Category: ktvz-local-news

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Board of Forestry Governance Committee will meet virtually at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. Members of the public can join the meeting online using the Zoom video conference information provided on the agenda.

The committee’s agenda includes a board self-evaluation listed as Addendum G. As a standing board committee, the group is tasked with recommending policies or policy updates to the full board regarding governance issues and administrative processes.

The committee manages the Board Policy Manual and leads the orientation and training of new board members. It also oversees board evaluation and improvement efforts while maintaining the repository of board materials.

In addition, the committee maintains oversight of written conflict of interest policies and procedures. This role includes reviewing annual or special statements submitted by board members.

The committee members are Ben Deumling, Heath Curtiss and Liz Agpaoa.

Accommodations for individuals with disabilities, as well as special materials, services or assistance, can be arranged prior to the meeting by emailing boardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Applications have opened on a first-come, first-served basis for homes at the Antler community in Redmond. RootedHomes announced a $25,000 price reduction on selected units for eligible buyers.

Antler is a mixed-income community in Redmond that includes energy-efficient homes. The development features affordable options for households earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income, as well as units for households earning between 80% and 120% AMI.

Under the updated pricing structure, prices for households earning at or below 80% AMI have dropped by $25,000. A two-bedroom, 1.5-bath accessible duplex is now priced at $238,000 down from $263,000. Three-bedroom, two-bath duplexes were reduced from $294,000 to $269,000, while three-bedroom, two-bath single-family homes decreased from $340,000 to $315,000. For households earning between 80% and 120% AMI, three-bedroom, two-bath single-family homes are available for $399,000.

Milo Chan has joined the RootedHomes team as a licensed Oregon Real Estate Broker, offering one-on-one home tours for prospective buyers. Chan brings more than 13 years of real estate experience in Central Oregon, having previously spent nine years with High Desert Realty in Bend. He was named Listing Broker of the Year in 2023.

Juliana Posada leads upcoming “Pathways to Affordable Homeownership” information sessions for RootedHomes. The sessions provide details on program operations, community land trust structures, eligibility requirements and the application process for potential buyers.

Transportation for residents in Bend and Redmond is supported by Cascades East Transit. In Redmond, the agency operates Flex Routes A and B with connections to Redmond Airport, as well as public Dial-A-Ride service. CET also operates fixed-route buses in Bend and Community Connector routes linking Bend, Redmond, Sisters, La Pine, Madras, Prineville and Warm Springs.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Think Wild, a nonprofit organization, is seeking volunteers to assist with beaver habitat restoration across Central Oregon. The recruitment effort comes as the organization’s Beaver Works Oregon program expands its restoration season.

The extension of the restoration season follows disruptions to previous summer projects caused by wildfires and smoke in the region.

Volunteers with the program will build and maintain beaver dam analogs. These structures are designed to slow water flow, improve habitat and support local wildlife.

No previous experience is required to participate in the restoration work. Think Wild provides training for all accepted volunteers.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — A screen-printing workshop inviting community members to create advocacy art is scheduled to take place in Bend on Sept. 16.

The event will focus on making wearable messages while allowing participants to connect with others through the creative process.

The workshop will run from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Alma Dorada, located on Northwest Oregon Avenue.

More information about the event is available on the City of Bend’s website.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Partners In Care will host its annual Light Up A Life community bereavement event on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Bend, Ore. The gathering is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, located at 61980 Skyline Ranch Road.

The event provides a space for community members to gather in remembrance of loved ones who have died. Attendance is free and open to all members of the public, regardless of whether they have previously received services from Partners In Care. A livestream option will also be offered for those unable to attend in person.

The gathering will feature a luminaria walk, live music and a name-reading ceremony recognizing individuals who have passed away. Refreshments will be provided for attendees. Community members wishing to have their loved ones recognized during the ceremony can submit names and photos online at www.PartnersBend.org/Light.

Partners In Care is an independent 501(c)(three) nonprofit organization that serves a 10,000-square-mile region across Central Oregon. The organization operates with more than 200 staff members and 200 volunteers.

