Category: ktvz-local-news

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Increase your mobility and confidence with Cascades East Transit’s Transit 101 and pass enrollment pop-up events, the agency announced.

The community-focused sessions are designed to boost ridership through education, hands-on support, and easy access to transit resources, according to a CET news relesae.

Staff will assist riders with signing up for passes, navigating the new payment system, planning trips, and learning how to ride the bus with guidance from an on-site CET travel trainer.

Whether you are new to transit or looking to ride more often, CET said these events make it simple to get started and stay informed.

All of the events are open to the public and hosted in partnership with local community organizations.

Confirmed Dates and Locations:

Feb 25: Redmond Library, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Feb 25: Downtown Bend Library, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Feb 26: Warm Springs, Old School Cafeteria, 1150 Warm Springs St – 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Mar 4:  Warm Springs, Family Resource Center, 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Mar 10: Larkspur Community Center, 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Mar 12: La Pine Library, Community Room, 16425 1st St, 10:00AM – 2:00PM

Mar 18: Warm Springs (Location TBD), 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Mar 20: Redmond Senior Center, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

·      Visit www.cascadeseasttransit.com/fares for the latest updates and additions on scheduled pop-up events.

About Cascades East Transit Cascades East Transit is Central Oregon’s regional public transit provider, offering fixed-route buses, city connector routes, recreational shuttles, and both general public and specialized Dial-a-Ride services throughout Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson Counties and the Warm Springs community. CET’s mission is to exceed rider expectations by delivering courteous, safe, reliable, and high-quality transit that strengthens regional connectivity, reduces congestion, supports environmental sustainability, and enhances quality of life. Learn more at www.CascadesEastTransit.com 

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Statement from COCC President Greg Pereira)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon Community College classified workers declared an impasse in their contract talks and mediation efforts on Monday, setting the stage for what could bring the first strike in Oregon community college history, the Oregon Education Association said.

The decision comes after several mediation sessions and more than a year of contract negotiations, the union said, noting that classified workers are COCC’s lowest-paid employees and calling on the college to use what it considers ample reserve funds to improve wages and benefits.

But a walkout can’t happen right away, OEA noted. The impasse declaration starts the clock for a 30-day cool-down period with the college, after which the union said it “could vote to authorize a strike at any time, with 10-day notice.”

KTVZ News reached out to COCC representatives for a reaction or statement on the status of contract talks, and received this statement from President Greg Pereira:

“We value our classified employees and the essential work they do for our students and community,” Pereira said. “The college has bargained in good faith and proposed a significant multi-year compensation increase — an 18.54% total wage and step increase over three years, or about $1.5 million. The union’s proposal represents a 55.42% increase over that same period, totaling approximately $4.8 million — a difference of roughly $2.6 million.”

“As a public institution, we must balance compensation growth with long-term financial stability, in order to protect programs, services and tuition prices,” the COCC president added. “We remain committed to reaching an agreement that is financially sustainable and supports the long-term health of the college.”

“There has never been a strike at an Oregon community college in state history,” the union said in Monday’s news release, which continues below:

“While the average administrator’s salary has grown 26% since 2023, the average classified worker’s salary has only increased by 10% in that same period of time, making it even harder for the lowest-paid people at the college to survive in one of the most expensive parts of the state”, said Scott Dove, President of the Classified Association of COCC and an academic technology specialist at the college. 

“Meanwhile, the college board is aggressively trying to grow their reserves instead of helping the people who are the foundation of the institution. By their own admission, COCC can easily afford to allocate the paltry resources necessary to eliminate poverty wages that have left many employees here experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. We demand that COCC management  do the right thing and end poverty pay, instead of choosing to make history as the first management team at COCC to provoke a strike,” Dove added.

“What’s happening at Central Oregon Community College is symptomatic of a larger statewide problem,” said Enrique Farrera, president of the Oregon Education Association. “COCC is one of multiple colleges and school districts in crisis mediation over hoarded reserves that are being stockpiled, instead of spent on essential needs.

