Category: ktvz-local-news

Tyson Beauchemin

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Wednesday marks the start of the Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo. Through next Sunday, you can enjoy games, food, rides, and more at the Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Redmond.

It’s also kicking off the Kendall Toyota of Bend free summer concert series, with Brothers Osborne. A full list of performing artists and times is on the fair’s website.

Driving and parking at the fairgrounds should be easy. All the gates on Southwest Airportway will be open. A parking crew will be out there to guide you to a free parking spot. Once you’re there, you could buy tickets at any of the three fairgrounds gates.

Your general admission ticket gets you access to everything: the fair, the rodeo, and all of the concerts. The only extras are rides and food. And there will be some exciting new food vendors to check out this year.

Deschutes County Fairgrounds Director Geoff Hinds said, “Whether it’s the brand new Wahlburgers stand that’s making its debut for the first time ever. We’ve got a Wahlburgers owned by the Wahlberg brothers, Mark, Donnie and that family. They’re having their Oregon debut here in just a few days, or some of the other stands that we’ve got, a lot of the traditional fair food, but some new, fun opportunities as well.”

This year, there is no official shuttle to the fair, but the bus is running to the airport, which is within walking distance. Bend’s party bus is also selling tickets for its shuttle service.

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Gregory Deffenbaugh

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — .A fire Sunday afternoon heavily damaged a home atop a hill off U.S. Highway 26 south of Madras, and water shuttles to fight the blaze closed the highway for a time.

Jefferson County Fire & EMS crews were dispatched after the fire was reported around 2:45 p.m. at a home in the 2500 block of Highway 26.

Fire Chief Jeff Blake told KTVZ News the 4,500-foot home was built with materials such as a tile roof and stucco, which, along with high winds led to a rapid spread of the fire.

Despite fire crews’ swift response, most of the home was destroyed, Blake said. No one was home at the time, and no injuries were reported.

Jefferson County Fire called in other fire agencies, including Redmond, Crook County, Crooked River Ranch and Cloverdale, for assistance at the scene, Blake said. They all helped with opening up the structure to get to the fire and conduct mop-up operations.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office will conduct an investigation into the cause, Blake said.

Track LIVE traffic conditions by clicking here.

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Barney Lerten

HILLSBORO, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek on Monday commemorated the signing of House Bill 2138, House Bill 3031, House Bill 2258, Senate Bill 684, and House Bill 3145, “bipartisan bills aimed at building the housing that Oregonians need with the urgency they deserve.”

“These bills are an essential component of the Governor’s work to break down barriers to more housing construction and bring down the costs of housing across the state,” according to a news release from the governor’s office, which continues in full below:

“Families struggling with the high cost of living are forced to make impossible choices, between staying in the communities they love or finding a place they can afford. This affordability crisis is the stubborn engine of our homelessness crisis,” Governor Kotek said.

“Solving this decades-old problem demands that we bring creative, practical solutions to increase the supply of all kinds of homes as fast as we can. We have to cut red tape and get out of our own way. We have to invest in affordable housing projects. We have to help our cities and counties build the infrastructure they need to start building new homes.”

Habitat for Humanity hosted the event at their site in Hillsboro, Century Commons. Construction at Century Commons will soon be complete, with 18 affordable homes, including townhomes and single-level, ADA-accessible homes. The governor spoke at the event with Deborah Flagan, Vice President of Hayden Homes; Tillamook County Commissioner Erin Skaar, and Brett Dery, a homeowner. 

House Bill 2138 legalizes and speeds up the production of middle housing, to give Oregonians the housing options that suit their needs and lower the price of housing for everyone. The bill builds on the governor’s long history of right-sizing state housing policy to better meet Oregon’s needs and turn back the impacts of exclusionary and discriminatory zoning policies.  

