Category: ktvz-local-news

Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Cascade Seventh-day Adventist Church will host God’s Closet this Sunday. From 9 a.m. till 1 p.m, they’re offering free clothing for children. The distribution includes items for both boys and girls, with sizes ranging from newborn to age 12.

The church hosts the free clothing giveaway twice a year to assist local families. Everyone who attends receives one bag per child and can fill it with needed clothing items.

Julie Ward, a volunteer with the event, highlighted the impact the giveaway has on both attendees and church workers. “It gives us great joy,” Ward said. “The, the receiving that people have that makes a difference in their lives. We really are making a difference. And we hear that from people.”

In addition to distributing clothes, God’s Closet welcomes community donations of used children’s clothing. All donated items are processed to go directly back to families who need them.

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Gregory Deffenbaugh

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend Police Department has released their quarterly report and according to the department, compared to previous years, crime is down and / or flat across the city.

The report, which is posted below, highlights crimes against people, property and society, which all saw declines compared to the previous year.

It is also important to note that calls for service were flat, compared to last year.

As Bend’s population continues to grow, the police department has been focused on community policing, which was highlighted in their report and participating in National Night Out.

Q3-Report-2026Download

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Gregory Deffenbaugh

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — KTVZ News has learned through online court documents the semi-truck driver, Rajinder Kumar, who was involved in a deadly crash that killed a newlywed couple William Micah Carter and Jennifer Lower Carter in 2025, has a warrant out for his arrest.

On Thursday, Judge Wells Ashby issued the bench warrant.

As of our last reporting, Kumar was in ICE custody in Tacoma, Washington and was in the process of being deported back to India.

Kumar’s trial is schedule for Jan. 19, 2027.

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Gregory Deffenbaugh

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity was awarded $5.065 million in state LIFT Homeownership funding today to support the construction of 33 permanently affordable homes in Bend, Ore.

The homes will be built on surplus land provided through a partnership with Bend-La Pine Schools.

The funding was approved by the Oregon Housing Stability Council for two separate developments: Stone Creek Commons and Skyline Crossing.

Twenty-five of the planned units will receive direct support from LIFT funding to serve households earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income.

Stone Creek Commons, located next to Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend, recently celebrated a groundbreaking. The development will feature 18 duplex-style townhomes, with 10 homes serving households earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income and eight homes designated for households earning up to 120% of the Area Median Income.

Skyline Crossing will add 15 detached cottage homes on surplus school district land near Summit High School. All 15 homes will serve households earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income. Bend-La Pine Schools employees will receive preference during the initial homebuyer application period for both developments.

The partnership developed from ongoing workforce recruitment challenges facing the school district. Steven Cook, superintendent of Bend-La Pine Schools, explained that housing costs created obstacles for incoming staff. “This is a conversation that started maybe five years ago,” Cook said. “We were struggling. We had some staff that we’d offered jobs to who couldn’t make it work financially. They just could not find housing in the area. And we said, ‘We’ve got to figure out a way to be part of the solution.’”

Bend CEO Carly Colgan-Redmond Habitat for Humanity, noted that combining public funds with community support addresses the regional housing gap. “This is exactly the kind of investment that makes affordable homeownership possible in a market like Bend,” Colgan said. “Bend-La Pine Schools brought land to the table, the state is providing critical LIFT funding and our community helps us close the remaining gap. Together, we’re creating homeownership opportunities that working households can actually afford.”

Market data underlines the financial pressure on local workers. According to the City of Bend’s 2025 State of Housing Report, a household needed an annual income of more than $204,000 to afford the average home sold in Bend. A typical Habitat buyer earning below 80% of the Area Median Income earns roughly $25 to $30 an hour. Under Habitat’s purchasing model, buyers purchase homes with affordable mortgages based on income and no down payment, resulting in monthly mortgage payments between $1,500 and $2,000.

Both developments will utilize a community land trust model to preserve long-term affordability for future buyers. The structures are planned to meet Earth Advantage Platinum standards, incorporating solar panels and energy-efficiency features to maintain low monthly utility costs. The LIFT Homeownership program is administered by Oregon Housing and Community Services using state bond funding.

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Kelsey Merison

MALHEUR NATIONAL FOREST, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Emigrant Creek Ranger District of the Malheur National Forest plans to begin prescribed fire operations tomorrow, October 3rd, pending required approvals.

