Category: ktvz-local-news

Jillian Fortner

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Central Oregon recorded 15 new HIV diagnoses in 2024, marking the highest annual total on record for the region.

Most of those cases were in Deschutes County, which has the largest population.

Deschutes County Health officials caution that case numbers can fluctuate from year to year. So far in 2025, fewer than five cases have been reported.

Deschutes County Health also notes that nearly 40 percent of the new diagnoses last year were considered late, meaning many individuals had unknowingly lived with HIV long enough for their immune systems to become weakened.

“Early symptoms might resemble the flu, or some individuals might be completely asymptomatic. So it really makes the regular testing extremely important here,” said said Jessie Hunsaker, STI/HIV regional epidemiologist for Deschutes County. 

The International Journal of Sexual Health reports that the rise of dating apps and online platforms has contributed to an increase in anonymous sexual encounters. Experts say this can make it more difficult to trace partners and contain the spread of infections.

“Apps do pose a new challenge for public health for things like partner notification services,” Hunsaker said.

According to End HIV Oregon, the state records about 200 new HIV cases each year. They estimate more than a thousand Oregonians may be living with the virus without knowing it.

“It’s important for people to know that with an effective medication, individuals can live long, healthy lives and effectively stop the spread of the virus to others,” said Hunsaker.

Free or low-cost STI and HIV testing is available in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties.

The Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living (EOCIL) also provides local services for people living with HIV.

See upcoming dates for free STI/HIV testing in Bend here.

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KTVZ

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Next Tuesday evening, Sen. Lisa Reynolds, MD (D-Portland), who worked with Governor Tina Kotek on her recent executive order creating phone-free schools, will convene lawmakers and community leaders in a roundtable discussion on how to make the new rule work best for student success and well-being.

Here are the details, as released Friday by Reynolds’ office:

DATE: Tuesday, September 30

TIME: 5:30 p.m.

ONLINE LOCATION: Zoom; join the discussion here (bit.ly/Cell-EO-RT)

FOR: Students, families, and school communities

Senator Reynolds and bipartisan colleagues Rep. Kim Wallan (R-Medford), Rep. April Dobson (D-Happy Valley), and Rep. Emerson Levy (D-Bend) crafted bills in the 2025 legislative session to confront the distraction of cell phones in schools (House Bill 2251 and Senate Bill 1212).

In Tuesday’s roundtable, they will draw on that knowledge to lead a discussion on:

the value for students and families in the Governor’s executive order

the keys for successfully carrying out the order inside Oregon schools 

Advocates and stakeholders will participate in the discussion, giving students and families in the virtual audience their informed perspectives on what it will take to keep children safe, happy, healthy, and well-educated in the cell phone age. Those at the table will include:

Representatives from Oregon’s Department of Education

Jen Doty, a researcher from the University of Oregon

Sergeant James Kinsella of the Bend Police Department

The lawmakers will take questions from parents, students, teachers, school staff, or community members about the fresh changes in school cell phone policies.

Some early insights:

“As a pediatrician, I see every day how phones are affecting the mental health of our students and interfering with their learning,” Sen. Reynolds said. “This executive order puts students and teachers first. Every Oregon student deserves a distraction-free, harassment-free learning environment that fosters curiosity and community.”

Sergeant Kinsella, who works as a student resource officer for the Bend-La Pine Schools, noted that this cell phone ban helps keep students safe in a time of crisis.

“Our job as first responders is to protect lives. Phones in the middle of an emergency can interfere with that mission,” Sergeant Kinsella said. “Clear school safety plans, not constant cell phone access, are what give students, school officials, and law enforcement the best opportunity to keep everyone safe in a critical incident.”

“Having witnessed the benefits of this policy in my own community, it’s inspiring to see districts across Oregon experiencing the same results: teachers can concentrate on teaching, and students are once again filling lunchrooms with laughter and conversation,”  Representative Dobson said.

Background on Oregon’s new policy:

Oregon now is one of 31 states with similar classroom phone usage restrictions. Community leaders, teachers, mental health experts, and scientists have consistently called for restrictions to be placed on phone usage during the school day. Now, Oregon legislators are focused on ensuring that our schools are set up for success as they implement this change.

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About Senator Lisa Reynolds:

Senator Lisa Reynolds, MD, is a state lawmaker, a mom, and a pediatrician serving children and families in the Portland Area. Her pediatric practice grounds her work and informs everything she does in the legislature. She serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health, and her pediatric practice grounds her work and informs everything she does in the legislature.

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County provided new details Friday about how it will use a newly awarded $3.4 million USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant for its La Pine Wildfire Mitigation Project over the next five years.

