Category: ktvz-local-news

John Carroll

Our three gardens on display this week are lovely. First we have a cute little urban farm that boasts berries and bees.

Next we have an Outback Sedum Garden, meaning plants that these plants can take on the heat and dry weather here in the high desert. The Outback Garden here has a cowboy fountain that doubles as a bird bath.

We also have a Food Forest Garden, this pathway through paradise includes a luscious shade tree and a garden gnome that stands guard on the bench.

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A familiar favorite in Bend’s culinary scene is turning the page to an exciting new chapter.

“Formerly known as Esta Bien, the restaurant (on NW Hill Avenue) is proud to announce its rebrand to Simon — a new name that reflects a renewed vision while honoring the flavors and traditions that made it a local staple,” according to a news release KTVZ News received Wednesday:

Under the new direction of Roberto Cardenas, Simon brings the same warm hospitality and cherished dishes Bend has come to love, with a few inspired additions. The heart of the menu remains rooted in authentic, generational Mexican recipes that celebrate the rich regional diversity of the cuisine. From slow-roasted birria hailing from Jalisco to enchiladas michoacanas and open-faced vegetarian chile rellenos, every dish at Simon tells a story.

Signature techniques — like hand-grinding spices for mole, preparing salsas from scratch with vibrant ingredients, and slow-cooking meats like barbacoa and carnitas — showcase the team’s commitment to authenticity and depth of flavor. Tamales wrapped in corn husks and Salvadoran-style pupusas with fresh slaw and housemade salsa remain customer favorites.

The bar program also gets a fresh spotlight, featuring 100% blue agave tequilas, smoky mezcals, fresh-fruit margaritas, and traditional aguas frescas and horchata — all crafted to complement the bold flavors of the kitchen.

Joining Roberto at the helm is Chef Rocio Villalobos, co-owner and former restaurateur at Rio and Madras Brewing. Known for her soulful, home-style cooking, Rocio brings deep culinary passion to every plate and helps ensure Simon feels like both a vibrant new venture and a comforting return.

Chef Roberto, whose background includes leadership roles at La Rosa, Rio, and Fat Tony’s, shares his excitement: “Simon is about preserving tradition while embracing new energy. We’re keeping the soul of Esta Bien alive — just with a fresh name, new ownership, and a few creative twists.”

Simon is now open and ready to welcome guests with the same great food, heartfelt service, and a new name you’ll come to know and love. We’ll be celebrating with a grand opening party this Thursday.

Click here to follow the original article.

Harley Coldiron

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Friends and family are remembering Lindsay Bashan and Amanda Loyd, whose bodies have been recovered from the Deschutes River, after part of their group of six went over Dillon Falls during a tubing float.

The body of a third victim is being searched for by dozens of staff and volunteers at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

Lindsay was from Parkland, Florida, where her parents told the Sun-Sentinel, she was known as a bright, friendly, and thoughtful person. She was planning to start a new job in New York City next week. 

Lindsey met Amanda in 2023 and traveled to a different country every month with a larger group of young professionals. A photo on Amanda’s Instagram shows them enjoying a trip to Cambodia.

Lindsay’s parents say they are glad she was able to enjoy the first day of her vacation here in Bend.

As for Amanda Loyd, her Instagram page reflects the type of person her family and friends say she was – adventurous and loving. The page is filled with images of her travels across the globe with their group.

According to her profile, the 40-year-old lived in more than 12 countries, and even won a reality television show called Love Connection.  

Amanda Loyd just before she won Season 2 of Love Connection.

Photo of Amanda provided by family.

Her obituary from Baird Funeral Home says she’s from Rockwall, Texas, and was called “Manda Panda” by her friends.

Though raised in Texas, her true home was wherever adventure called.

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes Children’s Foundation has proudly announced the 2025 Every Kid Fund recipients. Managed by DCF, this endowment fund provides scholarships for children who cannot afford after-school activities, ensuring every child has access to enriching experiences that build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging. 

