Category: ktvz-local-news

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, ORE. (KTVZ) — A 44-year-old Portland man was arrested Friday, Aug. 21, in connection with the theft of approximately $20,000 worth of golfing equipment from a resort in Powell Butte, Ore.

Matthew Wayne Chavis was taken into custody at a storage unit in Portland on charges of Aggravated Theft I, Burglary II and Criminal Trespass II.

An employee at Brasada Ranch, located at 16986 SW Brasada Ranch Road in Powell Butte, reported the theft of golf clubs, golf bags and other golfing equipment on July 20, 2026.

Deputies with the Crook County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and tracked down the stolen items after discovering them listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace.

Deputies matched serial numbers shown in photos on the Facebook Marketplace advertisement by contacting the golf club manufacturer, who confirmed the clubs had been sold to Brasada Ranch. One advertisement photo showed a storage unit identification placard. A deputy searched storage unit facilities across the Portland metropolitan area and matched the business logo displayed in the ad.

Deputies obtained security camera footage showing Chavis moving the golf clubs into his Portland storage unit. Investigators applied for and received a search warrant for the unit and arranged a controlled buy to meet Chavis at the location.

Chavis arrived early for the planned meeting on Friday, Aug. 21 and deputies arrested him without incident. During an interview with deputies, Chavis said some golf club sets had allegedly been sold to other people. Deputies then executed the search warrant on the storage unit and found the reported stolen golf bags inside.

Deputies transported Chavis to the Crook County Jail. Deputy Dakota Peterson served as the case agent and Lt. Mitch Madden provided the investigation report. The Crook County Sheriff’s Office referred the case to the Crook County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrielle Hasara

(Update: adding video, comments from Bend Park and Rec)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — From new pickleball courts to upgraded ball fields and trails, an $8 million improvement project at Pine Nursery Park is nearing completion.

Some of the newest additions include eight pickleball courts, a full basketball court, three new entrances to the off-leash area, and a pedestrian connection to Deschutes Market Road.

Central Oregonians are already putting the new amenities to use.

“We got an email this morning that there were a large group of people playing basketball last night, and that’s great to hear,” said Jason Powell, construction manager for Bend Park and Recreation District.

“I have heard quite a bit about the fact that the trails are a lot smoother, and that makes people happy. So, yeah, there have been a lot of positives,” Powell added.

Crews repaired roughly 1.5 miles of the park’s perimeter trail, installed 99 solar pathway lights, and added artificial turf and new lighting at the softball fields.

The new amenities are open, but an issue with an electrical component is keeping the lighting offline for now. Powell said connecting the power is the biggest remaining step before the project can officially wrap up.

“There are punch-list items, and some landscaping things still need to be established and grown in, but the main thing is to get the power in so we can get the lighting commissioned and online for this fall, when we would like to have extended lighting hours on the fields,” Powell said.

Once operating, the new lighting will be DarkSky certified, meaning it is designed to direct light where it is needed while limiting glare and light pollution.

The lights will also allow people to use the fields, courts, and perimeter path during more early-morning and evening hours.

Construction began last fall and was funded mainly through system development charges, with some property tax dollars also included.

Whether visitors come to Pine Nursery Park to walk their dogs, play a game, or simply enjoy the outdoors, they are likely to notice something new.

Earlier Story — BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend Park and Recreation District is putting the finishing touches on an approximately $8 million improvement project at Pine Nursery Park in Bend, Ore. Several new facilities are now open to the public, including a full-court basketball court, eight new pickleball courts and upgraded sports fields.

Pine Nursery Park is a 159-acre community park that draws approximately one million visits each year. The park has been developed in phases since 2006 and the latest renovations fulfill high-priority projects identified in the district’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan and its 2024 midterm update.

Kirby Nagelhout Construction Company completed the work following a competitive bidding process. Improvements across the park include a new pedestrian connection to Deschutes Market Road, off-leash dog area upgrades and paving and lighting repairs along the perimeter loop trail. Maintenance area improvements feature a new storage shed and fencing.

Crews also converted ball field infields to artificial turf and added sports field lighting. Dark-sky compliant lighting was installed along both the fields and the paved perimeter loop pathway to extend usability during the fall and spring when daylight hours are shorter.

The project involved partnerships with local organizations. Bend Park and Recreation District renovated a storage space for exclusive use by Oregon Adaptive Sports, while the Bend Pickleball Club raised half of the funding for eight new pickleball courts.

The addition brings the total number of pickleball courts at Pine Nursery Park to 24. Eight of the courts remain open for public drop-in use at all times, except during a small number of annual tournaments.

Jase Newton, recreation services director for the district, highlighted the community partnerships involved in the park’s expansion.

“Collaborating with partners and seeking opportunities to collaborate is on display at Pine Nursery Park and it serves the community best when we’re able to align goals and resources,” Newton said.

Newton added that the district aims to maximize public investments through these facility upgrades.

“By enhancing existing amenities, the district can deliver greater value to the community, expand recreation opportunities and ensure responsible stewardship of public resources,” Newton said.

