Category: ktvz-local-news

Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) Construction professionals across Central Oregon will have an opportunity to learn how to navigate a major industry shift at a free, full-day seminar hosted by Hooker Creek Companies on April 13.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Riverhouse Convention Center in Bend, followed by a complimentary social hour from 3 to 4 p.m. Lunch will be provided at no cost to attendees.

The seminar focuses on Type IL cement, also known as Portland Limestone Cement, which has fully replaced traditional Type I/II cement in Oregon and now makes up more than 60% of the U.S. cement market. While the material meets ASTM standards and delivers comparable strength, industry professionals say it behaves differently in real-world conditions.

Those differences have created challenges for contractors and finishers, particularly in Central Oregon’s hot, dry, and windy climate. Reported issues include surface crusting, crazing, delamination, plastic shrinkage cracking, and faster setting times.

Organizers say the seminar is designed to provide practical, field-tested strategies to help professionals successfully work with Type IL cement in both public and private projects, especially as the region continues to experience significant growth.

The keynote speaker will be Chad White, a senior concrete consultant with Structural Services Inc., who brings more than four decades of hands-on experience in concrete construction. White began his career as a cement mason apprentice and went on to lead a successful construction company for more than 15 years. He is a member of the American Concrete Institute, a published author on concrete slab installation, and a featured speaker at the World of Concrete conference. He also co-authored a widely used 2025 field guide on placing and finishing Type IL cement mixes.

The seminar is open to a wide range of industry professionals, including engineers, inspectors, contractors, construction managers, developers, and public agency staff. Officials from the City of Bend and Deschutes County Public Works departments have already registered to attend.

The event has been approved by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board for continuing education credits for both residential and commercial license holders.

Registration and additional details are available online at cementseminar.com.

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Harley Coldiron

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A new superstore and community training center in north Bend today. Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler cut the ribbon before the first shoppers poured inside. In the first fifteen minutes more than 220 customers checked out the new store. But it’s not just deals on second-hand goods at this Goodwill. The facility includes a job center and classroom.

The center, located near the new Bend Costco, offers free skills training and employment services funded by retail sales and community donations. It’s not just for employees, anyone from the public can attend classes on computer literacy and job skills.

This expansion follows a year where the organization helped connect residents to thousands of local jobs across Oregon and Washington

The new facility features 10,000 square feet of retail space and a Job Connection facility. It will employ more than 50 people and host a rotating group of Career Center instructors. These instructors work with community members to develop personal and professional skills.

In 2025, Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette instructors provided more than 40,000 hours of free skills training and educational services. These classes were available to employees and community members throughout northwest and central Oregon and southwest Washington

The organization also connected local residents to more than 9,000 jobs through hiring events and job fairs last year. According to the organization, these employment specialists partnered with various companies including Amazon and Safeway to facilitate the hires.

For the first four days, the store will be giving away $100 gift cards each day. After that, the stores hours will be 10 AM through 8 PM, Monday to Sunday.

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Silas Moreau

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Are we designing our city for happiness? That’s a question that will be asked by nonprofit organization Building a Better Bend’s 2026 lecture series will ask. The inaugural talk, titled “Is Bend Building a “Happy City?” The Science & Design Secrets of Happy Cities,” will examine how urban design can foster community connection.

The event will feature a presentation and discussion with internationally recognized urban planning expert Mitchell Reardon. Reardon has worked on urban planning projects in cities throughout North America and Europe, including Park City, Utah and Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The “Happy City” talk, as well as the 2026 lecture series event will be presented by First Interstate Bank.

The talk is scheduled to take at OSU-Cascades in the Ray Hall Atrium, on May 7th from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. Tickets cost $10 and are required for entry due to limited capacity. A recording of the presentation will be made available to the public following the conclusion of the event.

Here are some key topics to be covered in the discussion:

– Designing for Joy: What research says about designing spaces that promote social life, play, andwellbeing- Urban Living Rooms: The role of plazas and gathering spaces in building community- Making It Happen: How public-private partnerships can deliver meaningful, people-centeredplaces

The event is particularly relevant to several upcoming developments in the core of Bend. These transformative projects include the future City Hall site, the Bend Central District and the Korpine site located near Crux.