One inspiring example is Cale Culbertson. When Cale was six years old, he began music lessons at the Cascade School of Music with his teacher, Meshem Jackson, and quickly discovered a deep passion for drumming. Over the next twelve years, despite some challenging family circumstances, the Every Kid Fund support allowed Cale to continue his music education uninterrupted. 

“I appreciate that I got to keep drumming and learn from my mentor and teacher Meshem Jackson—really grateful to Cascade School of Music for making it all happen, and without the Every Kid Fund, I wouldn’t have been able to continue my twelve years of lessons!” said Cale. 

Thanks to funding support from Washington Trust Bank, DCF was able to award an additional $2,000 to local nonprofits this year. The total amount awarded through the Every Kid Fund was over $12,000, benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Bend, Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Oregon, Camp Fire Central Oregon, Cascade School of Music, Central Oregon Autism Movement, Youth Choir of Central Oregon, Family Access Network, and Healing Reins. 

“Every child carries within them a world of possibility, but sometimes life’s hardships threaten to silence their dreams,” said Cassi MacQueen, Executive Director of Deschutes Children’s Foundation. “Cale’s story is a powerful reminder that with just a little support, we can keep the music playing, the confidence growing, and the hope alive. When we invest in these kids, we’re not just funding lessons or programs — we’re nurturing futures, healing hearts, and lighting a path for every child to find their voice and sense of belonging.” 

Grants are awarded annually to DCF’s on-campus partners and local nonprofits through a competitive application process, helping them respond to real-time needs and strengthen programs that help kids thrive. 

To learn more about the Every Kid Fund, visit: https://deschuteschildrensfoundation.org/mission-vision/every-kid-fund/ 

About Deschutes Children’s Foundation 

Founded in 1990, Deschutes Children’s Foundation manages and maintains four nonprofit service centers in Bend, Redmond, and La Pine. By providing collaborative spaces and operational support, DCF empowers its 23 nonprofit partners to focus on their core missions, collectively serving over 19,000 vulnerable children and families each year. 

For more information, visit deschuteschildrensfoundation.org. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Jillian Fortner

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A specialized crisis line for LGBTQ+ youth under 988 has officially shut down, sparking concern among mental health advocates.

Taylor Taliesin, a board member with NAMI Central Oregon, called the decision devastating, particularly for LGBTQ+ youth already facing discrimination and mental health challenges.

I’m still kind of struggling with it. I think it’s pretty telling of the level of dislike and controversy surrounding the LGBTQ community,” Taliesin said.

The Trevor Project, which helped staff the LGBTQ+ line, reports LGBTQ+ youth are over four times more likely to attempt suicide.

The Trump administration ended funding for the line, aiming for a more unified crisis response, a day after 988 marked its third anniversary.

The Veterans Crisis Line, accessed by pressing 1 after dialing 988, remains active.

“When they cut off funding for those kinds of resources, and you know people feel that way about you as an LGBTQ person. It can really send you into suicide alley,” said Taliesin.

While exact data on 988 usage in Central Oregon is not available, many calls are routed to the Deschutes County Stabilization Center, where local teams can respond as needed.

“If they get a call from someone and they want someone to be seen in person in the community, they just call our community-based crisis team,” said Nicole VonLaven, Program Manager with BH Crisis Services.

VonLaven says the system has reduced the burden on law enforcement by handling mental health calls separately and connecting people to trained professionals.

“We aren’t necessarily having to go out with law enforcement any more, like we were in the past. So people are a lot more open to that resource,” VonLaven said.

She adds support for LGBTQ+ individuals remains available locally.

“There are a few resources locally within Deschutes County,” VonLaven said. “The broader community also offers support groups, and we have therapists specially trained to work with the LGBTQ+ population, as well as youth services through a program called The Drop.”

Taylor Taliesin said access to mental health care varies across the High Desert.

“There’s a lot of mental health resources in Bend,” Taliesin said. “But not much in places like Prineville, Sisters or Redmond. We’re working to reach more people in those communities.”

If you or someone you know is in a crisis, you can still call or text 9-8-8 any time for support.