“This approach reflects the reasonable concern public colleges and K-12 districts have across the state; while most are drastically unfunded, the ones that can often do hoard resources towards an omnipresent unknown crisis on the horizon, because they don’t trust the legislature to continue consistently funding essential programs.”

“What COCC and other schools need to understand is that the crisis for students and their workers is unfolding now. COCC needs to be a responsible employer and stop paying their employees wages that force them out of their communities and strip them of basic dignity.,” Farrera said.

Classified educators at COCC perform vital work directly supporting students, including college counselors, administrative assistants, custodians, library assistants, and food service workers. Their lowest wage currently is $18.91/hr. A living wage in Bend for a person with no children is $26.81/hour, and $64.55/hour for a person with two children. COCC classified staff are seeking a contract that will raise their lowest wage to $27.89/hour by the end of the contract. 

The parties will have seven days to cost their final offers, after which a cooling-off period will begin and continue for 30 days. After that, the union may authorize a strike at any time, by a vote of its members. Law requires that 10-day notice be provided before any strike begins.

Classified educators at COCC could be on strike for the first-ever Oregon community college strike by early April. 

An OEA representative explained to KTVZ that in this instance, the final costing refers to putting final economic packages on the table – ie, “costing” (calculating) out the full cost for all things in totality within each side’s final offers. 

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The Oregon Education Association (OEA) proudly represents 42,000+ public educators at all grade levels and school settings from pre-kindgarten to K-12 and community college across the state. It is one of the largest National Education Association (NEA) affiliates in the country and is committed to advancing intersectional education justice for students and our school communities.

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Tracee Tuesday

(Update: DCSO says teen arrested in Redmond, clarifies facility he left without authorization)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A 15-year-old male juvenile who left a secure J Bar J Youth Services facility without permission late Sunday night, prompting a search and an alert to area residents, was found and arrested Monday afternoon at a Redmond restaurant, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

The Redmond Police Department responded to a call at Applebee’s in Redmond at 12:44 p.m. Monday and took the juvenile into custody without incident, DCSO Public Information Officer Jason Carr said.

The sheriff’s office initially said the teen had escaped from the county’s Juvenile Detention Center, but Carr said later Monday that he actually left the adjacent, secure J Bar J Youth Services facility without authorization around 10:45 p.m. Sunday.

Deschutes Alerts notification sent to more than 12K residents.

The facility is located in the same building as Deschutes County Juvenile Community Justice, on Britta Street in north Bend.

The juvenile was housed in a secure Behavior Rehabilitation Services program and was not permitted to leave the facility, Carr said, explaining that he is on parole for aggravated assault with a weapon.

J Bar J Youth Services leases housing units from Deschutes County Juvenile Community Justice but provides its own staffing and security, Carr explained.

Participants are not free to leave and must complete a formal release process with their parole officer, including a 72-hour implementation plan.

Carr explained to KTVZ News that J Bar J Youth Services is “is a secure facility, but not at the level of the juvenile or adult jails. The official term is ‘unauthorized leave.’ Basically, juveniles are mandated by the court to be in this treatment program and can’t leave without permission or a request through a parole officer.”

“The juvenile did not initiate a release plan, and his parole officer issued an arrest warrant Sunday night for absconding,” Carr said in a news release.

Sheriff’s deputies immediately began searching the area and issued a neighborhood phone and text alert to more than 12,000 residents in the north Bend area “to increase awareness and request assistance,” Carr said.

In accordance with state law and standard practice, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office does not release the name or photo of individuals involved in juvenile proceedings.

The Sheriff’s Office thanked the Redmond Police Department for its assistance. 

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Police said Monday they have arrested a 15-year-old resident on over two-dozen charges after a series of recent TikTok videos showed a person urinating in public spaces across the city.

The teen was taken into custody at his home over the weekend following an investigation into the social media posts, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.

The investigation began on Feb. 4, when officers received multiple reports regarding the videos. The footage showed a person urinating on the floors of high school and restaurant bathrooms, as well as on a diaper changing station and in park bathrooms throughout Bend.

Miller said officers identified the suspect as the 15-year-old and went to the juvenile’s home on Saturday to take him into custody.