“I never thought I’d be able to say this, but I’m a homeowner in Bend, Oregon, and that’s because affordable housing is finally being prioritized,” Central Oregon Homeowner Brett Dery said. “The legislation Governor Kotek signed will help families like mine find stability, freedom, and a real place in their community. It means living where we work, biking through our neighborhood, and building a future with confidence. I’m grateful for the governor’s leadership and commitment to making homeownership possible for more Oregonians.”

House Bill 2258 will provide a series of pre-approved building plans, streamlining approval processes and eliminating barriers to building small apartments, single-unit dwellings, duplexes, townhomes, and other middle housing options. The bill would also create land use and design standards for the plans, providing clarity and predictability for developers, cities, and counties.

“At Hayden Homes, we’re committed to building homes that the area median wage earner can afford. This year, we opened new communities in Albany, Cottage Grove, and Bend, with homes starting between 90-100% average medium income,” Deborah Flagan said. “These communities are a direct result of past bipartisan legislation allowing for zoning reform and the integration of mixed housing types. I want to thank Governor Kotek for her unwavering leadership. Today’s bill signing reflects the continued commitment to tackling Oregon’s housing shortage head-on.” 

House Bill 3031 creates the Housing Infrastructure Project Fund, which is designed to reduce infrastructure barriers to development with strategic investments. It would provide loans, forgivable loans, and grants to cities, counties, special districts, and federally recognized tribes to fund transportation, water, wastewater, stormwater, and site development projects that are directly linked to housing development.

“When I started working on housing in Tillamook County, we hadn’t seen a new affordable development in nearly 20 years. We needed homes for families, seniors, and our workforce, not just vacation properties,” Tillamook County Commissioner Erin Skaar said. “One thing was clear: this work needs a champion. For Oregon, that’s Governor Kotek. Thanks to her leadership, communities like ours are finally making real progress.” 

Senate Bill 684, introduced by Senator Khan Pham, creates the Construction Revolving Loan Fund, a new tool to provide long-term financing for mixed-income residential housing.

“Senate Bill 684 allows us to take the first steps towards building a revolving loan fund that in the future can get subsidized construction loans in the hands of developers eager to build both market-rate and affordable housing in communities across the state,” Senator Khanh Pham (D-Outer SE & NE Portland) said. 

“Housing is a bipartisan problem and requires bipartisan solutions,” Senator Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City) said. “It is clear Governor Kotek and the Legislature are committed to finding solutions to our housing crisis.”

House Bill 3145, introduced by Representative Pam Marsh (D-Southern Jackson County), sets aside $25 million in Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) funds to build factory-produced housing. These modular homes can be built faster and at a lower cost than traditional construction, positioning them as a crucial tool to urgently meet the state’s housing goals.  

“Getting out of this housing hole requires us to re-examine our conventional ideas on so many fronts, including land use, permitting, design, and financing. The use of factory-based components that can get homes on the ground more quickly and, perhaps, more inexpensively, needs to be a pillar in our state’s housing strategy,” Representative Marsh said. “House Bill 3145 provides Oregon developers, builders, factory operators, and communities the chance to test new approaches that could help us break through barriers to housing production.”

Since Day One of her term, the Governor has been laser-focused on solutions to create a healthy housing market, where everyone can afford a home. As a result, the state estimates that in the Governor’s first biennium in office, 2,800 affordable housing units were financed and infrastructure for over 25,000 affordable and market-rate housing units were provided. Additionally, tools have been established to continue to accelerate the development of more housing, including the Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO), a moderate-income revolving loan (MIRL) fund, and a state land inventory.

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Barney Lerten

SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — KTVZ viewer Brad Baer shared with us a video of a black bear sighting just before 2 p.m. Monday, ambling along in the woods near Huntington Road, south of Sunriver.

According to Baer, the bear was “slow-moving and minding its own business.”

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon is home to about 25,000 to 30,000 black Bears, North America’s most common bear species. By the way, while generally black in color, they can also be brown, cinnamon or blond.

Read more about them at this ODFW web page.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Think Wild, Central Oregon’s wildlife hospital and conservation center, said Monday it recently admitted an orphaned northern flying squirrel for rehabilitation.