“The project is a collaborative effort to reduce fire fuels, educate the public, increase wildfire preparedness, and mitigate wildfire risk within the La Pine Rural Fire District,” the county said in a news release that continues in full below:

“I’m proud to say that the La Pine Mitigation Project was one of 58 projects nationwide to receive a Community Wildfire Defense Grant,” said County Forester Kevin Moriarty. “The funds will be used by Deschutes County and its partner agencies to increase the community’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfire events.” 

Project activities over the next five years will include:

Fuel Reduction Efforts:

Treating 585 acres of County-owned land adjacent to critical infrastructure, private residences, and businesses

Enhancing 100 miles of county-maintained roads for better access during emergencies

Community Support:

Implementing annual sweat equity projects such as chipping or defensible space programs 

Offering defensible space funding for 125 senior and low-income properties in Upper Deschutes River Communities

Education and Outreach:

Hiring a full-time Fire Prevention Coordinator at La Pine Fire District to assist with project implementation and preparedness training for residents in the area

Offering two annual workshops focusing on defensible space and home assessments

Equipment and Resources:

Investing in modern fire mitigation tools like an air curtain burner and masticator head

Project partners include the Deschutes County Natural Resources Department, Deschutes County Property Management, Deschutes County Road Department, La Pine Rural Fire District, Upper Deschutes River Communities, Newberry Regional Partnership, Deschutes Soil & Water Conservation District.

To learn more about the USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant program, visit the USDA website.

For more information about the La Pine Wildfire Mitigation Project send an email to Lauren Street at lauren.street@deschutes.org.

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Jillian Fortner

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Tuff Shed is celebrating the grand opening of its new Redmond Sales and Design Center with a free three-day community event. 

“So we bring something a little bit different to Central Oregon when it comes to, sheds, barns and garages,” said Chris Olson, District Manager at Tuff Shed. “We build on site at no additional charge. We can customize any building.”

Festivities begin Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Redmond Chamber of Commerce scheduled at noon.

Visitors can take advantage of event-only offers available all weekend, including free paint, special financing options and other local Manager Discounts. They will also have the opportunity to register to win a Traeger grill.

The Redmond site is open from 10am to 7pm each day, but it’s closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -– A state agency issued a warning to Oregonians on Friday about a “gold bar” scam that’s rapidly spreading across the nation, causing millions of dollars in losses.

“This scam involves fraudsters impersonating government officials who convince victims to purchase gold bars to supposedly protect their nest eggs,” the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation advised Friday.

Here’s the full details in Friday’s DFR news release about the scam – and how to avoid it:

This scam involves contact from someone claiming to be a government official, often associated with the U.S. Department of Treasury, who convinces the victim to convert money held in financial accounts into gold bars. The fraudster claims the victim’s financial institution isn’t safe and that physical gold is the only way to protect the assets.

Once the victim agrees to convert the funds to gold, the fraudster either appears at the victim’s front door or arranges for the victim to meet them at a nearby location to pick up the gold bars. DFR urges the public to stay alert, informed, and safe. Do not become the next victim of this scam.

More generally, the scam goes like this: Victims are contacted through text, email, or phone call and told their financial accounts are at risk of being compromised for various reasons. The reasons given may include that the accounts were subject to a cyberattack or are being used for illegal activity and must be closed.

Victims are advised to empty the account, purchase the gold bars, and then deliver the bars over to the “government official.”

For those unable or unwilling to purchase the gold themselves, the fraudster will offer and even insist on making the purchase for them. Sometimes this includes giving the “government official” remote access to the victim’s electronic devices.

Victims are tricked into believing that converting their assets to gold and storing it with the government via the scammer, or “government official,” is necessary to protect their assets.

“This is positively – and always – a scam,” the agency said. “It has already caused millions of dollars in losses to Oregon investors and others across the country.”

“It is troubling that these criminals are using fear and a false sense of urgency to pressure victims into making devastating financial decisions,” said TK Keen, DFR administrator. “Even more troubling is the reality that they are in our communities and facilitating these crimes in person.”

As an additional precaution, DFR emphasizes that government officials will never contact you and demand payment using gold bars.

To stay safe:

Be cautious of someone contacting you and claiming to be a government official. The imposter scam was the most common scam reported to the Federal Trade Commission in 2024. Government officials will never threaten you or demand that you make a payment using cryptocurrency, gift cards, or gold. If you need to communicate with a government agency, look up the contact information yourself, verify that you have not been directed to a scam site, and – only then – contact the agency using the information provided on its official website. Never share your home address with strangers who contact you.

A government official will never give you a top-secret password. Some victims are given a supposedly top-secret password and instructed to give assets to a person who provides them with the password. This is always a scam.

Never click on suspicious links or respond to unsolicited messages. If you receive an email or text from an unknown sender (even if the details appear accurate), do not respond, and do not click on any links or attachments found in that email. You could unknowingly download malicious software.

