Category: ktvz-local-news

Gregory Deffenbaugh

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Kiln, a flex-office and coworking brand with locations across the Western U.S., announced plans to open a new 43,000-square-foot coworking and lifestyle space in Bend’s Old Mill District.

The new location, set to open in spring 2026 at 501 SW Hill St. Kiln Bend will offer a mix of private offices, open and resident desks, conference rooms, and content creation studios, as well as wellness and lifestyle amenities designed to foster community and creativity.

“Bend is full of people doing meaningful work and living inspired lives,” said Alexa Ford, community director for Kiln Bend. “Our goal is to create a space that not only supports business growth but also fosters connection and balance. We’re so excited to open our doors to this community.”

The two-story facility will feature amenities including a theater, refresh rooms, wellness zones and communal lounges.

Based in the Western U.S., Kiln currently operates more than 20 locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Utah. Recent openings include spaces in Portland, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Each Kiln location is designed to reflect the culture of its host city while connecting members to a broader network of professionals and resources. The Bend location is expected to become a key anchor within the Old Mill District’s mix of businesses, restaurants and entertainment venues.

“Kiln is an ideal fit for Bend and for the Old Mill District,” said Beau Eastes, marketing director for the Old Mill District. “They’ve created spaces that go far beyond a typical office. These are places that inspire people to do their best work and build real community.”

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KTVZ – News Team

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Scientists at Oregon State University have taken a big step toward lighting and display technologies that are more energy efficient and better for the planet.

The work centers around crystalline, porous materials known as metal organic frameworks, often abbreviated as MOFs, and points toward next-generation materials that may end reliance on rare earth metals.

The study by Kyriakos Stylianou, associate professor of chemistry in the OSU College of Science, and graduate students Kyle Smith and Ankit Yadav was published in Nature Communications.

The findings are important because displays – ubiquitous in communications, computing, medical monitoring and many other aspects of everyday life – and lighting contribute heavily to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

And the rare earth metals that underpin those technologies – europium, terbium, yttrium, cerium, gadolinium and others – are expensive and environmentally hazardous to mine and process.

Made up of positively charged metal ions surrounded by organic “linker” molecules, metal organic frameworks have nanosized pores and tunable structural properties. They can be designed with a variety of components that determine the MOF’s properties, and for this project the scientists developed novel MOF structures that combine two types of porous crystals to enhance light emission.

The researchers explored different ways of combining the different types of crystals. One of those methods, known as MOF-on-MOF – the crystals were stacked like building blocks – resulted in light emission that was roughly four times as energy efficient as seen in traditional MOFs.

“By controlling how the components interact, we discovered how to reduce energy losses that typically limit brightness in these materials,” Stylianou said. “This higher efficiency means that future LEDs could produce the same amount of light while consuming far less electricity.”

In the United States, Stylianou notes, lighting and display systems consume about 213 billion kilowatt-hours of power annually – a level of energy usage that accounts for 13% of global carbon dioxide emissions, primarily because 80% of electricity generation in the U.S. comes from the burning of fossil fuels.

Replacing rare-earth-based components in lighting and display systems with the new, more sustainable MOF structures would simultaneously reduce production costs, ecological impact and energy consumption, he said. It also would provide an alternative to elements whose global supply chains are fraught with geopolitical tensions.

In the United States, Stylianou notes, lighting and display systems consume about 213 billion kilowatt-hours of power annually – a level of energy usage that accounts for 13% of global carbon dioxide emissions, primarily because 80% of electricity generation in the U.S. comes from the burning of fossil fuels.

“There’s an urgent need for advanced, efficient fluorescent materials, and we think our new MOFs can help fill that need,” Stylianou said. “We see a lot of potential in their ability to have economic, environmental and climate impacts.”

This project was supported by the OSU Department of Chemistry and the Oregon chapter of the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation.

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Claire Elmer

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon lawmakers are in a special session debating Governor Tina Kotek’s proposal — Oregon House Bill 3991 — to close a major transportation funding gap. Without action, the Oregon Department of Transportation warns it could face hundreds of millions in cuts — forcing layoffs and the closure of road maintenance stations, including right here in Central Oregon.

Oregon Representative Emerson Levy (D) spoke with KTVZ News about the bill, and the local impacts Central Oregon would face if it didn’t pass. 

“The most important thing to me is to keep my constituents safe. And the Sisters maintenance station would have closed. And then additionally, we’re looking at the Detroit station being closed. So that would be the entire pass. Also, they’re part of our wildfire evacuation plan. So it’s important for winter, but it’s also important for summer,” said Levy.

The bill would raise about 4.3 billion dollars over the next decade. The biggest changes include a six-cent increase to the state gas tax starting in 2026, higher vehicle registration and title fees, and new charges for electric and hybrid vehicles.

“We know that costs are increasing. The number one issue in Central Oregon is cost of living. And so this was a really challenging vote. Where we landed was a six-cent gas tax increase. And that six cents goes straight to maintenance,” said Levy.

