Category: ktvz-local-news

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Applications are now open for companies looking to compete in the 2025 Bend Venture Conference (BVC). The event will take place on October 16–17, 2025, in downtown Bend, bringing together top startups, investors and business leaders for two days of live pitches, networking and learning.

Presented by Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO), BVC is the Pacific Northwest’s longest-running angel investment conference, serving as a powerful platform for Early and Growth Stage companies seeking investment and exposure.

Now in its 22nd year, BVC has helped launch dozens of successful startups, with more than $14 million invested directly through the BVC Funds and millions more secured through post-conference connections. The event is a cornerstone of Oregon’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and a catalyst for business growth in Central Oregon and beyond.

“BVC plays a critical role in elevating startups and putting a national spotlight on the innovation happening across Oregon,” said Brian Vierra, Venture Catalyst Director at EDCO. “BVC is more than a pitch competition, it’s a celebration of innovation, offering two days of inspiring content, curated networking and the chance to connect with some of the region’s most influential investors and entrepreneurs.”

The 2025 Early Stage competition will be open exclusively to Oregon-based companies, strengthening BVC’s mission to spotlight and support local innovation. Additionally, a cash award will be reserved for one standout startup headquartered in Central Oregon, emphasizing the region’s ongoing commitment to homegrown entrepreneurship.

Finalists in all categories will take the stage at the historic Tower Theatre in front of hundreds of attendees and investors. Growth Stage finalists have historically received investments of $250,000 or more, pending final due diligence and allocation by the BVC Funds.

APPLY

This year’s conference will feature two competition categories: Growth Stage and Early Stage. The application period is open now through Thursday, August 14th, 2025.

· Growth Stage: This category is open to companies that have generated at least $1 million in product revenue in the past 18 months and/or raised at least $500,000 in external capital. These companies are typically raising between $250,000 and $2.5 million or more. Pre-revenue companies with significant traction, such as those in life sciences, will also be considered.

· Early Stage: This category is open to Oregon-based companies that are pre-revenue or have earned less than $1 million in product revenue in the past 18 months. These companies must have raised less than $500,000 in external capital, including non-dilutive grants, and be currently raising under $1 million in investment capital. Eligible companies must be domiciled in Oregon or have an executive based in the state. For more information on the application process and to apply, visit bendvc.com/apply.

About Bend Venture Conference (BVC) The annual BVC, hosted by EDCO, is one of the largest angel conferences in the country. Over the past 22 years, BVC has served to evolve and grow the startup ecosystem throughout Central Oregon and

beyond. Since its inception, more than $14 million has been invested in 59 companies as a result of the conference. This year’s conference will gather entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and students at the Tower Theatre in Bend, Oregon on October 16-17, 2025. bendvc.com

About Economic Development for Central Oregon

EDCO is a non-profit corporation supported by private and public members and stakeholders, whose mission is to create middle-class jobs in Central Oregon by: recruiting new employers to move to the region; helping entrepreneurs start new, scalable businesses; and working with businesses that are already here to grow their operations. For more information, visit www.edcoinfo.com.

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

With temperatures soaring into the 90s and beyond, The Humane Society of Central Oregon would like to offer tips to keep your pet safe in the high desert heat. The best spot for your pet is inside a safe, cool house. Dogs and cats cannot cool their body temperatures as efficiently as humans.   

Tips to Protect Your Pets in Hot Weather:

·      If your pet is outside during the day, provide shade and fresh, cool water. Older pets, short-muzzled breeds and overweight animals are at greater risk of overheating during hot weather. You can provide a wading pool to aid in cooling.

·         Leaving your pet in a parked car can be a deadly mistake. Temperatures inside a car can reach over 100 degrees in minutes. Even partially open windows won’t protect your pet from heatstroke. 

·         Exercise your dog in the morning or evening when temperatures and pavement are cool. Hot pavement can burn paw pads and melted tar can get stuck to pads and hair. Try the “10-second rule” by pressing your hand on the ground; if it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your pets. Hiking trails and dirt also retain the heat.

·         Dogs in truck beds can suffer injury or heat stroke. Never transport dogs in uncovered truck beds during hot weather. The metal can cause serious burns, and dogs are at risk of falling out or being injured by road debris. If you wouldn’t sit barefoot in the truck bed, neither should your dog.

“Most people want to do right by their pets. It’s easy to underestimate how quickly heat can become dangerous. Temperatures can quickly exceed 100 degrees in a parked car, even with the windows cracked, which is just not a safe temperature for animals to be in” said Amber Kostoff, HSCO Executive Director. “With high temperatures forecasted to be in the mid-90s here in Central Oregon, please plan appropriately to keep your pups safe and out of the car during the heat of the day.”

