Category: ktvz-local-news

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — State investments have permanently housed 1,800 people in Central Oregon this year, contributing to a 19.1% overall decrease in regional homelessness.

The Homeless Leadership Coalition reported the findings last week during an update to the House Interim Committee on Housing and Homelessness. The decrease marks the first decline in homelessness in Central Oregon in five years, following a period when regional homelessness had increased by more than 89% annually.

Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Southern Jackson County, serves as chair of the House Interim Committee on Housing and Homelessness. Marsh commended the collaboration between government agencies, regional organizations and local volunteers in delivering care. “This is what we want to see: our state investments making an impact and housing people in our communities,” Marsh said. “I am enormously grateful to the local organizations, cities and counties, nonprofits, churches and community volunteers who sustain these services and take care of our neighbors.”

Since 2022, Central Oregon has experienced some of the highest rates of unsheltered youth and family homelessness in the nation. Local organizations previously lacked the infrastructure and resources needed to address the crisis effectively. State funding delivered through the Statewide Shelter Program served as a key funding mechanism to support regional shelters and services. Rep. Emerson Levy, D-Bend, South Redmond, Tumalo & Sisters, emphasized the need to preserve state support for those initiatives. “Central Oregon has seen tangible results, including a 19% reduction in homelessness in our region,” Levy said. “Maintaining support for shelter and services through the Statewide Shelter Program is vital to preserving these gains and ensuring communities can continue responding effectively to local needs. My legislative focus will always be on homeless children and teens and we have an obligation to keep these programs going.”

Rep. Jason Kropf, D-Bend, highlighted the community effort involved in putting state resources to work across the region. “We are continuing to see progress on tackling homelessness in Central Oregon,” Kropf said. “We owe that progress to the people and non-profits in our communities who turn our state investments into more people housed.”

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon employers creating net new jobs can now apply for the Qualified Jobs Creation Tax Credit. The state income tax credit provides businesses with $1,000 per net new job created, up to a maximum of $10,000 per employer each year.

State Sen. Anthony Broadman, D-Bend, and State Rep. Emerson Levy, D-Bend, sponsored the legislation establishing the tax credit, which was passed under Senate Bill 1507 and House Bill 4084 during the 2026 legislative session. To claim the tax benefit, participating employers must first secure certification through Business Oregon.

To qualify for the credit, businesses must create at least one net new job in Oregon, operate primarily within a designated industry and pay employees at least 150% of the state minimum wage. The targeted sectors include advanced manufacturing, bioscience and biotechnology, clean technology, food and beverage processing, forestry and wood products, high technology and outdoor gear and apparel.

Sen. Broadman, D-Bend, who serves as chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue, noted that the program aims to reward growing companies across the state. “We want Oregon to be a place where businesses can grow, invest and create good jobs,” Broadman said. “This tax credit is about rewarding employers who are doing exactly that. Central Oregon has some of the most innovative businesses in the state and I want to make sure our local employers know this opportunity is available and take full advantage of it.”

Rep. Levy, D-Bend, encouraged local business owners to evaluate their eligibility for the funding. “Central Oregon knows how to build things, grow companies and create new ideas,” Levy said. “Salem should bring down costs for businesses that turn innovation into family-wage jobs here at home. If you’re a local employer who has been adding jobs, I encourage you to see if you qualify.”

Bend Chamber CEO Sara Odendahl of Commerce, highlighted the economic significance of the credit for regional businesses. “Central Oregon is full of entrepreneurs and growing companies that want to invest here, build their teams and create long-term opportunity,” Odendahl said. “The Qualified Jobs Creation Tax Credit gives those businesses another reason to grow in Oregon and add good jobs in our communities. In Bend, where innovation and entrepreneurship are an important part of our ecosystem, tools like this can help local companies while strengthening our workforce and our region.”

Applications for the 2026 tax year are currently open through Business Oregon’s program portal. Employers must submit their applications by Oct. 31, 2026.

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Madeline Clark

The Oregon Public Utility Commission is highlighting the Oregon Lifeline program during National Lifeline Awareness Week, which runs Sept. 14-18.

