Category: ktvz-local-news

Claire Elmer

Update: KTVZ’s Claire Elmer spoke with some of the people who help make the High Desert Stampede possible. Tune in for more Thursday on KTVZ News at 4:00 p.m.

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The High Desert Stampede has returned for its ninth year at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond, Ore. The event features world-champion competitors and a lineup of traditional rodeo events designed for a modern audience.

Sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in late 2017, the High Desert Stampede is currently recognized as the fastest-growing rodeo in the United States. The production focuses on a fast-paced format that has helped it become one of the top-rated rodeos in the country.

The First Interstate Bank Center arena, where the rodeo is held, has a capacity of up to 4,000 people. Organizers noted that the event serves as an economic driver for Central Oregon, drawing fans from across the region who travel to Redmond for the performances. This high demand often leads to sold-out shows, with the 2022 event reaching standing-room-only capacity.

Jessi Jackson serves as the director of the High Desert Stampede and oversees the production’s modern approach to the sport. Jackson noted that the program is designed to be fast-paced while incorporating high-production elements:

“We pack our performance full of really fantastic contestants, and we keep it moving really fast,” Jackson said. “It’s a very fast-paced rodeo. We have our visiting royalty and our rodeo queens coming. So you’re going to get to see them ride really fast in the arena. And you’re going to see lights and lasers and fire. And we try to highlight a different part of either rodeo or our community and give thanks to, like, our first responders or military. So you’re going to see a little bit of everything during our rodeo.”

The High Desert Stampede has earned national recognition despite being one of the younger rodeos in the country. It was awarded the 2019 Medium Rodeo of the Year for the Columbia River Circuit. The event’s directors initially set a goal of establishing the production as one of the top 60 rodeos nationwide within its first few years of operation.

The organization navigated several challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the cancellation of the 2020 rodeo due to statewide lockdowns. In September 2020, the High Desert Stampede partnered with Bridwell Pro Rodeos, Sisters Rodeo and Crooked River Roundup to produce the Cascade Chute Out.

This outdoor event was held at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Juniper Arena to provide athletes with opportunities to qualify for circuit finals. In March 2021, the rodeo returned to its indoor venue at the First Interstate Bank Center using a specialized safety plan. This arrangement involved creating eight separate and physically partitioned venues within the arena to comply with health orders.

By 2022, the program expanded to include three full performances and a rough stock special section. The event has also established new community traditions, such as the crowning of its first rodeo queen. Linnae Roeder was named the inaugural Miss High Desert Stampede in 2023.

Organizers emphasized that tickets for the performances tend to sell out quickly and encouraged fans to purchase them in advance.

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Tracee Tuesday

Senator Ron Wyden joined KTVZ’s 5 PM broadcast for a LIVE in-studio interview. You’ll see it in the next slide above, or embedded in the article below.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Local and state leaders gathered at Bend City Hall Wednesday afternoon alongside U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden to push back against federal efforts they say could restrict mail-in voting, a system long used across Oregon.

The press conference comes as former President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans promote the SAVE Act and other measures that critics argue could limit vote-by-mail access nationwide. One major point of concern raised Wednesday was a recent executive order aimed at tightening restrictions on mail-in voting.

Wyden, joined by Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler, State Rep. Emerson Levy and Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang emphasized Oregon’s decades-long track record of conducting elections primarily by mail.

Redmond City Councilor Kathryn Osborne pointed to research supporting the system.

“There’s been a lot of research done on mail-in voting,” Osborne said. “Those data points have come back that mail-in voting is free, secure and fair, and that has been validated numerous times by many organizations.”

Rep.Emerson Levy (D) sought to reassure voters that no immediate changes are in place.

“Right now, mail-in voting remains exactly the same,” she said. “I want voters to know that their ballot is going to arrive and they should send it as usual. And we hope that we will continue to have a good, strong turnout.”

Wyden criticized the push for new restrictions, calling it a political distraction and defending Oregon’s system as a model for increasing voter participation.

He also claimed Oregonians remain focused on broader issues, including health care and government transparency, while continuing to support vote-by-mail.

Oregon has conducted elections entirely by mail for more than two decades, using secure drop boxes, postal delivery and ballot tracking systems designed to ensure access and integrity.

Local officials said they plan to continue defending the system, which they argue expands participation, especially in rural communities like Central Oregon.

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Spencer Sacks

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Redmond School District is considering two proposals to change school attendance boundary lines following a 2% growth in student population over the last two years. The district is the only one among the state’s 20 largest to see an increase in enrollment.

