Category: ktvz-local-news

Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — On July 4, 2026, America250 will bury the Semiquincentennial Time Capsule in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. And a Warm Springs artist’s work will be in it.

The stainless-steel cylinder, designed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is designed to safely store commemorative objects for 250 years until the capsule’s opening in 2276.

Each state was asked to contribute a submission that represents its people, stories, and values at this historic moment.

In February, the America 250 Oregon Commission invited the public to share their ideas for what Oregon should submit to the time capsule, with suggestions ranging from creative works, written reflections, and symbolic objects. Each state’s submission must fit within a 6″ x 5″ x 2″ archival storage box or consist of a single page of archival paper no larger than 8.5″ x 11″.

The Commission announced this week that Oregon’s chosen submission is a pin handcrafted by acclaimed Native American artist Lillian Pitt (Warm Springs, Wasco, and Yakama).

She is widely known for her sculpting and mixed media artistry, which focuses on 12,000 years of Native American history and traditions of the Columbia River region. Her works have been exhibited globally and can be found in Oregon at the Oregon Convention Center, Portland State University, and the Museum at Warm Springs.

The pin that was selected is She Who Watches, Pitt’s depiction of a famous petroglyph and pictograph that is perched high on a mountain visible from her ancestral village. Under the oral traditions of tribes of the Columbia River region, She Who Watches represents Tsagaglalal, a wise and powerful chief who was transformed to stone, where she continues to keep vigil over her people and the Columbia River.

“The inclusion of this pin from one of Oregon’s most celebrated Indigenous artists reminds us that Oregon’s history and America’s history is much longer than 250 or 500 years,” said America 250 Oregon Commission Chair Kerry Tymchuk. 

Lillian Pitt said, “I am honored that my work will be included in this time capsule and am heartened to know that when it is opened in 250 years, people will be reminded of those who have made this land their home since time immemorial.”

Lillian Pitt was born on the Warm Springs Reservation in 1944 and moved to Portland in the early 1960s, where she resides today. She has received many honors, including the Oregon History Makers Award from the Oregon Historical Society.

The Ford Family Foundation recently named Pitt as the inaugural recipient of the 1905 Legacy Award, which will be presented every five years to an active Oregon artist who has been producing art for at least 20 years. The Museum at Warm Springs also will open a new, major exhibition next month, entitled “Lillian Pitt: Art, Memory, Home.”

About the America 250 Oregon Commission

The America 250 Oregon Commission was created through Senate Bill 1531, which was signed into law by Governor Tina Kotek on March 27, 2024. Chaired by the Oregon Historical Society’s executive director, Kerry Tymchuk, the mission of the America 250 Oregon Commission is to coordinate, provide guidance, and ensure that Oregon’s official observance of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States is inclusive and shares the histories of Oregon’s diverse populations, including the histories of the Indigenous peoples who have resided here since time immemorial. Learn more at oregon250.org.

Click here to follow the original article.

Tyson Beauchemin

(Update: Adding statement from Bailey’s attorney)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County commissioners voted 3-0 Wednesday to send a grievance filed by former Sheriff’s Captain William Bailey over his firing to an arbitrator, who will be chosen by mutual agreement, take testimony on the issues and make a recommendation to the board in coming months.

Bailey’s grievance concerns his 2025 termination from the sheriff’s department. He was fired after appearing on a radio show while running for sheriff in 2024 and making critical comments about then-Sheriff Kent van der Kamp and the internal atmosphere and morale of the department.

Among other claims, Bailey objects to the commissioners making a decision on his termination, because two commissioners endorsed his political opponent in a race won by van der Kamp. Bailey’s grievance also details at least 18 other complaints.

The move to administrative arbitration under county personnel rules means a neutral third party, selected by the county and Bailey, will hear the facts of the case. County legal staff recommended the arbitration process, to ensure fair representation for all parties involved.

County Legal Counsel David Doyle offered the commission advice on the decision.

“As I told you folks for as long as you can remember, you generally don’t get in trouble for giving too much due process – but you might get in trouble for not giving enough,” Doyle said He added that he was comfortable with these additional steps to “provide Mr. Bailey with the fullest and fairest opportunity to have his grievance heard.”

A large crowd attended the meeting, most expecting a grievance hearing, so some members expressed frustration after the shift in plans and delay in a final decision after an arbitration process that Doyle said could take 3-6 months – then return a recommendation to the commission for a final decision.