The federal and state government program provides qualifying low-income households with discounted or free phone and high-speed internet service through participating providers.

Oregon Lifeline offers monthly discounts of up to $19.25 on phone service and up to $24.25 on high-speed internet service. The program also provides free wireless voice minutes and data through Access Wireless where coverage is available.

Oregon residents living on federally recognized Tribal lands may qualify for an additional $25 monthly discount.

To qualify for Oregon Lifeline, residents must receive benefits from select public assistance programs, including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Program rules limit assistance to one benefit per household for either discounted or free service.

Applicants seeking free wireless service through Access Wireless can apply online at accesswireless.com. Individuals applying for discounted phone or high-speed internet service can submit an online application through the state portal.

Additional information about Oregon Lifeline is available at lifeline.oregon.gov or by calling 800-848-4442 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

National Lifeline Awareness Week continues through Sept. 18.

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A unique 9/11 memorial is currently on display for the public in Bend.

The exhibit is located at the intersection of Nashville Avenue and Harmon Boulevard. It consists of regional and local newspaper issues from September 11 and the days immediately following. The preserved clippings capture the intense emotions and uncertainty felt in the aftermath of the attacks. Catherine Cummings, a retired local social studies educator, created the exhibit alongside her students in 2001.

In the first week following the tragedy, students were bringing in newspaper clippings, which eventually came together to become an exhibit. “We got some help from a teacher aide who put it all together and laminated it,” Cummings said. “And while I was teaching every year on 9/11, we would put it out in our commons and students would gather around and talk about it and, share their memories of it.”

The clippings served as an educational tool throughout Cummings 30 year career, coming out every September 11th. Now it’s on display for the public, who are invited to view and react to the display.

Coincidentally, while KTVZ was recording at the site, a former student of Cummings visited the memorial alongside her children. Now a parent herself, the former student and the group used the occasion to allow the children to ask questions about Sept. 11.

Cummings plans to display the newspaper collection once more the following day so additional visitors may view the exhibit.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — This week’s Pet Pals features not one, but three kittens looking for families of their own.

Lynne from The Humane Society of Central Oregon brought three 9-week-old kittens to the show: Hiram, Ice, and Mira. They are three of five kittens from the same litter.

The kittens are social and friendly and are very accustomed to being around one another. Staff say they could use some extra one-on-one attention and snuggles with people as they get ready for adoption.

At 9 weeks old, the kittens are a little bigger than very young kittens, making them a good fit for a variety of homes, including families with children.

The kittens are expected to be ready for adoption Wednesday, following scheduled surgeries Tuesday. HSCO says adoption holds cannot be placed in advance, so prospective adopters should check the shelter’s website for updates.

The Humane Society of Central Oregon is partnering with Bend Oktoberfest to host the crowd-favorite Bark Bash dog races. The event takes place on Saturday, September 19th from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM on the lawn of the Deschutes Historical Museum in downtown Bend.

To learn more about Hiram, Ice, Mira and other animals available for adoption, visit the Humane Society of Central Oregon.

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Lance Campbell

Central Oregon — Communities across Central Oregon are marking 25 years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with memorials and displays honoring the lives lost.

In Prineville, a 9/11 memorial display is set up at Town Plaza and on the Crook County Courthouse lawn along Third Street. Organizers say the display will remain open to the public through 3 p.m. Sunday, with flags and other displays illuminated in the evenings.

This is the fifth year the Prineville memorial has been held.

Similar tributes can also be seen in Bend, Redmond and the rest of the High Desert as people across Central Oregon take time to remember those lost in the September 11 attacks and honor the first responders who responded that day.

KTVZ’s Lance Campbell is visiting memorials across Central Oregon today. Watch KTVZ at 6 for more on how local communities are remembering September 11, 25 years later.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Cultural Trust announced Friday it is awarding a record $4.5 million to more than 450 organizations across the state for the 2027 fiscal year. The funding supports arts, culture, heritage and humanities programs in every county and tribe in Oregon.