Enrollment Growth Exceeds Capacity

The growth has pushed several local schools beyond their intended limits. Sage Elementary is currently operating at 102% capacity, while John Tuck Elementary has reached 104% capacity. The proposed boundary adjustments are designed to balance the student population across the district’s facilities.

Redmond is currently the only school district among the 20 largest in the state to show enrollment gains. While other large districts have seen declines or stagnation, Redmond experienced a 2.1% growth rate this year. Officials noted that as housing developments have expanded, the distribution of residents has become uneven compared to current school boundaries.

Projected Growth Over the Next Decade

The capacity issues are expected to increase over the next decade based on district projections. Sage Elementary is forecast to reach 120% capacity by 2030 and 126% by 2035. Tom McCall Elementary is projected to hit 121% capacity by 2030 and 129% by 2035.

District Response and Overflow Adjustments

Dr. Charan Cline, Redmond School District superintendent, explained that the district has already been forced to adjust how it moves students between facilities. “We had to create overflow patterns where we’re moving children from one school to another simply because of capacity issues,” Cline said.

Parent Concerns Over Crowding

Parents in the district have expressed concern regarding the impact of crowding on student performance. Hank Lutz is a parent of a student at Sage Elementary. “It’s going to affect all the parents that have kids,” Lutz said. “I mean, parents have to work. They have to have their kids in school. And the more that the school has to take on, the harder is going to be to, educate the kids properly.”

Impact on Daily School Operations

The proposed boundary changes would also alter the daily operations of some schools. Vern Patrick Elementary School currently functions as a walking school, meaning every student lives within walking distance of the campus. Under the new proposals, the school would begin using buses to transport students from outer areas to balance the population.

Planning for the Future

Cline stated that the boundary adjustments are intended to serve as a 10-year fix while the district monitors long-term housing trends. “We’ve planned out a lot for future developments, taking a look at where things are going to go and work through that,” Cline said. “It should handle the problem for about 10 years. In about 10 years, will be needing to look at, whether we need to build a new elementary or not.”

Next Steps for the School Board

The school board will meet in the coming weeks to decide on a course of action. Members will choose between two specific boundary proposals known as the Juniper Plan and the Ponderosa Plan.

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Matthew Draxton

SALEM, ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon DMV issued a warning Wednesday regarding a text message phishing scam targeting drivers. The fraudulent messages falsely claim that recipients owe money for unpaid tolls, license suspensions or traffic violations.

Scammers are sending these messages across the country to lure residents to fake websites designed to look like official government pages. These counterfeit sites are used to steal personal and financial information from individuals who believe they are settling official debts.

The fraudulent messages often include alarming language such as “urgent notice,” “violation” or “final enforcement.” Some texts warn that a driver’s license or vehicle registration will be suspended or that fines will increase if the recipient does not pay immediately. These messages contain links to fake websites that attempt to collect credit card or personal information.

Official state agencies emphasized that they do not use these methods for collections or notifications. Chris Crabb, public information officer for the Oregon DMV, stated that the agency does not solicit payments through unsolicited digital communications. “ODOT and DMV will never ask you to pay through a text message, email, phone call or third-party website,” Crabb said. “Scammers try to scare you into acting quickly. Do not reply, click links or share payment or personal information. Block the number and delete the text.”

To protect themselves, residents are advised to avoid clicking links or replying to any unexpected text messages claiming to be from the state. Officials suggest reporting scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) and filing a formal report with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Reporting the messages directly to ODOT or the DMV is not required.

For individuals who have already interacted with a scam link or provided personal data, the state recommends changing passwords and monitoring accounts for suspicious activity. Any unrecognized charges should be disputed with financial institutions. Victims are also encouraged to file a customer complaint with the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection division.

Drivers who are unsure about the legitimacy of a message can contact ODOT at one-888-Ask-ODOT or the DMV at 503-945-5000. Further information about fraud prevention is available at oregondmv.com.

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Matthew Draxton

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission approved the final 2026 Oregon Recreational Trails Plan during its February meeting. The 10-year plan establishes priorities for grant funding and outlines actions to improve non-motorized, motorized and water trails on public land across the state.

The plan addresses emerging trends and issues facing the state’s trail systems. According to department data, more than 80% of Oregonians use trails annually, which generates over $890 million in spending at local businesses and supports the state’s overall economy.