The young female squirrel was found on July 20, 2025, in the middle of a trail at Virginia Meissner Sno-Park near Bend. The finder initially thought the squirrel was deceased, but she began to move when approached, prompting the finder to contact Think Wild for assistance.

Here’s the organization’s full release on how the flying squirrel is doing: 

At intake, the squirrel, estimated to be a few weeks old, was underweight, hypothermic, and showing signs of external parasites, including fly eggs on her back and tail. She also had mild dehydration, but no serious injuries.

After receiving an initial exam and treatment, she was placed in a heated incubator to regulate her body temperature and begin recovery. 

This is the first time Think Wild has treated a flying squirrel patient, so staff contacted Bird Alliance of Oregon’s Wildlife Care Center for treatment protocols.

Following these protocols, staff are offering the young squirrel five feedings a day, with a formula designed to support her growth and weight gain. As of last week, she has also begun eating solid food, including crushed rodent blocks, greens, and fruit. 

Unlike their name suggests, flying squirrels do not truly “fly,” but glide from tree to tree, using a membrane that stretches between their limbs. They are nocturnal and primarily feed on plant material, tree sap, fungi, and small animals such as insects and bird eggs. They are typically found in old-growth forests, where they can nest high in the trees, away from predators.  

“There are two species of flying squirrels in Oregon: the Humboldt’s flying squirrel and the northern flying squirrel. Recently documented as a new species in 2017, the Humboldt’s flying squirrel is typically smaller and darker, but the two species are very difficult to distinguish without genetic analysis, and work is still being done to accurately determine their distribution, says Kaly Adkins, ODFW’s regional wildlife diversity biologist.

“They are not commonly observed, due to their mostly nocturnal behavior and use of tree cavities for nesting,” Adkins said. “However, flying squirrels can be found in both hardwood and coniferous forests throughout Oregon.” 

Bert Skillen, a local wildlife biologist, said, “Flying squirrels are fascinating creatures who play an essential role in maintaining the health of our forests. They help promote forest health by eating fungi, especially truffles, and dispersing the fungal spores throughout the forest with their droppings. These fungi are critical for trees to take up nutrients.

“Flying squirrels are also an important prey species for the endangered spotted owl,” Skillen added. “A fun fact is that flying squirrels do not hibernate, but they will congregate together in one nest tree in the winter to stay warm. As many as 50 flying squirrels have been found in one nest tree during the colder months – that’s a lot of cuteness in one place!” 

Think Wild took in a rare, orphaned northern flying squirrel, seen at intake exam and being hand-fed formula, peering out from enclosure that simulates tree crevices

Adkins added, “Although this species faces threats of climate change, habitat loss and invasive species, (they are not) currently listed as a species of greatest conservation need in the state of Oregon.”

Though northern flying squirrels are not a species of immediate concern, successful rehabilitation of this young patient will help her continue her important role in maintaining forest health and supporting the ecosystem, Think Wild says. She will continue to receive care under strict protocols designed to promote weight gain and independence. Once she is strong enough, the goal is to release her back into her natural habitat. 

To support the care of this young flying squirrel and other patients like her, Think Wild invites the community to make a donation to the nonprofit wildlife center. Contributions are tax-deductible and help cover food, medical treatment and housing needs.

Donations directly support the rehabilitation of Central Oregon’s native wildlife and can be made at www.thinkwildco.org/support-us/donate.  

About Think Wild 

Think Wild is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Bend, Oregon. Our mission is to inspire the High Desert community to care for and protect native wildlife through rescue and rehabilitation, outreach and education, and conservation. We provide veterinary treatment and care at the wildlife hospital, staffed by expert wildlife rehabilitation staff, animal husbandry volunteers, and our staff veterinarian. Wildlife conflicts or injuries can be reported to our Wildlife Hotline at (541) 241-8680, which is monitored seven days a week from 8 AM to 4 PM. Visit us online at thinkwildco.org, or on Instagram or Facebook @thinkwildco.   

