Category: ktvz-local-news

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Rudy’s Markets Inc. is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2026 with a monthly Gold Bar Giveaway and a $100,000 matching donation program to combat hunger in Central Oregon. The initiatives mark five decades since the company was founded in 1976.

The company says it’s currently Central Oregon’s only locally founded, 100% employee-owned grocery business. It operates three stores across the region, including the Newport Avenue Market, Oliver Lemon’s and Ollie’s Kitchen brands. The transition to employee ownership occurred in 2015, when the founding family sold the business to its workers at no cost.

The hunger relief initiative includes a commitment to match customer donations at checkout up to $100,000, the company said in Thursday’s news release. The donations are accepted year-round at all company locations.

The matching funds are designed to help partner non-profits purchase food at wholesale costs, which the company says will stretch the impact of every dollar for families facing food insecurity.

As part of the golden anniversary, the company is hosting a monthly Gold Bar Giveaway. Twelve winners will each receive one real gold bar throughout 2026. Customers are automatically entered into the drawing once a month, when they use their Foode Flash card at checkout. No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway and official rules are available in-store and online.

Lauren G. D. Redman, “Leader of the Pack”/CEO and president of Rudy’s Markets Inc., described the anniversary as a moment of reflection on the company’s local ties.

“Turning 50 is worth celebrating, but for us, it’s also about gratitude,” Redman said. “Over all these years, our purpose hasn’t changed. We exist because of this community, and we believe our success should benefit everyone who shops, works and lives here.”

The company traces its history to 1976, when founder Rudy Dory opened his first grocery store in La Pine with $914 in his pocket. Rudy and his wife, Debbie, eventually grew the business to include three stores across Central Oregon.

In 2015, the Dory family sold the company to its employees at no cost, establishing it as a 100% employee-owned entity.

Dory said the transition to employee ownership was a way to recognize the staff who contributed to the company’s growth.

“When we started this company in 1976, the goal was simple: serve good food and treat people right,” Dory said. “Choosing to become 100% employee-owned was about honoring the people who built this business day in and day out. Celebrating our 50th anniversary by giving back — through fighting hunger and investing in our community — feels like the most natural way to say thank you.”

Today, Rudy’s Markets Inc. operates three separate brands in the region. These include Newport Avenue Market in Bend, Oliver Lemon’s in Sisters and Terrebonne and Ollie’s Kitchen in Redmond. The stores specialize in high-quality food, hard-to-find items and products from local producers.

The Gold Bar Giveaway and donation matching program will continue through the end of 2026. Official rules for the giveaway and further details on the anniversary initiatives are available at newportavemarket.com.

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Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Prineville pastor accused of shooting a neighborhood cat, leaving it permanently blind, entered a no-contest plea to an animal abuse charge Thursday in a deal with prosecutors that will have the case dismissed if he performs community service and pays restitution to the cat’s owner.

Jason Swick, 48, pastor at the Prineville Church of Christ, had pleaded not guilty last month to first-degree animal abuse, a Class A misdemeanor that under Oregon law carries a potential sentence of 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $6,250.

Under a no-contest plea, a defendant does not admit to wrongdoing, but acknowledges that a jury or judge could convict them of the charges.

According to the petition that was accepted Thursday by Circuit Judge David Delsman, Swick’s sentencing will be “held in abeyance for six months to allow for completion of 24 hours of community service and $1,000 restitution to the cat owner. If all conditions (are) completed as required, the case will be dismissed without conviction.”

Swick was accused of shooting the neighborhood cat named Pumpkin several times last September, then pleacing it in a dumpster behind the church, sparking community outage and protests. The cat’s owner, Amanda Lougher, found the cat alive and bleeding, taking it for emergency surgery in Bend, and it survived.

Swick said in a Facebook post that later was deleted that he believed the cat was feral and attacking his family’s chickens, also saying he was “so sorry and feel terrible. I was afraid and didn’t know what else to do in the moment.”