The plan provides guidance for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department as well as federal, state and local agencies. Private sector partners also use the document to coordinate trail management. It covers non-motorized trails for hiking, biking and equestrian use, alongside motorized ATV trails and snowmobile trails. The document further includes non-motorized boating and water trails.

Information for the 10-year strategy was collected from multiple sources, including statewide surveys of recreation providers and trail users conducted in October 2024 and April 2025. Planners also incorporated feedback from focus groups and workshops held during the 2024 and 2025 Oregon Outdoor Recreation Summits. Additional data came from the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, which is published every five years.

To support the implementation of the new plan, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department launched a technical resources website for recreation and trail planning. Jessica Horning, the statewide trails planner for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, highlighted the collaborative nature of the development process.

“We appreciate the time and energy trail users and partners have put into helping us develop the next trails plan, which will guide investments to make our trails even better in the future,” Horning said.

Oregon State Parks staff will now update the Recreational Trails Program and ATV grant criteria to align with the 2026 plan. These updated criteria will be applied to the next solicitation period for both grant programs in fall 2026.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — On Tuesday, Think Wild Central Oregon was paid a special visit.

Staff from Whole Foods Market spent the day volunteering at the nonprofit wildlife hospital.

In a Facebook post, Think Wild said in part, “We are seriously impressed with how much this group got done, including a duckling fence enclosure, large mammal enclosure repairs, a new paver station, wash station painting, tumbleweed removal (an uphill battle), and more. We love volunteer groups! If your organization or business is interested in coming out, we’d love to have you.”

If you’re interested in volunteering and helping out the animal patients at Think Wild, just email volunteer@thinkwildco.org.

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Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Happening now at Redmond Municipal Airport, donation collection has been suspended.

You may remember from our reporting, community members and businesses have been dropping off donations at the airport for TSA workers–from gift cards to fresh meals. This, as the partial government shutdown had TSA agents working without pay for weeks.

Now, RDM made the announcement that it can no longer accept donations like these, saying, in part, “Thank you, Redmond community, for the incredible generosity you’ve shown during our Neighbor‑to‑Neighbor Care Drive in support of TSA employees. Your kindness over the past few weeks has made a difference for the wellbeing of our TSA team, and we are so grateful for every donation and every gesture of support. We’ve been notified that, pending the executive order to pay TSA workers, we are required to suspend all donation collections at this time.”

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Triton Notary

DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) The Deschutes Trails Coalition announced today that it is accepting applications for its 2026 Small Project Grant program. The initiative will award up to $30,000 to support multiple trail-focused projects within the Deschutes National Forest and Deschutes County.

The grant program is designed to fund small-scale projects that maintain or restore existing trails in Central Oregon. This funding supports the coalition’s mission of ensuring trail sustainability through its “Four Pillars” of environmental, economic, physical and social values.

Project proposals are eligible if they occur on or impact publicly accessible trails within Deschutes County. The grant also covers portions of the Deschutes National Forest that extend into neighboring counties. The coalition specifically encourages applications for projects that maintain or restore existing trail infrastructure.

The Deschutes Trails Coalition is composed of representatives from conservation, business, tourism and trail-user communities. These members collaborate to develop recommendations for creating and envisioning a sustainable trail system throughout the Central Oregon region.

The organization operates under four pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic, physical and social. All coalition goals and trail improvements are driven by these core values.

Specific organizational objectives include instilling a stewardship ethic in both local residents and visitors. The coalition also aims to increase community recognition of its role in sustaining regional trails.

The grant program also seeks to promote equitable access for underrepresented communities to ensure positive trail experiences for all users. Furthermore, the coalition works to encourage community and visitor investment that reflects the social and economic value of the trail system.

Grant applications must be submitted by May 22, 2026. The Deschutes Trails Coalition has made the official request for proposal and application forms available on its website.

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Triton Notary

DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) Central Oregon law enforcement agencies reported no fatal or serious-injury crashes during a three-day safety enforcement period that concluded Friday, March 27. The operation, known as the Spring Break Blitz, resulted in 13 arrests for driving under the influence of intoxicants and more than 550 traffic stops.

The coordinated effort was organized by the Central Oregon Multi-Agency Traffic Team (MATT) to promote safe driving during one of the region’s busiest travel periods. Participating agencies included five Deschutes County law enforcement departments, the Oregon State Police Bend Area Command and the Oregon State Police High Visibility Enforcement Unit.

During the three-day operation from March 25-27 officers issued 275 violation citations and provided 473 warnings to motorists. High-visibility patrols were positioned throughout Central Oregon to monitor behaviors most commonly associated with severe and fatal collisions.