At Hyundai of Bend, where about 30 percent of sales are electric vehicles, there is worry the changes will make it harder for people to switch to cleaner cars.

Edward Brown, general manager for Team Hyundai of Bend, spoke about how the sale of electric vehicles could be impacted.

“There already is a higher registration tax and a higher title fee on electric vehicles. So they’re just raising it higher at this point. It’s going to drive everybody to not want to go electric because they’re just charging more taxes,” said Brown. 

Brown says the combination of new state fees and the loss of federal rebates could push customers away from EVs entirely. He believes the government should look for other ways to fund transportation.

“I think it’s a misappropriation of funds by the Oregon government, and they shouldn’t be a burden for taxpayers,” said Brown. 

Supporters of the bill argue the changes are necessary to keep plows on the mountain passes and roads clear during wildfire evacuations. Opponents argue the costs will hit working families hardest, in a state that already has some of the highest gas prices in the nation.

The House has already approved the plan. The Senate is expected to vote this week, deciding the future of Oregon’s transportation funding — and how much drivers here in Central Oregon will pay to keep roads open and safe.

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KTVZ – News Team

BEND, OR — This fall, the High Desert Museum’s popular Indigenous Speakers Series returns with three vibrant and inspiring programs. Featuring an array of Indigenous voices, the series highlights artists, storytellers, scholars and more who share their unique perspectives with the community.

On Tuesday, September 16, Alyce Sadongei (Kiowa/Tohono O’odham), a scholar, author, Indigenous leader and advocate, will dig deep into the history and future of Tribal cultural institutions in a talk titled “Transformational Paths for Indigenous Libraries, Archives and Museums.” A leader in the museum field for years, Sadongei was the first Native American director of the Smithsonian Institution’s American Indian Museum Studies Program. She laid the foundation for the current training opportunities available at the National Museum of the American Indian.

Throughout her career, Sadongei championed Tribal libraries, archives and museums, advocating for the preservation of oral history and the growth of Indigenous cultural organizations. As an author, her works span from Native American repatriation to collections care and community collaboration. Based in Arizona, Sadongei leads Mission Garden, a living agricultural museum, as its executive director. Her presentation includes a discussion on how a predominantly Western concept of a museum is being defined by Indigenous museum professionals. Tickets are $5-$20 with a 20% discount for Museum members and free entry for Tribal members. For tickets, visit highdesertmuseum.org/transform-paths.

On Friday, October 24, the Museum welcomes Nez Perce language expert, storyteller and educator Harry Slickpoo Jr. As the Collections Specialist for the Nez Perce Tribe Hitéemenwees Research Library, Slickpoo uses cultural items to support the continuation of living cultures and Native languages.

An advocate for nimiipuutimpt, the Nez Perce language and culture, Slickpoo works to preserve, share and support Nez Perce ways of life, earning him recognition as an educator and cultural leader. Today, the Nez Perce language is classified as critically endangered, with only a handful of fluent speakers. Learn more about Slickpoo’s work and the resilience of Nez Perce cultural traditions. Tickets are $5-$20, with a 20% discount for Museum members and free entry for Tribal members. For tickets, visit highdesertmuseum.org/past-forward.

Then, on Sunday, November 2, Dr. Michelle Jacob (Yakama), professor of Indigenous Studies and director of the Sapsik’ʷałá (Teacher) Education Program in the Department of Education Studies at the University of Oregon, will discuss the resilience and brilliance of Indigenous communities while offering inspiration for how we all can reimagine a more connected and compassionate world. Jacob is passionate about imagining and working toward a future in which kindness, fierceness and creativity saturate our lives and institutions. She emphasizes that while understanding Indigenous history is important, there are reasons to celebrate the contributions Native Americans are making today. Her work is grounded in Yakama traditions, which call on each of us to foster personal strength to build a more powerful and unified community.

The November program is in partnership with Central Oregon Community College and the Nancy R. Chandler Lecture Series of the COCC Foundation. It will be hosted in Wille Hall at the Coats Campus Center of COCC in Bend, Oregon. Learn more about this special collaborative event at highdesertmuseum.org/indigenous-speakers-series.

The Indigenous Speakers Series is made possible by the Deschutes Cultural Coalition. For more information and to purchase tickets for Indigenous Speakers Series events, visit highdesertmuseum.org/indigenous-speakers-series.

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Kelsey Merison

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Local nurses and healthcare workers recently teamed up to donate 1,000 pounds of food for The Giving Plate to support Central Oregon families in need.

From July 29th to August 12th, food was collected in the break room at St. Charles Bend. In just two short weeks, 1,000 pounds of canned goods, dry goods, toiletries and other necessities poured in.

Read the full press release below:

“Local nurses and healthcare workers donated nearly 1,000 pounds of food to Central Oregon families in August through a partnership with The Giving Plate. As the need for food assistance increases, frontline healthcare providers are stepping up to care for their community. 