Lougher read a statement in court Thursday that she also posted on her Facebook page, where she said she was “thankful to be able to close this chapter of our lives! Thankful for all the love and support for the community!”

In court, Lougher said, “There are far less violent ways to deal with a neighborhood cat,” also saying the family’s 9-month-old cat was shot in the face three times.

“I appreciate you owning the choices that you made that night, and each day since,” Lougher said, addressing Swick in the courtroom. “May both families and the community move forward in peace. Today, in this moment, I choose to forgive you. Please do better!”

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Two weeks after Ian Cranston posted bail and was released from jail, a Deschutes County judge has set his fall retrial date on manslaughter and other charges in the 2021 shooting death of Barry Washington Jr.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Circuit Judge Beth Bagley scheduled an Oct. 20 start for a 10-day, 12-person jury trial of Cranston, preceded by an August 17 motion hearing and a Sept. 21 trial readiness hearing. Cranston will remain free after posting 10% of his $500,000 bail earlier this month.

If that schedule holds, the new trial will happen nearly a year after the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed and remanded Cranston’s conviction, due to a special instruction related to self-defense that was not given to the jury.

That jury acquitted Cranston, now 31, on a second-degree murder charge but convicted him of first- and second-degree manslaughter charges for shooting Washington outside the Capitol nightclub in downtown Bend. Cranston claimed he acted in self-defense after being punched by Washington, who was 22 at the time of his death.

The appeals court remanded the case to Deschutes County, saying Bagley, the trial judge, erred by not giving the jury instruction sought by the defense that state law does not require a person to retreat before they can use deadly force in self-defense or the defense of others.

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Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Crook County School Board is inviting students, families, staff and community members to participate in a series of listening sessions to provide input on the potential appointment of Dr. Joel Hoff, currently serving as interim superintendent, to permanent role.

“These sessions are an important opportunity for stakeholders to share perspectives, ask questions, and provide feedback directly to the Board,” the school district said in Wednesday’s announcement.

The listening sessions, organized by stakeholder group, are set for these dates and times: 

Administrators/Confidential Staff: Wednesday, February 11 at 4:00 PM 

Students: Thursday, February 12 at 11:00 AM 

Certified Staff: Tuesday, February 17 at 4:30 PM 

Parent & Community: Wednesday, February 18 at 6:00 PM 

Classified Staff: Monday, February 23 at 4:30 PM 

Parent & Community: Tuesday, February 24 at 6:00 PM 

Spanish-Speaking Families: Thursday, February 26 at 6:00 PM 

How to participate: 

All adult sessions will be held at the CCSD office, and anyone is welcome to attend. These sessions will be public meetings, and Zoom participation will be available. If you would like to RSVP, you can do so at the links listed below, but it is not required. 

English RSVP to attend listening sessions (optional) 

Spanish RSVP to attend listening sessions (optional) 

All input gathered through the survey and listening sessions will be summarized and presented to the school board at its March meeting.

“The Board is committed to a transparent, inclusive process to ensure that community voices inform the decision regarding the permanent Superintendent appointment,” the school district said. “The Crook County School District encourages everyone to participate and make their voices heard.”

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The U.S. faces a projected deficit of 6 million skilled workers by 2032 in fields such as health care, construction and manufacturing, according to the Association for Career & Technical Education. Central Oregon Community College is focusing on efforts to help meet that need.

To help shine a spotlight on the diverse career paths provided by technical education programs — from firefighters and foresters to chefs and web developers — as well as to express the high demand for skilled workers, Central Oregon Community College is taking part in National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month throughout February, COCC officials said Thursday.

Here are the details COCC provided in a news release:

In addition to social media campaigns, promotional pieces and other advocacy efforts, the college is sending a group of COCC students, faculty and staff to Salem to participate in the state’s Feb. 18 CTE event at the Capitol, where community colleges from across Oregon are sharing CTE-focused demonstrations and program information.

