Category: ktvz-local-news

KTVZ

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Redmond Senior Center has launched its year-end fundraising campaign, with a goal of raising $100,000 by Dec, 31.

The funds will support the center’s vital programs and services that benefit seniors in the Redmond community, including Meals on Wheels, daily lunches, wellness programs, and various social and recreational activities, the organization said in a news release that continues below:

The Redmond Senior Center plays a crucial role in the lives of many seniors, providing a welcoming and supportive environment where they can connect with others, stay active, and access essential resources. The center’s programs are designed to combat social isolation, promote physical and mental well-being, and ensure that seniors have the support they need to age with dignity and independence.

“This year has been remarkable at the Redmond Senior Center, thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors,” said Randy Graves, Executive Director of the Redmond Senior Center. “Their compassion and belief in our mission have allowed us to deliver thousands of Meals on Wheels to homebound neighbors, fill our dining room with laughter during daily lunches, and host a vibrant Wellbeing Series that has kept bodies moving and spirits lifted. We are deeply grateful for their support.”

The funds raised through the year-end campaign will help the Redmond Senior Center continue to provide these essential services and expand its reach to serve even more seniors in need.

Specifically, the campaign aims to ensure that no senior eats alone, no caregiver feels lost, and no one is left behind. By supporting the Redmond Senior Center, donors can help keep its doors open, its hearts full, and its community connected.

“As we look ahead to the new year, we are asking for your help to keep these programs thriving and to grow even stronger,” Graves added. “Your gift ensures that we can continue to provide vital services and create a vibrant community for seniors in Redmond.”

The Redmond Senior Center invites individuals, businesses, and community organizations to contribute to the year-end fundraising campaign. Donations can be made online at www.RedmondSeniors.org/eoy or by scanning the QR code included in the campaign materials. Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference in the lives of seniors in the Redmond community.

About Redmond Senior Center

Located in the heart of Redmond, Oregon, the Redmond Senior Center is a hub for senior education, wellness, and community activities. Dedicated to enhancing the lives of older adults, the center provides a variety of programs and services that promote health, education, and social engagement.

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As respiratory virus season arrives in Central Oregon, providers from six local health care organizations are joining together to share an important message about vaccination.

Six health care organizations – St. Charles Health System, Deschutes County Health Services, COPA (Central Oregon Pediatric Associates), Mosaic Community Health, Summit Health, Praxis Health – released a joint video message Tuesday to emphasize the importance of vaccines, and to reassure the community that providers are ready to answer any questions, they said Tuesday.

“Our message is simple: Vaccines are safe, effective and they protect the health of our community, including the most vulnerable. We also recognize that people may have questions about vaccinations, and we want Central Oregonians to know that we are here to listen,” said Deschutes County Health Officer Dr. Richard Fawcett. 

The message comes at a time when vaccine rates are decreasing across the United States and here in Oregon. 

“Our voices are more powerful together. We want our community to see that health care providers in Central Oregon stand together,” said Dr. Carey Allen, clinical division director of primary care medicine for St. Charles. “Above all, we care about the health of our patients and our community.”

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Claire Elmer

(Update: Comments by company owner, economic development official)

LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — After 25 years in Wilsonville, Western Metrology is making a big move to Central Oregon — bringing aerospace manufacturing to La Pine for the first time.

The precision parts manufacturer has begun work on a new 15,200-square-foot facility in La Pine’s industrial park. Owner Tom Zitzelberger told KTVZ News Tuesday that the decision was rooted in his family’s personal connection to the area.

“My wife and I originally were planning on retiring in La Pine,” he wrote. “La Pine reminds me of the small towns that I grew up in. As our business grew, we started looking at ways to eventually retire here and still support our company.”

Western Metrology specializes in machining parts for the aerospace industry. The new facility, set for completion by the end of December, will offer room to expand and allow the company to add two to three more employees next year.

Patricia Lucas, executive director of the Sunriver and La Pine Economic Development Program (SLED), said Western’s move supports SLED’s ongoing efforts to grow the region’s manufacturing base.

“One of our targeted sectors in south Deschutes County, and specifically in La Pine, is advanced manufacturing,” Lucas said. “We’re thrilled they’ve decided to locate their business here. They’ll be creating family living-wage jobs, which we’re really excited about.”

The 330-acre La Pine Industrial Park was developed jointly by the city and Deschutes County to attract innovative and traded-sector businesses. Lucas said the park’s affordability and the city’s business-friendly approach make it an appealing place for companies looking to grow in Central Oregon.

“We help them find a site or a building,” she said. “They may need help with financing, workforce development or tax incentives. We try to figure out what they need and structure a package to assist them in the best way we can.”