Final elements of the project are scheduled to be completed by early fall.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, ORE. (KTVZ) — High Desert Chamber Music is relocating both its Concert Series and Annual Gala to new venues in Bend, Ore., for the 2026–27 season.

The Concert Series will move to First Presbyterian Church of Bend, while the Annual Gala will be held at the Riverhouse Convention Center.

The venue changes mark the start of the organization’s 19th season. High Desert Chamber Music was established in 2008 to bring chamber music performances and music education programs to Central Oregon.

The new concert location at First Presbyterian Church of Bend offers an elevated stage, increased audience capacity and expanded on-site parking. The Riverhouse Convention Center provides larger function space and additional amenities for the annual gala.

Isabelle Senger serves as the founder and executive director of High Desert Chamber Music. She noted that the new locations mark a major milestone as the organization enters its next phase.

“We are excited about these changes and what they represent for the future of High Desert Chamber Music,” Senger said. “Both moves give us new opportunities to welcome our community, strengthen the concert and gala experiences and build on everything we’ve accomplished together since 2008.”

The 2026–27 Concert Series will feature a six-concert schedule. The opening performance will feature the Yu&I Duo, composed of violinist YuEun Gemma Kim and guitarist Ines Thomé.

Alongside its performance schedule, High Desert Chamber Music provides free educational outreach connecting professional musicians with regional students. Season subscriptions and single tickets are available online, by phone or at the organization’s office in Downtown Bend.

The 2026–27 concert season begins Sept. 25, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church of Bend.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, ORE. (KTVZ) — Bend La-Pine Schools is seeking to hire nutrition servers and substitute servers for its nutrition team. Servers will earn between $22.99 and $26.69 per hour, while substitutes will earn $20 per hour.

Click here to follow the original article.

Lance Campbell

We asked… and Central Oregon, you delivered — and what a beautiful view you gave us.

Tonight, we asked you to share the moments that made you stop, look up and reach for your camera. You answered with sunsets spilling across the High Desert, stunning familiar landscapes in a whole new light and unforgettable moments beneath the night sky.

But as beautiful as the photos are, the best part is what’s behind them.

Each one is a moment someone in our community noticed, appreciated and chose to share — a reminder that sometimes the most extraordinary views are right here at home.

Tonight, we got to see Central Oregon through your eyes. And we loved every second of it.

So, from Tracee and Lance, thank you. Thank you for sharing your views, your moments and a little piece of the place we all call home.

Watch the video above to see some of the incredible photos you shared with us tonight.

Keep looking up, Central Oregon. There’s a whole lot of beauty out there — and we can’t wait to see what you capture next.

Click here to follow the original article.

Claire Elmer

(Update: adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — For many American ranchers, higher beef prices at the grocery store haven’t necessarily translated to bigger profits.

Central Oregon farmer Chris Casad, owner of Casad Family Farms, says what producers earn for their cattle has only recently started catching up with decades of low prices and the rising costs of fuel, feed, transportation, and other expenses.

“The beef market’s been up, but it’s been correcting itself from about… 20, 30, 40 years of very low prices consistently,” Casad said.

Now, some producers worry an influx of lower-priced foreign beef could push those returns back down.

President Donald Trump has announced a plan that would allow up to 300,000 metric tons of beef intended for ground beef into the United States at lower tariff rates for 90 days.

Trump says the imported beef would be sold at prices 25% below the current market in an effort to lower grocery bills for American consumers.

Here in Central Oregon, farms that sell beef directly to consumers may be somewhat insulated from fluctuations in the broader cattle market. But Casad says the national market still has a major impact on local producers.

Many ranchers raise calves before selling them into the larger cattle market. That makes the timing of the administration’s proposal particularly concerning for producers with spring calves, which are typically sold in the fall.

“It’s a very hard time of year for that to happen because everyone who does have spring calves… generally, they’re taking them to sale sometime from September to November,” Casad said. “It’s pretty tough.”

Additional lower-cost beef entering the market during that period could put downward pressure on what ranchers receive for their cattle, potentially cutting into one of their primary sources of annual income.

The concern comes as the U.S. cattle herd is already at its lowest level in roughly 75 years. Rebuilding the nation’s cattle supply takes time because producers must retain breeding animals rather than sending them to market.

Trump has argued temporary imports could provide some relief for consumers while domestic cattle supplies recover.

However, some economists have questioned whether the proposed volume of imported beef would be large enough to meaningfully lower prices shoppers see at grocery stores.

For Casad, the concern is what happens to producers if cattle prices fall before ranchers have had enough time to recover from years of tighter margins.

“Every dollar that gets pulled from a rancher’s pocket inevitably is going to be putting someone out of business or making it that much less viable for someone to continue on,” Casad said.

The potential impact will ultimately depend on how the plan affects both cattle markets and retail beef prices — and whether consumers see meaningful savings without creating longer-term challenges for American ranchers and family farms.

Click here to follow the original article.

Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — According to Bend Police, a Bend man was arrested Saturday night after accidentally shooting a 24-year-old woman through the floor of a home in the 63000 block of Layton Avenue.

