Category: ktvz-local-news

Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) Nikolas Tone, a student at Bend Senior High, has qualified for the Project MFG National Welding Competition this month in San Diego, Calif. Tone is one of just 24 students nationwide selected to compete in the event.

The national competition selected 24 students from a field of 410 competitors across 154 schools. The winner could receive up to 10,000 dollars.

Tone will also be featured on the television show “Clash of the Trades” as part of his participation in the competition.

Tone will compete this month in San Diego, Calif., for the Project MFG national title and the prize of up to 10,000 dollars.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Draxton

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Wells Acres Road will close at Butler Market Road beginning Monday, May 11. The closure is part of the ongoing Butler Market & Wells Acres Roundabout and Key Route Project and is expected to last until about mid-August.

During the closure, Purcell Boulevard will serve as the designated detour route for drivers. Butler Market Road will continue to be open to eastbound traffic only. This phase of work will focus on constructing a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Butler Market Road and Wells Acres Road.

Improvements at the Butler Market Road and Wells Acres Road intersection have been a long-standing priority for the surrounding neighborhoods. The new single-lane roundabout is designed to improve safety and traffic flow for all travel modes.

Additional key route upgrades will create a safer, more accessible bike and pedestrian corridor along Butler Market Road. Concurrent work includes sewer system improvements, which aim to increase efficiency, reduce construction impacts and make the best use of project resources.

The public is encouraged to plan ahead for travel, follow all posted detours and allow extra time when in the area. Further information and construction updates are available by visiting bendoregon.gov/butler-wells.

Crews are making steady progress on the overall project. Wells Acres Road is expected to reopen to traffic around mid-August.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Draxton

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon, a program of J Bar J Youth Services, is launching a new Monthly Giving Program today. The initiative aims to recruit 40 founding “Match Makers” during May to provide consistent, year-round support for youth mentorship in Central Oregon.

The new program is designed to expand access to life-changing mentoring relationships across the region. Mentorship builds social infrastructure, creating human connection that strengthens families, increases student engagement in school and benefits communities through increased connection, opportunity and long-term success.

Jenn Davis, program director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon, emphasized the importance of sustained contributions for program effectiveness. “Consistent, reliable support is what allows our matches to truly thrive,” Davis said. “Monthly giving ensures we can recruit more mentors, provide ongoing support to our Bigs, Littles and families, and create meaningful opportunities that help young people build confidence and feel a true sense of belonging.”

Currently, 85 youth are waiting for a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon program. The Monthly Giving Program allows donors to contribute at various levels, with options starting at $15 per month.

Donations support every stage of the mentoring journey. This includes bringing in new mentors, sustaining strong, supported matches and providing meaningful activities. Mentorship is powerful in its simplicity and can occur anywhere a caring adult shows up.

Community members are encouraged to become one of the first 40 “Match Makers” in May to support the launch of this new initiative. To learn more or sign up for the program, visit www.bbbsco.org.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Draxton

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Redmond will host the second and final Redmond Community Election Forum today for local candidates on the May ballot. The forum provides community members an opportunity to hear from and engage with candidates for Deschutes County Commissioner positions three and five. The event will take place Friday, May 1, at the Redmond Library.

This series of forums has been co-hosted by Redmond Kiwanis, Redmond Executive Association and Redmond Rotary Club volunteers since 2022. The forum series is designed to help the Redmond community learn about candidates and their ideas before voting in May. There is no cost to attend the candidate forum.

The forum panels are scheduled to run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with an engagement opportunity to follow. Doors for the event will open at 10:15 a.m.

Confirmed participants for County Commissioner, position 3, include Charles Baer, Gary Campbell, Lauren Connally, Amanda Page and Amy Sabbadini.

For County Commissioner, position 5, the confirmed candidates are Ron Boozell, Rob Imhoff, Jennifer Letz and Morgan Schmidt.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Draxton

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Central Oregon Multi-Agency Traffic Team (MATT) has wrapped up its Distracted Driving Awareness Month focused enforcement and education effort, which took place this week

MATT issued 146 citations for distracted driving during a focused enforcement and education effort in April.

Central Oregon MATT conducted the operation as part of its ongoing focus on collaborative, high-visibility traffic enforcement and public education. The team aims to reduce serious injury and fatal crashes across the region, identifying distracted driving, particularly cell phone use, as a significant contributing factor in collisions.

During the three enforcement dates, MATT members conducted no fewer than 315 traffic stops. These stops included 135 for distracted driving or cell phone violations, resulting in the 146 citations issued.

The operation also led to three arrests, including one for driving under the influence of intoxicants, known as DUII. Officers also contacted 10 drivers who were operating with suspended driving privileges.

Central Oregon MATT is composed of officers, deputies and troopers from several agencies. These include the Bend Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Sunriver Police Department, Black Butte Ranch Police Department, Redmond Police Department and the Oregon State Police – Bend Command.

Oregon law (ORS 811.507) prohibits drivers from holding or using a mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle. Penalties for violations increase with repeated offenses and a third conviction within a 10-year period is classified as a Class B misdemeanor, which carries potential criminal penalties.