Reardon will also explore how public-private partnerships can help integrate public spaces with private development. This approach is intended to create more vibrant neighborhoods through collaborative design and planning.

The Building a Better Bend board highlighted the importance of community involvement in the city’s future. “This lecture is an opportunity for Bend residents to engage with cutting-edge ideas in urban design and consider how we can build a more connected and joyful community,” the board said in a statement.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Cascades East Transit will implement significant service enhancements across Central Oregon beginning May 4th, 2026. The changes include increased bus frequency on Bend routes and the launch of a new route in Jefferson County connecting Warm Springs and Madras.

The transit system, which is operated by the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, designed the improvements to increase reliability and expand access for riders. The update includes system-wide changes focused on safety, bus cleanliness, and customer service.

Routes 1 and 4 on Third Street will run every 15 minutes during the busiest weekday service hours. This is an improvement from the current 30-minute intervals. Additional routes in Bend will increase weekday peak service from 45-minute to 30-minute intervals. Select high-demand segments near Neff Road, St. Charles Medical Center, and portions of 27th Street will also improve to 15-minute frequency.

A new route in Jefferson County will begin service on May 5th, 2026. The line will connect Warm Springs and Madras to Kah-Nee-Ta and Simnasho. The route is intended to improve connectivity to health care, jobs, and essential services while providing new recreational opportunities.

Andrea Wasilew serves as the outreach and engagement administrator at CET. She highlighted the program’s focus on connecting with specific groups in the region. “Our goal is to make transit easy to understand and accessible for everyone in our community,” Wasilew said. “Through ongoing outreach and partnerships, we’re connecting with riders where they are – supporting seniors, people with disabilities, and rural residents in accessing transportation and staying connected to essential services.” 

The agency will also add a new stop at the Central Library in Bend on May 11th, 2026. Beyond specific routes, CET is advancing upgrades to existing bus stops and transit facilities. Other system-wide efforts include enhancing call center support, improving schedule reliability, and increasing public awareness of service changes.

Cascades East Transit is also focusing on professionalism and customer service. Improvements are planned for bus cleanliness and overall on-time performance for the network.

Riders will begin to see updated schedules and information at bus stops, on buses, and at Hawthorne Station in Bend. Further information is available on the Cascades East Transit website or by calling the customer service center at 541-385-8680.

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Kelsey Merison

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon U.S. Senator Ron Wyden is demanding answers from Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano over a recent executive order that would create a national voter database. The order requires the Social Security Administration to share citizenship data with the Department of Homeland Security to establish a list of eligible voters across the United States.

Wyden, the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, expressed concerns that the directive undermines the rights of states to manage their own registered voter lists. The move comes amid ongoing debates over mail-in voting and the introduction of the SAVE America Act. That bill is currently under consideration by the Senate and contains similar provisions that would compel states to share voter registration lists with the Department of Homeland Security to verify citizenship.

Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, sent a formal letter to Bisignano characterizing the executive order as an attempt to suppress mail-in voting. He argued that the use of private Social Security Administration data acts as a “backdoor” to influence federal election eligibility.
“This latest brazen attempt to create a national voter database aims to undermine the rights of states to conduct their own elections, including manage their registered voter lists and use private SSA data as a backdoor to give Donald Trump power over who is eligible to vote in federal elections,” Wyden wrote. “Facilitating Trump’s directive to create a flawed voter database would be willing participation in blatant voter suppression ahead of consequential midterm elections.”

The U.S. Constitution grants states the power to establish the times, places, and manner of elections. This includes the creation and management of voter lists. The Trump administration has previously requested that states provide their voter registration lists, leading to concerns regarding privacy, security, and potential violations of the Privacy Act. The creation of a national database would give the administration unprecedented access to private voter data.

Oregon serves as a primary example in the debate over voting methods because it is one of nine states that conducts elections by mail. While the administration has claimed mail-in voting leads to higher cases of fraud, state data shows a low incidence of criminal activity.

A review by Oregon’s Legislative Fiscal Office found that approximately 61 million ballots were cast between 2000 and 2019. During that 19-year period, there were 38 criminal convictions for voter fraud in Oregon. This represents a fraud rate of .00006%. These findings contradict assertions that mail-in systems are prone to widespread abuse.

