Category: ktvz-local-news

Kelsey Merison

LINCOLN COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 34-year-old man died late Wednesday night after being struck by a vehicle on Highway 20 in Lincoln County, according to the Oregon State Police.

State police reported that the victim, identified as Cordaro Ryan Stock of Toledo, was struck near milepost 10 at approximately 11:35 p.m. The driver initially believed the vehicle had hit a deer, but Toledo police officers later located Stock’s body in a nearby ditch after a bystander contacted emergency services.

The collision occurred as a beige 1996 Acura Integra was traveling westbound on Highway 20. Orion David Sliwka, 19, of Salem, was identified as the driver of the vehicle. Neither Sliwka nor his passenger sustained injuries and state police noted that Sliwka cooperated with investigating law enforcement officers.

After the impact, the Acura continued traveling westbound and stopped at a business in Newport. While at the business, a second person spoke with Sliwka and his passenger, leading them to believe the vehicle may have struck a person rather than an animal. That individual then called 911 to report the incident.

The resulting on-scene investigation closed or restricted traffic on Highway 20 for approximately 6 hours. Oregon State Police were assisted at the scene by the Toledo Police Department, Newport Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Pacific West Ambulance and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

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CNN

This story was originally published by CNN. Click here for live updates.

(CNN) — A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the US Postal Service from carrying out a plan, issued under an executive order from President Trump, that could limit mail voting.

Democratic states and voter advocacy groups challenging the recently released USPS rules were granted a temporary restraining order for two weeks late Thursday night.

“Through the Final Rule, the USPS is refusing to send mail ballots to eligible voters unless States or local election officials submit their mail ballot envelopes and return envelopes and receive advance approval from the USPS without regard to impending deadlines for the November 3, 2026 election,” Judge Indira Talwani wrote in her ruling.

The challengers, she added, are likely to win on their claims that the rule is unconstitutional and that the USPS lacks authority to issue it in the first place.

“Plaintiff States have neither time nor funds to design new mail ballots, seek approval of the new designs, order production of mail ballots, update their own election management systems, train election officials to use the USPS portal, and upload citizen data to the portal, all before the midterms,” wrote Talwani, a nominee of President Barack Obama.

The White House condemned the ruling and said it will appeal.

“Last week, the Supreme Court reversed this same activist judge’s ruling attempting to stop President Trump from implementing commonsense measures to protect the security of mail-in ballots and ensure only Americans vote in American elections. We will immediately appeal this unreasoned and unlawful order,” White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said.

Under the agency’s plan, states would be required to submit lists of their mail voters to the US Postal Service in order to use the service to transmit their ballots. USPS would also only carry ballots that are in envelopes that have specific bar codes unique to each voter to facilitate automated tracking. The administration says the requirements are aimed at facilitating law enforcement investigations.

In court filings, state election officials said the mandate would require them to redesign and reprint millions of ballot envelopes, and that their vendors had indicated that such a job could not be done in time for the midterms. The election officials also raised concerns about the feasibility of the proposed system for uploading the mail voter lists.

Talwani wrote in Thursday’s ruling that the Trump administration offered “no reply to Plaintiff States’ assertion that compliance for the 2026 midterm elections will be impossible for many of them.”

The Justice Department had argued in court filings that the regulatory change was “modest” and USPS had the statuary authority to undertake it.

Next Thursday, Talwani will hold a hearing on whether to issue preliminary injunction on the regulations — which would be a longer-lasting block on the plan.

The Thursday ruling is the latest legal volley in what is expected to be a fast-moving court battle over Trump’s proposed plan, after the Supreme Court on Monday removed a previous court order issued by Talwani that had blocked agencies from carrying out aspects of the March executive order in the two-dozen states that are suing over it.

The Supreme Court said in that ruling — over the dissent of the court’s three liberals — that Talwani’s previous order was premature because at the time that the states filed their lawsuit against Trump’s directives, the agencies had not yet had a chance to roll out their final plan for implementing it.

The high court’s ruling did not acknowledge the final rule that USPS released Friday night, as those were not part of the record of the appeal before the justices. This latest ruling stems from revised complaints that opponents filed in response to the final rule.

This story has been updated with additional details.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Three U.S. senators are demanding an investigation into Michael Boren, undersecretary of agriculture for natural resources and environment, following allegations that he diverted federal firefighting resources to suppress a small fire near his private ranch in Idaho.

