Labour Organization and UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers. The landmark document established international standards related to teacher preparation, recruitment, employment, professional development, rights, and responsibilities.

This year’s observance marks the recommendation’s 60th anniversary. The 2026 theme is “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures.”

UNESCO says this year’s events will examine challenges affecting the status of teachers and call on communities and policymakers to protect, promote, and elevate the profession.

Teachers’ influence often extends well beyond lessons in reading, writing, math, and science. Educators also help students build confidence, explore career paths, solve problems, and navigate important stages of their lives.

For Central Oregon families, Monday offers a simple opportunity to thank a teacher, counselor, or other school employee who has made a difference.

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Felicity Desuasido

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon Community College and the Faculty Forum reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement on Friday, Oct. 2, following continued mediation between the two parties.

All classes and college operations will proceed as scheduled on Monday, Oct. 5.

The agreement resolves ongoing contract negotiations between the college administration and the union, which represents many COCC faculty members. The resolution ensures that instructional schedules remain uninterrupted for enrolled students.

Central Oregon Community College President Greg Pereira emphasized the focus on students throughout the negotiation process.

“Our students have remained our priority throughout this process and we’re pleased to have reached an agreement that allows them to continue their education,” Pereira said. “We appreciate the efforts of both bargaining teams and look forward to continuing our work together, supporting our faculty and ensuring our students have the opportunity to keep moving toward their educational goals.”

Jim Porter, chair of the COCC board of directors, highlighted the balance between faculty support and fiscal responsibility.

“This agreement represents an important investment in our faculty while ensuring the College remains financially sustainable,” Porter said. “We appreciate the efforts of both bargaining teams to reach an agreement and, most importantly, avoid disruption to our students and their education.”

Before taking effect, the tentative agreement must complete two approval steps. It requires formal ratification by members of the Faculty Forum, as well as final approval by the COCC board of directors.

College officials stated that additional details regarding the terms of the agreement and next steps in the process will be released in the coming days.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 13-year-old boy from Bend suffered critical injuries Friday evening after the e-motorcycle he was riding collided with a minivan. The crash occurred at approximately 7:58 p.m. at the intersection of NE Neff Road and 27th Street.

According to Bend Police, a white Dodge minivan was traveling northbound on 27th Street and attempted to turn left onto westbound Neff Road. The driver turned into the path of the southbound Surron e-motorcycle, which was traveling at a high rate of speed, throwing the teenager from the vehicle.

Police believe the 13-year-old rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. Bend Police noted that the Surron e-motorcycle is not street legal and is capable of reaching speeds greater than 50 mph.

The driver of the Dodge minivan, identified as a 51-year-old Bend man, remained at the scene following the crash. He cooperated with law enforcement officers and was not issued a citation.

Members of the Bend Police crash reconstruction team were called to investigate the scene. Parts of the intersection at NE Neff Road and 27th Street were closed while investigators examined the area.

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Gregory Deffenbaugh

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Dr. Charan Cline has announced he will retire after more than 30 years in education, including seven years as superintendent of the Redmond School District.

In a letter posted to the community on the district’s website, Cline said, “Serving the students, staff and community of Redmond has been one of the highest honors of my life. I am deeply grateful for the trust and support I have received along the way.”

The district’s board of directors will now search for a new superintendent. At a recent board meeting, members spoke with a consultant to help the district through the hiring process.

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Mountain View High School physics teacher Daniel Gibson received $2,000 in grant funding to purchase new laboratory equipment for his classroom.

The funding includes $1,000 from the “One Class at a Time” program—a joint initiative by MidOregon Credit Union and television station KTVZ—along with a $1,000 matching grant from the Bend La Pine School District.

The grant comes during Gibson’s first year teaching physics at Mountain View High School. Since starting the position, he has created much of his course curriculum from scratch while searching for funding for his classes.

The $2,000 total grant will fund hands-on physics laboratory equipment, enabling Gibson to conduct practical demonstrations of abstract mathematical equations. Among the planned purchases are a spinning device designed to demonstrate rotational momentum and a cannon capable of launching objects at designated angles and forces.

Gibson says these visual and physical demonstrations are how he learned advanced physics. “For me and this is kind of like one of the pillars of my philosophy of like how I teach physics. Something doesn’t click for me unless I have a physical understanding what’s actually going on in the real world. So I might be able to to do the math and get the right answer. But in order to really thread that with the conceptual understanding of what’s happening, I just need to physically see what’s going on.”

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