HSCO offers free educational materials for businesses and community members, including posters and car windshield flyers with signs of heatstroke and tips to prevent it. These materials are available at the shelter.

The Humane Society of Central Oregon is located one mile south of Reed Market Road on 27th Street in Bend. The shelter is open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. For more information, call the Humane Society of Central Oregon at 541.382.3537 or visit hsco.org.

# # #

About the Humane Society of Central Oregon:

Founded in 1961, the Humane Society of Central Oregon (HSCO) is a full-service animal shelter located at 61170 SE 27th Street, Bend, OR. As a Socially Conscious Shelter, HSCO is dedicated to providing the best possible outcomes for all animals under its care. In the past year, HSCO found homes for nearly 3,000 animals and reunited hundreds of pets with their families. Our community outreach includes accessible veterinary care and the HOPE pet food bank, which supports the needs of pet owners in Central Oregon. The shelter is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5:30 PM. For more information, visit hsco.org or call 541-382-3537.

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Gas prices in most states, including Oregon, continue to tick down. Gas prices have been trending lower since late June, even with record travel over the Independence Day holiday period.

For the week, the national average for regular falls three cents to $3.15 a gallon. The Oregon average dips two cents to $4.02 a gallon, while Bend’s average is down four cents, to about $3.88 a gallon.

“Pump prices should continue to ease, if we don’t see tensions flare up again in the Middle East or a hurricane impacting the Gulf Coast,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.

The Oregon average for regular gas began 2025 at $3.45 a gallon and is currently at $4.02. The highest price of the year so far is $4.076 on June 24 and 25. 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 $3.15. The highest price of the year so far is $3.268 on April 4. The lowest price of the year so far is $3.06 on January 5.

This week 20 Oregon counties have averages at or above $4, compared to 22 counties a week ago:

Benton $4.02

Clackamas $4.06

Clatsop $4.12

Columbia $4.18

Crook $4.08

Curry $4.11

Douglas $4.06

Grant $4.18

Harney $4.25

Jackson $4.05

Josephine $4.05

Klamath $4.01

Lake $4.28

Multnomah $4.14

Sherman $4.04

Tillamook $4.18

Wallowa $4.10

Wasco $4.09

Washington $4.12

Yamhill $4.11

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 more expensive to produce and 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 is steady at 13.43 million barrels per day for the week ending June 27. 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. Crude prices spiked to the mid-$70s in mid-June in response to the strikes between Israel and Iran, and then the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, but then prices fell back into the  $60s on the belief that the conflict would not have a major impact on global oil supplies.

Crude prices fell in early April as markets reacted to President Trump’s 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 $68 today, compared to $65 a week ago and $82 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 including the recent strikes between Israel and Iran and the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the war between Israel and Hamas, 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 July, and just announced an increase for August of 548,000 barrels per day.

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 50% of what we pay for in a gallon of gasoline is for the price of crude oil, 17% is refining, 17% distribution and marketing, and 16% are taxes, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Demand for gasoline in the U.S. decreased from 9.69 million b/d to 8.64 for the week ending June 27, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). This compares to 9.42 million b/d a year ago. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline supply increased from 227.9 million barrels to 232.1. Gasoline production dipped last week, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day, compared to 10.1 million barrels the previous week.

Pump prices will likely continue to move lower in the short term, barring another flare up in the Middle East or a hurricane that impacts refining and/or distribution.

Quick stats

Oregon is one of 46 states with lower prices now than a week ago. Indiana (-12 cents) has the largest week-over-week decline in the nation. Tennessee (+3 cents) has the biggest week-over-week increase.

California ($4.55) has the most expensive gas in the nation for the 21st week in a row. Hawaii ($4.47) is second, Washington ($4.41) is third, and Oregon ($4.02) is fourth. These are the four states in the country with averages at or above $4 a gallon. This week 25 states and the District of Columbia have averages in the $3 range. There are 21 states with an average in the $2 range this week.

The cheapest gas in the nation is in Mississippi ($2.70) and Oklahoma ($2.71). 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 $1.85 this week, compared to $1.87 a week ago.

Oregon is one of 41 states and the District of Columbia with higher prices now than a month ago. The national average is two cents more and the Oregon average is five cents more than a month ago. Delaware (+27 cents) has the largest month-over-month increase in the nation. California (-15 cents) has the largest month-over-month drop.