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act, passed by the Legislature in 2021, officially took effect on July 1.

With this new change, residents can now recycle food and beverage cartons, pizza boxes and small scrap metal (less than 10 pounds) in their curbside carts, county officials said in a news release Monday:

The RMA makes recycling simpler by creating one easy-to-follow statewide recycling list. It also brings significant changes to how packaging, paper, and food service ware are funded, collected, and recycled.

“I’m excited for what the RMA means for Deschutes County residents,” said Tim Brownell, Director of Solid Waste. “In the coming months and years, we will be expanding recycling opportunities throughout the county and ensuring that materials are responsibly recycled. Residents with curbside service should watch for updated recycling guides from their providers. Recycling saves resources, reduces climate impacts, and creates local jobs.”

What’s Changing in Deschutes County?

Deschutes County has updated the list of items that will be accepted in curbside recycling carts and drop-off centers to align with the new Uniform Statewide Collection List.

Newly accepted in curbside carts:

Food & Beverage cartons (milk, broth, juice)

Pizza Boxes (no food residue)

Small scrap metal (under 10 pounds or 18 inches)

No longer accepted in curbside carts:

Shredded paper (can be recycled at Deschutes Recycling, located at Knott Landfill, or any Deschutes County Transfer Station and placed in a shredded paper bin).

Before the RMA, recycling programs varied widely across Oregon. The new law requires that producers of packaging, printing, paper, and food service ware help fund consistent recycling services statewide.

Learn More

Deschutes County Recycling Information: https://www.deschutes.org/solidwaste/page/recycling-what-can-i-recycle

About the Recycling Modernization Act.

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Claire Elmer

(Update: adding video, interview with Bend man, full story, Forest Service response)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As recovery efforts continue following the recent tragic tubing accident at Dillon Falls that claimed three lives, a local man says it’s a painful reminder of his family’s past tragedy. 

In the 1980s, Danny Vanni lost his cousins, Steve and Ben, when they were swept over Dillon Falls.

“When I heard this had happened, I relive what happened with my two cousins. And I’m like – that shouldn’t happen again,” Vanni told KTVZ News.

Numerous people have lost their lives to the dangerous rapids over the decades, including a Bend man who died in 2022.

Vanni’s cousins had been floating with Ben’s three young sons, who miraculously survived.  While Steve was found immediately, in a heartbreaking way, it took three more weeks before Ben was found. 

“The good news is, three little boys lived. My aunt had a really tough time, because she saw her grandson floating on something in the water, and it turned out to be Steve’s body. He just told them, ‘Hang onto my neck and don’t let go – no matter what.’ And he didn’t,” Vanni said.

Prior to his cousins’ terrible accident, Vanni says a safety cable was stretched across the river. The cable gave people a final chance to pull themselves out, if they missed the final take-out point before the rapids. 

Vanni claims the cable was taken down to film the movie ‘Up The Creek’ and was never replaced. 

“There was a safety cable there just for people coming around the bend, when all of a sudden realize they’re not on the smooth, easy river part,” Vanni said. “And the idea was to hold on to the cable and pull yourself to the edge, or tie off and wait for rescue. But, they took the cable down for, I believe, a shot they needed of a raft going over the falls. They never put it back.”

KTVZ News reached out to the Deschutes National Forest to confirm the cable’s past existence and whether there’s any option to install something similar. At the time this story first aired, they said they’re currently looking into the situation and will provide information as soon as possible.

Vanni said he is speaking out in hopes the community and those in charge will come together, to prevent future tragedies from affecting another family. 

“Keep all politics and all ridiculousness out of it. Please put the cable back. That’s all we’re asking. We’re a cool town. Let’s keep it safer,” Vanni said.

With one devastated family still waiting for closure, 10 days after the most recent accident at the Falls, safety is top of mind in the Central Oregon community. 

