Category: ktvz-local-news

Barney Lerten

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with Rep.Janelle Bynum, announced on Monday $3.8 million in federal funding to kick-start the expansion of Redmond Airport.

Here’s what each lawmaker and city officials had to say in Monday’s announcement:

“My visit to the Redmond Airport last fall showed me first-hand how this funding is a solid and key investment in infrastructure and economic growth in Central Oregon,” Wyden said. “From small businesses to fishing and hiking, this expansion will give more people the opportunity to explore the Oregon Way. I will continue pushing for more vital resources that promote growth and quality of life in rural communities across Oregon.”

“Our regional airports are vital hubs for Oregonians, supporting local businesses and providing essential lifelines during natural disasters,” Merkley said. “Investing in Redmond Municipal Airport’s terminal expansion will strengthen its infrastructure and help more Oregonians fly where they need to go safely. I’ll continue pushing for federal investments to improve the efficiency and reliability of Oregon’s airports, benefitting the folks who rely on them for business, travel, and so much more.”

“Expanding the Redmond Airport is a big win for Central Oregon,” said Rep. Bynum. “This funding will improve access to travel, support our local economies and businesses, and help the region compete and grow. I’ll keep advocating for the investments our rural communities need to thrive.”

The lawmakers said the investment from the Federal Aviation Administration expands the existing terminal to increase accommodations for airline travelers and improve the local economy.

Redmond officials say the $180 million project, including about $45 million in federal funding, is due for completion in early 2028. The airport’s web page for the terminal project provides more details, including a live “construction cam.”

“The City of Redmond is very grateful for the $3.8 million-plus from the Federal Aviation Administration for the Airport Terminal Expansion now underway,” said Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch. “As has occurred so many times in the past, awards such as these are the result of long hours and much work by Senator Wyden, Senator Merkley, Congresswoman Bynum and their staffs. Once completed, the Redmond airport terminal expansion will enable the city to provide better service, obtain new destinations and help improve our local economy.”

Wyden, Merkley, and Bynum said they have long been fighting for improvements to airports in Oregon. In July 2025, Wyden and Merkley announced $5.15 million in federal funds for airports across Oregon. In June 2025, Wyden, Merkley, and Bynum announced $9.7 million for rural airports across Oregon. During that same month, Wyden and Merkley announced $1 million for airports on the Oregon Coast and Willamette Valley.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video, more details from Crook County School District)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Prineville police took a man into custody Monday morning following reports of threats circulating on social media that mentioned a specific officer and Crook County High School, officials said.

Police were first alerted to the “non-specific” threats around 7:30 a.m., Lt. Thomas Vollmer said in a news release.

“Although there was no indication of an immediate threat, the report was treated with seriousness, and officers responded with appropriate caution,” Vollmer explained.

The incident concluded without injury or an ongoing danger to the public, the lieutenant added.

Around 8:30 a.m., a message was sent to Crook County School District staff and families. saying police told them a social media threat was “directed toward a specific Prineville Police officer and Crook County High School.”

As a result, the CCSD Communications Team said, police were increasing patrols at the high school and all schools in the district.

“Schools will remain in session today with increased security measures,” they said, adding that “families who feel more comfortable may choose to pick up their student early or keep them home.”

“The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority,” the school district said.

Vollmer said the man linked to the social media posts was already known to local law enforcement and “has a documented history of behavioral health-related concerns.”

Officers located the citizen near NE Crest Drive around 9:30 a.m., and he was taken into custody without incident.

“At this time, there is no continuing threat to students, staff, or the community,” Vollmer said.

An update the school district out shortly before 10 a.m. said they’d learned from law enforcement that “the suspect has been taken into custody, and there is no longer a threat” to the high school.

Vollmer said, “We want to extend our sincere thanks to the Crook County Sheriff’s Office and the Crook County School District for their partnership, professionalism and dedication throughout this situation.”

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State University–Cascades said Monday it’s hosting free tax preparation appointments for qualifying families and individuals through April 15.

The service is provided through the Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, known as VITA.

The VITA program is designed to help people who need assistance preparing their own tax returns, including those with a household income of $67,000 or less. The service is also available to individuals with disabilities, people with limited English language skills and individuals ages 60 and older.

OSU-Cascades is hosting the sessions in partnership with the Oregon State University College of Business.

Appointments are available on Mondays and Thursdays between 5:30 and 9 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. Each tax preparation session lasts about 90 minutes, and returns are processed on-site during the scheduled time.

