Category: ktvz-local-news

Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Commute Options, in partnership with the City of Bend and funded by the Pacific Power Foundation, said Wednesday it’s proud to announce the launch of the E-Bike Rebate Program, beginning next Monday.

The program will provide $1,800 rebates to eligible residents for the purchase of electric bikes from local bike shops BendR Cyclery/Ride2You and Bend Electric Bikes.

Commute Options says it hopes to offer transportation options for those unable to afford them.

Residents must also take a safety class to apply. It comes as safety of e-bike riders is top of mind this summer.

This initiative supports Commute Options’ mission to increase access to transportation options across Oregon, while enhancing mobility, community connectivity, and public health in Bend.

“E-bikes are a powerful tool to improve mobility and connect people to work, school, and essential services,” said Brian Potwin, executive director of Commute Options. “With the support of the Pacific Power Foundation and our partnership with the City of Bend, we’re helping more residents access affordable, healthy transportation options that meet their daily needs.”

“The E-Bike Rebate Program is a collaborative partnership that can drive meaningful change in our community,” said Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler. “By making electric bikes more affordable and accessible, we’re not only supporting local businesses, but also promoting healthier lifestyles, easing traffic congestion and helping Bend move toward a more sustainable future. We’re proud to work alongside Commute Options and the Pacific Power Foundation to bring this initiative to our community.”

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the rebate, applicants must:

Be 18 years or older

Be a resident of the City of Bend

Be a Pacific Power customer

Have a household income at or below 80% of the area median income

Complete Commute Options’ e-bike safety course

Applications open on June 16, 2025. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit commuteoptions.org for full program details, application instructions, and eligibility guidelines.

Rebate recipients will be selected through a lottery process every three weeks until all 70 rebates have been awarded. This approach ensures a fair and equitable opportunity for all qualified applicants.

“Pacific Power is proud to partner with local organizations to support sustainable transportation initiatives in the region,” said Shawn Grant, director of Customer Solutions at Pacific Power. “This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration in enabling Commute Options to foster a brighter future for our community. We take pride in supporting Oregonians as they embrace electric mobility, all while progressing toward a more sustainable energy landscape.”

Eligible e-bikes must be purchased from one of the two participating local shops: BendR Cyclery/Ride2You or Bend Electric Bikes, supporting both local businesses and community-centered mobility solutions.

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Isabella Warren

Update: Adding video, comments from incident commander)

LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A small community south of La Pine is getting some help this wildfire season. 

“We call it hardening the community. If we can do things before a fire that make the community more resilient to it, that’s what we’re in the name to do, ” said Bill Terrill, Incident Commander for Team Rubicon.

Team Rubicon is a veteran-led nonprofit organization that helps with emergency humanitarian efforts.  Residents of Wagon Trail Ranch, south of La Pine, reached out to the team earlier this year to ask for help in hardening their neighborhood.

“It starts with a request from a group. And it can be a homeowner’s association, or it can be an emergency manager. It can be somebody who contacts us, who has a need that they can fulfill, either monetarily, or it’s just too much for them,” said Terrill.

The team of over 20 volunteers comes from all parts of the West, some coming as far as Colorado and Texas. “Our makeup is approximately 50% veterans. A lot of them have been around team rubicon since the start of 20, 2001, i think, the rest are what we call our kick butt civilians.”

Last year, nearly two million acres were burned by destructive wildfires. Before and after videos of the area being thinned show just how big a difference their help can make. 

“If you look at it, every dollar spent in mitigation equates to about $6 in savings,” Terrill added.

Here’s the info the organization shared with us.

Team Rubicon’s volunteers, known as Greyshirts, have traveled from all around the country to help the community, located in northern Klamath County, be more resilient against future fires by removing trees and thinning existing woodlands to slow the advancement of wildland fire.

Nearly 40 Greyshirts are holistically altering the woodlands to create a healthier woodland buffer zone that is both resilient to fire and beneficial to wildlife and people.

Last year was one of the most destructive wildfire years in Oregon history, as 1.9 million acres burned. It changed lives. It changed communities. Some neighborhoods were tested, and many survived the test. They had created defensible space. They had prepared their homes for flames and embers. When the hot embers blew in, the homes that were prepared had the best chance of survival.