Oregon is one of 49 states and the District of Columbia with lower prices now than a year ago. The national average is 36 cents less and the Oregon average is one cent less than a year ago. New Mexico (-52 cents) has the largest yearly drop. Washington (+12 cents) is the only state with a year-over-year increase.

West Coast

The West Coast region continues to have the most expensive pump prices in the nation with six of the 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.

Rank
Region
Price on 7/8/2025

1
California
$4.55

2
Hawaii
$4.47

3
Washington
$4.41

4
Oregon
$4.02

5
Nevada
$3.78

6
Alaska
$3.74

7
Idaho
$3.45

8
Illinois
$3.40

9
District of Columbia
$3.34

10
Utah
$3.32

As mentioned above, California has the most expensive gas in the country for the 21st week in a row. Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Alaska round out the top six. Arizona is 13th. Oregon is fourth most expensive for the seventh week in a row.

Six of the seven states in the West Coast region have small week-over-week decreases:

California (-3 cents), Arizona (-3 cents), Oregon (-2 cents), Washington (-2 cents), Nevada (-1 cent), and Hawaii (-1/2 cent). Alaska (+2.5 cents) is the only state in the region with a week-over-week increase.

The refinery utilization rate on the West Coast dipped from 88.4% to 89.9% to for the week ending June 27. This rate has ranged between about 72% to 92% in the last year. The latest national refinery utilization rate ticked up from 94.7% to 94.9%.

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 28.68 million bbl. to 29.95 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 rose on Monday then backed off in today’s trading session as investors digested the latest news on tariffs from President Trump and how they may impact the global economy, as well as the increased output from OPEC+.

Meanwhile, the EIA reports that crude oil inventories increased by 3.8 million barrels from the previous week. At 419 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 9% below the five-year average for this time of year. Markets were closed Friday in observance of the 4th of July holiday. At the close of Monday’s formal trading session, WTI added 93 cents to settle at $67.93. Today crude is trading around $68 compared to $65 a week ago. Crude prices are about $14 less than a year ago. ($82.33 on July 8, 2024)

Drivers can find current gas prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — SFF Presents is committed to reducing its environmental impact at their events, with a special focus on waste management.

After receiving considerable grants from The Environmental Center in Bend and Can’d Aid’s Crush-It Campaign, as well as support from Republic Services, the organization has extended its initiative into new areas for 2025.

In 2024, SFF Presents purchased tailored bins and other sustainability-focused infrastructure in addition to hiring a new “Zero Waste Lead” at the Big Ponderoo and Sisters Folk festivals. Under the guidance of the lead, SFFP volunteers are assigned to supervise the zero waste stations during events to ensure waste is being properly sorted by festival attendees. 

For 2025, the Community Innovation Fund grant from The Environment Center in Bend, enabled SFF Presents to add commercial-level composting, a wider recycling stream, and further dedicated staff at events. Through this aid, the organization was able to donate excess food from the artists’ greenroom to local nonprofit agencies and purchase highly efficient electric coolers for event purposes.

At the third annual Big Ponderoo Music + Art Festival on June 28 and 29, festival-goers diverted 74% of refuse away from landfill. The average for festivals across the country is just 8%. The diverted items included recyclables, redeemable cans and bottles, and compostable materials. 

“With over 5,152 attendees over the three days of the festival weekend, we’re ecstatic to have been able to increase our waste diversion by over 20% from last year,” said SFFP Logistics Coordinator, Ruth Williams, who has been leading the effort along with Ty King, SFFP’s Logistics and Facilities Manager. 

While overall event attendance at the festival went up 43%, landfill waste went down 27% with overall consumption down 22%.

“This is a huge win for our initiative towards zero waste,” said Williams.

Since 2024, SFFP has completely eliminated single-use plastic cups at their events and requested attendees bring Silipints and Steelys from previous SFFP events for beverage service. At the 2025 Big Ponderoo, 468 festival goers brought existing Silipints and received a drink voucher in lieu of a new Silipint. 

In the artists’ greenroom, organizers established a system for washing utensils and tableware, which saved a significant amount of single-use items going into the landfill, and added washable to-go containers for artists and staff.

SFF Presents has also received a grant of over $7,000 from Cand’Aid’s Crush It Campaign. This grant focuses on sustainability training, auditing, resource evaluation, best practices and forward planning.

“We would like to extend a sincere thank you to the forty-four volunteers who staffed our sorting stations and supported our zero-waste leads. These amazing results would not be possible without their contribution,” Williams concludes. 

By participating in SFF Presents’ zero waste efforts, patrons contribute directly to the environmental sustainability of Big Ponderoo, the Sisters Folk Festival, and the wider Sisters community. For more information, visit https://www.sffpresents.org/

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — CASA of Central Oregon is calling on compassionate community members to step up and make a life-changing difference for children in foster care.

