Category: ktvz-local-news

KTVZ

(Update: Adding video)

EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Madras man who is a registered sex offender was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison Thursday for trying to persuade a purported “child” – actually an undercover Deschutes County sheriff’s deputy – to meet him for sex and to send him sexually explicit material.

Ernesto Torres, 45, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and a 20-year term of supervised release, prosecutors said in a news release that continues below.

According to court documents, starting in July of 2024, Torres used Facebook Messenger to chat with an apparent 15-year-old girl. The “child” was an undercover deputy with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

In the ensuing months, Torres requested sexual images, discussed sexual acts he wished to perform, and tried to set up a meeting with the decoy child. Last Dec. 1, Torres drove from Madras to Redmond to meet with the child. In the chat records, Torres expressed a desire to take the child to a cabin roughly 50 miles away, they said.

Eighteen days later, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Torres with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct.

On Jan. 10 of this year, Torres was located and arrested by agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) pursuant to a federal warrant. On July 15, he pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

This case was investigated by HSI and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Matthew Nelson, Special Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, and William M. McLaren, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children.

Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed.

To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

The case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit  www.justice.gov/psc.

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Jillian Fortner

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Brand new bikes were unveiled at R.E. Jewell Elementary in southeast Bend Thursday afternoon, kicking off a new program for kindergarteners.

The school introduced its All Kids Bike program. It’s a national initiative that makes learning to ride part of P.E. class.

Funded by a $9,000 donation from Cascade Natural Gas and the MDU Resources Foundation, the program includes training, an eight-lesson curriculum, 24 Strider bikes with helmets, and storage racks.

After a short presentation, students hopped on their new Strider bikes for their first ride.

“They were super excited,” said Don Moore, regional director for Cascade Natural Gas. “They’re going to learn how to ride here in the gym then eventually put some pedals on and have some fun together.”

All Kids Bike gives hundreds of thousands of children each year the chance to learn a life-changing skill that supports physical development, boosts mental health, and builds confidence.

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KTVZ

Update: Adding video

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Beginning on Monday, Nov. 3, the one-way traffic on Franklin Avenue between Fourth Street and Eighth Street will switch directions (eastbound open, westbound closed) to complete the next phase of construction on an improvements project, the city said Thursday.

The temporary traffic direction switch will open the eastbound traffic lane and close the westbound traffic lane. This temporary configuration is expected to be in place through early December, the city said in a news release that continues below:

This switch is necessary to allow for construction work on the north side and remaining areas. Access to local businesses and residential properties will be maintained throughout construction, and appropriate signage will be in place to guide the traveling public through the work zone.

“We appreciate the public’s patience as we move into this next phase of the Franklin Avenue Improvement project,” said Todd Johnson, Senior Project Engineer with the City of Bend Engineering Department. “This project will improve safety for all users. As always, we urge drivers to slow down, pay attention to signage, and allow for extra time when traveling through the work zone”.

The full project is ahead of schedule and, weather permitting, is expected to be completed in early December.

For the eastbound detour map and more information about the project, visit bendoregon.gov/midtowncrossings.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend man accused of shooting at another man on a busy northeast Bend street over a year ago was sentenced Thursday to nearly seven years in federal prison for being a felon in possession and use of a handgun.

Chief Judge Michael McShane sentenced Aaron Brandon Polit, 45, to 80 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels said in a news release.

On August 28, 2024, Polit was apprehended in possession of a firearm after he fired a handgun on Northeast Second Street in Bend, prosecutors said. An eyewitness with a concealed carry permit detained Polit at gunpoint until Bend Police arrived to take him into custody.

Gunnels said Polit was found to possess a handgun, a shotgun, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. He has prior felony criminal convictions for assault, narcotics possession, and child neglect.

As KTVZ News reported after the incident, police said Polit parked on NE Emerson Avenue, got out of his Jeep holding a handgun, called out to a nearby man and fired at least one shot. A bystander with a concealed weapons permit drew his gun and confronted Polit, who dropped his gun.

Responding officers found a 9 mm handgun on the street, and police said a search of the Jeep turned up body armor, a 12-guage shotgun and ammunition.

Polit first was charged in Deschutes County Circuit Court, but the firearm charges were quickly adopted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Eugene. A federal grand jury indicted Polit on Sept. 19, 2024. The case was handled by county deputy district attorneys and assistant u.S. attorneys Andrew Doyle and Matthew Nelson in both jurisdictions.

Doyle filed a motion to dismiss the local indictment Thursday as a result of plea negotiations that led to the federal sentence, court records show.

The two prosecutors said, “This case is yet another example of a ‘value-added’ sentence secured through our successful strategic partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office. We would like to thank the office for their continued support on local cases and making the community safer as a result.”