In a letter sent to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, lawmakers raised concerns over Boren’s alleged involvement in redirecting firefighters and aircraft to the seven-acre Cabin Creek Fire. The incident occurred during a record wildfire season in Oregon, where firefighting personnel and equipment remain scarce.

Earlier this month, Boren allegedly used his position to pressure U.S. Forest Service personnel to direct resources toward the Cabin Creek Fire, a seven-acre blaze near his 480-acre ranch in Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest. Nine aircraft were assigned to the fire, an unusually high number of resources for a blaze of that size.

The resource allocation occurred while Oregon was facing shortages of firefighting personnel and equipment following federal funding and staffing cuts. During a record wildfire season in the state, blazes far larger than seven acres that directly threatened lives and homes received a fraction of that aviation support.

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, and Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, serve as ranking members on the Senate Committee on Finance, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, respectively. In their joint letter, the lawmakers warned of the broader safety risks posed by improper resource allocation.

“Mr. Boren’s actions constitute potentially a misuse of taxpayer funds and put American families at further risk by diverting scarce resources from high-priority wildfires threatening communities elsewhere in the region and country,” the senators wrote. “We request a full investigation into the nature and extent of Boren’s involvement in response to the Cabin Creek Fire and a detailed accounting of the safeguards the agency has implemented or plans to implement to prevent political interference and conflicts of interest in wildfire response.”

The lawmakers asked USDA Rollins to outline how the department will prevent future interference by officials for personal gain. They also requested that the findings of any department investigation into the Cabin Creek Fire response be provided to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crook County has extended the application deadline and updated the session schedule for its upcoming 2026–2027 County College program due to scheduling conflicts.

Community members now have until Oct. 8, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. to submit their applications for the program, which begins on Oct. 15, 2026.

County College is a free, six-session series that provides participants with an inside look at local government operations. Through department presentations, facility tours and discussions with county staff and elected officials, attendees learn about county services and functions.

To participate, applicants must live, work full-time or own a business in Crook County. Program capacity is limited to 25 participants and applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to limited space, not all applicants may be selected.

County officials noted that community members who have already submitted an application do not need to reapply following the schedule adjustments.

Under the revised schedule, sessions will take place on Oct. 15, Nov. 12 and Dec. 17 in 2026, followed by Jan. 21, Feb. 11 and March 11 in 2027. The final administration session on March 11 was moved from its previously scheduled date due to conflicts.

Application forms and detailed schedule information are available on the Crook County website. For additional details, community members can contact the Crook County Administration Office, where Breyanna Cupp serves as Executive Assistant to the County Commissioners and County Manager.

The program’s first session will run on Oct. 15, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with monthly meetings continuing through March 11, 2027.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 25-year-old Roseburg woman died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, following a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 in Douglas County.

Deanndra Elaine Hamlett was traveling southbound near milepost 127 at approximately 8:18 p.m. when the vehicle left the roadway and overturned.

According to a preliminary investigation by Oregon State Police, Hamlett was driving a black 2009 Toyota Scion TC when the car left the road for an unknown reason and rolled over. Hamlett was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash disrupted travel along Interstate 5 southbound for approximately 5 hours while emergency crews conducted an on-scene investigation. Oregon State Police were assisted at the location by Central Douglas Fire & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon highways are routinely analyzed by the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit. The specialized team includes accredited reconstructionists who use advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems to document and analyze complex crash scenes across the state.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Emergency Management demobilized the State-level Emergency Coordination Center today, transitioning its activation status to Level four – Steady State.

The transition reflects current wildfire conditions and a reduced need for state-level support and supplemental firefighting resources on the ground. State emergency officials emphasized that the downgrade does not signal a decrease in wildfire risk, noting that dry conditions and wildfire potential persist across Oregon.

The activation shift allows state agency personnel who assisted response operations to return to their regular duties. Regular fire suppression and monitoring activities will continue under the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon State Fire Marshal throughout the remainder of the wildfire season.

Continuous monitoring will maintain through the Oregon Emergency Communications and Coordination Center, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. State officials stated the agency remains available to coordinate assistance and can rapidly elevate activation levels if fire conditions change.

As wildfire suppression progresses, emergency management officials are directing focus toward long-term recovery efforts. OEM will work with local, Tribal and county partners to navigate damage assessments, mitigation planning and federal recovery programs.