The nonprofit organization is launching a new accelerated volunteer training program starting Tuesday, July 15 in Redmond, offering a condensed four-week course to prepare advocates more quickly to serve children in need. 

The summer training will be held in Redmond on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Designed in response to popular demand, the schedule compresses the typical eight-week course into just one month, which allows new volunteers to begin their vital advocacy work sooner. 

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are specially trained community members who speak up for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are navigating the child welfare system.

Working alongside attorneys, caseworkers, educators, and families, CASAs ensure that each child’s unique needs are heard in court and in the community, and that they have the best possible chance at a safe, stable, and permanent home. 

“Right now, there are 90 children in Central Oregon who don’t have a CASA volunteer to advocate for them,” said Heather Dion, Executive Director of CASA of Central Oregon. “We need more community members to step up and help close that gap, and we’re hoping this summer training makes it easier and faster to get involved.” 

Volunteers do not need a legal background, just a commitment to children and a few hours a week. All training and ongoing support are provided. 

If you’re ready to make a difference in a child’s life, apply today at casaofcentraloregon.org/volunteer. The deadline to apply for the July 15 class is Friday, July 11th. 

### 

About CASA of Central Oregon: 

CASA of Central Oregon is a nonprofit organization that recruits, trains, and supports volunteers who advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the court system. Established in 1992 and serving Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties, CASA of Central Oregon is committed to ensuring that every child in foster care can transition into a safe and permanent home. For more information, visit casaofcentraloregon.org. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

(Update: adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend Police Department, in partnership with the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office, said Tuesday it’s accepting applications for the Organized Retail Theft Bend Connect Integration Grant — a new opportunity for local retailers to join the fight against organized retail theft. 

Funded through the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission’s ORT Grant Program, the initiative offers 10 Bend retailers a chance to receive a FususCore Device Bundle, which will connect existing security cameras to the Bend Connect system. 

Each FususCore Core Lite Bundle includes: 

One FususCore device that will connect with up to four security cameras 

512GB of onboard storage 

One-year subscription to Bend Connect 

Software/hardware warranty 

Adding a FususCore to security cameras allows conditional access by Bend Police to integrated camera feeds during a theft, investigation or emergency near the participating retailer, increasing the ability to respond in real time and investigate effectively. 

This grant-funded effort is part of a broader regional strategy coordinated through the new Central Oregon chapter of the Organized Retail Crime Association of Oregon. The chapter hosts quarterly information-sharing meetings between law enforcement and local businesses. 

Retailers located in the City of Bend that are interested in enhancing their security and supporting regional crime prevention efforts are encouraged to apply. 

How to Apply 

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 3.

To apply, use the QR code 

or visit: https://www.cognitoforms.com/deschutescounty2/organizedretailtheftbendconnectintegrationgrantprogram 

For more information on Bend Connect, visit  https://bendconnect.org 

Questions about the grant opportunity or ORCAOR call 541-317-3175, or email DeschutesSafe@dcda.us 

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

(Update: All evacuation levels lifted on UDC Fire)

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Firefighters working through the night secured a perimeter of the UDC Fire that burned close to 1,000 acres and prompted Level 2 and 1 evacuation alerts on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.

The Sunrise Fire was reported around 7 p.m. Monday in the area of Upper Dry Creek Road and Sunnyside Drive, Watch Duty reported.

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Fire Management said Tuesday morning that due to progress overnight, earlier Level 2 GET SET evacuation notices were dropped to Level 1 BE READY, except for the Casino and Mill area, where the levels were completely lifted. The rest of the Level 1 areas also had them lifted at mid-afternoon.

Watch Duty said the National Interagency Fire Center reported a 950-acre estimate for the fire, while the tribes said they were working to map and update an earlier 700-acre figure.

Crews were working Tuesday on mopping up, monitoring the perimeter and addressing burning dead and down trees in the interior.

Firefighters on the reservation also were on standby for initial attack as storms moving in from the south are expected to bring more lightning Tuesday afternoon and evening, prompting the National Weather Service Red Flag warning amid continued hot weather.

Meanwhile, in southeastern Crook County, the nearly 400-acre Sunrise Fire southeast of Highway 380 prompted the BLM to issue an immediate temporary closure Tuesday of some public lands.

The Crook County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management said Tuesday it is closely monitoring the Sunrise Fire, which is actively burning in the South Fork Wilderness Study Area in Southeastern Crook County.

“At this time, there are no evacuation notices for this fire,” the agency said. “CCSO will continue to monitor the fire alongside our fire resources that are engaged with it.”