Even though there was no planned public comment for the meeting, several in attendance voiced concerns centered on the timing and lack of public information surrounding Bailey’s firing and subsequent appeal.

Following the commission’s vote, Bailey’s attorney, Erik Gunderson, met with reporters outside the council chambers. Gunderson said wished the commissioners had allowed him to speak during the meeting.  He was also upset that the very people who fired his client still will rule over his grievance.

Despite those concerns, Bailey’s attorney stated he would abide by the decision to use an arbitrator.

County commissioners, however, are not legally bound to accept any decision or recommendation made during the administrative arbitration process.

The selection of a neutral arbitrator may take some time. Bailey and the county will be presented with a list of experienced arbitrators, well-versed in Oregon employment law. After they agree on one, the arbitrator will set a schedule to meet with the parties, hear testimony from potential witnesses and make a recommendation.

Doyle also said it would be up to the arbitrator and Bailey on how much of those proceedings are made public.

“We will look forward to this process moving forward,” said Commissioner Phil Chang.

Here is a news release issued after Wednesday’s meeting by Bailey’s attorney:

260422 Press Release.pdfDownload

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

Update: Adding video

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Firefighters on the Sisters Ranger District are planning prescribed burning ignitions Thursday, if conditions are favorable.

Firefighters plan to conduct up to 120 acres of ignitions on Flymon 7 South Prescribed Burn, located 5 miles southwest of Lake Billy Chinook, the Deschutes National Forest said Wednesday in a news release that continues below:

Ignitions are planned for 10 a.m. Thursday. While no road or trail closures are anticipated, Forest Service Road 11 is adjacent to a portion of the prescribed burn. People driving in the area should slow down and use caution, as firefighting personnel will be working along the roadway and there may be some limited smoke impacts.

Residents in the Three Rivers subdivision and surrounding area are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early-morning hours.

Prescribed burns can protect homes from tragic wildfires. Fire management officials work with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns.

Prescribed burns are conducted when weather is most likely to move smoke up and away from our communities. While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn.

What does this mean for you?During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight and in the early morning hours. 

All residents are encouraged to close doors and windows at night to avoid smoke impacts.

If available, use a portable air cleaner. Air cleaners work best running with doors and windows closed. You can also create a DIY air cleaner.

If you have a central air system, use it to filter air. Use high-efficiency filters if possible.

When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down, turn on headlights and turn air to recirculating.

If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, pay attention to how you feel and if symptoms of heart or lung disease worsen, consider contacting your health care professional.

Go to centraloregonfire.org to learn more about smoke safety and prescribed burning in Central Oregon and visit centraloregonfire.org/protect-your-health for more smoke preparedness resources.

For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest visit fs.usda.gov/deschutes. Follow us on X @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

UPDATE: Adding video

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Northwest homebuilder Hayden Homes announced Wednesday a pledge to invest $25 million to charitable causes by 2030, as it launches  its Give As You Go™ Fund, an initiative connecting homebuilding with a commitment to building a strong community across the Northwest.

The fund will focus on philanthropic priorities including housing solutions, youth and education, food security, and Hayden Homes’ non-profit, First Story, the company said in a news release that continues below:

There are two key pillars to the fund. The first, at the heart of the program, directly involves homeowners.  Hayden Homes now fully funds a donation of $300  for each new home sold, which the company calls “Every Home Gives.” 

A portion supports First Story, a nonprofit expanding access to homeownership, while the remainder  supports local nonprofits in the county where the home is sold. Hayden Homes buyers are invited to nominate a nonprofit organization they care about, ensuring that philanthropy stays local, personal, and connected to real community needs.  

 The second pillar of the Hayden Homes $25 million pledge directs company philanthropic dollars to support a broad range of charitable community initiatives.   

To help launch the Give as You Go Fund in Oregon this year, Hayden Homes has committed tens of thousands of dollars to Oregon nonprofit and charitable organizations, including Oregon Habitat for Humanity, PeaceHealth Cottage Grove, RootedHomes, Horner Cycling Foundation, Deschutes Children’s Foundation, NeighborImpact, the COCC Foundation, Ponderosa Players, and more.     

The fund will benefit many communities across the Northwest.  Hayden Homes also on Wednesday presented $100,000 to the Walla Walla Public Library in Washington state to support  the organization’s “The Next Chapter” renovation project, including the new Hayden Homes Creativity Center. 