Speeding was the most frequent violation identified during the blitz, accounting for 298 of the stops. Enforcement also recorded 128 lane-departure violations, 36 instances of distracted driving involving cellphones, 34 seat belt or occupant-protection violations and 31 cases of drivers operating a vehicle with a suspended license.

The Central Oregon MATT is a multi-agency team consisting of deputies, officers and troopers who combine resources to prevent serious traffic incidents. The participating groups include the Oregon State Police Bend Area Command and the Oregon State Police High Visibility Enforcement Unit.

Local law enforcement agencies and the Oregon State Police issued a statement thanking the community for their support and commitment to safe driving. The agencies stated that these combined efforts are intended to reduce crashes and ensure residents and visitors travel safely.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After emotional statements by a now-11-year-old boy and the Sunriver-area woman accused of severely abusing and neglecting him, a Deschutes County judge sentenced Sarah Session on Tuesday to more than 17 years in prison. Her parents also now face prison and jail time.

But first, Circuit Judge Alison Emerson, who convicted Session and her parents last month after a three-week trial, told her small, full courtroom something else that was on her mind, after hearing all the awful testimony about a boy who recovered video showed was kept locked up and alone in a tarp-covered room, tied to a chair while unconscious, assaulted and even forced to eat his own vomit. 

“I’m a little troubled by the fact that (the boy, who KTVZ News is not identifying) is now 11, has been interviewed multiple times.” And Emerson said as far as she could tell, she said: “At no point did anyone say ‘sorry’ to him.” 

So the judge told the boy: “I’m sorry. I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m sorry you went through this trauma.” 

“At any point, if any of the caregivers had intervened, this would have a far different case,” Emerson said, adding that if not “for a detective finding all those videos, it would have been a very difficult case. I’m not sure anyone would have believed him.” 

Earlier, Deputy District Attorney Stacy Neil made a similar point in outlining her sentencing recommendation, pointing to “another level of cruelty” committed by Session, and noting that in calls from jail – even after the verdict – Session still showed no remorse and said, “I did nothing wrong. This isn’t fair.” 

Judge Emerson said the defendants were “lucky that the medical providers at OHSU are some of the best in the world – otherwise, the kid could be brain-damaged, or dead. So you are all quite lucky you are here only on these charges.” 

Session, 34 received a 212-month (17 1/2-year) sentence for second- and third-degree assault and several criminal mistreatment charges. Her mother, Paula Hardenburg, convicted of second-degree assault and other charges, faces nearly six years in prison, while her father, Gary Hardenburg, convicted of first- and second-degree criminal mistreatment, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with credit for time served. Both parents also were convicted of tampering with evidence.

All three face three years of post-prison supervision or supervised probation, during which they are not allowed to have any contact with the child victim, or with other minors, unless approved by a judge – and under supervision. 

The boy, who testified in person during the trial, spoke in a small but strong voice by phone at Tuesday’s sentencing. 

After his father left, the child said he was not allowed to speak with him, and that Session “called him a monster. … You took your anger out on me by beating on me.” 

“You forced me to eat my own vomit,” he said. “You beat me, you lied to me. … I wish I didn’t have to live with the horrible flashbacks of what you did to me at that house. I will need therapy for the rest of my life. … Even though I have a good support system, I still carry all this with me.” 

The boy added, “I have to relive the feeling of you choking me and hitting my head against the wall. It makes me angry and scared.” 

But the boy – referred to this day as an impressive survivor – now says, “I hope to be a lawyer,” to bring justice for others facing such awful situations. He went to say that one day, his stepmother will “have to answer to Jesus and explain what you did to me.” 

Soon, Session stood and read her printed statement, saying she was “embarrassed, humiliated and deeply sorry” for what she had said and done. 

But the special ed teacher chastised by her ex-husband for her lack of remorse added, “The things I said are inexcusable, and I take full responsibility for them. But I did not try to kill or harm (her stepson). I tried to get him the help he needed. While I did not commit all the crimes I am accused of, I am deeply sorry.” 

Session asked the judge to still be allowed to speak to her biological children, who she said “are unsafe and need support.” 

Session’s father, Gary Hardenburg, admitted that he “failed” his grandson and “should have been more observant” as to what was happening. 

Before adjourning the sentencing, Judge Emerson had one more thing to tell the boy.

“Good luck to you,” she said. “I hope life treats you well.”

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