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A La Pine-area man was arrested Tuesday on charges of illegal marijuana manufacturing in a raid on a property that turned up two large, disassembled marijuana grows.

Around 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, detectives with the Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement (DCIMME) team, assisted by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team, executed a search warrant in the 52000 Block of Sunrise Boulevard in La Pine, Bend Police Lt. Mike Landolt said in a news release.

Detectives executed the warrant in relation to a short-term investigation into the illegal manufacturing of marijuana, he said.

During the execution of the search warrant, detectives located two large disassembled marijuana grows located in two separate shops on the property, Landolt said.

Detectives located and seized nearly 60 pounds of processed marijuana, approximately 6 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, and a small quantity of LSD, MDMA(Ecstasy) and Ketamine. Detectives also seized one firearm and a large sum of cash.  

During the investigation, property owner Kevin James Allen, 44, of the La Pine areawas arrested and later lodged at the Deschutes County Jail on charges of Schedule 1 drug possession, a Class A felony, possession of more than eight pounds of marijuana, a Class C felony, and attempted manufacture of a controlled substance (marijuana), a Class A misdemeanor.

Landolt said more charges may be filed at a later date, as this is an ongoing investigation.

The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program and the following Central Oregon law enforcement agencies:  Bend Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Redmond Police Department,  Prineville Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Madras Police Department, Oregon State Police, Sunriver Police Department, Black Butte Police Department, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Warm Springs Tribal Police Department, Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson County District Attorney’s, and the Oregon National Guard.

The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement task forces to disrupt or dismantle local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations.

Click here to follow the original article.

Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)–  Today Project Recover opened their brand new office here in Bend. They’re a nonprofit dedicated to finding and repatriating the remains of American servicemen. Their organization starts with in-depth research and investigation and ends with their team in the field. Their archaeological techniques and research also allows their findings to be verified by the Department of Defense, but what’s most important to project recovery is making families whole again.

Derek Abbey from Project Recover told KTVZ News “Having that unknown piece of that ambiguous loss haunts families for decades and decades. It’s very important for them to have answers of what happened to their loved ones so that grieving process can pick up and healing can occur. They can have some sort of closure and memorialize their loved one appropriately.”

Project Recover has been around for three decades and in Bend for the last 6 years. Having a physical location let’s them organize their research and gives families a place to come and assist with the investigations. If you have a family member who’s still missing in action, Project Recover wants you to reach out to them through their website.

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — School-based health centers throughout Oregon reported record highs in patient visits and people served during the 2023-24 school year, according to an annual status report released Tuesday by the Oregon Health Authority.

Operating through a unique community partnership model, Oregon’s 87 SBHCs served 43,000 people – mostly school-aged youth ages 5 to 21 – and accommodated nearly 149,000 patient visits in 28 counties.

Most school-aged patients used SBHC services for primary care in such areas as well visits, immunizations, reproductive health, and acute care.

Forty-seven percent of school-aged patients came to the SBHC for behavioral health services.

SBHCs are clinics located in schools or on school grounds that provide community resources to support people’s health and well-being and have existed in Oregon since 1986. They provide access to comprehensive, youth-centered health services for children and youth, many of whom would otherwise go without care.

“SBHC staff and providers work hard every day to ensure that students, their families – and in some cases people in their communities – receive top quality health care,” said Tom Jeanne, M.D., M.P.H., deputy state health officer and epidemiologist at OHA. “This is challenging work, and the need has never been greater.”

Oregon’s SBHCs provide accessible and affordable care, referral and treatment services and operate under federal, state and local regulations.

All are operated by medical entities, with nearly 75% operated by federally qualified health centers (FQHC)—federally funded nonprofit health centers and clinics that serve medically underserved areas and populations. All FQHCs provide primary care services regardless of a person’s ability to pay.

OHA certifies and provides $65,000 a year to each state-certified SBHC to support base operating costs. SBHCs supplement this state funding through a combination of grants, funding from partner agencies, fundraising and in-kind donations, and public and private insurance billing.