Architectural rendering of the Hayden Homes Creativity Center at the Walla Walla Public Library, an example of how the Give As You Go™ Fund is being applied in Northwest communities.

“From the beginning, we’ve believed that supporting the communities where we build is not only a privilege, but our responsibility,” said Dennis Murphy, CEO of Hayden Homes. “The Give As You Go™ Fund puts this belief into action. Attainable housing is only part of what it takes to build a strong community, and this is the next iteration of how Hayden Homes will continue showing up in the communities we serve.”  

This $25 million pledge comes as many Northwest communities continue to face rising housing costs alongside eroding affordability of local services and basic needs. Hayden Homes’ core business model focuses on building homes for households earning approximately 100–120% of area median income, while also investing in the communities where those homes are built.  

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon Community College is inviting the public to its official ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for its Madras campus expansion, 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, at 1170 East Ashwood Road.

The event will feature brief remarks from COCC President Dr. Greg Pereira and community partners, followed by the official ribbon-cutting event and self-guided tours of the facility. Light refreshments will be served.

The new 24,000-square-foot, two-story facility is a LEED-certified structure that combines learning and community care under one roof, college officials said Wednesday in a news release the continues below:

It houses three standalone training programs: nursing, nursing assistant and medical assisting. Additionally, the expanded early childhood education program at the Madras campus is integrating some of its training into the new on-site, 100-capacity child care facility, being managed by The Children’s Learning Center of Madras.

The update to the Madras campus, which originally opened in 2011, is a response to Jefferson County’s needs related to early childhood education and health care workforce gaps, along with a major shortage of child care options in the region. Construction began in June 2024, and the doors officially opened for classes, labs and child care at the start of winter term last January.

The open house will offer the opportunity to purchase an engraved brick, to be installed at the building’s entrance, along with bricks bearing names and messages of other COCC supporters.

The transformative campus project was funded by federal and state support, private philanthropy, grants and general college funds.

In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because of a physical or mobility disability should contact campus services at 541-383-7775. For accommodation because of other disability such as hearing impairment, contact student accessibility services at sas@cocc.edu or 541-383-7583.

Click here to follow the original article.

Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A disturbing incident involving teenagers is raising concerns in Bend’s Old Mill District.

Police say a group of juveniles in a red pickup truck may have used airsoft or BB-style rifles during a late-night encounter with security guards. Now, there are consequences — and questions about what happened and who was involved.

We’ll hear from a witness who describes a frightening moment, and get Bend Police Department’s response as the investigation moves forward. We’ve also reached out to the Old Mill District for comment.

KTVZ’s Tracee Tuesday will be live from the Old Mill District with a full report today at 4 p.m. on our FOX and NBC affiliates.

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The city of Bend will enact “home-hardening” requirements on May 15 for new homes, to improve their resiliency in the face of any future wildfires.

The Bend City Council recently adopted Section R327 of the Oregon Residential Specialty Code, establishing the home‑hardening requirements designed to improve wildfire resilience for new, detached residential construction.

After a work session discussion on Feb. 25, councilors directed staff to move forward with local adoption of R327, a state-adopted section of the residential building code that cities may opt into. The ordinance received its first reading on April 1 and was adopted upon second reading on April 15.

The new requirements will take effect May 15 and apply to new residential building permit applications submitted on or after that date.

R327 establishes wildfire-resilient construction practices for newly constructed dwellings and newly constructed accessory structures. It does not apply to additions or renovations of existing buildings.

The new requirements include the use of non-combustible or ignition-resistant materials for exterior components such as roofing, gutters, windows, vents and siding.

Fire hardening makes a property more resistant to ignition by addressing the most vulnerable part of the home with materials and methods that increase the structure’s resistance to heat, flame and embers.

While R327 does not apply to buildings regulated under the Oregon Structural Specialty Code, such as apartments and commercial buildings, those structures are typically built to a high baseline level of fire resistance, city officials said.

With adoption of the new code, Bend’s residential building standards align more closely with nearby jurisdictions. The code is already in effect for the City of Sisters and in unincorporated areas of Deschutes County, “supporting a consistent regional approach to community wildfire resilience,” the city said in Wednesday’s announcement.