Team Rubicon dispatched volunteers from across the country to help the Wagon Trail Ranch community prepare for fire by thinning the forests to help keep the fire on the ground and prevent a crown fire where the fire travels from tree top to tree top. The Wagon Wheel Ranch, after much hard work, has already been certified as a Firewise community, but with only one road into the neighborhood, they need additional help creating an extensive fuel break along the perimeter of the community.

This year to date, Team Rubicon has already conducted 43 operations across the country and currently is deployed in:

Kern County, California (Wildfire Recovery)

Cheboygan County, Michigan (Severe Storm Recovery)

Los Angeles County, California (Wildfire Recovery)

Klamath County, Oregon (Wildfire Mitigation)

From fire mitigation to natural disasters and crisis response, Team Rubicon responded to 98 disasters across North America last year.  As we enter hurricane and tornado season, Team Rubicon is ever reliant on our 200,000 volunteers to respond to where they are most desperately needed. To support our Greyshirts and Team Rubicon’s humanitarian mission, visit www.teamrubiconusa.org to donate, volunteer, and find more information.

###

About Team Rubicon  

Team Rubicon is a veteran-led humanitarian organization that serves global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises. Founded following the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the organization has grown to more than 200,000 volunteers across the United States and has launched over 1,200 operations domestically and internationally. To drive equity across disaster and humanitarian services, Team Rubicon focuses on three areas of impact: disaster response- from mitigation to immediate response to recovery; long term recovery & workforce development — maintaining the fabric of communities through resilient building methods; and medical services- providing emergent and surge health care, WASH, and disaster risk reduction. The organization is featured in the Emmy-nominated Roku original series titled Team Rubicon, which highlights the work of Greyshirt volunteers assisting communities across the country. Visit www.teamrubiconusa.org for more information. 

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Gregory Deffenbaugh

Update: SIE provided this statement to KTVZ News regarding the reduction in workforce at Sony’s Bend Studio.

“Earlier this year, Bend Studio wrapped development on a live service concept. After careful consideration, we chose not to move forward with it. As the team shifts focus to its next project, we’ve made strategic changes to better position the studio for long-term success. As part of this transition, a workforce reduction has taken place at the studio. This decision was not made lightly, and we are extremely grateful for the meaningful contributions of all those impacted. Bend Studio has been a valued part of PlayStation Studios for decades, and we remain confident in its future and creative direction.” 

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Sony’s Bend Studio has laid off about 40 employees, roughly 30 percent of its workforce, according to a report from Bloomberg News. The layoffs, which occurred Tuesday, come as part of a broader restructuring within the company’s gaming division.

Bend Studio, which has operated in Central Oregon for nearly three decades, is known for developing games under Sony’s PlayStation brand. Most notably, the studio created Days Gone, a post-apocalyptic adventure game set in Central Oregon. The game was recently remastered by the studio.

KTVZ photojournalists captured video outside the studio’s Old Mill District facility shortly after news of the layoffs broke. The atmosphere appeared quiet, with no official statement issued by Sony as of Tuesday evening.

However, Bend Studio addressed the layoffs in a post on Instagram within the last hour, writing:

“We are incredibly grateful for our teammates who are affected by today’s changes, and we support them as they transition into their next chapters.”

The social media post did not provide further details on the studio’s future direction, but it did mention that the team is moving forward with a new project.

KTVZ has reached out to Bend Studio multiple times and is currently on-site working to gather more information. We will continue to update this story as it develops both on-air and online at ktvz.com.

Stay with KTVZ for continuing coverage.

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Claire Elmer

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Forestry announced Tuesday that additional fire restrictions would go into effect for the Central Oregon District, starting on Monday, June 16th. 

Just hours later, an update: The Central Oregon District is now in HIGH fire danger risk. 

We spoke with an ODF representative to find out what led to these additional restrictions and increased risk level.

Jessica Neujahr told KTVZ News what they take into account when changing levels.

“We take cues off of multiple factors, and then from that, make the decision to go up another level in the fire danger. (This time), it was a lot on the high temperatures and the current drying trends that we’re seeing,” said Neujahr.

Some of the restrictions limit what activities can be done – along with where, and when. These also apply to private land. 