The work is expected to continue through the fall, as weather conditions allow.

Crews plan to burn about 2,600 acres in the Marshall Divine unit, about one mile east of Idlewild Campground, off Forest Service Road 2820.

Officials say prescribed burns help reduce overgrown vegetation and protect communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfire.

Areas may be closed during burn operations, and the public should watch for warning signs. Smoke may also be visible in the area.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Today, October 2nd, is National Custodian Day—a chance to recognize the people working behind the scenes to keep schools clean, safe, and welcoming.

Bend-La Pine Schools says, from classrooms and hallways to every corner of the building, custodians help create a place where students and staff can learn and thrive. So today, it’s saying ‘thank you’ to all the custodians who work hard every day to keep it’s schools running.

Happy National Custodian Day!

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Kelsey Merison

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and you may notice some Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District crews looking a little brighter.

Throughout the month, crews will be wearing pink “Courage in Every Fight” shirts in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The fire district says the shirts are a show of support for those currently fighting breast cancer, survivors, families, and those who have lost loved ones.

Crews are also using the month to help raise awareness and encourage early detection.

The fire district says they wear pink for everyone impacted by breast cancer — and to remind the community that no one has to face the fight alone.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bureau of Land Management is accepting applications for special recreation permits to provide commercial river services on the Lower Crooked River and Lower Deschutes River in Oregon. The application window opened Oct. 1, 2026 and closes Oct. 30, 2026.

The agency will award up to four new permits for 100 miles of the Lower Deschutes Wild and Scenic River. Up to two new permits will be awarded for the eight-mile Chimney Rock Segment of the Lower Crooked Wild and Scenic River.

The designated Wild and Scenic Rivers are managed to maintain recreational access while protecting environmental features, including fisheries, wildlife and hydrology. The limited number of available permits is structured to balance public recreation with resource protection.

Deschutes Field Manager Lisa Clark noted that commercial outfitters help broaden public access to the waterways. “We see visitors coming from around the world to explore these beautiful rivers for a variety of reasons,” Clark said. “Commercial guides can offer experiences like rafting, fishing and paddleboarding for a range of audiences from youth to visitors requiring a more accessible opportunity in a safe, professional and sustainable manner.”

Application materials are available on the Bureau of Land Management Prineville website or by calling the Prineville District Office. Separate applications are required for each river. Completed submissions must be delivered to the Bureau of Land Management Prineville District, Deschutes Field Office, no later than 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2026. Incomplete submissions will not be considered, according to permit lead Katie Gosses.

Successful applicants will be authorized to begin using their permits during the 2027 season.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Are you looking for something to do this weekend in Central Oregon? Adrielle Hasara highlights three local events, from the return of “The Patch with a View” in Redmond to Bend Fall Festival, happening this coming weekend.

For many more and to submit your own events, visit https://events.ktvz.com.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crook County Public Health is advising residents to take precautions to protect their families and pets after rabies was recently detected in a local bat in Crook County, Ore. Health officials noted that rabies has been found in bats throughout the state, making awareness and preventive measures critical.

Rabies is a serious viral disease primarily transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. It can spread to humans and pets through a bite or if an infected bat is eaten by another animal.

Camille Day, deputy director of Crook County Health & Human Services, emphasized that local precautions can significantly lower the risk of infection. “Rabies is preventable and there are some simple things you can do to reduce your risk of exposure,” Day said. Health officials advise residents to avoid contact with bats regardless of whether the animals appear healthy, sick, alive or dead and to keep children and pets away from them.

Oregon law requires rabies vaccinations for all dogs and cats. Under state law, pets should receive their initial rabies vaccination between three and 6 months of age, followed by a booster shot one year later and additional boosters every three years thereafter.

To prevent bats from entering living spaces, health officials recommend installing and maintaining screens on windows and doors. Residents are also advised not to feed or handle stray animals or wildlife. If a bat is seen flying during the day, found inside a building, or discovered on the ground unable to fly, residents should keep children and pets away and contact a local wildlife control operator through the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

If a person or pet comes into contact with a bat, or if anyone is bitten by an animal, the incident should be reported immediately to Crook County Public Health at 541-447-5165 (select option three). Reports can be submitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Further information on rabies prevention is available from the Oregon Health Authority and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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