The teenager faces a total of 26 charges, including include 24 counts of second-degree criminal mischief and one count of second-degree disorderly conduct. He was also issued a citation for urinating in public.

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Tracee Tuesday

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — UPDATE: 02/24/2026: According to the Prineville Police Department, just after 9 p.m. Sunday evening, the 18-year-old suspect who is from Prineville was taken into custody by detectives. He was transported to the Crook County Jail and was arrested for Assault I and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.

No further information is available at this time.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

The Prineville Police Department says a domestic dispute Sunday evening led to one person being stabbed and two others detained.

Officers responded around 5:30 p.m. to a report of a disturbance in the area of NE Carson Street. When they arrived, police found an adult victim suffering from multiple stab wounds. The victim received immediate medical aid and was transported for treatment.

In a statement released to the public, police said the situation was quickly contained and there is no ongoing threat to the community. All parties involved have been accounted for.

Authorities are asking people to avoid the area as officers continue their investigation. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Prineville Police Department at 541-447-4168.

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Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– Bend Police arrested three local men over the past two months in connection with separate investigations into child sexual abuse material. The arrests followed tips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The investigations were handled by the Bend Police Department detective division and were initiated as CyberTips. Officials noted that these cases are often complex and can take months or years to complete, frequently requiring the execution of multiple search warrants.

William James Kanehl, 42, was arrested on Jan. 28 on suspicion of 12 counts of first-degree encouraging child sex abuse and 13 counts of second-degree encouraging child sex abuse. The investigation into the Bend resident began on Feb. 14, 2025, after a tip indicated a suspect uploaded files containing child sexual abuse material. Detectives served a search warrant at Kanehl’s home in the 20700 block of Tango Creek Avenue in August 2025. He also faces 11 counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct, as well as charges for luring a minor and encouraging the sexual assault of an animal.

Evan Matthew Hiatt, 20, was also arrested on Jan. 28 following a search warrant at his residence in the 1300 block of NE Hidden Valley Drive. Police initially investigated Hiatt in May 2025 for allegedly soliciting a child for sexually explicit images, but that tip did not lead to an arrest at the time because detectives could not verify the victim’s age. On Jan. 21, 2026, the department received a second tip involving the upload of images that led to Hiatt’s identification. He faces 10 counts each of first and second degree encouraging child sex abuse.

In a separate case, Mitchel Joseph Gregg, 23, was arrested on Feb. 10 at his home in the 2000 block of NE Holliday Avenue. The investigation into Gregg started on March 6, 2025, after a tip suggested a suspect was using Snapchat to save, share or upload child sexual abuse material. Gregg was charged with one count each of first- and second-degree encouraging child sex abuse.

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Campbell Porter

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Registered nurses at St. Charles Bend voted overwhelmingly to ratify a two-and-a-half year contract agreement on Thursday, Feb. 19. The deal provides a 7.5% wage increase for frontline caregivers over the next 30 months.

The agreement with the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) extends through June 30, 2029. It aims to stabilize the health care safety net for a facility that serves as the only Level II trauma center east of the Cascades, covering patients across Central Oregon, Eastern Oregon and Washington

The new agreement builds on a 2023 contract that focused on rising costs, caregiver recruitment and trust between staff and management. In addition to general wage increases, the contract establishes pay equity for nurse case managers and transfer center staff. These employees will now be placed on the same salary scale as their nursing colleagues.

Rosa Brock is a registered nurse and serves as the ONA executive team chair at St. Charles Bend. She said the agreement resulted from treating nurses as essential collaborators in the hospital’s operations.

“This agreement shows what’s possible when nurses are treated as strategic partners,” Brock said. “Working together we found a way to build on our successes, continue raising health care standards and ensure our community has a stable health care system with nurses they know they can rely on.”

Brock noted that improved staffing levels from previous agreements have allowed caregivers to focus more on individual patient needs.

The facility serves as a regional hub for medical care. As the only Level II trauma center east of the Cascades, St. Charles Bend nurses treat patients from Central Oregon, Eastern Oregon and parts of Washington Union leaders said contract certainty was a priority given recent economic shifts in the area.