The distribution of funds is defined under Oregon statute ORS 359, which directs resources to state cultural partners, regional coalitions and nonprofit organizations. The record funding was made possible by donations from more than 10,000 Oregonians during the 2026 fiscal year through the state’s Cultural Tax Credit, a program created by the Oregon Legislature 25 years ago.

The $4.5 million distribution includes $1,125,423 split equally among the trust’s five core cultural partners: the Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Heritage Commission, Oregon Humanities, Oregon Historical Society and the State Historic Preservation Office. Another $1,125,423 is allocated to 45 regional County and Tribal Cultural Coalitions through a per capita formula, allowing volunteer-led coalitions to regrant funds within their local communities.

The remaining $2,250,846 is being distributed to 104 cultural nonprofits through the competitive Cultural Development Program. Individual grant awards range from $5,000 to $40,000, with 49% of eligible applications receiving between 75% and 100% of their requested amounts following peer panel reviews.

Amy Lewin, Oregon’s director of arts and culture, noted that community requests have grown alongside donor contributions.

“Oregon’s big idea of funding arts, heritage and humanities, established a generation ago, continues to sustain the core components of community vitality and resilience – and yet as we have received an increase in donations, so have the requests for support increased,” Lewin said. “This unique funding model is becoming a critical resource for supporting learning, historic preservation and valued engagement for communities large and small and in every corner of the state.”

Several major cultural development grants focus on digital archiving and media inclusion. The Albina Music Trust in Portland received $40,000 to support the Albina Community Archive, which preserves photos, audio recordings and oral histories documenting Black Oregonians. Capital Community Media in Salem was awarded $40,000 to create hyper-local Spanish-language TV programming, while the Clatsop County Historical Society in Warrenton received $14,000 to acquire large-format scanning and video preservation equipment.

Other grant recipients are expanding facilities and public programming across Oregon. The Dry Canyon Arts Association in Redmond received $31,000 to renovate 1,500 square feet into additional classroom and workshop space for its community art center. In Portland, the Portland Art Museum was awarded $40,000 to plan and conserve its Native American permanent collections galleries and The Vanport Mosaic received $40,000 to launch a public digital archive documenting the history of Vanport prior to the 1948 flood.

Grants were also awarded for statewide access initiatives and performance projects. The Portland Gay Men’s Chorus received $12,000 for its Rural Harmony Tour in Prineville, Madras, Sisters and Klamath Falls. SMART Reading in Portland received $10,000 to distribute diverse children’s literature in rural communities and enTaiko in Portland was awarded $38,000 for an inclusive performance project incorporating deaf, blind and disabled artists.

For projects with multi-year timelines, the Josephine Community Library Foundation in Grants Pass received $40,000 to complete design construction documents for a new downtown library, where groundbreaking is scheduled for 2028. Additionally, the Eastside Jewish Commons in Portland received $28,000 to support the third annual Portland Jewish Music Festival, scheduled for May 5-16, 2027.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — First Interstate Bank will close all of its branches at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 16, to host its ninth annual Volunteer Day. Nearly 400 community service projects are planned across the company’s 10-state footprint.

The companywide initiative provides thousands of employees paid time off during the afternoon to volunteer for local nonprofits, schools and community programs. Participating projects span communities in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Mo., Mont., Neb., Ore., S.D., Wash. and Wyoming.

Volunteer Day began in 2018 as part of the bank’s 50th anniversary celebration. Headquartered in Billings, Mont., First Interstate operates nearly 300 offices. The company’s corporate philanthropy program includes matching employees’ personal financial contributions and donating $10 per hour for volunteer work conducted at qualifying organizations.

Jim Reuter serves as president and chief executive officer of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. He emphasized the initiative’s focus on direct community involvement.

“Volunteer Day is one of the many ways we invest in the communities that support us every day,” Reuter said. “By stepping outside the workplace and into our neighborhoods, our employees build meaningful connections and help make a difference where it matters most.”

In Bend and Redmond, Ore., 100 local bank employees will participate in 13 service projects for area nonprofits. Volunteers will partner with the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council on garbage removal and non-native plant removal. Other activities include completing exterior landscaping at the Heart of Oregon Corps campus, sewing blankets for HeartWarmers, building a display for Healing Reins and making blankets for patients at St. Charles Health System.