Vanni hopes some good will come from these unimaginable losses. “My heart goes out to this family that’s lost people. I know that feeling and our prayers are with them,” Vanni said. 

After this story first aired, KTVZ News received this response from the Forest Service: 

“Our thoughts are with the individuals, families, friends, and communities affected by the incident at Dillon Falls on Saturday, July 19, 2025.

Our staff don’t have historical context to share about whether or not there was a cable across the falls in the 1980s. Installing a permanent line or cable across the river would pose additional safety risks, because the water level fluctuates depending on the runoff and the time of year. Additionally, there are some skilled kayakers who enjoy this stretch of water, and we want to ensure that this access remains available and unimpeded for them, so we do not inadvertently create safety issues for those users as well.

We have evaluated options to help boaters and floaters be aware of the dangers of the rapids along this stretch of river but have not found ways to engineer a permanent solution that does not end up creating more safety issues for all users.

The Deschutes National Forest has focused on preventing accidents by posting signage at numerous points along the river with an emphasis on Know Before You Go. We encourage the public to understand the stretch of the river they plan to recreate on in advance, have deliberate discussions about how to safely exit the river, and ensure everyone has the proper protective equipment for the activity they are engaging in.”

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KTVZ

UPDATE: Leon Lyle Haight has been FOUND.

Below is the press release from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to report that Leon Lyle Haight, the 84-year-old man reported missing from Paulina Lake Campground, has been safely located.

Early this morning, a civilian volunteer who had been searching overnight found Mr. Haight in a remote area just south of Devil’s Horn, east of where his vehicle had been discovered Sunday. Medics evaluated Mr. Haight at the scene, and he declined transport. He is currently being reunited with family by Deputy Dillon Hicks.

Mr. Haight was last seen Saturday morning and was believed to have wandered away from his campsite. His vehicle was located overnight by a local resident off FS Road 2121-200, high-centered with food, firewood, and personal items inside. Deputies and Search and Rescue teams tracked his footprints into the forest and continued search efforts through the night and into Monday morning.

We thank all the deputies, SAR personnel, medics, and especially the community members who volunteered their time and efforts to help locate Mr. Haight.

For non-emergency inquiries, contact dispatch at (541) 693-6911.

DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing elderly man who was last seen at Paulina Lake Campground earlier today.

Leon Lyle Haight, age 84, of Salem, Oregon, was last seen at the family’s campsite around 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 27th. He is believed to have wandered off while relatives were away from the campsite. When they returned, they discovered Mr. Haight and his vehicle were gone. The family also noted that a camp axe was missing, and Mr. Haight had previously mentioned they were nearly out of firewood.

Mr. Haight is 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs approximately 169 pounds, and has a full gray beard, although the most recent photo provided by the family shows him clean-shaven. He has no known medical or mental health conditions, but does have a history of wandering. 

He is believed to be driving a silver 2008 Honda Civic 4-door sedan with Oregon license plate 988 DRD. Law enforcement and family have checked the area’s roads and access points, but have not located his vehicle. The Salem Police Department also visited his residence in Salem, but he was not found there either.Mr. Haight’s family remains at the Paulina Lake Campground in case he returns. Anyone who may have seen Mr. Haight or his vehicle is asked to contact the Deschutes County non-emergency dispatch at (541) 693-6911.

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Claire Elmer

(Update: Suspect arraigned, plea hearing set; no change in bail)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A California man arrested last weekend in a recent stabbing at a Bend gas station that nearly killed the victim appeared in court from jail Thursday afternoon after two no-shows due to illness earlier in the week, and the judge kept his bail at $500,000.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Alison Emerson set an August 28 plea hearing for Kirk Raymond Reed, 36, of Apple Valley, California.

Reed told jail officials he was too ill to appear on video from the county jail for arraignment on Monday. He also did not appear at Tuesday’s rescheduled hearing, but was on hand for Thursday’s brief arraignment on felony charges of first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.