The organization provides hospice care in patient homes, local facilities and at Hospice House. Its medical and support offerings also include home health care, palliative care symptom management, a non-medical case management program named Transitions and grief support for adults and children.

In 2026, Partners In Care received a five-star hospice and home health rating based on patient and family surveys administered through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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Gregory Deffenbaugh

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — KTVZ News is launching a series of debates and town halls for the 2026 midterm election as well as participating in multiple candidate forums with the League of Women Voters.

The coverage will feature locally produced events giving voters direct access to candidates running for local, state and federal offices.

KTVZ News has invited all candidates who are certified and qualified for the ballot to participate. In races where only one candidate accepts the invitation, KTVZ News will host a single-candidate town hall in place of a debate.

KTVZ News is also partnering with the League of Women Voters of Deschutes County to provide additional opportunities for voters to hear directly from candidates. KTVZ News will stream the League’s candidate forums live across its digital platforms.

KTVZ News Debates and Town Halls:

Locally produced Debates and Town Halls will air LIVE on KTVZ and the digital platforms of KTVZ News.

– Sept. 24th at 6 pm – Race: Bend Mayor- Sept. 30th at 6 pm – Race: Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office- Oct. 1st at 6 pm – Race: Redmond Mayor- Oct. 6th at 6 pm – Race: U.S. Senate- Oct. 13th at 6 pm – Race: Oregon Governor (Editorial Note: Debate Produced by KTVZ-TV)- Oct. 14th at 6 pm – Race: Oregon’s 5th Congressional District- Oct. 21st at 6 pm – Race: Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District

Editor’s Note: KTVZ News has extended invitations to the following candidates concerning their respective races, at this time – below are their responses.

Bend Mayor:Melanie Kebler – Contacted – ConfirmedBernadette Strome – Contacted – Not Confirmed

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office:James McLaughlin – Contacted – ConfirmedTy Rupert – Contacted – Confirmed

Redmond Mayor:Charles Webster Baer – Contacted – ConfirmedEd Fitch – Contacted – ConfirmedJay Patrick – Contacted – Confirmed

U.S. Senate:Jeff Merkley – Contacted – Not ConfirmedDavid Brock Smith – Contacted – Confirmed

Oregon Governor:Christine Drazan – Contacted – ConfirmedTina Kotek – Contacted – Not Confirmed

Oregon’s 5th Congressional District:Patti Adair – Contacted – ConfirmedJanelle Bynum – Contacted Confirmed

Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District:Chris Beck – Contacted – ConfirmedCliff Bentz – Contacted – Declined

Note: On October 7th at 7 pm, KFXO and KTVZ+ will bring you LIVE coverage of KOBI-TV’s Gubernatorial Debate. The debate will be produced by KOBI-TV.

League of Women Voters Candidate Forums:

The League of Women Voters candidate forums will begin Sept. 30 and continue through October.

Wednesday, Sept. 30th — 5:30 pm

Redmond City Council Candidates / Redmond Mayoral Candidates

COCC Redmond Technology Center Community Room

2324 SE College Loop, Redmond

Monday, Oct. 5th — 5:30 pm

Bend Mayoral Candidates / Oregon State Representative 53rd District Candidates

Deschutes Public Library — Central Library

61956 SE Santorini St., Bend

Saturday, Oct. 10th — 11 am

U.S. Congressional District 5 Candidates

Ridgeview High School

4555 SW Elkhorn Ave., Redmond

Wednesday, Oct. 14th — 5:30 pm

Deschutes County Commissioner Candidates / Deschutes County Sheriff Candidates

Deschutes County Government Building — Sawyer Room

1300 NW Wall St., Bend

Monday, Oct. 19th — 6 pm

Sisters City Council candidates

Sisters Firehouse Community Hall

301 S. Elm St., Sisters

Date and Time TBD — 6 pm

La Pine City Council Candidates / La Pine Mayoral Candidates

Location TBD

Submit Your Questions:

Central Oregon voters can submit questions for candidates running for local, state and federal offices through the KTVZ News Debate & Town Hall Question Submission Form on KTVZ.com and the KTVZ News app.