Wildfire-Resistant Homes Costs reportDownload

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Draxton

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Better Together Central Oregon, a nonprofit focused on connecting communities and advancing opportunities for children, youth and families, announced its transition to full operational independence. This milestone, taking effect June 30, 2026, involves concluding a long-standing operational memorandum of understanding with the High Desert Education Service District. The organization will now manage its own operations, staffing and infrastructure across Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Better Together became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2015. For over a decade, the organization has served as a backbone entity, bringing together diverse community members and systems in a region encompassing more than 67,000 children and youth. The High Desert Education Service District had previously served as the employer of record and a professional home for Better Together’s staff.

Since its founding, Better Together has evolved from a vision of collaborative K–12 support into a regional anchor organization. It convenes workgroups, supports youth leadership and connects families with resources and opportunities.

In fiscal year 2024–25, Better Together hosted a 10-Year Celebration and Vision Summit with more than 150 community partners. The organization stewarded nearly $2 million through fiscal sponsorships supporting seven community-rooted organizations. It also engaged more than 500 families and young leaders through eight regional Family and Youth Councils. Programs sponsored by Better Together impacted more than 4,585 youth and 619 adults across the region. Additionally, it facilitated four active convening groups that bring leaders together to drive coordinated, community-led action in priority areas: early learning, housing and education, youth voice and Latinx success.

Gabriela Peden, executive director of Better Together Central Oregon, stated that this moment has been years in the making. “Operational independence gives us the ability to fully align how we work with what we believe, which is that communities are stronger when people come together,” Peden said. “Our mission, our relationships and our commitment to the people of Central Oregon are not changing. What changes is our capacity to sustain and deepen that work for the long term.”

Carlos Salcedo, board chair of Better Together Central Oregon, commented on the organization’s responsiveness to the communities it serves. “Better Together has always been shaped by the communities it serves — and this next step reflects that strength,” Salcedo said. He also expressed gratitude for the partnership with HDESD. “We are deeply grateful for the partnership with HDESD that supported an important chapter of our development. And we move forward with confidence, grounded in relationships built over more than a decade and guided by an unwavering commitment to the people and communities of Central Oregon.”

As part of establishing independent operations, Better Together will begin directly operating Juntos Aprendemos, one of its signature programs. Aprendemos is a Spanish-language family engagement initiative launched in 2018 through the leadership of Better Together’s Latinx Success Workgroup. Since its launch, the program has been operated by HDESD in partnership with Better Together. Beginning July 1, 2026, Better Together will directly operate the program and maintain its core model and commitment to serving Spanish-speaking families across the region.

Better Together extended its gratitude to HDESD for its role as a catalyst and early champion for developing cradle-to-career partnerships in Central Oregon. HDESD also served as a fiscal and operational partner since 2015. The two organizations anticipate continued collaboration in service of shared community priorities.

Better Together will continue to share updates with partners, funders and community members as the transition progresses. To learn more, an impact report for 2024–25, organizational history and supporting materials are available at bettertogethercentraloregon.org/news. Media inquiries can be directed to Peden at gabriela@bettertogetherco.org or (541) 745-4355.

Click here to follow the original article.

Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Happening this weekend, the Bend Police Department will host a DEA Drug Takeback event.

The department says it’s to give citizens a chance to safely dispose of unwanted or unused prescriptions, as flushing old prescriptions can add the drugs to the water table, and throwing them in the garbage could mean they end up in the wrong hands.

The drive-through event will take place in the PD parking lot (555 NE 15th Street) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 25th.

You’re encouraged to stop by and keep the community safe through this free event.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Draxton

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Cascades East Transit will increase bus service frequency and improve connections across Bend beginning May 4, 2026. The transit agency aims to provide better reliability for commuters throughout the city.

The service improvements will see Routes 1 and 4 along 3rd Street operate every 15 minutes on weekdays between 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Additionally, frequency on key corridors serving St. Charles and Neff Road will increase, with buses running every 30 minutes instead of the current 45-minute intervals.

Changes also include an update to Route 6, which will serve the new Deschutes Public Library – Central Library.

The new Deschutes Public Library – Central Library is scheduled to open on May 11, 2026.

Riders can plan their trips by checking updated schedules at local bus stops, Hawthorne Station, or online at CascadesEastTransit.com. For questions regarding the service changes, individuals may call 541-385-8680.

The new services will officially begin on May 4, 2026. The Deschutes Public Library – Central Library will open its doors on May 11, 2026, marking an additional destination for the updated Route 6.

Click here to follow the original article.