David Hilderbrand is a registered nurse and the ONA vice-chair at St. Charles Bend. He highlighted the importance of a stable nursing workforce amid rising local costs.

“A lot of our neighbors are struggling. Housing costs are up, the tourist industry is hurting and people are having trouble getting access to basic health care,” Hilderbrand said. “This contract stabilizes our community’s safety net. Your nurses aren’t going anywhere.”

Nurses and hospital management have also established a labor management committee to address health and safety concerns between formal bargaining sessions. The ONA represents more than 1,200 registered nurses at the Bend hospital. The organization also represents providers at St. Charles locations in Prineville and Redmond, as well as staff in home health and hospice services.

The new contract is scheduled to run through June 30, 2029. Nurses and management plan to use their joint committee to address ongoing health and safety issues as they arise throughout the duration of the agreement.

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Prineville Review

Published by our media partner, Prineville Review, on 02/18/2026. Click here to learn more.

BEND, Ore. (Prineville Review) — The Prineville Review has been investigating following numerous tips from Central Oregon residents who say their TDS internet bills unexpectedly increased despite being enrolled in so-called “Price for Life” or similar long-term promotional plans.

Over recent weeks, readers have contacted the Prineville Review describing a recurring $5 monthly increase, prompting confusion and frustration among customers who believed their rates were locked in.

One widely shared Facebook post from TDS customer Sarah Long captured the sentiment expressed by many:

“Everyone with TDS ‘price for life’ internet, check your TDS bills! I just spent a [sic] half an hour on the phone arguing with a customer service representative that ‘price for life’ doesn’t mean it goes up $5/month whenever they decide. They ended up changing it back, but I had to make a big stink about it first. Just FYI. TDS sucks.”

Long later described a lengthy customer service experience that she said required persistence and a credible threat of cancellation:

“You just have to see an offer and call customer retention, tell them your friend signed up and got such-and-such price and you want the same deal or you’re going to cancel. It’s a pain and takes forever … they kept transferring me and putting me on hold and I finally got to talk to a supervisor.”

Similar complaints have been shared directly with us. Several readers reported needing to contact TDS to correct the issue, and that the request for the fix and refund was not easy with TDS customer service.

On Tuesday, we reached out to TDS for comment. Hours later, in response to the inquiry, TDS acknowledged a billing issue affecting a limited group of customers and released a statement.

“A small group of customers enrolled in price promotions, including Price for Life, were incorrectly charged up to $7 more on their last statement due to a billing system error,” said Mark Schaaf, Manager of Communications for TDS.

“We sincerely regret this mistake and took immediate actions to resolve the issue. As we communicated to impacted customers on Feb. 3, they will automatically receive credit for the overcharged amount on their next statement. No action is required on their part, and customers’ price promotion remains in place.”

We then followed up with several of those who reached out to us over the last couple of weeks, but not a single source was able to find any reported communication from Feb 3rd. We have reached back out to TDS for information on the reported notice to customers, but have yet to hear back.

Some of the Central Oregon TDS customers alleged in recent days they had to deal with customer service agents who were often dismissive or took 30-60 minutes before agreeing to correct their bills.

Other customers told the Prineville Review their increases exceeded the amounts described by the company in its statement released yesterday.

TDS customer Diana Pullen of Redmond said her bill rose more sharply than expected.

“Mine went up $10! I thought we had price for life, too. What a crock!” said Pullen.

Another local customer reported on social media an even larger discrepancy tied to bundled services. “Can’t stand TDS. They did something very similar with me. Was supposed to have a locked-in price because I chose to get a house phone through them as well, but they started charging me 30 dollars more every month.”

Billing concerns are not entirely new for the company in the region. In August 2024, TDS upgraded Central Oregon customers on certain 300 Mbps and 600 Mbps plans to gigabit service. At the time, customers reported inconsistencies in pricing, noting that those already on the 600Mbps and 1Gig plans had to call into TDS to request the adjustment to the same pricing that those who had been on 300Mbps plans were getting now that customers were all on the new 1Gig plans.

Many said they were unaware that better rates were available at the time.