Alaina Calhoun serves as the manager of the Emergency Coordination Center. “OEM’s transition to Steady State ensures we can continue supporting wildfire-impacted communities while also allowing state partners to return to their core responsibilities,” Calhoun said. “Our team will maintain close situational awareness, remain ready to increase activation if conditions change and stay engaged in both response and long-term recovery efforts.”

State officials urged residents to continue fire prevention efforts, including following local fire restrictions, properly disposing of cigarettes and limiting activities that could produce sparks. Drivers should keep tires inflated, prevent tow chains from dragging and avoid parking on dry grass. Residents are also advised to report smoke or fire immediately and sign up for emergency alerts at ORAlert.gov.

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Spencer Sacks

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz held a town hall meeting in Prineville, Ore., to speak with local residents about the Rowe Creek Complex fire and hear about its impacts. The meeting lasted for more than 2 hours.

The gathering marked Bentz’s fifth fire-related town hall as he has traveled across his district. The Oregon representative organized the events to better understand local perspectives on wildfire impacts and to help leaders in Washington, D.C., gain a clearer understanding of the issues facing the state.

During the meeting in Prineville, residents raised concerns on a variety of topics, ranging from rebuilding efforts after the fire to the use of firefighting aircraft. Nationwide, 80 aircraft are designated for firefighting operations, though their deployment depends on very specific conditions.

Bentz addressed the community’s frustrations regarding immediate response during massive blazes, explaining the inherent challenges officials face when dealing with large-scale wildfires.

“I think what people are most were concerned about is that they would see the fire coming and they wouldn’t instantly have an engine and a team helping,” Bentz said. “But when you have fires of this immense size, as one of the people persons said, you could have thousands of people and still not be able to slow it down, particularly if there’s wind.”

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Lance Campbell

DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. — The November election is beginning to take shape in Deschutes County, with local candidate filings finalized and election officials now turning their attention to ballots, voters’ pamphlets and some important upcoming dates.

Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison says the county now has its slate of local candidates for November.

That includes races for county commissioner, sheriff, clerk and treasurer, along with city council and mayoral contests across the county.

“Everything as of Tuesday afternoon at 5 p.m. became finalized,” Dennison said. “And now we have our full slate of local candidates that will be on the ballot in November.”

Election workers are now moving into the next phase of preparations.

“The ballot content is again final locally,” Dennison said. “We’re waiting to hear from the state who those federal and state position candidates are.”

Once all of that information is in hand, Dennison says the county can begin putting together ballots for voters across its different districts and preparing the countywide voters’ pamphlet.

Two dates voters should know

For voters, the next major deadline comes October 13.

That is the voter registration deadline for people who still need to register, including new Oregon residents who have not yet registered and younger voters who may not have pre-registered.

Then comes another important date just one day later.

“October 13th is that deadline,” Dennison said. “And then the very next day, October 14th, is the day that we’re going to be mailing ballots to voters — to all voters.”

Despite broader conversations surrounding elections across the country, Dennison says Deschutes County is preparing for November under Oregon’s existing election laws and procedures.

“As of right now, like I said, it is business as usual,” Dennison said.

And he offered a simple reminder for voters heading into the fall:

“The vote by mail is still alive and well in the state of Oregon.”

For Deschutes County voters, that means watching the calendar, keeping an eye on the mailbox and getting ready to cast a ballot this November.

Watch the video above for more from Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison on what voters should know ahead of the November election.

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Claire Elmer

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The skies over Madras will come alive with precision jets, aerobatic maneuvers, and historic warbirds as the 26th annual Airshow of the Cascades returns to the Madras Municipal Airport Friday and Saturday.

Organizers describe the event as more than an airshow. The two-day festival combines aerial performances with aircraft displays, rides, a car show, live music, food and drink vendors, and activities for children.

According to the festival’s official website, the event attracts an average of about 20,000 visitors each year.

This year’s aerial lineup includes the Patriots Jet Team, Undaunted Airshows, a microjet performance, aerobatic pilot Yuichi Takagi, and aircraft from the Erickson Aircraft Collection.

The Patriots Jet Team is a civilian-owned, six-jet precision aerobatic team flying L-39 aircraft. Its pilots include former members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

Visitors will also be able to see more than 40 privately owned fly-in aircraft expected from around the country. Owners and pilots will display their planes and talk with attendees along the flight line.