Asked by his court-appointed defense attorney, Nicholas Patterson, Reed agreed to wait until a later date to address whether his bail could be reduced.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) August 4 — A California man stopped and arrested over the weekend for stabbing a man in the arm at a Bend gas station last month said he was too sick to appear in court for arraignment Monday. But a judge hiked his bail from $100,000 to $500,000, due to his lack of ties to the area and the victim’s life-threatening injuries. 

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Randy Miller reset arraignment for Tuesday afternoon for Kirk Raymond Reed, 36, of Apple Valley, California after a jail deputy told him Reed said he was feeling ill and unable to attend Monday’s hearing by video from the jail. 

Reed was indicted Friday on charges of first-degree assault, a Class A felony, and unlawful use of a weapon, a Class C felony, and a $100,000 bench warrant was issued for his arrest. 

Bend Police spotted Reed driving south on Highway 97 early Sunday morning and he was arrested by Sunriver Police during a traffic stop at the Pinnacle 365 gas station-convenience store. 

Deputy District Attorney Mara Houck told the judge that the victim “was almost killed” by Reed, who apparently has not been in the area for long and has no ties to the community. 

“The victim was bleeding heavily from his arm,” she said, and suffered what “turned out to be a life-threatening injury.” 

“He almost bled to death,” Houck said, but a quickly applied “tourniquet saved his life.” 

Judge Miller increased the bail amount to $500,000, pending Tuesday’s arraignment. He also directed Reed that if released, he is to have no contact with the victim or the ARCO gas station where the stabbing occurred, and not to possess or use “weapons of any kind, including knives.” 

Bend Police announced Reed’s arrest earlier Monday.

“During the course of this investigation, Bend Police identified 36-year-old Kirk Raymond Reed of Apple Valley, Calif., as a suspect in this stabbing,” Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said. “Officers also identified multiple vehicles associated with Reed.” 

Around 12:34 a.m. on Sunday, Bend Police spotted one of the suspect vehicles associated with Reed traveling south on Highway 97. About 10 minutes later, Sunriver Police officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle at the Pinnacle 365 on Venture Lane in Sunriver.   

Reed was taken into custody without incident and lodged at the Deschutes County Jail on suspicion of first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon, Miller said. I

“Bend Police wish to thank the Sunriver Police Department and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance on this arrest,” Miller said.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — July 26 — A 33-year-old Bend man is recovering after being stabbed in the arm on Friday night at a gas station on the south end of Bend. 

The incident happened around 9:35 p.m. at the ARCO gas station off of South Highway 97. According to Bend Police, bystanders and responding officers rendered life-saving care before the victim was taken to St. Charles in Bend, where he is in stable condition. 

The suspect fled the scene before police arrived. He is described as an adult male with tattoos on his chest and arms, short brown hair, and a mustache. 

As of Saturday morning, no arrests have been made. Police say the investigation is ongoing. 

If you have any information, you are encouraged to contact Bend Police. You can call their non-emergency line at 541-693-6911.

KTVZ will continue to update you on this developing story. 

You can read the full statement from Bend Police below:

News Release from Bend Police Dept.Posted on FlashAlert: July 26th, 2025 9:40 AM

Date: July 26, 2025  

Case #: 2025-00043431 

Incident: One stabbed at gas station, suspect flees 

Date / Time of Incident: July 25, 2025 / 9:35 p.m.  

Location: ARCO South, 61100 block of South Highway 97, Bend  

Victim: 33-year-old Bend resident 

At approximately 9:35 p.m. on Friday, July 25, Bend Police responded to the ARCO gas station on South Highway 97 for a report of a man who had been stabbed.  

Witnesses and responding officers provided lifesaving medical care to a 33-year-old man who had been stabbed in the arm. The victim was transported to St. Charles and is in stable condition.  

Officers learned that the suspect, identified as an adult male with tattoos on his chest and arms and short brown hair and a mustache, had fled the scene. This is an ongoing investigation.   

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