TDS did not indicate how many Central Oregon customers were affected by the most recent billing issue, but readers continue to advise fellow subscribers to closely review their statements.

According to the Better Business Bureau, TDS maintains an A+ rating, which primarily relates to its handling of customer complaints, although it is not an accredited business. The business’s customer review ratings are currently at 1.84 out of 5 with the BBB.

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KGW

Author: Amy-Xiaoshi DePaola, Katherine Cook

WASHINGTON D.C., DC — The husband of Lori Chavez-DeRemer, U.S. Labor Secretary and former Oregon congresswoman, has been banned from agency headquarters after reportedly sexually assaulting at least two staffers, according to reporting by the New York Times.

The New York Times cited sources and a police report filed in December at the Labor Department. The women alleged that Chavez-DeRemer’s husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, had touched them inappropriately while at the Labor Department’s building, located on Constitution Avenue.

One of the incidents was recorded on office security cameras, the NYT said, involving DeRemer giving a woman “an extended embrace” during one of his frequent visits to his wife’s D.C. offices. DeRemer is an anesthesiologist based in Portland.

The women’s allegations were raised during an internal Labor Department investigation in January regarding alleged misconduct by DeRemer and her senior staff. On Jan. 24, a report from Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department was filed regarding the “forced sexual contact” in December. Police told the New York Times that the agency’s sexual assault unit is still investigating. 

The police report, obtained by KGW, noted the incident occurred on Dec. 18, redacting the victim’s names. The Metropolitan Police Department added in an email to KGW that it “cannot confirm the names of potential suspects or witnesses.”

After the staffers reported the incidents, DeRemer was banned from entering Labor Department premises, the New York Times reported, with a building restriction notice posted: “If Mr. DeRemer attempts to enter, he is to be asked to leave.” 

DeRemer, a Department of Labor spokesperson and a lawyer representing Chavez-DeRemer in the Labor’s Office of Inspector General investigation all declined to comment to the New York Times. 

In 2024, Chavez-DeRemer was named, then confirmed, as President Donald Trump’s Labor Secretary, shortly after losing her reelection bid to Rep. Janelle Bynum, a Democrat, for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District.

Chavez-DeRemer earned criticism from Oregon politicians after an August Cabinet meeting, where she urged Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to “crack down” on Portland — not long before the administration attempted to deploy National Guard troops in the city. That effort was stymied by a lengthy legal battle, culminating with the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals refusing to overturn the permanent injunction issued by U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut. Said injunction barred the administration from deploying any National Guard troops to Portland in response to protests outside the ICE building in the South Waterfront. 

Several months later, Chavez-DeRemer and several staffers were at the center of an internal complaint, which accused Chavez-DeRemer of pursuing an “inappropriate” relationship with a subordinate, would instruct staffers to “make up” official trips for vacations with friends and family, have aides run personal errands, and drink in the office during workdays. During the ongoing investigation, Chavez-DeRemer’s chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, as well as several members of her security staff, have been placed on leave.

KGW has reached out to the Labor Department and Dr. Shawn DeRemer’s office but has not yet heard back. 

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Kelsey Merison

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jefferson County Fire & EMS crews extinguished a structure fire at the McDonald’s restaurant in Madras Friday morning. No injuries were reported and firefighters contained the blaze before it could spread throughout the building.

According to the agency, two employees arriving for work discovered smoke coming from the restaurant and called 911. When fire crews arrived on scene, they observed flames visible from the drive-thru window.

Firefighters initiated an interior fire attack through the front entrance of the restaurant. Simultaneously, crews deployed a second hose line to the drive-thru area to combat the visible flames. These efforts stopped the fire from spreading to other parts of the building.

Following the initial knockdown, firefighters conducted salvage and overhaul operations in the damaged sections of the restaurant. Crews also climbed to the roof to check for potential fire extension, but no spread was found.

Personnel remained at the McDonald’s for approximately 2 hours to ensure the scene was secure. No injuries were reported among employees or emergency responders during the incident.

Jefferson County Fire & EMS was assisted at the scene by the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Fire officials have not released a damage estimate for the restaurant.

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