“You show up thinking you’re going to just come for an airshow,” Airshow of the Cascades board member Isaac Fisher said. “I’d say get here the second the gates open because we have so much to look at. You can come, and you can touch the airplanes. You can meet the pilots, you can ask them questions, and everything’s approachable here.”

Fisher has attended the event since he was 5 years old. He said meeting pilots and standing close to historic aircraft helped make the festival memorable for him as a child.

“I was so enamored by the airplanes and being able to be so close to these pieces of history and being so impressed by what they could do,” Fisher said. “It almost defies physics, what they’re up there doing.”

For people who want to experience aerobatics from inside an airplane, Specialized Aero Works will offer 30-minute rides in a Super Decathlon, a basic aerobatic and tailwheel trainer. The flights cost $295 and can be adjusted for passengers who want a milder introduction or a more intense experience.

Mike Kloch, the company’s CEO and chief flight instructor, has flown for about 35 years and is a former Marine Corps F/A-18 pilot. He said the rides can include loops, hammerheads, and other maneuvers.

“The thrills from people’s faces when we give them rides is really great, and there’s always great performers and a great crowd, so everything here is really great,” Kloch said.

One of the featured acts, Undaunted Airshows, pairs Stephen Christopher in a red-and-white RV-7 with Todd Rudberg in an orange RV-8. Their performance will open with a simulated aerial dogfight, followed by close formation flying and choreographed maneuvers.

“No matter how sad or upset or worried you are about life, it all disappears as soon as the engine starts,” Christopher said. “It’s just magical. Flying is amazing.”

Rudberg said the performance will end over the crowd with scissors and tight turns.

“One of us is going to win,” Rudberg said. “Come find out who.”

The festival’s ground attractions include the Les Schwab Car Show, static aircraft displays, the Erickson Aircraft Collection, live music on two stages, and more than 50 vendors. Fisher said organizers planned bounce houses, train rides, ice cream, and other activities for children.

Friday’s gates open at 1:00p.m., with static displays, the car show, food and drink vendors, and the Erickson Aircraft Collection available during the afternoon.

Live music begins at 4:30 p.m., Precious Byrd takes the north stage at 5:15 p.m., and a fish-and-chips dinner will be served to the first 1,000 people beginning at 5:30p.m.

Aerobatic performances begin at 7:00p.m., followed by an intermission at 8:30p.m. and fireworks at 9:00p.m. Precious Byrd returns after the fireworks, and the festival closes at 11:00p.m.

Saturday’s gates open at 9:00a.m. The day begins with an Elks breakfast, static displays, the car show, and food and drink vendors.

Live music begins at 10:00a.m., afternoon aerial performances start at 1:00p.m., and the airshow closes at 4:30p.m.

General admission is $23 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 through 12, before ticketing fees. Children 5 and younger receive free general admission when accompanied by an adult.

Active-duty, retired, Guard, and Reserve military members also receive free general admission with a military- or VA-issued identification card. Admission to reserved or VIP areas costs extra.

Tickets are available online and at the gate. Organizers recommend bringing a lawn chair or blanket, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, comfortable shoes, and an extra layer for Friday evening. Pets are not allowed, except for service animals, and outside food and drinks are prohibited.

The festival is held at the Madras Municipal Airport, 2028 NW Berg Drive. The complete schedule, festival information, and visitor guidelines are available on the Airshow of the Cascades website.

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Emergency room visits for E-bike injuries in Saint Charles are reaching new highs. Today, the number of injures reached 83 for this year, matching the total number of injuries recorded for all of 2025. The trend puts the area on track to see roughly 50% more E-bike before the end of the year.

Dr. Jon Roberts, an emergency medicine doctor in Saint Charles, issued a warning about the growing frequency and severity of E-bike crashes.

“The increased speed that they have, I mean a normal bike rider by bike, ten miles an hour, e-bikes can go 20 or even 30 miles an hour and they’re heavier,” Roberts said. “The injuries you see are much more severe and they’re more in line with like a moped or a motorcycle. And so the range of injuries can be the simple things like a broken wrist or broken collarbone. But we also see major injuries to the spine, to the brain and unfortunately, even fatalities.”

At the time of his interview, four people were in the emergency room receiving treatment for E-bike-related injuries.

To prevent serious accidents, Roberts stressed three critical safety recommendations for riders. He emphasized that riders must wear a helmet, avoid consuming alcohol before operating an E-bike, and recognize that E-bikes are not as easy to ride as traditional bicycles, requiring more practice and experience to handle safely.

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