The district attorney’s office also thanked Bend Police Department criminal detectives and the FBI for “their thorough and detailed investigation.”

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KTVZ

(Update: Adding video)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Redmond Municipal Airport and Redmond Fire & Rescue will conduct a full-scale emergency response disaster training drill Thursday, October 23, beginning at 8:30 a.m., as required by the Federal Aviation Administration. 

Several emergency response vehicles and personnel will be onsite, and RDM officials said in Thursday’s announcement that they “would like to reassure travelers the exercise will not impact commercial flight operations.”

Here’s the rest of what they shared:

The FAA requires airports to conduct realistic commercial passenger aircraft disaster training drills once every three years.  Approximately 75 participants will act as passengers with a wide variety of challenges including triage of realistic mock injuries, transportation of the injured, identification and reunification of passengers with their family.

RDM and Redmond Fire & Rescue have coordinated with multiple regional partners to practice, learn and prepare together, including: Black Butte Ranch Fire Department, Bend Fire Department, Sisters – Camp Sherman Fire District, Crook County Fire and EMS, Sunriver Fire Department, Crooked River Ranch Fire and Rescue, St. Charles Health System including all Redmond, Prineville, Madras and Bend campuses, Deschutes County Health Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office including Search and Rescue (SAR), Oregon Health Authority, Life Flight, Air Link, The American Red Cross, Hillsboro Aero Academy’s Ascend Flight Student program, and local air carriers and the Transportation Security Administration representatives that serve RDM.

“Redmond Fire & Rescue personnel train year-round to ensure we respond with precision and professionalism. Participating in full-scale disaster exercises like this is vital for maintaining the readiness and coordination of all emergency response stakeholders. This exercise provides an opportunity for Redmond Fire & Rescue and the Redmond Municipal Airport to refine procedures and strengthen collaboration with public safety agencies, hospitals, and other support partners,” stated Fire Chief Ryan Herrera.

The airport will be open during the disaster drill exercise. Flight operations will not be impacted by the drill.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — An Alfalfa-area woman accused of running a puppy mill from her home was arraigned Thursday, one day after a grand jury’s 50-count indictment. Her attorney said she will plead not guilty to all 49 felony counts of second-degree animal neglect and a new charge of violating dog breeders’ standards of care. 

Lorinda Maxwell, 62, who was arrested last month and operated the business Kameo Poodles, appeared remotely by phone for the brief hearing before Deschutes County Circuit Judge Alycia Herriott. 

Although the judge scheduled a Dec. 10 plea hearing, Maxwell’s defense attorney, Geordie Duckler, told her Thursday they will “ask for a plea of not guilty to be entered on all charges.” 

The new charge, a Class B misdemeanor, alleges Maxwell possessed 10 or more dogs and intentionally failed to “provide the standards of care applicable to dog breeders.” 

The listed specifics include not removing waste from their enclosures at least once a day, not removing the dog during such cleanings and failing to maintain a record for each sexually intact dog over eight months of age, including the birthdate if known, as well as when she acquired the dog and a record of any veterinary care. 

Herriott directed Maxwell to keep in touch with her attorney and obey all terms of her conditional release, which include not owning or living with any domestic animals as the case proceeds. 

Maxwell initially refused to surrender the 44 dogs and three cats Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies seized from her property. She later agreed to do so, and they have been up for adoption in recent weeks at the Humane Society of Central Oregon. 

HSCO Director of Community Partnerships Lynne Ouchida told KTVZ News Thursday that while many have been adopted, they still have 10 of the poodles remaining at the shelter or in foster homes.

“HSCO continues to provide extensive veterinary and daily care for the dogs,” she said.

Lorinda Maxwell indictmentDownload

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KTVZ

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Fire season ends Friday on more than 2.3 million acres protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry, the agency announced Thursday.

Here’s the full news release:

Prineville, Ore. – Effective 12:01 a.m. on October 17, 2025, the Central Oregon District (COD) of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will officially end fire season for all forestlands protected by the district. This includes over 2.3 million acres of private, state, county, municipal, and tribal lands, which includes Hood River, Wasco, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Gilliam, Wheeler, Morrow, Grant, and Harney counties.

This fire season statistically was an average fire season by the numbers, but nowhere near average regarding response. For example:

ODF Central Oregon District was one of the first to respond to the Rowena Fire, the first large fire of the 2025 season in Oregon, which burned 3,700 acres just outside of The Dalles;

ODF Central Oregon District assisted federal partners with the Cram Fire near Madras, which grew roughly 20,000 acres each day for a week, totaling over 95,000 acres, and;

ODF Central Oregon District responded to the Flat Fire northeast of Sisters, where wildland and structural firefighters saved 827 residences within the fire perimeter and the blaze burned over 23,000 acres. 