Never give out your personal and financial information. Do not share personal and financial information with strangers. Steer clear of communication and calls from strangers.

Those seeking employment might be tempted to accept positions as a driver or courier from these scammers. This is part of the scam, to use outsiders – referred to as “money mules” – to help facilitate the crime. Be very skeptical about these employment offers. Research a company thoroughly before agreeing to become involved in any “employment” of unusual activity.

DFR cautions Oregonians to remain cautious and informed. Contact local law enforcement to report this scam.

You can also contact DFR to report suspected fraud, inappropriate securities business practices, or to obtain consumer information. Free investor education and fraud prevention materials are available at dfr.oregon.gov or by calling one of DFR’s consumer advocates at 888-877-4894 (toll-free) or dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.

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About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: More information, background from USGS spokesman)

BANDON, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 5.9-magnitude earthquake rumbled off the southern Oregon coast late Thursday night, and several people felt it onshore, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

No tsunami alerts were issued, but by midday Friday, 25 people had reported feeling the quake. It occurred around 11:45 p.m. Thursday nearly 150 miles west of Bandon at a depth of 10 kilometers, or more than six miles, the USGS said.

The quake was followed by a 3.0-magnitude aftershock around 12:22 a.m. on Friday, nearly five miles farther west and at the same depth, and another 3.0 shake to the north shortly after 3 a.m.

The USGS says earthquakes of that magnitude are not uncommon off the Oregon coast, with more than 160 of magnitude 5 or greater in the past 25 years.

USGS spokesman Steven Sobieszczyk told KTVZ News the latest quake occurred along the southern margin of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, well north of an area known as the Mendocino triple junction. where three major tectonic boundaries meet:

The San Andreas Fault, where the Pacific Plate slides past the North American Plate (a transform boundary, ie. north/south moving),

The Cascadia Subduction Zone, where the Juan de Fuca and Gorda Plates dive beneath the North American Plate (a convergent boundary, ie. one plate moves beneath another), and

The Mendocino Fracture Zone, another transform boundary between the Pacific and Gorda Plates.

‘Mendocino Triple Junction’ (U.S. Geological Survey)

“This unique intersection of plate boundaries causes the Mendocino triple junction to slowly migrate northward over time,” Sobieszczyk told us. “As it moves, the San Andreas Fault extends farther north, while the southern end of the Cascadia Subduction Zone retreats. This ongoing shift leads to a reorganization of the plate boundaries in the region.

“The earthquakes and seismic activity we see in this area are a direct result of these complex and dynamic interactions between the plates and the movement of the triple junction itself,” Sobieszczyk explained.

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KTVZ – News Team

OREGON (KTVZ) — Two project proposals led by the Oregon Department of Forestry along with four other projects in Oregon have been selected to be funded by the Community Wildfire Defense Grant.

In total, organizations in Oregon have received $28.5 million to fund six projects, all with the end goal of creating more wildfire resilient communities.

ODF’s project proposals focus on assisting communities in reducing wildfire risk through mitigation work, education, defensible space assessments, and more.

ODF is also a partner on two other state projects that have been selected for funding.

The ODF proposals that have been selected for funding are the South Lane Wildfire Risk Reduction in the ODF Western Lane and South Cascade District, receiving $2.6 million, and the Cave Junction-Takilma-Illinois Valley Mira Fuels Mitigation Project in the ODF Southwest Oregon District, receiving nearly $2.4 million.

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Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — At 8 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1st, Redmond Fire and Rescue will re-open outdoor burning.

With the forecasted decrease in temperatures, the risk for fire spread has dropped to safe levels.

Redmond Fire and Rescue would like to remind anyone conducting outdoor burning in the area of the following regulations:

-There is no debris burning inside city limits at any time. Failure to comply can result in a citation and fines.

-Campfires, warming fires, and cooking fires in approved fire rings or appliances are allowed year-round when regulations are followed. These fires are allowed within city limits and no permit is required.

-All types of fires may be banned in peak fire conditions.

-A burn permit is required for open burning but a burn permit is not required when using a burn barrel. However, you must still check the burn line to determine if burning is allowed.

-Burn permits are available online at www.rdmfire.org.

Below is the full press release from Redmond Fire and Rescue, which details additional regulations as well as how to report an illegal burn:

“At 8am on October 1st, Redmond Fire & Rescue will reopen outdoor burning. With the forecasted decrease in temperatures, the risk for fire spread has decreased to safe levels. Redmond Fire & Rescue would like to remind anyone who is conducting outdoor burning of the regulations for the areas served by Redmond Fire & Rescue:

NO DEBRIS BURNING INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF REDMOND AT ANY TIME

Open debris burning inside the city limits of Redmond is prohibited per Redmond Fire & Rescue Ordinance #5. Failure to comply can result in a citation and fines.