With Western Metrology on the way and more sites ready for development, La Pine’s industrial park could soon become a new hub for manufacturing and job creation in Central Oregon.

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KTVZ – News Team

CLACKAMAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Rising health care costs are putting growing pressure on Oregon families, according to Congresswoman Janelle Bynum, who said it’s the top concern she hears from her constituents.

“Health insurance and health care are expensive enough as it is,” Bynum said during a press conference Monday at Clackamas Community College. “Oregonians don’t need D.C. politicians raising their costs even more.”

Bynum spoke alongside members of AFSCME, the union representing public service workers, as the start of open enrollment for Affordable Care Act coverage brought additional stress for many Oregonians. Some families are facing premium increases of nearly 20 percent this year, union members said.

Steven Kang, a resource contact for AFSCME members, described the situation as dire for many working families. “People are terrified,” he said. “There are working families with children or spouses fighting serious medical battles, and they don’t know what they’ll do if they can’t afford the premiums or the treatments.”

Bynum said the repeated message she hears from voters is that affordable, reliable health care remains their top priority. “People have told me over and over again that health care is their number one issue,” she said. “They want to make sure we have a strong system where kids can get medicine when they need it and no one faces medical bankruptcy.”

She also voiced concern about recent cuts to SNAP benefits, warning that reduced food assistance could worsen financial struggles for families already burdened by medical costs.

Bynum said she plans to advocate for stronger protections to keep health care affordable and accessible for all Oregonian

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Tracee Tuesday

REDMOND, Ore. {KTVZ} — After weeks of uncertainty, plans to open a managed camp in Redmond by winter are moving forward following approval from both the City of Redmond and Deschutes County to cover unexpected construction costs.

The camp, a joint project between Deschutes County and the City of Redmond, saw costs rise significantly above the initial estimate. The low bid for construction came from Taylor Northwest, at $676,118.75 — roughly $145,118.75 over the original projection.

Under a proposed amendment to the intergovernmental agreement (IGA), the City and County agreed to split the increased expense. Redmond’s total contribution now stands at approximately $322,559.38, with Deschutes County covering $353,559.38.

In October, the Redmond City Council had deadlocked on whether to fund the additional costs, delaying the County’s decision. However, during an October 28 meeting attended by returning Mayor Ed Fitch, the council voted to move the project forward. Days later, during a joint session on November 3, Deschutes County Commissioners agreed to follow Redmond’s lead and contribute their share, clearing the way for construction to begin.

“Construction should be starting by the end of the month,” Mayor Fitch said during the meeting. “We anticipate the camp will be completely built by the end of January. Our job now is to finalize the camp rules and issue an RFP for an operator to manage it for at least the next couple of years.”

County considers expansion of Board districts

The joint session also included discussion on expanding the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners from three to five members. The District Mapping Advisory Committee (DMAC) has been tasked with redrawing district lines to reflect population growth fairly across the county’s urban and rural regions.

Jen Patterson, Deschutes County’s Strategic Initiatives Manager, said the committee aims to keep precincts intact while balancing district populations. “They’re looking at current voter registration data, as well as building permit data from the past three years, to understand where growth is occurring,” Patterson explained. “It’s a big responsibility for the committee to ensure growth trends are represented fairly.”

Residents raise concerns over park and road project

A few community members also voiced concerns about the newly approved High Desert Ranch subdivision and its related road project through the future Pershall Way Dry Canyon Community Park.

Victor Borghese, a Redmond resident, urged city leaders to protect the park from private development. “Let that be the park for posterity,” Borghese said. “Let it stand for generations to come.”

Mayor Fitch responded that the issue was not on the evening’s agenda. “We do have a park plan and a transportation plan,” he noted. “Those will need to be reconciled at a future date.”

KTVZ will continue tracking progress on the Pershall Park project and the finalization of Deschutes County’s new commissioner districts, including how the transition from three to five members will align with upcoming election deadlines.

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Spencer Sacks

(Adding Video and Quotes from Deschutes County Tax Assessor Scot Langton)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Property Tax Statements have been sent out but now people have questions.

Deschutes County tax Assessor Scot Langton and Deschutes County held an informational session on Monday for residents and home owners to be able to ask questions about their property taxes.

When you look at your tax statement you’ll see a breakdown of where your taxes go:  county library, law enforcement, and urban renewal.

But if you look at the bottom, you’ll see a list of bonds that were passed by residents of Deschutes County.

Due to a law passed by voters changing the state’s Constitution, your maximum assessed value of your property can only increase by 3% each year.