To the west, in the Three Sisters Wilderness, the Willamette National Forest reported Tuesday that full suppression efforts continue on the 3-acre Honey Creek Fire, reported following last week’s thunderstorms.

Firefighters are building line around the perimeter, with help from helicopter water-bucket drops. Officials said smoke may still be visible from Central Oregon as work continues on the remote fire, surrounded by hazardous snags from a 2017 fire scar.

Click here to follow the original article.

Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A favorite Bend restaurant serving up healthy Mexican food with a Mayan-Hawaiian twist for some 25 years is closing its doors. Longboard Louie’s recently announced its last day will be July 26th, as the owner retires from a nearly half-century career in the restaurant business.

The restaurant has moved a few times over the years, and Jeff Parshall says it’s time to hang up his hat. He says his lease is up, and he’s simply choosing to retire instead of re-upping.

“It’s been a good run – 45 years – about two lifetimes in the restaurant business,” Parshall told us. “So you know – the time is right, so we’re just kind of going to wind it down.”

So you now have less than three weeks to grab your favorite surf and turf burritos. As Longboard Louie’s shuts down, it’ll sell off the last of its merchandise, memorabilia and some of the decor.

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding KTVZ News Poll)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Bend announced Tuesday it’s partnering with Veo, an independent shared mobility company, to bring shared e-bikes to the community. Veo will begin introducing its fleet of 300 e-bikes this week.

The city’s selection of Veo as its new vendor followed the City Council’s vote in April to establish a permanent bike-share program.

This type of program is not new to Bend – between 2022 and 2024, the company Bird operated a Bike Share Pilot Program within the city.

Like Bird, Veo’s e-bikes – the model they call Cosmo – will be available to riders for a fee. The permanent bike share program allows one operator to manage the citywide program under a license of up to three years, officials said, and will incorporate lessons learned from the pilot program – including the importance of responsible e-bike parking. 

“Improving access to affordable and convenient multimodal transportation is a priority for the City of Bend. A permanent bike share program will help ensure flexibility and inclusivity across different modes of travel, the city said in Tuesday’s announcement.

“Bikes and e-bikes are also effective tools for reducing traffic congestion, lowering single-occupancy vehicle use, and minimizing emissions, helping to reduce the City’s carbon footprint.”

“Bend’s new bikeshare program is about expanding access to convenient, affordable transportation —and making car-free travel fun,” said Jeff Hoover, Veo’s director of government partnerships. “Whether you’re commuting to work, connecting to CET, or just exploring Bend without a car, Veo is here to make getting around easier. We’re proud to partner with the city to support its climate goals, reduce parking demand, and bring more transportation options to the community.”

Veo also emphasizes rider responsibility, or the “riding Dos and Don’ts” listed below:

Do:

●Yield to pedestrians: Give people walking the right of way every time.

●Park responsibly: Park your vehicle out of pedestrian paths to ensure safety.

●Wear a helmet: Protect your noggin while riding.

●Take the bike lane: Ride in the street or bike lane, not on the sidewalk.

●Obey traffic laws: Follow stop signs, signals, and speed limits.

Don’t:

●Ride underage: Riders must be 18+ to unlock and operate.

●Double ride: One rider per vehicle.

●Ride on the sidewalk: Keep sidewalks clear and stick to the street or bike lane.

●Ride under the influence: Never while under the influence—it’s illegal.

Click here to follow the original article.

Kade Linville

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – On Monday the Central Oregon Symphony Association announced that Dr. Travis Allen would be stepping up as the program’s new executive director. He will be replacing Tanya Elia, who previously occupied the role and serves on COSA’s executive board.

“I am honored and excited to serve in this capacity, and I look forward to continuing and expanding the great work that COSA does in our community,” Allen said in a Monday press release provided by COSA.

Dr. Allen has been a long-time member of Central Oregon’s classical music scene, since 1996, when he played cello with the Central Oregon Symphony as a high school student.

Dr Allen’s involvement with Central Oregon music includes his current roles as the principal cellist of the Central Oregon Symphony and as a cellist for the Dove String Quartet. Dr. Allen also can be seen performing frequently with the Sunriver Music Festival.

Along with serving as a faculty member at Central Oregon Community College, teaching music history and theory, Dr. Allen served for five years as the executive director of the Central Oregon Youth Orchestra (COYO), where he worked to expand the program’s size and increase its public engagement.

Dr. Allen holds a Master’s degree in Cello Performance from Portland State University and both a Master’s and Doctorate in Musicology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Click here to follow the original article.