Brandon Paul Ferris, 53, faces assault charges after a firearm discharged inside the residence.

Bend Police responded to the home at approximately 8:08 p.m. on Saturday, August 22nd, following a report of a gunshot wound.

Investigators determined that Ferris was in an upstairs bedroom showing a 9 mm handgun to a visitor when he mistakenly loaded a live round instead of a training cartridge and fired the gun.

The bullet passed through the bedroom floor and struck the woman in the room below, hitting her in the arm and abdomen.

Arriving officers rendered aid to the victim, who was then transported to St. Charles Bend with non-life-threatening injuries.

Ferris was arrested at the scene without incident and transported to the Deschutes County Jail on suspicion of third-degree assault and fourth-degree assault.

Following the incident, Bend Police issued a reminder to firearm owners regarding safe handling practices. Department officials emphasized that gun owners must know how to properly handle and secure firearms, keep weapons pointed in a safe direction at all times, keep fingers off the trigger until ready to shoot and check that a firearm is unloaded whenever picking it up.

Click here to follow the original article.

Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A proposed amendment to the Oregon Constitution that would protect hunting, fishing, farming, ranching and trapping has advanced to its next legal phase after gathering the required signatures.

The Oregon Secretary of State’s office sent Initiative Petition 25 to the state Attorney General to draft the official ballot title and summary for the measure.

Initiative Petition 25 was introduced after a previous proposal, Initiative Petition 28, failed to qualify for the November ballot. While IP 28 sought to remove certain protections for agricultural and wildlife harvesting activities, IP 25 aims to permanently establish them as fundamental rights rooted in food security, rural life and personal liberty.

Kari Goodheart serves as the chief petitioner of the Oregon Freedom Amendment, which is sponsoring the measure. “This is about protecting the people’s ability to continue the practices that have helped sustain Oregon communities for generations,” Goodheart said in a statement.

The proposal has gathered bipartisan backing among state lawmakers. State Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, endorsed the initiative during a visit to Central Oregon, pointing out previous legislative opposition to IP 28. “Every single member of the legislature came out in opposition to IP 28. Everybody did,” Drazan said. “What a wonderful, wonderful opportunity for us to come together. Put it on the ballot and allow for for our hunting and fishing and farming and ranching activities to be protected in our Constitution.”

State Rep. Emerson Levy also announced support for the constitutional measure. “Hunting, farming, fishing, ranching are deeply embedded in Oregon’s culture and traditions, particularly here in Central Oregon,” Levy said in a statement. “They deserve constitutional protections.”

If passed, Initiative Petition 25 would add Section 44 to Article I of the Oregon Constitution. The text guarantees rights to cultivate crops, raise livestock, harvest natural resources and participate in science-based conservation programs. It establishes these activities as a public right and the state’s preferred method for managing fish, wildlife and natural resources.

Under the amendment, state and local governments could only regulate these activities through rules or laws that are reasonable, narrowly tailored and necessary for public safety, public health or wildlife conservation. The measure explicitly prohibits laws or initiative petitions from reclassifying generally accepted agricultural, farming, ranching or hunting practices as animal abuse, neglect or cruelty.

The text also outlines limits regarding legal liability and property rights. It does not authorize trespass on private property, restrict private property rights or grant civil or criminal immunity for intentional, negligent or reckless misconduct. State authority to enforce laws against intentional animal torture outside of regulated activities would remain intact, as would the authority of wildlife agencies to establish bag limits, seasons and conservation rules. The text also contains a severability clause ensuring remaining provisions stay valid if any part is struck down.

The Oregon Attorney General’s office will draft the official ballot title and summary for Initiative Petition 25 following the referral from the Secretary of State.

Click here to follow the original article.

Kelsey Merison

CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — On Saturday, much of our region will be under a red flag warning, as firefighters continue to button up the active wildfires.

The Rowe Creek Complex Fire, burning in Crook, Wheeler, Wasco, and Jefferson counties, sits at just under 374,000 acres burned with 89% containment.

Today, firefighters will continue much of the work they have been doing in the Mill Creek area for the last several days, focusing on hot spots and unburned fuel inside the fire’s control lines.

There’s a community listening session happening tomorrow in Prineville, where residents can sit down and have an informal conversation with fire team members working on the Rowe Creek Complex. That’s at Wild Ride Brewing on Third Street in Prineville, starting at 4 p.m.

Click here to follow the original article.

Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A preliminary report is shedding new light on a deadly plane crash west of Bend earlier this month.

The NTSB says a Cirrus SR-22-T crashed about 12 miles west of the Bend Municipal Airport on August 4th, killing the pilot.

According to preliminary data, the plane spent several hours flying in the area before descending to about 5,000 feet. In the final seconds of recorded data, fuel sensors showed zero gallons in the left tank and one gallon in the right.

The plane then entered a steep nose-down attitude before impacting terrain.

The aircraft was substantially damaged and has been recovered for further examination.

The NTSB says the investigation is ongoing, and the preliminary report does not identify a probable cause of the crash.

Click here to follow the original article.