“This fire season showed the endurance and dedication of our Central Oregon ODF firefighters,” said Rob Pentzer, ODF Central Oregon District Forester. “There were several times where our firefighters were working two to three weeks straight alternating between extended and initial attack duties to protect Oregon communities.”

With the conclusion of fire season, landowners under ODF protection may resume burning residential yard debris and using burn barrels. However, this change does not relieve anyone of their legal responsibility to burn safely and responsibly.

Burning & Smoke Management Guidelines

Residential Burning (Yard Debris/Burn Barrels): A burn permit is required outside of fire season on lands protected by ODF’s Prineville/Sisters Unit and The Dalles Unit, but not in the John Day/Fossil Unit.

If you are within a fire department’s protection area, check with them directly about current restrictions and permit requirements.Call your local district to validate that the burn ban has been lifted in your area. 

Slash Burning (Forestry/Logging): Burning of slash from forestry operations requires a Notification of Operation/PDM, as well as checking the smoke management weather forecast:

Call your local ODF office below

 Visit: ODF Smoke Management Forecast

ODF’s Central Oregon District sincerely thanks landowners, forest operators, the public, and interagency partners for their support in fire prevention, detection, and suppression throughout the 2025 fire season.

For more information, contact your local ODF office:

Prineville/Sisters Unit: 541-447-5658

The Dalles Unit: 541-296-4626

John Day/ Fossil Unit: 541-575-1139

For more information on the Central Oregon District and fire season regulations, visit https://odfcentraloregon.com/. To report a fire, please call 911.

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Kelsey Merison

OREGON (KTVZ) — Oregon’s schools are better equipped to prevent and respond to opioid overdoses following a collaborative effort last year to offer free overdose reversal kits to middle and high schools, colleges and universities across the state, as well as expanded substance use prevention resources.

The collaboration between Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education resulted in 692 schools receiving free opioid overdose reversal kits, totaling more than 14,000 additional doses. 

The program marked an expansion of ‘Save Lives Oregon’ and was possible because of one-time funding through Oregon’s Opioid Settlement Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Board.  

Every school in Oregon is now eligible to receive the kits.

You can learn more about opioid overdose and prevention by clicking here.

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Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– One of Bend’s most unique food destinations has a new home. Tekka Tiger has officially moved and expanded, bringing even bigger Southeast Asian flavors to a new location.

The popular food spot, formerly located across the street from the world’s last Blockbuster, is now set up next to WinCo and CannaBend. The move allowed Tekka Tiger to upgrade to a new food truck, giving chefs the ability to hand-cook every dish to order.

“We just wanted to bring really, like, big flavors that we noticed in Southeast Asia,” said owner Kley Dhillon. “So a lot of galangal, ikan bilis, which is a small anchovy. We use that to make one of our sambal. We’re also doing a Singapore beehoon, so it’s rice vermicelli noodle with a little bit of spam and then fishcake on top. And then we’re looking to expand the menu from there.”

The new location also offers more convenience for customers. With pre-orders and DoorDash now available, diners can drop off an order, do their shopping at WinCo, and pick up a hot meal when they’re done.

Tekka Tiger’s menu changes often, with fresh dishes added regularly. Fans are encouraged to follow the restaurant’s social media pages for the latest updates on what’s cooking.

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Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend City Council took two major steps Wednesday night to ensure continued funding and operations for one of the city’s most vital homeless shelters — the Franklin Avenue Shelter.

At Tuesday’s meeting, councilors unanimously approved two motions tied to the facility. The first authorizes the city manager to accept nearly $975,000 in grant funding from the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC). The second extends the city’s contract with Shepherd’s House Ministries, allowing the nonprofit to continue operating the shelter through June 2026.

City officials say transparency and accountability will remain priorities as the funding is distributed. The City of Bend’s public housing data dashboard will continue to share regular shelter metrics and updates through the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.sThe new contract amendment, valued at just over $890,000, will cover operational costs — including staffing, utilities, meals, and security — once the current funding expires next fall.

Brook O’Keefe, Shelter Coordinator for the City of Bend, said the renewed support ensures critical stability for local families and individuals in need.

“The Franklin Avenue Shelter is a critical part of our homeless response system. Since opening, they’ve maintained a 98% utilization rate — often serving families with minor children and those who are medically vulnerable. The funding authorized by Council tonight will keep that shelter available to folks through June 30th, 2026,” O’Keefe said.

The city says Shepherd’s House Ministries provides monthly reports tracking shelter occupancy, client services, and transitions into permanent housing — helping ensure the program continues meeting community goals.

Looking ahead, Bend officials plan to apply for additional support through Oregon’s new statewide shelter program, expected to launch in 2027.

The Franklin Avenue Shelter is one of several facilities helping Bend reach its ongoing goal of maintaining at least 500 shelter beds across the community.

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