Category: ktvz-local-news

Madeline Clark

OREGON (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Forestry announced an investment of $10 million today for landscape resiliency projects across Douglas, Grant, Jackson and Josephine counties. The grant funding will target more than 6,400 acres to reduce hazardous fuels, restore fire-adapted ecosystems and protect local communities from catastrophic wildfires.

The state investment comes after wildfires have burned more than 2 million acres across Oregon so far in 2026. Forest Resources Division Chief Josh Barnard at ODF, emphasized that the state’s landscape resiliency approach serves as a primary investment hub to reduce wildfire risk across public, private and Tribal lands before fires begin.

“With more than 2 million acres burned by wildfires in Oregon so far in 2026, this work has become more important than ever,” Barnard said. “Every responsibly managed acre helps reduce wildfire risk around communities and improves the long-term health of Oregon’s forests and rangelands.” Barnard added that the funded projects demonstrate what can be accomplished when local communities, landowners, Tribes and federal agencies work toward shared natural resource goals.

The Oregon Department of Forestry is focusing on broader forest resiliency by reducing tree density in select areas while planting trees better adapted to changing environmental conditions. Christine Buhl, an ODF forest entomologist, explained that the agency is developing new diagnostic tools to assist landowners with adaptive management. “ODF is improving methods to enhance landscape resiliency to better protect our forests from large disturbance events,” Buhl said. “We are building tools to better diagnose problems and offering strategies and resources to landowners to help them do adaptive management. This includes metrics to help identify site and climate conditions and where stress is predicted. These tools and identification processes are a part of how we prepare and recover from stress from heat and droughts, insect pests and diseases and wildfires.”

In Douglas County, ODF is investing $1.29 million through the Little River Landscape Resiliency Project. The initiative will establish strategic fuel breaks along Lane Mountain, the Little River drainage and Cavitt Creek to improve firefighter access and lower wildfire intensity in high-risk zones.

A grant of $4.85 million will support the Hotshot Rx Connect project in Josephine and Jackson counties. The funds will be used to thin forest stands and conduct prescribed burns across nearly 2,700 acres, improving forest health and clearing emergency access routes.

In Grant County, ODF is allocating $3.46 million to the John Day Landscape Resiliency Project. The funding will support forest thinning, the removal of junipers that compete with valuable timber trees for water and long-term wildfire risk reduction planning across 3,400 acres. As part of this work, a 57-acre prescribed burn was recently completed on private ponderosa pine forest near Monument by the Prescribed Burn Association, a collaboration involving Oregon State University, ODF, the local Soil and Water Conservation Service and local landowners.

The effectiveness of coordinated landscape treatments was demonstrated during the 27,491-acre Akawa Butte Fire, which burned through thinned ponderosa pine forest and cleared roadsides near Black Butte Ranch treated under the Central Oregon Shared Stewardship Project. Jenna Nelson, state initiatives grant coordinator for ODF, noted how the prior treatments aided firefighters during the burn. “Because of the work done in this area, firefighters were able to fight the fire from safer places along roads where there was less fuel,” Nelson said. “It also allowed fire fighters to immediately backburn the treated land without having to prepare it first, saving precious time. The back burns consumed fuel ahead of the advancing fire front, stopping it in those areas. Because treated areas burned with lower intensity, they will also have a better chance at recovering, with a high percentage of trees surviving.”

The current round of investments will help establish new landscape plans that align priorities among ODF, the USDA Forest Stewardship Program, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to guide future funding. ODF encourages landowners and local partners interested in participating in future landscape resiliency projects to contact their local department office.

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Gregory Deffenbaugh

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon School Activities Association Delegate Assembly voted today to approve girls flag football as an officially sanctioned activity.

The decision makes Oregon the 25th state in the nation to sanction girls flag football.

The sport will begin its inaugural season as a sanctioned activity in Spring 2027 following two years as an emerging activity. Flag football is the second sport added through the OSAA emerging activity process, following boys volleyball in the 2025-26 school year. The addition comes after girls wrestling was sanctioned ahead of the 2023-24 association year.

Oregon joins western states Arizona, Calif., Nev. and Washington in sanctioning the sport. Girls flag football will also feature as an event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Participation in Oregon reached more than 1,400 players across 57 varsity teams last spring. Tualatin High School claimed the culminating event title by defeating South Salem 32-26 at Liberty High School. David Douglas, Central Christian, Amity and Gresham also earned trophies in the event. Tualatin later won the 2026 Best of the PNW Tournament in June.

The Seattle Seahawks have supported the sport’s expansion in Oregon by donating $30,000, providing equipment to schools and supporting the culminating event for the past three seasons. Mario Bailey, vice president of community engagement and legends for the Seattle Seahawks, highlighted the organization’s involvement.

“The Seahawks are proud to support the growth of girls flag football across our region and help create more opportunities for young women to compete and experience the game,” Bailey said. “We are thrilled to celebrate Oregon as the latest state to sanction the sport, an important milestone that will build a stronger future for girls flag football throughout the Pacific Northwest.”

Nike has pledged to provide home and away jerseys to all Oregon varsity teams competing in the inaugural season, as well as to any school that adds girls flag football during its first three seasons as a sanctioned activity. National growth efforts for the sport have also received support from the National Football League and USA Football.

The Oregon School Activities Association will release a plan book and official dates for the 2027 season at a later date.

