Category: ktvz-local-news

Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon residents and travelers are facing significantly higher costs for gas and groceries this Memorial Day, impacting travel plans and household budgets. Gas prices in Oregon have reached a record high, while grocery expenses have seen substantial increases, forcing many to adjust spending.

The average gas price in Oregon has risen from $4.01 last year to $5.32 this year. These increased costs are leading residents to cut back in other areas.

Roberta Watson, a resident of Sunriver, described the rapid increase in grocery expenses. Watson noted that a cart full of groceries cost $200 one week last year, rising to $300 the following week.

Shane Purcell, a resident of Bend, commented on the overall expense, stating, “It’s ridiculous. Prices are way expensive. Yeah, they come up quite a bit, so it’s pretty difficult. I don’t know how they expect people to live.”

Despite the record-high gas prices, people are still traveling for Memorial Day, though many trips are staying close to home. Marie Dodds, AAA Oregon Director of Government and Public Affairs, reported that 87% of Memorial Day travelers this year are driving to their destinations.

“I think most Memorial Day trips are going to be fairly close to home,” Dodds said. “And in fact, 87% of Memorial Day travelers this year are driving to their destination despite high gas prices.”

Even out-of-town visitors like Lona Huck, who traveled to Central Oregon from Yakima for a Memorial Weekend tournament, have felt the financial impact. Huck noted that while the costs are higher, the importance of family events still drives travel decisions.

“We filled up in Yakima. But it is a lot more money. But it’s you’re still going to go. You’re still going to do it because you’re supporting your grandson. But it does hit the pocket books,” Huck said.

One resident, who declined to be identified on camera, reported seeing grocery costs increase by hundreds of dollars over the last year. Residents consistently noted the need to reduce spending elsewhere due to these rising expenses.

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Kelsey Merison

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon Community College’s education program at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution is set to confer its first-ever associate degree awards. Nine students will receive their college degrees at the annual graduation ceremony on Tuesday, June 9th, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The ceremony will take place at the facility located at 3920 E. Ashwood Road in Madras, marking a significant milestone for the recently established program.

The associate degree program began in the spring of 2024, representing a new initiative by COCC. Financial assistance for students in the program is largely provided by federal Pell Grants, following a 2023 legislative change that lifted a 26-year ban on these grants for incarcerated individuals.

When Congress lifted the ban on Pell Grants for incarcerated individuals in 2023, COCC was one of the first institutions in the country to apply for and receive the national grant certification.

Tony Russell, instructional dean at Central Oregon Community College, emphasized the program’s importance. “This program exemplifies COCC’s commitment to educational access and we’re so excited to reach this milestone with our first graduating class,” Russell said.

Under the guidance of COCC biology professor Emma Chaput, the college introduced a fully accredited, cohort-modeled associate degree program. Approximately 30 adults in custody are enrolled in the program during the academic year, out of about 1,100 at Deer Ridge.

COCC instructors travel to the facility to teach subjects that have included biology, history, communication, and human development. The degree awarded is a transfer award, designed to allow students to continue their college studies upon release.

The RAND Corporation conducted a study indicating that recidivism rates for adults in custody who earn an associate degree fall to 13.7%. For those who earn their GED in prison, recidivism rates drop to 50%.

The college provides a range of instructional services at Deer Ridge through a contract established in 2008 with the Oregon Department of Corrections. These educational services include Adult Basic Skills classes and a welding program, anchored by a state-mandated GED prep program.

Welding students will also be awarded certificates at the June 9th commencement ceremony. GED students enrolled in the program will be recognized at a later ceremony.

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Kelsey Merison

SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — The annual Art Meets Wine in Sunriver event will return for its eighth year on Saturday, May 30th, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sunriver SHARC. The event, hosted by the Sunriver Women’s Club, serves as a major fundraiser to support nonprofits in south Deschutes County.

The Sunriver Women’s Club uses the event as a cornerstone of its mission to give back to the community. Through its Community Grant Program, the club awarded over $96,000 in 2025.

Art Meets Wine 2025, credit: Sunriver Women’s Club

Guests at the event can visit ten winery tasting stations and observe live art demonstrations. The gathering also features auctions offering items such as getaway experiences in Bend and Hood River, a round of golf at Crosswater Golf Club, and original art pieces.

The event provides an opportunity to celebrate Oregon Wine Month. It allows attendees to explore Oregon’s wine country without leaving Sunriver.

More information and tickets are available at artmeetswine.org.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — At 11:30 pm on Thursday, May 21 2026, multiple 911 callers reported a structure fire near Boyd Acres Rd in NE Bend.  First arriving fire units found two residences heavily involved in fire with extension into nearby brush and trees and a second alarm was called. The fire was knocked down quickly, with fire progression stopped within 45 minutes. Assistance was received during the incident from Redmond Fire & Rescue, Cloverdale Fire, and Sunriver Fire.  Both residences were uninhabitable with one a total loss, and Red Cross assistance was requested for the residents.  Losses are estimated in excess of 1 million dollars.  

The fire is under investigation at this time.  