MATT encourages all drivers to make attentive driving a regular habit, emphasizing that even momentary distractions can lead to life-altering outcomes.

Central Oregon MATT reminds everyone to “Slow down, phone down.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Triton Notary

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ)A new 24,000 square foot building has recently opened at the Central Oregon Community College Madras campus. The estimated $22 million facility includes new classrooms for medical assistant and nursing programs, alongside a child care center for students, staff and the wider Jefferson County community.

The project was made possible by land donated by the Bean Foundation. The new annex has already begun hosting classes since its opening in January.

Madras Campus Director James Rodriguez for COCC, emphasized the college’s dedication to serving local needs. “So the priority is giving back to the community, understanding, listening to the community and meeting their needs as a community college. We pride ourselves in that. And so as a community college, we listened,” Rodriguez said. The child care center occupies an entire story of the new building. It is available to anyone in Jefferson County, serving as a needed addition to the community.

Click here to follow the original article.

Campbell Porter

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend Park and Recreation District is opening lottery enrollment for its Kids Inc. after-school care program for the 2026-27 school year. The application process begins Friday, May 1, at 8:00 a.m. for K-5th graders in most Bend, Ore., elementary schools.

The Kids Inc. program operates daily until 5:30 p.m. in all Bend elementary schools except Amity Creek and Westside Village. Catherine Ellis, recreation and inclusion manager, emphasized the program’s vital role for local families. “The primary purpose of Kids Inc. is to support the after-school care needs of working parents and guardians who do not have other options for their elementary school-aged children,” Ellis said. “The program is crucial for families and the enrollment process is very important for the lottery selection.”

Registration requests for the initial selection process must be submitted between May 1 at 8:00 a.m. and May 13 at 11:59 p.m. The lottery will determine selection and waitlist status for applicants. While the lottery is conducted by household, each child must be individually registered. Applicants will receive notification of their status by May 18.

Families have until May 31 to secure their child’s space by submitting a first month tuition deposit. To apply online or learn more, families can visit the Bend Park and Recreation District website during the application period. Applications can also be submitted by phone at 541-389-7275 for those facing online access barriers.

For the 2026-27 school year, Kids Inc. will continue to offer part-time care options, a choice that began in Fall 2022 following positive feedback. These part-time schedules include Monday and Wednesday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, or Wednesdays only. Parents and guardians are advised to register for each schedule they are willing to accept. Families initially selected for part-time spots may have the opportunity to transition to full-time care if spaces become available.

This can occur before the school year starts or at any point during the year, depending on staffing levels and capacity at the school. The Bend Park and Recreation District encourages families who have other after-school care options or do not rely on the program for job requirements to consider the district’s various enrichment and sport programs instead.

Applicants will be notified of their status by May 18. Families then have until May 31 to secure their space in the Kids Inc. program with a first month tuition deposit.

Click here to follow the original article.

Campbell Porter

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Foster the People will bring their brand-new live show, which debuted at Coachella, to the Hayden Homes Amphitheater in Bend this September.

The band will headline the show on Saturday, September 12, 2026, with special guest Goth Babe. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the show begins at 7 p.m. The concert features a pop, alternative and dance sound.

An online-only venue presale for tickets begins Thursday, May 7 at 10 a.m.

General onsale for tickets starts Friday, May 8 at 10 a.m.

The North American tour follows the band’s 2023 album release, Paradise State of Mind.

General tickets will be available for purchase online or in person at the Ticket Mill in the Old Mill District. Chair rentals for general admission tickets are available while supplies last, and securing a rental at the time of ticket purchase is recommended.

Foster the People, a Los Angeles band, debuted in 2011 with their album Torches, featuring the song “Pumped Up Kicks.” They released Supermodel in 2014 and Sacred Hearts Club in 2017.

The band recorded its latest album, Paradise State of Mind, between London’s Church Studios and EastWest Studios in Los Angeles. Lead vocalist Mark Foster said the album “hides the message in the melody,” adding, “People need hope. I need hope. And when I think about what hope is — it’s having the courage to walk toward something that you think can be better, while fully acknowledging the darkness and reality around you.”

The 2023 album draws on influences from late 1970s and early 1980s funk, disco, gospel and R&B.

The band’s new live show features immersive visuals that transport audiences through a 1950s-style utopia that transitions into a dystopia, ultimately ending on a hopeful note. The production aims to invite audiences to find joy in chaos and beauty in darkness.

To receive a presale code for the online-only venue presale, individuals can sign up for Concert Alerts. The chair set-up location for rented chairs may be designated on show night.

Foster the People’s North American tour is scheduled for this fall.

Click here to buy tickets.

Click here to follow the original article.

Claire Elmer

(Update: adding comments from Central Oregon LandWatch, statement from Knife River)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Residents living near the Knife River gravel mine outside Prineville have raised concerns for years about possible contamination in their well water. Some have reported health issues — for both humans and livestock — and even black sludge in their household supply.