COCC is also holding a Manufacturing and Trades Job Fair from 1-4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, at the Redmond campus’s Technology Education Center, to connect job-seekers with employers and help with career exploration. This is a free, drop-in event for the community. For more information, visit cocc.edu and search for “jobfest.”

CTE commonly refers to technical, hands-on, high-skill training programs that come with a one-year certificate or two-year associate degree.

COCC has over 25 CTE programs available, all designed to provide technical skills in specific areas. Presently, more than 27% of COCC’s students are declared CTE majors.

“Career and technical education paths are relatively short-term, while leading to well-paying occupations,” said Julie Downing, instructional dean at COCC. “Graduates from our programs find their passion and bring real strength to their community.”

Those who concentrate on CTE educations beginning in high school are more likely than their peers to be employed full time and have higher median annual earnings eight years beyond graduation, according to the Association for Career & Technical Education.

Recent investments in CTE educations at COCC include a $2.18 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education to develop new short-term certificates in manufacturing technology, as well as the expansion of the college’s Madras campus, now bringing four on-site CTE programs, in health care and early childhood education, to that location.

Visit cocc.edu/programs to learn more about CTE options at COCC.

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Thousands of Central Oregonians soon will receive letters in the mail to inform them of a data breach at TriZetto Provider Solutions last fall that may have exposed the personal health information of more than 700,000 people around the country.

TPS is a third-party contractor that provides insurance-eligibility verification services to health care providers, including Deschutes County Health Services (DCHS), Best Care, and the La Pine Community Health Center (LCHC), the organizations said in a joint news release Thursday. 

They stressed that the data breach occurred only in TriZetto’s environment and did not involve or compromise any Deschutes County, Best Care, or La Pine Community Health Center systems.

Here are the details

What happened?

In October, TriZetto Provider Solutions discovered suspicious activity in one of its web portals. Upon discovering the issue, TPS launched an investigation and took steps to eliminate the threat.

Experts determined that, starting in November 2024, an unauthorized actor began accessing historical eligibility reports stored on the TPS system. The affected reports contain information about health insurance eligibility transactions, including certain protected health information (PHI) of patients and primary policyholders.

TPS reports that the threat was eliminated on Oct. 2, but may have exposed the PHI of more than 700,000 people.

DCHS, LCHC and Best Care were notified about the data breach on Dec. 10. Since then, staff from all three agencies have been working diligently to verify which clients/patients may have been impacted by the incident.

What data was exposed?

Data exposed during this breach varies, but may include names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, health insurer name, health insurance member numbers and provider names. The incident did not include any medical diagnosis or treatment information, nor did it include any payment card or bank account information.

What are DCHS, LCHC and Best Care doing?

TriZetto Provider Solutions informed DCHS, LCHC and Best Care that it plans to notify exposed clients/patients about the breach in February. However, because confidentiality, privacy, and security of personal health information are among the highest priorities for all three agencies, and to avoid any further delay in offering protections, DCHS, LCHC and Best Care are sending their own notifications.

LCHC will notify approximately 1,200 of its patients, DCHS will notify approximately 1,300 clients/patients, and Best Care will notify approximately 1,650 clients/patients that their protected health information was exposed during the breach. 

It is important to note that while client PHI was accessed, there is no evidence at this time that it has been misused.  

Additionally, each agency is offering exposed clients/patients identity theft protection through a data breach and recovery services contractor, IDX. The free identity protection services include 12 months of credit and CyberScan monitoring, a $1 million insurance reimbursement policy, and fully managed identity theft recovery services.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Shaniko Wool Company, located in the small town of Shaniko, Oregon, just north of Antelope, has been honored once again with an Olympics spotlight.

The company recently provided wool to be used in Ralph Lauren’s Team USA Opening Ceremony sweaters for the 2026 Winter Olympics. This is the fourth time in the past decade that the company’s wool has been used in Team USA gear.

Shaniko Wool Company, established in 1871, was the first in the world to receive Responsible Wool Standard certification.