For League of Women Voters forums, questions may be submitted at least 72 hours before the forum to questions@lwvdeschutes.org, you can find more information here.

KTVZ News’ Debates and Town Halls will be hosted by KTVZ’s Lee Anderson and moderated by KTVZ’s Political Reporter Spencer Sacks as well as a member from our community partner, The Source.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon continues to rank among the top holiday weekend destinations in the region, bringing substantial economic activity to local businesses. Over the last fiscal year, visitor spending in the city of Bend reached $408 million.

Tourism serves as a major revenue generator for communities throughout Central Oregon. In addition to direct business spending, municipal governments rely heavily on lodging taxes paid by overnight visitors to fund public services and community amenities.

Tim Neville, lead storyteller for Visit Bend, provided context on the overall scale of traveler spending in the city. “It’s about $408 million. So, I mean, to put that into perspective, if you were to go buy Yeti coolers, it would stack to 250 miles into space. So 50 miles higher than the space station. It’s a lot of money,” Neville said.

Bend wrapped up its fiscal year earlier this summer with $15.2 million in lodging tax collections. Neville explained how those revenues directly support city infrastructure and services. “We wrapped up our fiscal year earlier this summer with a record $15.2 million in lodging tax collections. Remember, that’s outside money paid by visitors coming into our community that the city can use for police, fire, roads, as well as, you know, helps us put on fun events throughout the fall, gives us improved trailheads, things like that that we get to enjoy year round,” Neville said.

Gas prices in Central Oregon currently average $4.86 per gallon. Marie Dodds, director of government and public affairs for AAA, said higher fuel costs usually lead travelers to adjust their spending rather than cancel their plans. “Usually if people have planned a trip and then gas prices spike right before that trip, they’ll still go, but they’ll look at making cutbacks in other areas,” Dodds said. “Maybe they will look for a free activities instead of paying admission prices in places. Maybe they’ll look at shortening their trip by a day or two. Maybe they’ll look at camping instead of staying at a fancy resort.”

Despite an extreme fire season across the region, tourism was only slightly impacted overall. Smoke caused air quality concerns on just three days during the season. While expectations indicate a softer Labor Day weekend, tourism officials still anticipate a major weekend for visitor activity.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Gov. Tina Kotek has proclaimed September as Preparedness Month in Oregon, encouraging residents across the state to take steps to prepare their families and homes for natural disasters and emergencies.

The proclamation serves as a focal point for the Oregon Department of Emergency Management as it promotes emergency awareness across the state. Central to these efforts is OEM’s “Be two Weeks Ready” campaign, a multilingual toolkit designed to help households maintain self-sufficiency for at least two weeks following a major disaster.

OEM Director Erin McMahon emphasized the role of early planning in building local resilience.

“OEM remains committed to ensuring every Oregonian has access to the tools and resources they need to prepare for emergencies,” McMahon said. “Preparedness Month is a valuable reminder that we are stronger and more resilient when we plan ahead, practice safety and stay connected within our communities.”

Gov. Kotek’s proclamation emphasizes that federal, Tribal, state, local and private sector partners are working together to prevent and respond to disasters across Oregon. The proclamation also highlights that adequate disaster preparation is essential to public health and well-being, noted alongside ongoing community training and education efforts across the state.

OEM Community Preparedness Coordinator Kayla Thompson emphasized the importance of accessible public outreach in emergency planning.

“Community preparedness is strongest when people feel informed, supported and empowered,” Thompson said. “Our goal is to meet Oregonians where they are, provide accessible resources and encourage everyday steps that build resilience long before an emergency happens.”

As part of the initiative, OEM has scheduled several public preparedness events for October. The agency will host a free Ready Fair on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 3930 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE in Salem. The family-friendly event will feature expert-led information booths, an earthquake escape room, a shake simulator, food trucks and emergency go-bag raffles.