The team of volunteer tax preparers includes OSU-Cascades faculty and staff, business students and community members. To assist a diverse range of clients, some volunteers are fluent in Spanish and Vietnamese.

Individuals interested in scheduling an appointment can visit beav.es/VITA or call 541-209-6192. Clients will receive specific information regarding which documents and records they must bring to the university for their tax processing.

Community members who wish to serve as VITA volunteers for the program can contact organizers by emailing VITA.cascades@oregonstate.edu.

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Kelsey Merison

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs were honored for their decades-long bighorn sheep restoration efforts during the Wild Sheep Foundation’s annual show last month.

The Tribes received the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Federal Statesman Award, which recognizes government agencies for outstanding contributions to wild sheep conservation.

The recognition follows a successful funding initiative that raised $760,000 for wildlife habitat from 2024 to 2026. These funds, generated through permit sales and auctions, support habitat restoration, invasive species removal and watershed projects in the Mutton Mountains.

The Wild Sheep Foundation auctioned the Tribes’ third annual permit for $250,000 at the 2026 Wild Sheep Show. This followed a 2024 permit that sold for $230,000 to hunter Timothy Haught. These sales, combined with 2025 permit revenue, brought the total conservation funding to $760,000 over a three-year period. The contribution of these funds also makes the Tribes eligible to apply for the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Grant-In-Aid program for further restoration work.

Haught received the 2026 North American Wild Sheep Gold Award for a successful bighorn sheep hunt that achieved a 177 five/eight Boone & Crockett score. Proceeds from his 2024 bid have been used to support habitat restoration and invasive species removal on the reservation.

The conservation funding also benefits aquatic life in the Mutton Mountains watershed. Reinvested funds support anadromous fish such as steelhead. Austin Smith Jr serves as the general manager of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Branch of Natural Resources.

Jr emphasized that the primary focus of these programs is the long-term health of the ecosystem. “All of our restoration efforts are in pursuit of achieving one goal: returning fauna and fish populations to their historic levels,” Jr said. “We appreciate the Wild Sheep Foundation’s recognition of these efforts and will continue to collaborate to restore bighorn sheep populations throughout our lands.”

Warm Springs Tribal Wildlife Biologist Camille Brooks and Warm Springs Wildlife Range and Agriculture Manager Michael Leecy presented details on the success of the bighorn restoration efforts at the annual show. The Tribes are among only 24 award winners honored by the foundation with the Federal Statesman Award in the last 40 years.

The Wild Sheep Foundation has invested more than $145 million to support wild sheep populations across North America throughout its history. By collaborating with local affiliates, tribes and government agencies, the foundation has helped triple wild sheep populations over the past few decades.

The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon is a sovereign Indian tribe representing the Wasco, Warm Springs and Paiute peoples. Their reservation stretches from the Cascade Mountains to the Deschutes River in Central Oregon An 1855 Treaty with the United States reserved the Tribes’ right to fish, hunt and gather foods throughout the John Day, Hood River, Deschutes and Columbia basins.

The Tribes donated a single ram permit to the Wild Sheep Foundation. The permit will be auctioned at a later date to raise funds for future bighorn restoration efforts.

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Kelsey Merison

(Update: adding video)

CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — On Saturday, February 7th, a single-vehicle rollover crash involving a green Subaru Forrester occurred on SE Juniper Canyon Road.

47-year-old Angel Ball of Prineville was identified as the driver and was pronounced dead on scene.

According to the Crook County Sheriff’s Office, deputies discovered evidence that the driver had been consuming alcoholic beverages. The investigation also found speed, not wearing a seat belt, and alcohol consumption contributed to the crash.

Read the press release from the Crook County Sheriff’s Office in full below:

“On Saturday, February 7, 2026, at approximately 7:08 a.m., Deputies from the Crook County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-vehicle crash on SE Juniper Canyon Road at approximately milepost 4. Initial reports to 9-1-1 indicated that a single-vehicle rollover crash involving a green Subaru Forrester had occurred and that the vehicle was in some trees. The initial person on scene also identified that a person appeared to have been ejected and was deceased. Deputies arrived on the scene, located the deceased person, and determined that there were no other patients in or around the vehicle.

