Category: ktvz-local-news

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Respiratory virus season is arriving in Oregon as flu activity climbs across the state. Health officials warn that while overall infection levels currently remain low, conditions could shift rapidly.

The uptick in flu activity comes as Oregon records 58 confirmed measles cases so far this year, marking the state’s highest count since 1991. State health data shows 96% of those measles cases involved individuals who were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.

Additionally, COVID-19 transmission remains elevated following a summer surge.

Dr. Dean Sidelinger serves as state health officer and epidemiologist for the Oregon Health Authority. Sidelinger urged residents to take basic health precautions as positive influenza tests rise.

“We’re already seeing an increase in positive flu tests in recent weeks. Cover your coughs and sneezes. Practice hand hygiene. Improve ventilation in indoor spaces. Stay home when you’re sick and if you’re feeling unwell. Anticipate being around individuals at higher risk for severe illness,” Sidelinger said.

COVID-19 transmission also remains elevated across Oregon following a summer surge.

Dr. Dawn Nolt, a physician at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, highlighted the increased risks for specific groups.

“Everyone can get infected, but infants, older adults and people with certain underlying health conditions are at greater risk of serious complications if they get sick. So know your family’s risk. Talk to your health care provider about prevention and what to do if anyone gets ill,” Nolt said.

Medical professionals emphasize that prevention is especially critical in Oregon’s rural communities. Dr. Leona O’Keefe, medical director for Jackson Care Connect, noted that geographic distance creates additional hurdles when illness strikes.

“Many families live far from hospitals or specialists. And that means when someone becomes seriously ill, getting care can require long travel times and additional stress. Preventing illness in the first place can make a meaningful difference for people across rural Oregon,” O’Keefe said.

Health officials recommend receiving vaccinations ahead of holiday gatherings and taking extra precautions around vulnerable individuals.

Vaccines are available through health care providers, local pharmacies, public health clinics, or by dialing 2-1-1.

Redmond, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Heart of Oregon Corps has opened a 3.4-acre youth workforce development campus in Redmond, Oregon the new facility features classrooms, a training warehouse and equipment bays.

Heart of Oregon Corps programs engage 225 children annually in growth-filled workforce development and educational opportunities. The organization’s efforts are designed to help address the negative impacts of poverty in the community.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the campus opening drew 300 attendees.

State Senator Anthony Broadman was among those who attended and spoke at the event. “We know we can do hard things in Central Oregon. We are the Heart of Oregon,” Broadman said. “And when I look out today, it’s never been clear to me that we are going to continue to lead the state on economic development and a bright future for everybody.”

This week we have some cool garden and flower pictures for you. A lovely Ornamental Pepper Plant followed by some lovely flowers along the Deschutes River ending with an arrangement of flowers that has been handed down over two generations.

Thanks to everyone who submitted photos this season, your gardens are beautiful.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Humane Society of Central Oregon is offering 50% off adoption fees for all available dogs as part of its Barktober adoption promotion.

The discount runs Thursday, Oct. 1 through Saturday, Oct. 10 and includes dogs of all ages, from puppies and adolescents to adults and seniors.

“There is no one right age to adopt,” said Amber Kostoff, HSCO Executive Director. “Some people love raising a puppy, while others are looking for an adolescent to join them on adventures or an older dog who is ready for a quieter home. Our client care team can help adopters find the dog that fits their household style.”

Each dog adoption includes spay or neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccinations, a microchip, collar, identification tag and leash.

Adopters also receive a complimentary health exam at a participating local veterinary clinic, food to help their new pet transition home, a toys-and-treats goodie box and special offers from local pet businesses.

HSCO says its standard adoption process still applies, and required dog licensing fees are separate from the adoption fee.

The seasonal adoption promotions are designed to make adopting pets more accessible by providing financial assistance and pet care support.

So far in 2026, HSCO has facilitated 754 adoptions, helping animals move from the shelter into homes throughout the community.

HSCO says its kennels are currently at capacity, making additional shelter space important for meeting a variety of community needs, including housing stray animals, accommodating court-ordered pet holds, accepting owner surrenders and providing urgent care for pets in crisis.

Available dogs can be viewed at hsco.org.

HSCO is located at 61170 SE 27th St. in Bend and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Redmond, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Dry Canyon Arts Association presented a $40,000 donation to the Redmond School District’s JumpStart Art Program during a check presentation Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Terrebonne Community School.