Bank branches across the 10 states will close at noon local time on Wednesday, Sept. 16, with employee volunteer projects taking place throughout the afternoon.

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Adrielle Hasara

Are you looking for something to do this weekend in Central Oregon? Adrielle Hasara highlights three local events, from the return of the Eastern Cascades Model Railroad Open House to The Veterans Club 9/11 Memorial Ceremony.

For many more and to submit your own events, visit https://events.ktvz.com.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Gov. Tina Kotek and state housing leaders presented progress reports on Oregon’s housing and homelessness strategies this week before the Legislature’s House Interim Committee on Housing and Homelessness. State emergency actions between January 2023 and September 2025 created or maintained 6,286 shelter beds and rehoused 5,539 people from unsheltered homelessness.

According to the Governor’s Office press release, the state’s emergency response also provided short-term eviction prevention assistance to 25,942 households. The overall strategy focuses on four key areas: expanding shelter capacity, providing rehousing services, offering long-term rent assistance and delivering eviction prevention support.

Gov. Kotek highlighted the administration’s focus on expanding housing options across the state. “Whether you’re renting, buying a home for the first time, or needing temporary shelter to get back on your feet, we’re fighting to create more options for you,” Kotek said. “Housing has been a priority since day one of my administration and we’re seeing tangible progress.”

Liz Weber, director of housing stabilization at Oregon Housing and Community Services, emphasized the impact of ongoing state investments on local communities. “Every shelter bed maintained, every household that avoids homelessness and every person who moves into a stable home represents someone with a safer place to sleep and a stronger foundation for what comes next,” Weber said. “We’ve made meaningful progress and continued investment is critical to sustaining that progress and reaching more Oregonians.”

In Southern Oregon, local leaders in Jackson County reduced unsheltered homelessness by 24% and chronic homelessness by 58%. The county also decreased the average wait time to get into housing by nearly three months and moved more than 1,000 families and individuals into permanent housing. Melanie Doshier, chief program officer for ACCESS in Jackson County, attributed the results to ongoing funding. “Sustained investment and support from leaders like Gov. Kotek keeping housing front and center is what keeps these numbers moving in the right direction,” Doshier said.

In Central Oregon, homelessness across three counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs decreased by 19.1% following state investments in a regional care system. State Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Southern Jackson County, who serves as chair of the House Interim Committee on Housing and Homelessness, pointed to the collaborative effort behind the figures. “This is an all-hands-on-deck effort focusing on outcomes and investing in proven solutions,” Marsh said. “Housing is part of every family’s monthly budget and remains a top priority across the state. I’m grateful for the Governor’s partnership to sustain our shelter system and build more housing for more Oregonians.”

In Coos County, streamlined local processes combined with state support led to a 40.9% drop in unsheltered homelessness, an 85.5% reduction in unsheltered veterans and a 22.8% decrease in overall homelessness. Local service provider Alternative Youth Services doubled the number of individuals and households served. Nichole Rutherford, city manager of the City of Coos Bay, noted the effect of state resources on local outcomes. “For years, communities like ours were asked whether these approaches work. Our experience over this biennium gives us an answer: when resources reached the ground at sufficient scale, the outcomes changed,” Rutherford said. “We aren’t finished, but we aren’t starting over, either. The Governor’s advocacy and leadership on this issue and the state’s investment have given us something real to build from.”

Beyond shelter and rehousing initiatives, state data show Oregon housing starts increased 11.3% year-over-year in the first half of 2026, compared to a 1.3% decline nationally. State efforts have placed more than 50,000 future homes in the production pipeline. Maria Elena Guerra of the Farmworker Housing Development Corporation stressed the importance of early-stage funding for development. “Building affordable housing is critical to an Oregon where everyone has stable housing,” Guerra said. “Making sure that we invest on the front end in creative financing tools for developers—especially in land acquisition and predevelopment—will help us reach this shared goal faster. Thank you to Gov. Kotek for being a champion on this issue and doing the work of speaking to both public and private sector partners to move the needle.”

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