Deputies investigated, and it appeared the Subaru Forrester was traveling northbound on SE Juniper Canyon Road, driven by 47-year-old Angel Ball of Prineville. Based on evidence at the scene, it appears that Ball was travelling at speeds faster than conditions warranted and lost control. Further evidence suggested that Ball then crossed the southbound lane and left the roadway. Further evidence indicated that Ball slid sideways and then rolled the vehicle several times, after which she was ejected. The vehicle came to a rest against some trees. During the investigation, deputies also discovered evidence that the driver had been consuming alcoholic beverages.

Based on the investigation, speed, not wearing a seat belt, and alcohol consumption are contributing factors to the crash. Next of Kin was notified of the fatality.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Crook County 9-1-1, Crook County Fire & Rescue, Oregon State Police, STAR Towing, and Prineville Funeral Home for their assistance.

No further information.”

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Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Two young men are safe after being rescued Saturday evening near the Green Lakes Trailhead, southwest of Bend.

According to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, dispatchers received a call around 6 p.m. reporting two hikers, ages 18 and 20, who had become lost in snowy conditions off Cascade Lakes Highway, just past Mt. Bachelor.

Deschutes County Search and Rescue volunteers responded quickly, deploying snowmobiles and snowshoes to reach the pair. Once located, rescuers provided warming materials and evaluated them for injuries. Officials said the hikers were cold but otherwise unhurt and were safely taken back to their vehicle.

Authorities are reminding people that winter weather in the backcountry can change rapidly and urge anyone heading out to plan ahead, check forecasts, dress appropriately and carry a reliable way to contact emergency services.

Deschutes County Search and Rescue thanked its volunteers for their prompt efforts and emphasized the importance of safety preparation for all outdoor recreation.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — According to the Mayo Clinic anywhere between 1 in 50 thousand and 1 in 100 thousand young athletes die from sudden cardiac arrests.

But here in Central Oregon, St. Charles Bend is working to prevent those tragedies before they happen.

Through their free teen testing event on Saturday, they allowed teens to have their hearts checked for potential heart disease. 

I spoke with Cheryl Rodgers and Mary Taft, two mothers who were both impacted by sudden cardiac arrest.

Mary Taft told KTVZ News, “We both have, multi-sport athletes who never complain of dizziness, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, nothing that would ever, as a parent, give you any indication that something was deeply wrong inside.”

Cheryl Rodgers said, “You think you’ve got a child that’s doing great athletically, pushing the limits, and you have no idea of the hidden heart issues that could be there. At any time, they could just drop.”

Taft’s daughter Nina was playing at a soccer tournament 3 years ago when she collapsed on the sidelines from a sudden cardiac arrest.

Luckily a quick reaction allowed her to get life-saving care.

Dr. Tiffany Lim, a pediatric cardiologist at St. Charles Bend, described what the tests are like.

Dr. Lim told KTVZ News, “At our screening event, we obtain a screening EKG, a limited echo, and we also screened for high blood pressure.”

Dr. Lin Continued, “Oftentimes, kids or even adults don’t know that they have this condition. One of the first signs of it is collapse, sudden collapse, or even sudden death. So that’s why this screening is so important, so that we can prevent those things from happening in our community and in our young student athletes.”

The event also taught the teenagers how to perform CPR and administer an AED

You can find more information at The St. Charles Foundation.

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Campbell Porter

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Redmond resident and KTVZ viewer says they were the latest victim of a viral TikTok prank known as the “door kick challenge.”

Video shared by the homeowner with KTVZ shows someone running up to a home, kicking the front door, and sprinting away. The incident happened around 8 p.m. Thursday while the homeowner, who we will not identify for privacy reasons, was watching TV.

Redmond police confirmed to KTVZ that they received a report about the incident and are investigating.

The so‑called “door kick challenge” has gained traction on TikTok in recent months, encouraging people to record themselves forcefully kicking doors, often late at night, and then running off.

What may seem like a harmless stunt can cause significant property damage or spark dangerous confrontations.

Back in October, KTVZ reported a similar incident in Redmond where a homeowner told KTVZ that repairs cost around $3,000.

Elsewhere in the U.S., the trend has led to criminal charges, and, in at least two cases, deaths linked to startled residents defending themselves.

Redmond Police urge anyone affected by the challenge to contact law enforcement and report suspicious activity immediately.

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Barney Lerten

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced recently that they secured more than $100 million in federal investments for 54 community projects across Oregon, including over $7 million for four in Central Oregon, from canal piping to groundwater testing and “floating solar” plans.

The funding was included in two Fiscal Year 2026 packages that cleared Congress and will support initiatives in nearly every county in the state.