This marks the third consecutive year the arts organization has funded the JumpStart program. Through the initiative, a local artist serves as an Artist in Residence at a district elementary school, giving kindergarten through fifth-grade students hands-on opportunities to learn creative processes and techniques from a professional artist.

The donation ceremony took place in front of a school mural created during the previous school year. Artist in Residence Judy Rosenthal led students in grades three through five in completing the project.

Linda Seeberg, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning for the Redmond School District, highlighted the importance of arts programming in public education. “Education is more than just reading, writing and arithmetic. It is also those enriching experiences that may spark an interest for a student and lead to a lifetime of opportunity,” Seeberg said. Seeberg added that community partnerships are vital to maintaining these programs. “We are so grateful for the Dry Canyon Arts Association and the work they continue to do to find ways to keep this partnership going,” Seeberg said. “We hope this partnership continues for many years to come and perhaps even expands to other levels. This is truly a great gift to our students and our community and we thank them for their continued support.”

Beyond its direct financial contribution, the organization raises additional funds for JumpStart across all district elementary schools through art raffles held during its events. Members donate original artwork for each show, with approximately 60 pieces donated per event ahead of a Sunday afternoon raffle drawing.

Fundraising from recent raffles includes approximately $4,000 from last spring’s event and nearly $5,000 from the fall show last year. Association organizers aim to surpass those totals at upcoming events to fund art education across the district.

The Dry Canyon Arts Association will host its annual Fall Art Show & Sale on Nov. 14 and 15 at Obsidian Middle School. The event will feature a community art raffle with member-donated artwork, with all proceeds directly funding the JumpStart Art Program.

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded more than $9 million in grant funding this week to fire departments and first responder organizations across Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

The funding is designed to help local organizations obtain the staff, equipment and operational support needed for emergency response and firefighter safety. The latest awards bring the total fire grant funding provided to Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington this year to more than $23 million. Across the United States, FEMA has distributed $648 million through its three fire grant programs this year.

FEMA is administering the funds through its Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program, which provides financial support to hire firefighters as well as assist with recruitment and retention. FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton emphasized the role of first responders in community resilience. “Firefighters and other first responders are everyday heroes, helping their neighbors and communities when they need it most,” Hamilton said. “Through this grant funding, FEMA is building the capability of these local organizations to respond to disasters and emergencies. By empowering fire departments to get the staff, training and equipment they need, FEMA is strengthening the resilience of American communities nationwide.”

In Washington, three fire agencies received grant allocations this week. South Kitsap Fire and Rescue in Port Orchard and Spokane County Fire District nine in Mead each received more than $1.7 million. Additionally, North Whidbey Fire and Rescue in Oak Harbor received $1 million.

In Idaho, the Boise Fire Department in Boise was awarded more than $2.3 million. In Oregon, two agencies received funding, with the Scio Rural Fire District in Scio and the Umatilla Rural Fire Protection District in Umatilla each securing more than $1.1 million.

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed a lawsuit today against the Trump administration challenging the repeal of federal limits on power plant pollution. The legal action opposes the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to dismantle 2024 regulations that required coal- and gas-fired power plants to reduce carbon emissions.

Rayfield filed the lawsuit alongside attorneys general from 19 other states, the District of Columbia, the governor of Pennsylvania and municipal leaders from New York City, Chicago and Denver.

The repealed rules targeted power plants, which account for roughly a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. The coalition argues that the EPA violated federal law by eliminating the limits without adequately calculating the climate and public health costs, rendering the decision arbitrary and capricious.

Oregon Rayfield emphasized the regional environmental and health consequences driving the legal challenge. “Oregonians know what a changing climate looks like. We’ve lived through the heat dome and summers where the smoke was so thick our kids couldn’t play outside,” Rayfield said. “Pollution doesn’t stop at state lines and power plants are one of the biggest sources of it. The law requires EPA to do something about that. Instead, the Trump Administration is letting the biggest polluters off the hook and leaving families to pay the price.”

The lawsuit details several public health and economic risks associated with increased carbon emissions. According to the filing, higher pollution levels lead to more frequent heat waves and severe weather events, including heavy flooding and wildfire smoke. These conditions disproportionately impact low-income communities, older adults and children while increasing recovery expenses for local governments.