The fire did extend into adjacent brush and trees, but was quickly stopped by fire crews.  Wildfires and wildfire losses aren’t just in rural areas, they can occur even within City limits.  Taking simple steps, such as clearing combustible material within 5 feet of the house and using non-combustible ground cover, can greatly reduce the risk of losing your home to wildfire.  For more information on reducing wildfire risk,

This is a developing story. Stay with the digital platforms of KTVZ News for urgent updates.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jamie Collins will assume the role of Deschutes County Commissioner from Position One, taking over from Tony DeBone in approximately seven months. Collins secured the position with more than 55% of the vote in the recent election.

The transition marks a change of guard on the Deschutes County Commission after DeBone served for 16 years.

Outgoing Commissioner DeBone has been a consistent presence on the board, guiding the county through periods including the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic and overseeing the county during its largest growth.

Incoming Commissioner Collins is not new to public service and has a background as a military veteran.

DeBone has dedicated 16 years to the Deschutes County Commission. DeBone described his dedication to his role, stating he is “just honored to be serving kind of keep. The more I do it, the more I want to just keep the county kind of going down the middle of the road, you know, do the services we do do it well. Serve everybody.”

Collins, a military veteran, commented on his new role, saying, “Well, this is a huge step. This is probably the biggest step I think I have taken in my career in public service. Other than swearing an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States as a member of the United States military.”

With seven months remaining until the formal change, Commissioner DeBone is focusing on current issues. He plans to manage homelessness and unsanctioned camping in partnership with the cities of Redmond and Bend. DeBone elaborated on his plans, saying, “So as I say, now that the budget is going to be passed, it will be six months into the end of this year. You know, managing the homeless, you know, just the unsanctioned camping. Working in partnership with Redmond and Bend on that.”

Commissioner Collins has outlined his immediate priorities upon taking office. Collins intends to establish a crisis task force to address the housing insurance crisis. He emphasized the importance of this issue, stating, “The biggest thing that I want to do on day one is stand up. A crisis task force to tackle our our housing insurance crisis here. This is probably far and away the most consequential thing that will affect our entire economy here in Central Oregon.”

Reflecting on his tenure, Commissioner DeBone said, “Well, as I say, I, when I run for office is big smile on my face. I’m here to serve. And it’s always been a very positive environment for me.” Commissioner Collins expressed his commitment to addressing challenges. “Well, I want to have no one say that. I did not try to tackle the tough challenges that we have here in Deschutes County,” Collins said.

The formal change from Commissioner DeBone to Commissioner Collins is set to occur in approximately seven months. Commissioner Collins plans to establish a crisis task force to address the housing insurance crisis on his first day in office.

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Harley Coldiron

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Think Wild, Central Oregon’s wildlife hospital and conservation center, is launching a series of new youth and family volunteer opportunities. These programs aim to engage the high desert community in caring for and protecting native wildlife.

Think Wild, a small non-profit organization in Bend, relies on local community support to accomplish its mission. The new volunteer opportunities will provide younger community members a chance to contribute to Think Wild’s mission and gain hands-on experience in conservation.

Youth volunteers will meet at Think Wild’s wildlife hospital campus in Bend one to two times per month. They will assist with tasks such as patient diet preparation and enrichment building, pollinator garden and yard work, facility and enclosure upkeep and general community project support. These sessions will be split and tailored to specific age groups, with youth ages 8-13 meeting on the last Saturday of each month from 1-2 p.m. throughout the year.

Youth ages 14-17 will meet on the second Wednesday of each month from 2:30-4 p.m. during the spring and summer seasons. This older age group also has sessions scheduled for the last Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. throughout the year.

Think Wild also offers several additional youth volunteer opportunities that take place off-site for those unable to attend regular sessions or seeking more activities. Some of these can be completed at home. Youth volunteers can represent Think Wild at local events and fundraisers to engage with the community and share informative resources.

For families, Think Wild provides plans and guidance for building native bird and bat boxes at home. Youth volunteers can also assist with the rescue and transport of injured and orphaned wildlife to the wildlife hospital, provided they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Families and youth interested in spending time outdoors and contributing to habitat restoration can participate in several ongoing Beaver Works Oregon projects throughout Eastern and Central Oregon One family-friendly event includes building beaver dam analogs in the Ochoco National Forest. Beaver dam analogs are hand-built structures made of sticks and natural materials that mimic a real beaver dam.

The Beaver Works Oregon event in the Ochoco National Forest is scheduled for July 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. More details and a link to RSVP for this event are available on the volunteer calendar on the Think Wild website.

Individuals interested in becoming youth volunteers and learning more about these opportunities can fill out the youth volunteer application form or email volunteer@thinkwildco.org.

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Harley Coldiron

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon residents are invited to a free Affordable Homeownership Fair on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at Redmond City Hall. NeighborImpact HomeSource will host the event, connecting attendees with local affordable housing developers and resources for homebuyer education and eligibility.

The fair is part of NeighborWorks Week, which runs from May 23–June 7, 2026. This national initiative highlights the work of NeighborWorks network organizations to expand housing opportunities, build financial stability and strengthen communities.

