Category: ktvz-local-news

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The American Red Cross is appealing for blood and platelet donors of all blood types to schedule donation appointments this fall. The organization provides more than 6.5 million blood products to hospitals nationwide each year.

The call for donations aligns with National Preparedness Month in September. Red Cross officials stated that maintaining a sufficient blood supply is necessary for disaster response, including home fires and natural disasters.

Donors who give blood or platelets between Sept. 21 and Oct. 18 will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. In addition, individuals who donate at a Red Cross donation center through Sept. 30 and mention the word “pickleball” to staff or volunteers can receive a custom Red Cross pickleball paddle and ball while supplies last.

To be eligible to donate, individuals must be at least 17 years old, or 16 with parental consent where permitted by state law and weigh at least 110 pounds while in generally good health. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements. Donors must present a blood donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification at check-in.

Appointments can be made using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by enabling the Blood Donor Skill on Alexa Echo devices. Donors can use RapidPass online on the day of their appointment to complete pre-donation reading and health history questionnaires before arriving at the drive.

Blood drives in Deschutes County include appointments at the Bend Blood Donation Center, along with drives at the State & County Offices on Wall Street today, the City of Bend Police Department on Wednesday, Awbrey Glen Golf Club on Sept. 28 and the US Bank Downtown Bend Branch on Sept. 30. Drive locations in Redmond include Redmond Community Church on Sept. 24, the LDS Redmond OR Stake on Sept. 29, Desert Song Community Church on Oct. 1, the Technology Education Center and Mountain View Fellowship on Oct. 5 and the RPA Operations Building on Oct. 6.

Additional local donation drives are scheduled at the Sunriver Library today, Cascade Bible Church in La Pine on Sept. 28, St. Charles Prineville on Sept. 29, Juniper Canyon Baptist Church in Prineville and Sisters Community Hall on Oct. 2 and Faith Baptist Church in Hines on Oct. 6.

Donation drives across Crook, Deschutes and Harney counties are scheduled to run through Oct. 6.

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Gregory Deffenbaugh

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 73-year-old Bend man was airlifted to a hospital Sunday afternoon after sustaining injuries while mountain biking in the Cline Butte Recreational Area near Barr Road.

Deschutes County 9-1-1 received a call about the injured rider at 1:29 p.m. A Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Special Services Deputy contacted the man by phone and determined that a Search & Rescue team was necessary due to the location and reported injuries.

A response team consisting of one deputy and five Search & Rescue volunteers initially located the rider. After performing a medical evaluation, responders requested additional aid from Redmond Fire & Rescue, which used a side-by-side utility task vehicle to reach the location across rugged terrain.

AirLink launched a helicopter to assist based on the rider’s condition and concerns regarding serious injuries. Search & Rescue volunteers carried the man on a litter to the aircraft after it landed near the scene. AirLink then flew the patient to St. Charles-Bend for medical treatment.

According to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, department officials acknowledged the work of Search & Rescue volunteers, 911 Dispatch and Redmond Fire & Rescue for their quick response during the rescue operation.

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 24-hour mental health vigil titled “Shine a Light” will begin this Friday at 7 p.m. in Drake Park. Organized by Hearts Unknown Education and the National Alliance of Mental Illness, the event aims to support people struggling with mental health issues.

Organizers plan to light a flame at the start of the vigil and keep it burning continuously for 24 hours. The event centers on reminding community members that they are not alone in their mental health struggles.

Community members attending the event are invited to bring safe candles, flashlights and glow sticks to help illuminate the night. The vigil will be held at the Drake Park footbridge. Participants may sign up for scheduled shifts to hold the flame. They’re also invited to share their stories throughout gathering, coming and going as they choose.

The event will begin with presentations from Hearts Unknown Education staff and other mental health professionals. Following the opening talks, participants are invited to stay overnight in the park and watch the sunset, and then the sunrise together.

Nico Carpinelli is the founder of Hearts Unknown Education. His message is one of simple hope: “You know, to take mental health out of the darkness and shine a light on it and, come together as a community and sit by the river,” Carpinelli said. “You with your family, With your friends. If one person comes out of this feeling a little less heavy We’ve reached our goal.”

The vigil will end on Saturday at 7 p.m. with a party featuring live music at the Hearts Unknown Education campus.

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Bend is undertaking an ongoing project to improve sidewalk accessibility across the community. One of the ways they’re doing this is the installation of ADA compliant curb ramps at cross walks.