On Friday, February 6th during Downtown Bend’s First Friday, a celebration of Shaniko Wool Company is taking place at Wool Town Bend (115 NW Minnesota Avenue).

The event will feature an educational display about Shaniko Wool Company, a large selection of locally produced yarn (including two custom patriotic colorways), and a rare in-person viewing of the Olympic sweater made with Shaniko wool.

Click here to learn more about Shaniko Wool Company.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Dog owners, this one’s for you! There’s a new business in town that’s focused on fitness for your furry friend.

Bend Barks & Rec, a locally-owned mobile dog fitness service proudly based in Bend, was created to support dogs and their people through safe, structured, and convenient exercise–regardless of weather, schedules, or physical limitations.

It brings a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled mobile dog gym directly to clients’ homes or workplaces, offering customized 30-minute fitness sessions using non-motorized slatmills designed specifically for dogs.

You can learn more at bendbarksandrec.com.

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Triton Notary

CORVALLIS, Ore. (KTVZ)– Oregon State University is already recognized as one of the finest higher education institutions in the country. Now, it can also claim to be number one in robot deliveries. The Starship company has provided robot delivery service on college campuses for several years, and OSU’s Corvallis students have made their campus the top location for the robots. Last year alone, there were 265,000 deliveries at OSU, and since the program launched there have been 1.2 million orders. The robots boast a 97% approval rating, with many students saying they “love” them. Starship remains the leader in autonomous delivery robots, now serving more than 60 campuses nationwide.

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Harley Coldiron

(Update: adding video)

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Two Jefferson County deputies didn’t hesitate to plunge into freezing, dangerously thin ice Wednesday evening, breaking through the pond to save two teenage girls who had fallen through at the Madras fairgrounds.

Deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and crews from Jefferson County Fire & EMS arrived within minutes to find the two girls, ages 15 and 16, trapped in the frigid water near the north end of the pond. Rescuers encountered hazardous conditions, including ice that was only 1.5 to two inches thick.

The teenagers were part of a group hanging out at the fairgrounds around 5 p.m. when they decided to walk onto the ice. The thin surface quickly cracked, causing the pair to plunge into the freezing water. Their friends called 911 for help as the two girls reported experiencing extreme cold and exhaustion.

Deputies CJ Linden and Charles Hatcher arrived at the pond within minutes and began breaking through the ice to reach the teens. Sergeant Ben Toops then entered the water with rescue equipment to complete the rescue. Body camera footage released by the sheriff’s office shows the deputies pulling the two girls to safety using a bodyboard and rope. Sheriff Jason Pollock was also on the scene and actively helping in the rescue.

Although trained in water rescue, the deputies were wearing their standard uniforms during the incident, which made the physical task of breaking the ice more difficult. Deputy Linden noted that the depth and conditions were unknown when they first arrived. “Yeah, it was a lot deeper than we anticipated. We didn’t know how thick the ice was. We don’t know how cold the water is,” Linden said.

Both juveniles were treated at the scene for symptoms of hypothermia and transported by ambulance to a local hospital for further care. The deputies involved in the rescue sustained minor injuries while breaking through the ice, but tell KTVZ News they are fine.

Youth Fishing Pond, where two teens were rescued from beneath the ice. Courtesy: Jefferson County.

Linden, who also serves as a school resource officer, recognized one of the girls he helped save. He later visited the hospital to check on their recovery. “They recognized me from being in the schools, and I talked with them and just chatted with them and let them know that, you know, I was glad that they were okay and to not play on the ice anymore,” Linden said.

Local emergency officials are warning the public to stay off all frozen ponds, lakes, and waterways. They cautioned that ice thickness can change quickly and become dangerously unstable during fluctuating winter temperatures.

Jefferson County Sheriff Jason Pollock, who was also on the scene and actively participated in the heroic rescue, praised the coordinated response from the various agencies involved and credited their quick teamwork with saving the teens.

Deputy Hatcher said the rescue reflects the department’s commitment to the town. “This department is a family, and this community is our family,” Hatcher said.

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