The 2026 theme for NeighborWorks Week is “Creating Homes, Building America.” NeighborImpact HomeSource prepares Central Oregon residents for homeownership through education, coaching and financial tools.

The event will allow attendees to hear directly from multiple local developers about upcoming projects, eligibility requirements and the steps to becoming a homeowner.

Participating affordable housing developers include Thistle & Nest, Habitat for Humanity of La Pine Sunriver, RootedHomes, Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity, Sisters Habitat for Humanity and First Story.

The Affordable Homeownership Fair is supported by event sponsors Hayden Homes, Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty and Redmond The Hub. Spanish translation and a sign language interpreter will be available at the event.

The fair is free and open to the public. For questions, residents can email homesource@neighborimpact.org or call 541-323-6567.

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Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — From traffic concerns on Highland to water allowances for farmers, Mayor Ed Fitch answers viewer-submitted questions for this month’s Ask the Mayor.

Viewers can submit questions for Mayor Fitch at any time as part of our monthly segment – just click here.

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Kelsey Merison

BURNS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Burns Fire and Police recently welcomed some special guests for a fun-filled, and educational day.

Burns Fire says Juntura School students, teachers, and families came to the Burns Fire and Police departments for an exciting BBQ and tour.

Everyone had a blast touring the station, emergency vehicles, and participating in the activities.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Voters across Central Oregon participated in a busy election season, with results determining various county commissioner positions, primary nominations for statewide offices and the failure of several measures. While some races concluded with clear winners, others in Deschutes and Crook Counties are headed for November runoffs.

Deschutes and Jefferson County Results

In Deschutes County, Jamie Collins secured Position 1 with 58% of the vote, defeating incumbent Tony DeBone and Rick Russell won Position 4 with 57% of the vote. Tana West was elected Deschutes County Tax Assessor with 78% of the vote.

However, the races for Position three and Position five will proceed to a November runoff as no candidate in either race received more than 50% plus one vote.

In Jefferson County, incumbents Mark Wunsch and Kelly Simmerlink were reelected to Position one and Position two respectively, with Simmerlink surpassing the 50% threshold with 55% of the vote to avoid a runoff.

Decision 2026: The Oregon Primary – Election Results

Position 1 Race Details

Deschutes County’s Position one race saw DeBone, a 16-year incumbent, receive 38% of the vote, with Brooke West receiving 7%. DeBone had served on the county commission since 2010, during which time the county’s population grew from nearly 158,000 to nearly 215,000 residents.

Position 3 Race Breakdown

The Position three race, held by outgoing Commissioner Patti Adair, will see Lauren Connally, with 38% of the vote, face Amy Sabbadini, who received 32%. Amanda Page secured 20%, Gary Campbell 5% and Samuel Facey 3%, with Charles Webster Baer receiving 2%.

In Position 4, Chet Wamboldt received 43% of the vote against Russell.

Position 5 Race

For Deschutes County Position 5, Morgan Schmidt received 45% of the vote and Rob Imhoff secured 38%. Jennifer Letz received 15% and Ron Boozell 2%. Schmidt and Imhoff will compete in the November runoff.

Local Levy Measures

In local levy measures, three out of four passed in Deschutes County. Voters in Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District approved their levy with 75% in favor, Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District with 80%, and Camp Sherman Road District with 80%. The Alfalfa fire district levy did not pass, with 77% voting against it.

Crook County Race

Crook County’s commissioner race will also go to a November runoff. Rick Steber received 43% of the vote and Julie Thompson received 38%, as neither candidate reached the 50% plus one vote threshold. Zach Berger finished in third place with 19%.

Jefferson County Details

In Jefferson County’s Position 1, Wunsch defeated George Curtiss, who received 40%. For Position 2, Simmerlink’s opponents included Ara Erdekian, who received 24%. Jefferson County voters rejected the library bond measure, with 66% voting no.

Statewide Races

Statewide, incumbent Sen. Jeff Merkley was nominated in the Democratic primary for another term. On the Republican side for Senate, David Smith is currently in the lead. For governor, incumbent Tina Kotek won the Democratic nomination. Christine Drazan is projected to win the Republican gubernatorial primary over Ed Diehl.

Interactive Election Map

Congressional Races

Rep. Cliff Bentz will return to the general election race for Congressional District 2, facing Democrat Chris Beck. Congressional District 5, a swing district, saw Janelle Bynum elected in 2024. In 2026, Bynum will face Deschutes County Adair in the CD five race.

State Measure Results

Measure 120, a statewide gas tax, failed by a wide margin, with more than 80% of voters rejecting it.

Looking Ahead to November

Several races will appear on the November general election ballot. Voters will see the Governor’s race between Kotek and Drazan and the Congressional District two race between Bentz and Beck or Congressional District five race between Bynum and Adair. Additionally, all three counties—Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson—will have sheriff races on the general election ballot, as these races require a general election vote if there are only two candidates.

In Deschutes County, Voters will be voting on the proposed Map C to district the county into five districts.

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