Every time the city constructs or updates a street crossing, the work must comply with Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines.

Curb ramp installations vary depending on the specific slope and size of the sidewalk. On average, installing a single curb ramp costs the city approximately $4,000.

Kassandra Kehoe serves as the equity and inclusion manager for the City of Bend. Kehoe is passionate about make sure everyone has the access they need. “Interacting in any capacity with our accessibility programs is fantastic. And by simply using a curb walk, you’re accessing things that weren’t accessible 20-plus years ago, right? I think about my own grandmother, who had polio and a curb ramp meant the difference between us being able to enjoy civic life and not right and that’s really what they represent,” Kehoe said.

Local residents can report accessibility barriers or issues preventing sidewalk access through a dedicated forum on the city’s Bend Works app and website. City staff are currently addressing about 35 outstanding accessibility reports, prioritizing work based on severity and community impact.

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Kelsey Merison

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — There’s Good News in Prineville, where local high school students are putting their creativity and classroom skills to work in the community.

Students in Crook County High School’s graphic design program recently had the opportunity to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to a real-world project.

The students helped give a City of Prineville Railway locomotive a brand-new look, working with real equipment and materials, including a vinyl cutter, to bring their design to life.

The project gave students hands-on experience with the design process and allowed them to see their work applied to an actual locomotive.

The partnership is helping students build practical skills they can use in future careers while giving them an opportunity to contribute to their community.

Now, their creative work is part of the Prineville landscape — leaving a lasting mark on the city they call home.

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Claire Elmer

Warning: Contains graphic images

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — An 18-year-old Powell Butte man was arrested early today following a single-vehicle crash on Highway 97 in Bend that caused the vehicle to catch fire and closed all highway lanes for nearly an hour.

Courtesy: Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office

Deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded at 4:21 a.m. to the crash site on Highway 97 just south of 61st Street. The driver, Seoan Padraic Mooney, was able to get out of the 1992 Subaru SVX on his own before flames spread across the vehicle.

Witnesses reported seeing Mooney speeding in the southbound lanes of Highway 97 shortly before the vehicle hit the barrier. Mooney was the only person inside the car.

Courtesy: Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office

Bend Fire & Rescue responded to extinguish the vehicle fire. Emergency medical personnel transported Mooney to St. Charles–Bend for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Deputies cited and arrested Mooney on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, reckless endangering and first-degree criminal mischief.

Courtesy: Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Bend Fire & Rescue, the Oregon Department of Transportation and 911 Dispatch.

Courtesy: Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office

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Claire Elmer

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 24-year-old Prineville man faces multiple criminal charges after police say he vandalized several downtown businesses with graffiti, according to the Prineville Police Department.

Officers received initial reports of property damage on the morning of September 18th, 2026. Investigators determined multiple businesses were vandalized overnight, with each location displaying the same distinctive graffiti tag.

Courtesy: Prineville Police Facebook

Officers Adair and Moore led the investigation, reviewing surveillance footage from the area to identify a suspect in the vandalism.

Officer Moore located 24-year-old Prineville resident Ayden Hill at about 7:49 p.m. on September 19th. Police arrested Hill and booked him into the Crook County Jail on nine counts of second-degree criminal mischief and one count of resisting arrest.

Police said the investigation remains active. The Prineville Police Department asks anyone who finds similar graffiti on their property, or who possesses surveillance video or other information about the incidents, to call 541-447-4168.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Gov. Tina Kotek ordered flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown at half-staff on Tuesday in honor of fallen wildland firefighter Jesús Eduardo Olimpo Gutiérrez Toral.

Gutiérrez Toral, age 25, died on Sept. 9 while conducting firefighting operations on the Austin Fire in the Mount Hood National Forest.

Jesús Eduardo Olimpo Gutiérrez Toral worked as a tree faller, also known as a sawyer and as a wildland firefighter across both Oregon and Washington. His family resides in Springfield, Ore., and in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Gov. Kotek offered condolences to the firefighter’s family and colleagues while recognizing his service. “On behalf of all Oregonians, I extend my deepest condolences to Mr. Gutiérrez Toral’s family, loved ones and colleagues,” Kotek said. “Mr. Gutiérrez Toral gave his life in service of the communities he helped to protect. His courage and selflessness remind us of the extraordinary risks firefighters face so that others may be safe. We honor the empty place at the table that his passing leaves behind.”