“We’re not just your nurses, we’re your neighbors,” said Nichole Ryan, RN and an ONA leader at St. Charles Bend. “Every day, we see people struggling and we can’t stay on the sidelines. We’re committed to caring for our community whether you’re in the hospital or at home. This food drive is just another way we can give back.” 

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents 1,200 registered nurses working at St. Charles Bend and St. Charles Home Health and Hospice. Nurses collected food in the break rooms at St. Charles Bend.

Since opening their community store in April 2024, the Giving Plate has seen individual visits in their grocery program go from 3,500 a month in 2023 to over 6,800 a month today. Their food levels have only increased by just over 20% since 2023 despite the 94% increase in those served, making food drives like this all the more impactful.

Local food banks like NeighborImpact reported record numbers of individuals seeking food assistance amid rising costs, increasing unemployment and federal cutbacks on food assistance. Looming cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid)—part of H.R. 1, the so-called ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’—will only make it harder for Oregonians to put food on the table. 

“We know we can’t solve every problem. But there’s no better time to get involved. Many of our coworkers volunteer every month to collect and deliver donations in their neighborhood and lead regular food drives on their units,” said Ryan. “During this drive, several workers shared that they relied on donations or knew someone who had relied on donations in the past. Now they’re thrilled to be able to give back. Helping a neighbor in need is one of the most rewarding things you can do. If you’re able, please consider making a donation or volunteering. You won’t regret it.”

Nurses began collecting canned foods, dry goods, toiletries and other necessities in break rooms at St. Charles Bend July 29 using The Giving Plates green totes. Donations were picked up August 12. 

The Giving Plate is a 501(c)3 food pantry that has helped Central Oregon families and children struggling with food insecurity since 2010. Its mission is “feeding the hungry today with compassion and hospitality.” To learn more about The Giving Plate and the work it is doing to serve food-insecure families in Central Oregon, or to make a donation go to www.thegivingplate.org.”

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Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — September is National Suicide Prevention Month–aimed at raising awareness, spreading hope, and sparking meaningful action around one of the most urgent mental health issues of our time.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is encouraging you to start a conversation and be the difference–and says that talking about suicide isn’t harmful, but silence is.

You can visit nami.org for a toolkit and crisis resources.

Also, at St. Charles in Redmond, the Suicide Grief Support Group meets once a month on the first Tuesday from 6:30-8 p.m. for those that have lost a loved one to suicide.

That takes place in the Sage and Juniper conference rooms.

Those interested in the support group meetings can contact Loren Petersen by phone or text at 541-977-5347, or Loren.Film@gmail.com

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As kids head back to school this week in Central Oregon, the Bend Police Department has an important reminder for motorists: school zones are active once again.

The department says there are three types of school zone signs in Bend:

-Signs that show the school zone is in effect all day

-Those that identify the school zone as in effect when children are present

-Those that have flashing lights to alert you that a school zone is in effect, typically before and after school and in some cases, on the lunch hour

The speed limit when a school zone is in effect is 20 mph.

BPD says in these first few weeks, children and families are still learning their routines and figuring out the area–and there will be an influx of vehicles, buses, kids on bikes, and kids walking in these areas.

You need to be alert and aware of your surroundings. Slow down and pay attention.

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Harley Coldiron

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The group Bend Oregon Raider Nation, which watches games together and gives back to the community through highway cleanups and volunteering, held its annual Labor Day picnic at Sawyer Park in Bend.

This year, the group is watching games at UPP Liquids in the Box Factory in Bend. If you are interested in joining the group, head on over to their Facebook Page.

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KTVZ – News Team

The Central Oregon Labor Chapter held a picnic attended by dozens of union members and their families to celebrate the federal holiday and the historic labor movement. It was held at Alpenglow Park in Bend and featured food, live music, and speeches from labor leaders and elected officials.

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KTVZ – News Team

(Update: Adding video)

Bend, OR (KTVZ) — Chesterton Academy of Mater Dei is announcing the opening of Central Oregon’s first Catholic high school. Classes officially begin on September 3, 2025, marking a new chapter for families seeking a rigorous, faith-filled education in the region.

Located at 2450 NE 27th Street in Bend, Chesterton Academy of Mater Dei will offer students in grades 9–12 a strong academic foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. The school’s mission is to form the whole student, mind, body, and soul, through classical learning, Catholic values, and a joyfulcommunity.

To celebrate its inaugural year, Chesterton Academy is offering an accessible tuition rate of just $2,400 for the first year. With small class sizes and a supportive environment, the school is committed to making atransformative education available to more families across Central Oregon.

“We are thrilled to open Chesterton Academy of Mater Dei this fall, the first Catholic high school in Central Oregon,” said John Cardwell, Headmaster. “What we are building is more than a school, it is a community where students are formed in intellect, character, and faith, preparing them not only for college and career, but for a life rooted in truth, beauty, and goodness.”

Enrollment is now open for Fall 2025. Parents and students are encouraged to schedule a tour or apply today.

For more information, call 719-761-0511 or visit www.chestertonmaterdei.org. Follow the school on social media at @MaterDeiBend for updates and events.

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