“We do our best to ride the line of not over0restricting, while also keeping in mind the conditions and making sure that people are safe. These restrictions are a tool to reduce the number of human-caused fires,” said Neujahr.

As far as how you can help prevent wildfires, staying up to date on your district’s levels and advisories is number one. ODF also recommends keeping certain supplies in your car or on your person, if you are going to a high-risk area. 

“Keep water in your car and a small shovel,” she said. “Because then, if you do see a spark or unattended campfire that wasn’t put out properly, you’re prepared to help take that next step in preventing wildfire by then putting it out.”

About 75% of wildfires are human-caused, the agency says. With Central Oregon’s fire season getting off to a dry, hot start, ODF wants to remind the community that we all need to work together to reduce our risk. 

“Fire is the reality of Oregon right now. It’s not a new normal. We’re living in it. And it is everyone’s responsibility from federal, state, and local agencies to Oregonians to practice that wildfire prevention and do our part in preventing wildfire in the state,” said Neujahr. 

For a list of precautions and additional information, you can find KTVZ’s earlier article here from when the statement was first updated. For further details from ODF, you can visit the ODF website here.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Boil water notice lifted, watering issues remain)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A day-old precautionary boil water notice was lifted Wednesday for hundreds of Avion Water Co. customers in the Long Butte and upper Whispering Pines area north of Bend. But the heat-related water limits mean the area will be under even-odd watering restrictions through the summer.

Residents in the affected area were informed that no outside watering was allowed on Tuesday, to be followed starting Wednesday with a mandatory even-odd watering schedule “until further notice, in order to keep water storage levels at an acceptable level.”

“Failure to abide by these restrictions may cause loss of water pressure to neighboring homes,” the notice stated.

Avion President and part-owner Jason Wick told KTVZ News Wednesday that when Avion bought the Long Butte Water Co. a year ago, the system “was in poor condition. Some of the parts haven’t been touched in 30 years. So we’re covering issues as we go.”

Residents with questions were advised to call Avion’s office at 541-382-5342 or visit their website at avionwater.com.

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Starting June 10th, Bend Animal Emergency Center will have emergency veterinary services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The clinic has expanded staffing to meet this critical need, and aims to provide Central Oregon with the security that comes from knowing they have access to a vet when they need it.

Head Doctor Adam Stone knows the difference immediate care can make. “Emergencies happen at any time. And, a lot of times, what looks like more mild illness can turn into something very severe in a matter of hours.”

“There are numerous conditions that if you don’t get in surgically and within an hour, it can be fatal for certain types of allergic reactions,” he added.

Now, a team of experienced emergency veterinarians and technicians equipped with advanced diagnostic tools are ready to save your pet.

The clinic also offers specialized treatment for advanced medical conditions.

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KTVZ News Sources

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Gas prices are ticking down in most states, including Oregon. Refineries are cranking out plenty of product for the summer driving season. However, the price of crude oil has climbed above $65 per barrel, which could cause pump prices to inch up soon.

For the week, the national average for regular slips two cents $3.12 a gallon. The Oregon average also loses two cents to $3.97 a gallon.

“Gas prices are on cruise control as the summer driving season begins. But if crude oil prices continue to climb, pump prices will follow suit,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.

The Oregon average began 2025 at $3.45 a gallon and is currently at $3.97. The highest price of the year so far is $4.02 on May 28. The lowest price of the year so far is just under $3.45 a gallon on January 2.  

The national average began 2025 at $3.06 a gallon and is currently at $3.12. The highest price of the year so far is $3.27 on April 4. The lowest price of the year so far is $3.06 on January 5.

This week 12 Oregon counties have averages at or above $4, down from 13 a week ago.

Clackamas $4.03

Clatsop $4.06

Columbia $4.18

Curry $4.02

Grant $4.09

Harney $4.18

Jackson $4.05

Lake $4.10

Multnomah $4.12

Tillamook $4.12

Wallowa $4.07

Washington $4.09

Gas prices typically rise starting in mid-to-late winter and early spring as refineries undergo maintenance ahead of the switch to summer-blend fuel, which is less likely to evaporate in warmer temperatures. The switch occurs first in California, which is why pump prices on the West Coast often rise before other parts of the country. The East Coast is the last major market to switch to summer-blend fuel. Most areas have a May 1 compliance date for refiners and terminals, while most gas stations have a June 1 deadline to switch to selling summer-blend until June 1. Switch-over dates are earlier in California with some areas in the state requiring summer-blend fuel by April 1. Some refineries will begin maintenance and the switchover in February.