Pursuant to the U.S. Flag Code, flags at state public institutions will fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced a settlement today resolving a lawsuit challenging the merger between Paramount Skydance Corporation and Warner Bros. Discovery.

The agreement includes a five-year commitment to boost film production, a minimum $1.5 billion investment in domestic production and a $47.5 million workforce fund for displaced employees.

The lawsuit, originally filed in July by Oregon and a coalition of 12 state attorneys general, sought to maintain competition and protect film industry jobs.

Under the terms of the settlement, Paramount must also negotiate basic cable channels separately for five years, establish a board for news independence at CNN and CBS and submit to compliance oversight by an independent monitor.

Oregon Rayfield led the state’s participation in challenging the transaction. “We stepped up to challenge this merger to limit rising costs for working families, to preserve competition and to protect Oregon’s film production industry,” Rayfield said. “Today’s agreement keeps real competition in place, ensures that productions will continue and ensures journalistic independence. That’s a win for Oregon workers and consumers.”

Attorneys general from 11 other states joined Oregon in securing the settlement, including California, Ariz., Colo., Conn., Mass., Minn., Nev., N.J., N.M., N.Y. and Washington.

The agreement outlines a five-year requirement for film releases. Paramount agreed to release 30 films annually, including 20 wide releases, during the first two years. In years three through five, the company must release 32 films per year, including 21 wide releases. The settlement mandates at least four independent film releases each year. If Paramount fails to meet the film output requirements, the company must divest Miramax Studios and pay $30 million per missed film toward health care and retirement trust funds for labor unions, the Motion Picture & Television Fund and the National Association of Attorneys General for antitrust enforcement.

Under the domestic production terms, Paramount must spend at least $1.5 billion over five years above its 2025 U.S. spending levels, expanding from its current baseline where approximately 5% of production occurs in the U.S. If a federal film tax credit of at least 20% is enacted, domestic production must rise to 20% in years one and two and at least 30% in remaining years. If California or New York enacts an expansive state film tax credit, U.S. production must increase to at least 40% of all film production.

The settlement also addresses television, streaming and news distribution. For five years, the company must negotiate Paramount’s basic cable channels separately from Warner Bros.’ basic cable channels. The merged company must maintain its free streaming service, Pluto TV, at current service levels and establish a News Editorial Independence Board to protect editorial independence at CNN and CBS. Additionally, the company will establish a $25 million fund, contributing $5 million annually over five years, to acquire independent films.

The $47.5 million Workforce Fund will support career development and training for employees displaced by the merger over a five-year period. The company is required to honor existing collective bargaining agreements and bargain in good faith with unions going forward. Compliance with all terms of the agreement will be overseen by an appointed independent monitor.

The settlement remains pending court approval.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Business and Industry released its 2027-28 Oregon Competitiveness Agenda today, urging state lawmakers to reform tax and regulatory policies to address ongoing economic stagnation. The statewide business group highlighted several indicators showing Oregon trailing national growth and employment averages over consecutive years.

Data cited in the report shows Oregon’s economy grew by 1% in 2025, less than half the national growth rate. Employment in the state fell by 0.5% during the same year, while national employment increased by 0.5%. Economic growth in Oregon has trailed the national average for five consecutive years, while state employment growth has lagged behind national figures for six straight years.

Per capita personal income in Oregon has remained at about 96% of the national average since 2020. The state ranked 35th in the nonpartisan Tax Foundation’s 2026 State Tax Competitiveness Index, dropping 28 places since 2019. CNBC also lowered Oregon’s standing to 42nd in its 2026 America’s Best States for Business ranking, representing a 25-place drop since 2017.

OBI is a statewide business association representing 1,500 member companies across all 36 Oregon counties, employing more than 250,000 workers. Angela Wilhelms serves as the president and CEO of the organization. “Oregon is on the wrong track,” Wilhelms said. “We can once again become an economic force and a beacon of opportunity. But that won’t happen without the right policy environment and determination to compete.”

The group’s agenda outlines four primary priorities for state leaders: prioritizing economic and business development, improving affordability for residents and businesses, establishing a solutions-oriented regulatory environment and making tax and budget policies sustainable and competitive. Specific policy recommendations include replacing the state’s Climate Protection Program with a market-based cap-and-invest system, echoing proposals from the Governor’s Prosperity Council formed following Gov. Tina Kotek’s 2025 Oregon Prosperity Roadmap.

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