KTVZ spoke with Deschutes County Tax Assessor Scot Langton to get a better understanding.

Langton told KTVZ News, “Mostly it’s because of the Constitution and Ballot Measure 50, and they’re paying on their maximum assessed value, which grows 3% annually. Then we apply the tax rates to that. We do vote in new things, so your taxes could go up by more than 3, most people say around 4%.

If you pay your property taxes by November 17th, you can get up to 3% off your property taxes.

Taxes can be very confusing, but Langton told me they have staff and assessors available to answer any of your questions.

The last one of these info sessions is tomorrow night at 5 PM in Sisters.

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KTVZ

(Update: Jezrah Tracy located safe)

LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday Jezrah Tracy has been located and is in good health. Tracy had been missing since Saturday.

Read the full press release below:

“The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is happy to report that Jezrah Starflower Tracy, the woman reported missing, has been located and is in good health.

She was found in La Pine, not far from her last known location. Deschutes County deputies made contact with Tracy, so she is no longer considered a missing person.

Thank you to everyone who shared the information and helped spread the word. Your support makes a difference.”

ORIGINAL REPORT:

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office turned to the public Monday in its efforts to find a missing La Pine woman.

“We need your help locating Jezrah Starflower Tracy, a 29-year-old woman last seen around 1:30 a.m. – 2:00 a.m on Saturday, November 1st, near Woodchip Lane in La Pine,” the agency said in a Facebook posting.

“She left the area on foot and does not own a car,” the sheriff’s office added.

They offered this description of Jezrah:

White female, 5’7”, approximately 125 lbs.

Brown eyes, blonde/strawberry hair

Last seen wearing a blue jacket and blue jeans

Was carrying a cat at the time

Anyone who may have seen Jezrah or has information about her whereabouts is urged to contact non-emergency dispatch at (541) 693-6911.

“We appreciate the community’s support in helping bring Jezrah home safely,” DCSO Public Information Officer Jason Carr said.

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KTVZ

NEW YORK (KTVZ) – After a widely successful tour run in 2025, Jim Gaffigan announced on Monday 20 new dates from January through June for his 2026 EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL! TOUR, including a stop in Bend next June.

Tickets will go on sale Friday, November 7 at 10 a.m. (local time) with artist presale beginning Wednesday, November 5 at 10 a.m. local time. To sign up for exclusive presale access and more information, visit jimgaffigan.com, his New York-based publicity firm said. 

The tour will make a Bend stop at Hayden Homes Amphitheater on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.

Jim Gaffigan is an eight-time Grammy nominated comedian, actor, writer, producer, two-time New York Times best-selling author, three-time Emmy winning top touring performer, and multi-platinum-selling recording artist. He is known around the world for his unique brand of humor, which largely revolves around his observations on life. 

His 11th special, The Skinny, premiered on Hulu last winter as the streamer’s first ever original stand up special for their new comedy vertical, Hularious, and garnered almost 100 million clip views online. 

Gaffigan is a top ten comedian according to Forbes’ most recent comedy list and top ten earning comedian in Pollstar. He released his 10th comedy special, Dark Pale, in 2023 on Amazon Prime Video, an unprecedented achievement for the comedian/actor.  Dark Pale was met with critical fanfare with The New York Times calling it, ‘his best yet.” Gaffigan recently finished co-headlining with Jerry Seinfeld for a sold-out multi-city arena tour and in May of 2024, sold out two shows at The Hollywood Bowl during the Netflix Is Joke Festival. 

In 2021 Gaffigan released his 9th special, Comedy Monster, on Netflix, which was nominated for a Grammy Award. He was also recently awarded for being the first comedian to reach one billion streams on Pandora. 

Gaffigan can currently be seen opposite co-stars Jerry Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy, James Marsden, and Hugh Grant in Netflix’s Unfrosted, which debuted as the #1 movie in the world on Netflix last May. He can also currently be seen as the lead in the well-reviewed and certified fresh Sci-Fi drama, Linoleum, which was named one of Vulture.com’s best movies of 2023 and is currently streaming on Hulu after a theatrical release.

Gaffigan starred as Mr. Smee in Disney’s Peter Pan and Wendy, opposite Jude Law and Yara Shahidi. Also premiering recently, Gaffigan joined the cast of HBO Max’s Full Circle, a limited series from Steven Soderbergh and Ed Solomon which follows an investigation into a botched kidnapping, connecting multiple characters and cultures in present day NY. 