Gas prices usually drop in the fall, due to the switch from summer-blend to winter-blend fuel, which costs less to produce. The switch starts in September. Many areas, including Oregon, can sell winter-blend fuel starting September 15. However, Northern and Southern California require summer-blend fuel through October 31. Prices usually decline to their lowest levels of the year in late fall and early winter before increasing again in the late winter and early spring.

Meanwhile, crude oil production in the U.S. remains near record highs. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that crude production in this country holds steady at 13.40 million barrels per day for the week ending May 30. The record high is 13.63 million barrels per day for the week of December 6. Production has been at 13.5 million barrels per day many times since October. The U.S. has been the top producer of crude oil in the world since 2018 and has been increasing its oil production since about 2009.

The U.S. price of crude oil (West Texas Intermediate) had been mostly in the upper $60s to mid-$70s since last September, but crude prices dropped in early April as markets reacted to President Trumps tariffs and the impact on U.S. and global markets. Additional downward pressure on crude prices came after the decision by OPEC+ to increase production. The lowest closing price since September was $57.13 on May 5, which was the lowest closing price since February 2021. The recent high price for crude was $80.04 per barrel on January 15, which was the highest price since last August.

Crude oil is trading around $65 today compared to $63 a week ago and $78 a year ago. In 2024, West Texas Intermediate ranged between $66 and $87 per barrel. In 2023, WTI ranged between $63 and $95 per barrel. WTI reached recent highs of $123.70 on March 8, 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and $122.11 per barrel on June 8, 2022. The all-time high for WTI crude oil is $147.27 in July 2008.

Crude prices are impacted by economic news as well as geopolitical events around the world including the current economic uncertainty, unrest in the Middle East, and the war between Russia and Ukraine. Russia is a top global oil producer, behind the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Crude prices have been volatile after the attack on Israel by Hamas in October 2023. While Israel and the Palestinian territory are not oil producers, concerns remain that the conflict could spread in the Middle East, which could potentially impact crude production in other oil-producing nations in the region. In addition, production cuts by OPEC+ in previous years tightened global crude oil supplies, which continued to impact prices. But now the cartel boosted production by 411,000 barrels in May and June, and announced the same increase for July.

Crude oil is the main ingredient in gasoline and diesel, so pump prices are impacted by crude prices on the global markets. On average, about 49% of what we pay for in a gallon of gasoline is for the price of crude oil, 16% is refining, 19% distribution and marketing, and 16% are taxes, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Demand for gasoline in the U.S. decreased from 9.45 million b/d to 8.26 for the week ending May 30, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). This compares to 8.95 million b/d a year ago. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline supply increased from 223.1 million barrels to 228.3. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9 million barrels per day, compared to 9.8 million barrels daily the previous week.

Pump prices will likely be fairly stable or even tick down in the short term, if crude oil prices remain in the low to mid $60s.

Quick stats

Oregon is one of 46 states and the District of Columbia with lower prices now than a week ago. Oklahoma (-7 cents) has the largest week-over-week decline in the nation. Texas (+4 cents) has the biggest week-over-week increase.

California ($4.69) has the most expensive gas in the nation for the 17th week in a row. Hawaii ($4.48) is second, and Washington ($4.36) is third. These are the three states in the country with averages at or above $4 a gallon. This week 18 states and the District of Columbia have averages in the $3-range. There are 29 states with an average in the $2 range this week.

The cheapest gas in the nation is in Mississippi ($2.63) and Tennessee ($2.69). No state has had an average below $2 a gallon since January 7, 2021, when Mississippi and Texas were below that threshold. At the time, the COVID-19 pandemic drove significant declines in crude oil and gasoline demand in the U.S. and around the world.

The difference between the most expensive and least expensive states is $2.06 this week, compared to $2.12 a week ago.