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Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 32-year-old Warm Springs man was arrested Saturday night after a 44-year-old Redmond man was punched unconscious outside a concert in Bend.

Bend Police arrested Hamley Wilson Sam Smith near the Midtown Ballroom on NW Greenwood Avenue on suspicion of third-degree assault, first-degree disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

Bend Fire medics transported the victim to St. Charles Bend with serious injuries following the 11:49 p.m. incident near NW Greenwood Avenue and NW Hill Street.

Responding officers encountered a chaotic scene involving a large crowd of intoxicated people and multiple disputes. The situation prompted Bend officers to request assistance from Oregon State Police and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

A security guard who witnessed the assault helped officers identify Smith as the suspect.

Officers located Smith nearby in a parking lot in the 100 block of NW Irving Avenue. Police said Smith was uncooperative during his arrest before being transported to the Deschutes County Jail.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Today is National Farmer Day, a time to recognize the farmers and agricultural families who help keep Central Oregon running.

Crook County is celebrating the hard work of local farmers who help feed our communities, support local businesses, and strengthen the local economy.

The county is also thanking agricultural families who work year-round to keep the region’s agricultural traditions alive.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — It’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day, recognizing the cultures, histories and contributions of Native American and tribal communities.

Here in Central Oregon, it’s a chance to honor Indigenous students, families and community members, along with generations of people who have cared for the land we call home.

The day also encourages people to learn about and celebrate Indigenous traditions, cultures and contributions — not just today, but year-round.

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Kelsey Merison

SOUTHERN OREGON (KTVZ) — Cooler fall weather is here, but fire season isn’t over yet.

The Oregon Department of Forestry says open burning, including yard debris, is still prohibited on ODF-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties.

The current fire danger level is moderate, with an industrial fire precaution level of one.

Residents are encouraged to check the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Facebook page for current fire restrictions before burning.

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Kelsey Merison

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Right now, Oregon emergency officials are testing the state’s ability to recover from a major volcanic eruption.

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management is holding a statewide exercise this week. running through Friday.

The exercise, called “Getting Through Larhar’d Times,” brings together state agencies, counties, tribes, and community partners.

Participants are practicing damage assessments, coordinating resources, and developing a state recovery action plan.

Unlike previous exercises that focused on immediate responde to a disaster, this one focuses on long-term recovery.

It also marks the first time Oregon has included community members as special observers and evaluators to help ensure recovery plans address the needs of all communities.

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Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Fox & Fern Coffee, located on SW Century Drive on the west side of Bend, permanently closed Sunday, October 11th, 2026.

The cafe had operated at the location since May 2025. It originally opened in the space previously occupied by Kevista Coffee, which closed after accumulating more than $27,000 in state fines for breaches of COVID-19 rules. The two businesses were operated by separate owners.

Notices posted on the shop’s doors announced the sudden shutdown.

“Thank you to our customers and the Bend community for your support,” the sign states. “We appreciate everyone who visited and supported our shop.”

As of Monday, the cafe’s social media accounts and website were inaccessible.

A person claiming to be a former employee of Fox & Fern posted news of the closure online, stating that workers were not notified in advance.

“Hello all, I have some sad news. I am a former employee of Fox and Fern and as of today (10/11/2026) they are permanently closed,” the former employee wrote on Reddit. “We were not aware this would be happenening until after it already did. We really are sorry for those who are regulars, we hope you find another cozy cafe to make your own!”

The alleged former worker also addressed the history of the location and its relationship to the previous business.

“The previous owner, who had Kevista, moved away and is not associated with F&F in any way. Kevista and F&F are completely different businesses, only sharing the same address. F&F was under new ownership as of May 2025,” the former employee stated.

According to Oregon Secretary of State records, the company is registered under the name of Kevin D. Cox.

In 2021, Cox agreed to a $2.9 million settlement with the federal government and the state of Oregon to resolve allegations of filing fraudulent reimbursement requests to Oregon Medicaid through his business, At Home Care LLC.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Are you looking for a creative way to spend time with family and friends Happening next, a new paint-your-own pottery business is coming to Bend!

CeramiCafe, which started in Clackamas back in 2002, is expanding to Central Oregon.

The business made the announcement on social media, saying plans are in the works, and to stay tuned for updates.

The art lounge offers a chance to unwind and create your own pottery. Customers can choose from hundreds of ceramic pieces, including mugs, plates and decorative items, then personalize them with paint, stencils and their own designs.

Once you’re finished, staff glaze and fire the pottery, making it food-safe and ready to use.

The studio also hosts birthday parties, corporate events, bridal showers and other group gatherings.

CeramiCafe has four other locations in Oregon — Beaverton, Clackamas, Corvallis and Lake Oswego.

Click here to learn more about the business.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crook County Middle School has completed construction on a new 4,000-square-foot wrestling room built through community fundraising and volunteer efforts.

The facility will provide a dedicated practice space for middle school wrestlers in the district. The project was funded and built through contributions from the Crook County Mat Club, local businesses, wrestling families and community volunteers.

Jim Fewell, a representative for the Crook County Mat Club, helped lead the project’s development and fundraising efforts. Kevin Spencer of Empire Construction & Development also contributed significantly to the construction of the facility.

The Crook County School District and Crook County Mat Club will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility at 5 p.m. this Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Crook County Middle School. Local media, wrestling families and community members are invited to attend.

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