On the silver screen, his many credits include Three Kings, Super Troopers 1 & 2, and Chappaquiddick. 2019 was Gaffigan’s biggest year in film to date with an astonishing eight films releasing, three which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival including Troop Zero with Viola Davis and Alison Janney, Them That Follow and Light From Light – with many festival goers and press calling Gaffigan the “King of Sundance.” Gaffigan was also recently heard in Disney/Pixar’s highly anticipated animated film, Luca, opposite Jacob Tremblay and Maya Rudolph. 

Gaffigan had two films recently in which he debuted as the lead. The comedic film Being Frank, and American Dreamer, a dark thriller which features him as a ride share app worker who moonlights as a private driver for a drug dealer. Gaffigan can also currently be seen opposite Ethan Hawke in IFC Films Tesla, as well as opposite Josh Hartnett in Saban Films’ Most Wanted.

In addition to two seasons of the critically acclaimed semi-autobiographical The Jim Gaffigan Show, which he wrote and produced with his wife Jeannie, Gaffigan has guest-starred on many television comedies and dramas, ranging from Portlandia and Bob’s Burgers to the HBO cult hits Flight of the Concords to dramatic roles in Law & Order.  

Gaffigan regularly makes humorous commentaries on CBS Sunday Morning for which he has won 3 Emmys. In 2018 Jim served as master of ceremony at The Al Smith Memorial dinner. In 2015, Gaffigan had the great honor of performing for Pope Francis and over 1 million festival attendees at the Festival of Families in Philadelphia.  

He and his wife currently live in Manhattan with their five loud and expensive children.

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The city of Bend on Monday unveiled the latest designs for the long-awaited Reed Market Road railroad crossing, a project designed to end years of train-caused traffic backups.

The designs were presented at a two-hour drop-in open house at the Larkspur Community Center and in an online open house.

City officials said both a bridge and a tunnel were considered, with a bridge chosen “because a tunnel would cause minor drainage issues” along with higher costs and more disruptive to the railroad.

Reed Market Road is a key east-west arterial in southeast Bend. The city says six to eight trains cross the road each day, and each train delays traffic for five to 20 minutes.

The new bridge will still have two lanes eastbound and one lane westbound. It will maintain the existing access at American Lane and modified access at Ninth Street.

The bridge will have four travel lanes and a sidewalk and bike lane with curb and buffer on both sides of the road. A left turn will be maintained heading north on Ninth, but only right turns allowed coming off Ninth onto westbound Reed Market.

A north-south pedestrian tunnel is planned to cross Reed Market just west of Ninth Street.

Construction is expected to begin in mid-2027, after the Reed Market Road-15th Street roundabout improvements and a new roundabout at 15th and Ferguson Road are complete. It’s expected to be complete in 2029. Funding for the project will come from the 2020 voter-approved GO (General Obligation) Transportation Bond and a $32 million Federal Rail Administration grant.

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KTVZ

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The 2025 Bend Veterans Day Parade marks the 24th year of honoring Veterans of all eras on Tuesday, November 11th in downtown Bend.

“Service to Nation & Community” is the theme of the 2025 parade, recognizing the contributions of active military service members in defense of our country and their service to their community when they return home as Veterans.

Central Oregon Veterans Outreach (COVO) produces the Parade, along with support from the High Desert Chapter of the Oregon Veteran Motorcyle Association. The title sponsor is Mid Oregon Credit Union.

Robert Landers, a local U.S. Marine Corps Veteran who served in Vietnam, is this year’s parade Grand Marshal.

A retired college instructor, Landers gives his time and talent to support Veterans throughout Central Oregon. He is currently the Commander of the Bend Disabled American Veterans (DAV), served as Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Chaplain, and has been an integral part of the Bend Band of Brothers, COVO, Marine Corps Leage, Vietnam Veterans of America, and more.

“Bob’s dedication to helping local Veterans spans back decades. He is a true example of how Veterans serve their community.”, according to J.W. Terry, Executive Director of COVO and President of the Bend Band of Brothers.

The Parade kicks off at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 11th with a fly-over by the Civil Air Patrol. The Patriot Guard motorcycle group leads the parade, starting at NW Harmon proceeding across the Newport Avenue Veterans Memorial Bridge, turning south on Wall Street, west on Franklin Avenue around Drake, rolling down Wall Street to Franklin Ave., continuing around Drake Park on Riverside Avenue to NW Galveston and concluding at NW Harmon Blvd.

The public is invited to participate. There is no registration fee. ADA parking is available at the lot at 710 NW Newport Avenue and in the lot behind City Hall on Wall Street.

Parade-goers are asked to please observe all city and neighborhood parking regulations and designated “no parking areas” when coming to view the Veterans Day Parade. More information on parking is found at https://www.bendoregon.gov/services/parking.

For more information on the parade, contact bendveteransparade@covo-us.org.

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