The $102,692,000 in funding is dedicated to “community-initiated projects” that were identified through local feedback.

Both senators hold annual town halls in every Oregon county to ensure that regional needs inform the spending bills they advocate for in Washington, D.C.

The 54 projects were secured through the work of the Oregon congressional delegation. Sen. Merkley is the only member of Congress from Oregon to serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee since Sen. Mark Hatfield.

Merkley joined the committee in 2013 and currently serves as the top Democrat on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee, a role that allows him to help set the state’s priorities while funding bills are drafted.

Merkley emphasized that the projects are designed to address the specific requirements of the local areas that proposed them.

“Community-initiated projects are rooted in the fact that no one knows the unique needs of communities across Oregon like the folks living and working in them,” Merkley said. “The communities identified top projects, and we fought for them.”

Wyden also credited his frequent travel throughout the state for helping identify which projects required federal support.

“No-one knows what a local community needs more than the local community itself,” Wyden said. “That’s why I hold town halls and meetings in every nook and cranny of the state: to hear directly from Oregonians about their needs, and bring that back to D.C. to fight for these critical projects.”

Wyden said he was gratified to work alongside Merkley and the rest of the delegation to help Oregon communities thrive.

CENTRAL OREGON (Klamath, Lake, Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, and Wheeler Counties)

$2.373 million to the Lake County Umbrella Watershed Council for their closed basin watershed restoration and resilience project. These funds will be used to design and construct fish passage and conduct habitat restoration in the Goose Lake Watershed to improve fish passage, fish and bird habitat, and flood mitigation across five tributaries and eleven streams within the drought-prone watershed.

$2 million to North Unit Irrigation District for its infrastructure modernization project. This effort is working to convert over 27 miles of open-ditch irrigation canals with gravity-pressured buried piping, which will significantly reduce water loss, improve water delivery reliability, and improve streamflow in the Deschutes River.

$2 million to Arnold Irrigation District (AID) for their infrastructure modernization project. Funds will be used to complete the final phase of AID’s Infrastructure Resiliency and Modernization Project to pipe nearly 12 miles of the District’s main canal which will reduce overall water seepage and promote more efficient and sustainable irrigation across the District.

$1.123 million to Oregon Institute of Technology for equipment for an advanced energy manufacturing initiative to develop cutting-edge research, education, and training in hydrogen production, solar and solar-thermal manufacturing technologies, and emerging battery tech at Oregon Tech’s Klamath Falls and Portland-Metro campuses.

$1.014 million to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for their Crook County groundwater research project. These funds will be used to implement a surface and groundwater sampling program in Crook County to identify the scope and potential causes of groundwater contamination issues impacting the community’s water.

$1 million to the Ochoco Irrigation District for their floating solar project ,which will generate 900 kilowatts of power and benefit local agriculture, residential homes, and local industry.

$648,000 to Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for the construction of a new community center. Wheeler SWCD’s current facility is insufficient to support the public’s needs as the county’s leading natural resource agency. This new space will be a centrally located innovation hub for multi-agency accessibility to best support Wheeler County’s natural resources work while promoting intra-agency collaboration.

STATEWIDE

$2.5 million for the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal to support the statewide “Fire Adapted Oregon” initiative and implement community-based wildfire mitigation and defensible space projects throughout high wildfire risk communities in Oregon.

$1 million to Oregon DEQ for their air quality improvement project, which will stand up grant programs across the state to enable communities to implement alternatives to the open burning of woody debris. This effort would reduce wood smoke emissions in communities by making preferred alternatives more accessible and improving the health of communities.

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A dramatic blaze involving a Kia Soul caused a partial closure of Highway 97 near Bend today, drawing a swift response from Oregon State Police and local firefighters. The incident, which saw flames erupt from the vehicle just before noon, left no injuries as all occupants escaped safely. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire as traffic lanes have since been reopened.

The driver of the vehicle told the Oregon state police that she felt the car acting strangely while she was driving. She pulled over to the side of the road shortly before the fire began. Emergency responders closed one southbound lane of Highway 97 to accommodate firefighting efforts.

A vehicle fire in Bend causes a partial closure of Highway 97. Courtesy: Blake Blevins.

Numerous motorists passing the scene reported seeing flames coming from the Kia Soul on the shoulder of the highway. Firefighters arrived on the scene and finished extinguishing the blaze by approximately noon.

Officers with the state police assisted with traffic management while the lane was closed during the fire.

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