Oregon is one of 25 states with higher prices now than a month ago. The national average is two cents less and the Oregon average is six cents more than a month ago. California (-19 cents) has the largest month-over-month drop in the nation. Florida (+9 cents) has the largest month-over-month increase.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have lower prices now than a year ago. The national average is 32 cents less and the Oregon average is 19 cents less than a year ago. Maryland (-53 cents) has the largest yearly drop. Washington (-4 cents) has the smallest.

West Coast

The West Coast region continues to have the most expensive pump prices in the nation with all seven states in the top 10. It’s typical for the West Coast to have six or seven states in the top 10 as this region tends to consistently have fairly tight supplies, consuming about as much gasoline as is produced. In addition, this region is located relatively far from parts of the country where oil drilling, production and refining occurs, so transportation costs are higher. And environmental programs in this region add to the cost of production, storage and distribution.

As mentioned above, California has the most expensive gas in the country for the 17th week in a row. Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Alaska round out the top six. Arizona is 10th. Oregon is fourth most expensive for the third week in a row.

All seven states in the West Coast region have week-over-week decreases: California (-7 cents), Nevada (-6 cents), Arizona (-4 cents), Washington (-3 cents), Oregon (-2 cents), Alaska (-1 cent), and Hawaii (-2/10ths of a cent).

The refinery utilization rate on the West Coast jumped from 79.5% to 83.3% to for the week ending May 30. This rate has ranged between about 72% to 92% in the last year. The latest national refinery utilization rate rose from 90.2% to 93.4%.

The refinery utilization rate measures how much crude oil refineries are processing as a percentage of their maximum capacity. A low or declining rate can put upward pressure on pump prices, while a high or rising rate can put downward pressure on pump prices.

According to EIA’s latest weekly report, total gas stocks in the region increased from 27.2 million bbl. to 27.6 million bbl. An increase in gasoline stocks can put downward pressure on pump prices, while a decrease in gasoline stocks can put upward pressure on pump prices.

Oil market dynamics

Crude oil prices have moved higher this week in response to the trade talks between the U.S. and China in London. A positive outcome could improve the global economic outlook, which would likely lead to more consumption of crude oil.

Meanwhile, the EIA reports that crude oil inventories decreased by 4.3 million barrels from the previous week. At 436.1 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 7% below the five-year average for this time of year. 

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI jumped $1.21 to settle at $64.58. At the close of Monday’s formal trading session, WTI added 71 cents to settle at $65.29. Today crude is trading around $65 compared to $63 a week ago. Crude prices are about $12 less than a year ago. ($77.74 on June 10, 2024)

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Pacific Power customers in areas of Bend, Redmond, Madras and Prineville have been placed on the utility’s “enhanced safety setting,” cutting the risk of wildfires but possibly meaning more – and longer – outages.

Customers in the affected areas received a notice Tuesday of the step being taken “due to elevated wildfire risk in your area.”

They were told the new settings and protective devices on Pacific Power equipment “will automatically de-energize power lines when debris, wildlife or strong winds contact the lines.”

There won’t be notices of specific outages, due to the nature of the system and settings, but “it will shut off automatically if something contacts the line, for the safety of customers and communities.”

Here’s a page with more information about the settings from Pacific Power and below, view a video about the enhanced safety settings:

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Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. [KTVZ] — Tuesday’s event at Drop Thesis in Bend – Men, Mushrooms and Meaning, centered around men’s growth, healing, and an unconventional tool—psilocybin mushrooms.  

Drop Thesis is a creative wellness space that’s been gaining traction for community discussions on mental health and alternative therapies.  

Facilitators, including mental health advocates and integration specialists, shared personal stories and scientific insights into how psilocybin—when used intentionally and safely—can support emotional processing, self-awareness, and personal breakthroughs, particularly for men navigating trauma, stress, or identity challenges.   

It’s also important to note if you’re a good candidate for psilocybin therapy.   

“There’s also the screening to make sure that people are, that they don’t have a history of schizophrenia or other psychosis that they are, that their heart is healthy, that they’re as prepared as they can be and that they are an appropriate candidate,” said Psilocybin Facilitator, Josh Goldstein. 

Goldstein pointed out a scenario for candidacy.  