State regulators, including the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, say the exact source of any contamination remains unknown.

Now, a new step forward: the Crook County Planning Commission voted April 22nd to refer the issue to a third-party hearings officer. That officer will determine whether further action on Knife River’s mining permit is needed.

“Community members have been urging the county to take some sort of formal action for years now,” said Robin Hayakawa, a staff attorney with Central Oregon LandWatch. “Even getting to this stage is a step in a positive direction.”

The advocacy group says it stepped in over what it describes as a lack of urgency and transparency surrounding the issue.

“When you can’t drink the water that’s coming out of your tap, it’s a pretty urgent situation. What we saw was a lack of urgency, possibly a lack of transparency, and a good opportunity for our organization to step in and bring attention to what we think is one of the most troubling issues taking place in Central Oregon today,” Hayakawa said.

Central Oregon LandWatch says its focus is not on identifying the source of contamination, but on whether Knife River is complying with local land use rules tied to its mining permit.

“There’s plenty of evidence that Knife River doesn’t respect the terms and conditions of that permit,” Hayakawa said.

Knife River disputes those claims.

In a statement to KTVZ News, the company said any contamination is naturally occurring and linked to the region’s volcanic geology, predating its operations. They added that independent experts and DEQ testing have shown consistent, safe results.

Knife River maintains it is in compliance with all permits, operating with integrity, and not impacting groundwater.

Meanwhile, state and federal officials — including Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley — have called for faster testing and clearer answers for affected residents.

With the third-party review now underway, both sides say they hope it will bring clarity to what many describe as a slow-moving but deeply impactful issue in Crook County.

The full statement from Knife River, along with a PDF they provided for additional information, is below:

“Crook County and the Crooked River Caldera have a volcanic history. This resulted in pockets of groundwater throughout the caldera that contain naturally elevated levels of certain metals. This has been a known condition for decades, far predating Knife River’s operations. No one caused this issue. But we absolutely understand wanting to find the source, and the source is volcanic activity that predates all of us.

Independent experts have sampled the water at the site from before we began operating there to the present day, and the results have been consistent. In addition to the testing that has been conducted at the site for the past nine years, we have drilled more sampling wells under DEQ’s guidance. DEQ has tested from those wells, and an independent expert has tested from those wells, with the results sent to separate labs for evaluation.  Not only have the results been consistent with each other, but they are also consistent with the results from nine years ago, before we began operating there. We will continue to go the extra mile to sample and test and stand behind the science that shows we are not impacting the groundwater.

To be clear, we are in full compliance with our permits. Last week, the Crook County Planning Commission voted to engage a third-party hearings officer to consider if there is cause to have a hearing on this. We will continue to work with the county through this important process and demonstrate that we are operating with integrity, we are complying with our permits, and our operations are not impacting the groundwater. ” – Chris Doan, Vice President of Operations, Knife River.

Woodward Information – April 2026Download

Click here to follow the original article.

Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As Oregon continues to face one of the highest rates of family homelessness in the country, Bethlehem Inn says it is beginning the early planning process for a possible expansion of its services in Redmond.

The nonprofit, which has an emergency shelter in Bend and another shelter in Redmond, says the project is still in its very early stages and that no final plans have been set.

Bethlehem Inn Operations Manager Lindsey Clements said the idea is being driven by the growing need for family shelter services across Central Oregon.

“It’s really in response with knowing that we have families who are still outside, either in a tent or just in their vehicle every single night that we’re not able to actually shelter here,” Clements said.

Right now, Bethlehem Inn can shelter up to 10 families each night in Bend and says it is frequently full.

“We are often full every single night,” Clements said. “We always have someone on our inquiry list.”

The shelter provides private rooms, daily meals, and around-the-clock support services, including case management and connections to community resources.

“When they come in, we can offer them meals every day. We have an amazing private room for them to be in, and just a welcoming space for them to come in and feel like they actually not only have a shelter, but have a home for the time that they’re here,” she said.

Bethlehem Inn says expanding the Redmond facility is part of its long-term vision to serve more families.

At this point, factors such as permitting, timeline, and the scope of the expansion are still being worked out.

The organization says much of what happens next will depend on community support and fundraising.

“This is something that we are really looking forward to,” Clements said. “Any community support that people can provide will help us really start this project and get it going as quickly as we can.”

Financial support from the community will play a major role in determining how quickly the project can move forward.

For families currently staying at Bethlehem Inn, the shelter’s services can be life-changing.

“People really express to us that their lives would have been completely different if they hadn’t gotten the five weeks here,” Clements said.

She added that the organization has seen strong success in helping families move into permanent housing after leaving the program.

“We have such a high success rate with our families going to permanent, stable housing once they exit the program here,” she said.

For now, Bethlehem Inn says it will continue serving families in Bend while working through the early steps of the Redmond expansion process.

Community members are encouraged to stay tuned for updates as plans continue to develop.

To learn more about Bethlehem Inn or how you can support it’s mission, click here.

Click here to follow the original article.