Campfires, warming fires, and cooking fires, in approved fire rings or appliances, are allowed year-round when the regulations below are followed. These fires are allowed within city limits and no permit is required.

All types of fires may be banned in peak fire conditions.

A burn permit is required for open burning. A burn permit is not required when using a burn barrel, however you must still check the burn line to determine if burning is allowed. Burn permits are available online at www.rdmfire.org. 

General Requirements

Each day, before you begin your outdoor burning, you must call the outdoor burning number at 541-504-5035 and utilize the burn permit online system to determine if burning is allowed. A permit is required.

You are completely responsible, criminally and personally, including any suppression costs, for any fire you start. These regulations do NOT relieve responsibility for conducting a safe and attended burn.

All fires shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. Fires should be cold to the touch to be considered completely out.

A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating or other approved on-site fire-extinguishing equipment such as a shovel and dirt, garden hose, or water truck, shall be available for immediate utilization.

Open burning shall be prohibited when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous. The fire code official is authorized to order the extinguishment of any fire which creates or adds to a hazardous situation.

All fires shall have a minimum of 10 feet around the fire clear of combustibles.

An adult must be in attendance at all times.

To Report an Illegal Burn

Call the non-emergency dispatch line at 541-693-6911 to report an illegal burn. Or to report individuals who are burning items not approved by DEQ, please call DEQ at 541-388-6146.

Residential Outdoor Burning of Yard Debris (only permitted outside the Redmond city limits with a valid permit)

Provisions shall be made to prevent the fire from spreading to any structure*. To apply for a permit, visit www.rdmfire.org

Fires in approved containers shall not be less than 15 feet from any structure.

The minimum required distance from a structure shall be 25 feet where the pile size is 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height.

The minimum required distance from a structure shall be 50 feet where the pile size is greater than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height.

Burn piles need to be sized so fires will be completely out by the required time indicated on the burn information line.

Burn barrels shall be at least 15 feet from any structure.

Absolutely no debris burning after dark.”

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Shannon Brady

Bend, OR (KTVZ) –

Agriculture is one of the biggest contributors of climate change, accounting for roughly 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. In an attempt to reduce their footprint, farms in Central Oregon are finding ways to stay sustainable while providing healthy, quality food for their community. 

Russel Simpson from Around the Bend Farms in Bend told KTVZ about some of their methods. He said, “We use organic principles here at Around the Bend Farms. That includes having no pesticides, no herbicides, minimum amount of fertilizer. We have drip lines installed rather than overhead sprinklers, which use a lot less water than overhead sprinklers do.”

Techniques can include everything from crop rotation, special irrigation practices, reducing waste, and promoting biodiversity on a farm. Around the Bend Farms has two beehives to help pollinate their plants.

Katie Williams from Flying w Bend prioritizes eco-friendly practices with her produce and animals.

“We’re planting clover and wildflowers that our livestock goes on an eat, but that brings in the bees, and those bees pollinate my garden. And then that just puts more fruit and vegetables on my shelves. And in the big picture, it helps everyone.” She told KTVZ in January 2025.

The purpose of sustainable agriculture is to protect the environment so that future generations can continue to farm and feed their communities with nutrient rich food.

Whether you’re a farmer, a rancher, or just someone who enjoys fresh food, you can rest assured that many Central Oregon Farmers are doing their part to protect the environment so that you can always eat fresh, healthy, and local.

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Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– One of the best parts of life in Central Oregon is the great outdoors but when something goes wrong on an adventure, there’s one group our community can always count on: Deschutes County Search and Rescue.

Founded in 1916, the organization is made up of a mix of sheriff’s deputies, paid staff, and dedicated volunteers. Their work covers an incredible range from helping an elderly hiker experiencing a medical emergency, to rescuing climbers, aiding avalanche victims, or even saving injured horses.

“We have canines, we have a mountain rescue unit, we have an air ops unit, a tracking team,” explained Andrew Heide from Deschutes County Search and Rescue. “We do fire evacuations, we help if our community is being flooded. You know, it really runs the gamut of emergencies that we respond to.”

In recognition of their service, KTVZ News, Mid Oregon Credit Union, and Dutch Bros Coffee presented Deschutes County Search and Rescue with $500 through the Pay It Forward program. The group plans to use the gift to help replace safety gear.

For those inspired to get involved, Search and Rescue is holding a public information session on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at their offices. This is a rare chance to learn how to join the team—it only happens once every two years.

Do you know someone making a difference in Central Oregon? You can nominate them—or their organization—for the Pay It Forward program. Just visit the Community tab at ktvz.com.

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