Separately, the coalition issued a formal notice of intent to sue the EPA over its failure to regulate existing natural gas power plants. Although the agency set emission standards for new gas plants more than a decade ago, it has never established similar rules for existing facilities, including high-demand “peaker” plants, as required under the Clean Air Act.

The lawsuit asks the federal court to overturn the repeal and reinstate the 2024 emission regulations for power plants. The states’ formal notice gives the EPA required lead time before the coalition files its separate lawsuit regarding existing gas-fired facilities.

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Gov. Tina Kotek led a coalition of five governors Thursday in requesting additional time from federal officials to implement upcoming Medicaid regulations set to take effect Jan. One.

The joint request to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seeks to delay the implementation schedule for policy changes enacted under President Donald Trump’s H.R. one to prevent disruptions in health coverage.

The letter was signed by governors from Oregon, Calif., Maine, N.Y. and Virginia. With fewer than 100 days remaining before the new federal rules take effect, notices warning residents about potential shifts in coverage have already begun arriving in mailboxes.

About one-third of Oregon families depend on Medicaid, which operates locally as the Oregon Health Plan. State leaders contend that a timeline extension is needed to reduce administrative barriers that could cause eligible residents to lose coverage.

Oregon officials are rapidly training eligibility workers and distributing information to health care providers and families across the state as they coordinate a statewide response. Gov. Kotek emphasized that state agencies are attempting to maintain coverage for eligible residents despite new administrative requirements.

“One-third of Oregon families – including seniors, disabled Oregonians and children – rely on Medicaid, which is the Oregon Health Plan. We’re working to ensure people who are eligible have a pathway to stay insured,” Kotek said. “The new rules institute additional administrative barriers that will lead to people losing their health care. That is why we are proactively getting information out to families and providers now and rapidly training eligibility workers as we coordinate our response to the changes across the state.”

The multi-state request follows a previous effort in May 2026, when Kotek and five other governors signed a letter urging federal officials to revise proposed implementation timelines and clarify ambiguous regulations. That earlier communication requested immediate written guidance, administrative flexibility and final rules aligned with early policy directions before taking effect. Federal officials did not grant those requests.

In the latest letter, the governors stated that extending the timeline would allow states to implement the federal law responsibly and ensure the new requirements are clear and navigable for Medicaid recipients.

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — October marks Fire Prevention Month in Oregon and state fire officials are warning residents about the growing hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries.

To address the issue, the Oregon State Fire Marshal is partnering with the National Fire Protection Association on a public safety campaign titled “Charge into Fire Safety.”

The campaign follows new data from the agency’s Center for Fire Analytics, Intelligence and Research showing that Oregon fire departments responded to 649 lithium-ion battery-involved fires from 2020 to 2025.

Incidents involving the high-energy batteries increased at an average rate of 19% annually over that five-year span. In 2025 alone, firefighters responded to 161 battery-related fires, more than double the total reported in 2020.

Mariana Ruiz-Temple serves as the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Ruiz-Temple highlighted the risks associated with everyday household electronics, including cellphones, laptops, power tools and e-bikes, noting that damaged or improperly charged devices can quickly trigger severe fires. “As lithium-ion batteries become more common in homes and garages, we’re seeing a steady rise in fires linked to damaged or improperly charged devices,” Ruiz-Temple said. “Lithium-ion batteries are safe when used correctly. This October, we’re asking Oregonians to take charge of fire safety by learning how to charge their devices the right way.”

Fire officials recommend several safety precautions to reduce the risk of battery-related blazes. Devices should only be charged using the cord and charger supplied by the manufacturer or specifically approved for the device. Officials also advise placing electronics on hard, flat surfaces while charging rather than on beds, couches or under pillows where heat can build up. Devices should be unplugged once fully charged and users should immediately stop using any item that feels very hot, swells, smokes or emits an unusual odor.

For larger equipment, such as e-bikes, electric scooters and power tools, officials recommend charging outside and away from building exits. Because larger batteries store more energy, fires involving them can spread more rapidly and block escape routes. For air travel, officials advise passengers to keep charging devices in sight, avoid charging items in overhead bins and never charge e-cigarettes or vapes aboard aircraft.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal has worked to protect life, property and the environment from fire and hazardous materials since 1917. The department officially became an independent state agency in 2023.