Oregonians are also encouraged to participate in the Great Oregon ShakeOut earthquake drill scheduled for Oct. 15, 2026, at 10:16 a.m. The following weekend, OEM will host the Great Oregon Camp-In from Oct. 16-18, 2026, allowing households to practice living without public utilities.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department announced Tuesday that applications are open for approximately $1.6 million in grant funds through the Recreational Trails Program for the 2026 cycle.

The program, which receives funding from the Federal Highway Administration and is administered by the state park department, supports projects to build, expand and restore public trails for both motorized and non-motorized use. Eligible applicants include local governments, park districts, state and federal agencies, tribal governments, public land managers and nonprofit organizations. Since its establishment in 1993, the program has supported more than 550 projects throughout Oregon.

The grant program operates on a reimbursement basis, delivering funds to recipients after project costs are spent. Successful applicants are required to provide a 20% match of the total project cost. Grant funds can be utilized for constructing new trails, restoring existing paths, building trailhead facilities, acquiring land or easements, purchasing trail maintenance equipment, conducting accessibility assessments, developing water trails and delivering safety and education initiatives.

An optional informational webinar is scheduled for Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to noon to assist applicants with navigating the application process. Registration for the session is available online via Zoom and a recording will be made available on the program website following the live stream. First-time applicants are required to create an online account on the state grants website. Program details and application support are coordinated by Jodi Bellefeuille, Recreational Trails Program coordinator.

Interested applicants must submit a letter of intent form through oprdgrants.org by Sept. 30. Final grant applications must be submitted by Nov. 16.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon State Marine Board issued safety guidelines today ahead of Labor Day weekend to help recreationists navigate hazards on state waterways.

State officials are encouraging boaters and paddlers to review equipment rules, check local water levels and prepare for end-of-summer water conditions before heading out.

Low water levels across the state have increased hazards such as exposed gravel bars, shoaling and submerged debris. Randy Sigman, interim Boating Safety Program Manager for the Oregon State Marine Board, urged boaters to research their destinations in advance.

“Take the time to get familiar with the waterway and know the dangers that come with natural waterbodies such as current, tides and wind,” Sigman said. “Look out for wood, other debris and shallow gravel bars or shoaling that can catch motorized boaters off-guard with these low water levels.”

The Oregon State Marine Board compiles a weekly Opportunities and Access Report detailing water levels, ramp closures and nearby alternative locations. Boaters can also check access site status through the Boat Oregon Online Map to track impacts from low water or active wildfires.

State law requires all watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, rafts, inflatable boats and stand-up paddleboards, to carry a properly fitted life jacket for every person onboard and at least one sound-producing device. Life jackets must be in good condition and readily accessible, not packed away or stored under hatches. Children younger than 13 must wear a life jacket at all times while a boat is underway. Most recreational boating fatality victims in the state so far this season were paddlers who were not wearing life jackets.

Marine officials also cautioned recreationists against using pool floats on open waterways. Sigman warned that pool toys lack structural integrity and control needed for river currents. “If you plan to float in a river, keep in mind that pool toys are designed for use in a swimming pool, have no directional control and can puncture easily,” Sigman said. “Float in a watercraft designed for a river that won’t easily puncture and comes equipped with a paddle so you can maneuver away from obstructions.”

Law enforcement will also monitor for impaired operators on the water. Boating Under the Influence of Intoxicants violations can lead to fines up to $6,250, suspension of boating privileges for up to three years and jail time. Legal intoxicants under the law include alcohol, marijuana, illicit drugs and certain prescription medications.

Seating rules inside motorboats are also strictly enforced. It is illegal to ride on the bow, decks, gunwales or transoms of a motorboat while the vessel is underway. Passengers are advised to remain in designated seats, as sitting on the stern creates hazards from direct exposure to carbon monoxide exhaust and potential propeller strikes.

Boaters are also subject to speed restrictions near shorelines and structures. A statewide proximity rule requires all motorboats and personal watercraft to slow down within 200 feet of docks, launch ramps, marinas, moorages, floating homes, piers and swim floats, regardless of whether a slow-no-wake buoy is posted. Operators remain legally responsible for damage caused by their boat’s wake, while paddlers should stay near shore and cross busy channels at right angles when safe.

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