According to the report:

Overall patient visits increased 15%, and the number of patients increased almost 13% since the previous year, rebounding from declines during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

A similar trend occurred in behavioral health services. Visits for all ages increased about 19% from the previous school year; and the number of behavioral health patients increased by 14%.

School-aged patients accounted for 71% of all SBHC visits and accounted for more than three clinic visits during the year, on average. One third of these patients received an immunization.

More than 2,000 dental visits were made by 1,298 school-aged clients.

At a minimum, SBHCs serve students enrolled at the host school. However, many SBHCs serve other populations, such as student families, school staff, students at other schools, or the surrounding communities.

Visit the following links to read and hear about how students and their families are embracing services provided by school-based health centers:

Multnomah County Student Health Center, https://healthcenter.multco.us/current-patients/our-services/kids-and-teens#878-a-doctors-office-at-school.

Redmond High School-Based Health Center, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGh_oqzsfnY.

Pendleton School Based Health Centers (story begins at 07:00), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MQm2GFfIOo.

To learn more about Oregon’s SBHCs, check out the OHA SBHC Program webpage. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

 PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to July’s persistent hot and dry weather, national forests across the Pacific Northwest increased or implemented public use restrictions last week.

Through these public use restrictions, as well as high to very high fire danger levels, firefighters are urging the public to be vigilant in preventing human-caused wildfires when recreating outdoors.  

Current public use restrictions can be found on national forest webpages or by checking at the local ranger district before recreating in an area. Even if campfires are allowed, please consider whether having a fire is necessary. For information on campfire safety, visit: https://smokeybear.com/en/prevention-how-tos/campfire-safety.

Here are a few tips to keep yourself, your family, and communities safe as fire season ramps up in the Pacific Northwest: 

Stay vigilant if wildfires are burning in your area or near your community.

Know that conditions may change quickly.

Adhere to local fire restrictions.

Sign up for emergency alerts with your local county.

Become familiar with the three evacuation levels.

Know where to find up-to-date evacuation information for your area.

Make a plan to keep your family safe.

To prepare for smoke from current or future wildfires, here are some helpful links: 

Smoke-Ready Toolbox for Wildfires | US EPA.

Oregon Smoke Blog

Washington Smoke Blog

Though early this week, some areas of the Pacific Northwest will experience cooler temperatures than normal, fire danger levels will stay high to very high because already dried fuels will remain susceptible to ignition sources. In addition, warmer, drier conditions will quickly return to the Pacific Northwest, increasing the potential for wildfires across Oregon and Washington.

Currently, there are seven large wildfires burning on national forest lands in the Pacific Northwest. Firefighters and aviation resources are ready to respond to growth on these existing fires as well as engage in quick and risk-informed action on any new fire starts.

Resources, including USDA Forest Service firefighters and incident management teams, continue to be prepositioned in the Region to support aggressive suppression response. 

For more news and information about national forests in the Pacific Northwest, visit our news page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/newsroom/releases or our home page, at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06. For more information about the USDA Forest Service, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov.

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Bend said Tuesday it is joining the Youth Career Connect program to engage with local youth, offer valuable interview and on-the-job experience and foster a deeper understanding of the essential services that keep our city thriving.

Youth Career Connect is a program that brings together Central Oregon high schools, local businesses, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) and East Cascades Works to empower young individuals to kickstart their careers while also enabling local employers to train and build our future workforce.

Youth Career Connect connects young individuals between the ages of 15 and 21 to local internships, offering valuable work experiences.

The city said it will be working with a total of 10 interns throughout the summer across a wide variety of departments. During their time with the city, interns will work on various projects, ranging from operational experiences such as exploring the city’s water infrastructure, building safety and code compliance, and street maintenance to contributing to community-focused communications initiatives.

“The city is proud to partner with Youth Career Connect to welcome summer interns across city departments,” said Human Resources Business Partner Carly Murray.

“We are excited to play a role in helping prepare the next generation of the workforce as they explore potential career paths and build professional skills, while also providing them with the opportunity to understand our operation and what it means to be a public steward. And if we happen to get a future employee or two out of these experiences, well that’s a double-win in our eyes!”

Click here to follow the original article.