“So, for example, if someone has never done therapy and they’re coming to this and they have significant trauma history, that’s not been explored, that would be a significant caution.” 

The discussion also emphasized the importance of setting, support, and proper integration when exploring plant medicine, especially as Oregon continues to roll out its regulated psilocybin therapy program.   

Organizers say it’s part of a broader movement to de-stigmatize mental health care for men—and to offer more tools for healing and connection.  

Here’s Josh Goldstein. 

“Psilocybin Psychedelics, are dilators of experience, so they, much like an aperture on a camera, they open it up. But, when you are looking in, you see what your system has been trying to avoid seeing, which means the experience itself can be rather challenging, and the more challenging experiences oftentimes are the most beneficial.” 

For more information on upcoming events and resources, visit Drop Thesis on social media, or the website.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State University–Cascades will graduate 340 students at its 24th commencement ceremony on Sunday, bringing the total number of graduates to 5,972 since the Bend campus was founded in 2001.

In addition, with the Class of 2025, OSU-Cascades has trained and contributed more than 800 K-12 teachers and more than 500 mental health and school counselors to serve in Central Oregon and the state.

The class is the fourth largest in OSU-Cascades’ 24-year history.

More than 260 students are expected to participate in the ceremony, which will take place at 10 a.m., rain or shine, on the Oval Green on the OSU-Cascades campus. More than 2,500 family and friends are anticipated. Gates will open at 9 a.m. Tickets are required, and attendees must follow OSU’s clear bag policy.

The graduating class will receive 345 degrees and includes five students who will receive two degrees.

The commencement address will be given by Derek Abbey, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, an alumnus of OSU, and president and CEO of Project Recovery.

“This graduating class demonstrates how OSU-Cascades is providing innovative opportunities for students and contributing to the workforce in Central Oregon and Oregon in technical, creative, health and human service, and education fields,” said Sherm Bloomer, chancellor and dean of OSU-Cascades.

“I’m especially proud of how OSU-Cascades’ academic faculty have prepared our graduates to have a positive impact in their careers and on the future of Oregon and the world.” 

Bloomer will preside over the ceremony, and OSU President Jayathi Murthy will confer degrees to students. 

Bloomer will present OSU-Cascades’ Distinguished Service Award posthumously to Mark Kralj, who served in volunteer leadership positions for decades within OSU and at OSU-Cascades, as well as with the OSU Foundation. The award honors individuals, businesses or organizations who have made exceptional contributions to OSU-Cascades, Central Oregon, Oregon or the world.

Kralj and his wife Kathy supported causes in Central Oregon and around the state, and in 2024 established a scholarship fund to help student veterans at OSU-Cascades transition from military to academic life. 

Emily Kralj, Kralj’s daughter, will accept the award on behalf of the Kralj family.

Some additional facts and figures about the OSU-Cascades’ class of 2025:

•    Of the 345 degrees awarded, 256 will go to students receiving bachelor’s degrees, and 89 to those receiving master’s and doctoral degrees.•    Degrees will be awarded in 25 academic programs.•    Five students will receive an OSU Honors degree, which requires completion of advanced classes and a thesis.•    One student has been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest academic honor society in the nation.•    77% of the graduates are from Oregon, with 43% from Central Oregon. •    OSU-Cascades’ 2025 graduates represent 24 of Oregon’s 36 counties. •    Graduates represent 20 other U.S. states and three countries.•    The graduating class includes 58 students who are the first in their family to earn a college degree.•    Twenty-three graduates are active-duty military personnel or veterans of the national armed forces.•    The average age of the graduating class is 27, the oldest is 60 and the youngest is 20.

The ceremony marks the fourth commencement to take place on the OSU-Cascades campus.

About OSU-Cascades:  Oregon State University’s campus in Bend brings higher education to Central Oregon, the fastest-growing region in the state. Surrounded by mountains, forest and high desert, OSU-Cascades is a highly innovative campus of a top-tier land grant research university, offering small classes that accelerate faculty-student mentoring and experiential learning. Degree programs meet industry and economic needs in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship, natural ecosystems, health and wellness, and arts and sciences, and prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges. OSU-Cascades is expanding to serve 3,000 to 5,000 students, building a 128-acre campus with net-zero goals.

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