Wyden also addressed the timing of the executive order in relation to upcoming midterm elections. He criticized the administration’s broader policy agenda while questioning the motivations behind the database directive. “This is a desperate last-ditch effort by a failing president to suppress American votes because his agenda of pardoning pedophiles, embarking on his Iran war and ripping away health care is about to lose him the midterms,” Wyden said earlier this week of Trump’s executive order. 

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Kelsey Merison

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Forestry is inviting public comment starting April 3rd on planned timber sales, recreation projects, and forest management activities. The feedback period for the draft Annual Operations Plans for state-owned forests runs through May 18th.

These plans outline on-the-ground activities expected to occur during the coming fiscal year. By law, Oregon state forests must be managed to provide social, economic, and environmental benefits, including clean water, fish and wildlife habitat, and revenue for rural communities and timber-related economies.

The plans involve seven specific districts across the state: Astoria, Forest Grove, Klamath Falls, North Cascade, Tillamook, West Oregon, and Western Lane. These annual plans describe discrete activities designed to achieve broader objectives established in long-range Forest Management Plans and Implementation Plans. Participants can view the documents on the State Forests’ Annual Operations Plans website.

Common activities detailed in the operations plans include timber harvest operations, forest road construction, and maintenance and recreation improvement projects. The documents also cover reforestation and young stand management, habitat improvement for native species and invasive species management.

Department officials said the most useful public input identifies whether activities are consistent with longer-range plans, offers suggestions to improve efficiency, or provides additional solution-oriented information. The plans also undergo interagency reviews.

There are three primary methods for the public to submit feedback. Online comments can be submitted through the Oregon Department of Forestry website and digital comments can be emailed to odf.sfcomments@oregon.gov. Physical mail can be sent to ODF Public Affairs at 2600 State St. in Salem.

The public comment period closes at 5 p.m. May 18th. Following the review of public input and agency feedback, the plans will guide operations for the upcoming fiscal year.

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Kelsey Merison

SALEM, ORE. (KTVZ) — Emma Keen, an 11th-grade student at the Oregon School for the Deaf in Salem, will compete in the 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Semifinals in Washington, D.C., on April 28th. Keen will represent Oregon as one of the state champions vying for a spot in the national finals and a $20,000 grand prize.

The competition is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with state arts agencies. Designed to improve public speaking skills and teach literary history, this year’s event coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States. Participating students will recite poems from an anthology that celebrates historic American voices.

Keen is scheduled to participate in the third semifinal session at 2:00 p.m. PST (5:00 p.m. ET) on Tuesday, April 28th. This session includes champions from 19 jurisdictions, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Minnessota, and Washington. Keen is the 2026 Oregon champion and is one of more than 130,000 students to compete in the program nationwide this year.

2026 Oregon Poetry Out Loud competitors (Emma Keen is third from the right, dressed in all black)

The national semifinals consist of three separate sessions. A total of nine students will advance to the national finals. To qualify for the finals, students must place in the top three of their respective semifinal sessions. Judges will evaluate each recitation based on physical presence, articulation, interpretation, and accuracy.

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Mary Anne Carter highlighted the educational impact of the competition. “Poetry Out Loud helps students discover the power of language while building confidence, communication skills, and a deeper connection to literature,” Carter said. “We are thrilled to welcome our champions to Washington, DC, during America’s 250th birthday. In reciting works that helped shape our nation’s history, they are honoring the past while developing the skills to shape the future.”

A total of $50,000 in cash prizes and school stipends will be awarded during the competition. The national champion receives a $20,000 grand prize. The second and third place finalists will be awarded $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. These monetary prizes are administered by Mid Atlantic Arts.

All competition sessions are free and open to the public at the George Washington University Lisner Auditorium. The organizers will provide American Sign Language interpretation and closed captioning in English and Spanish for both the semifinals and finals. Those unable to attend in person can view the events through a one-time-only webcast at arts.gov.

The 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Champion will be announced at the conclusion of the finals on the evening of April 29th. Full results and a list of all participating champions are available at PoetryOutLoud.org.

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Kelsey Merison

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A measles exposure has been confirmed at a Safeway in Portland, prompting health officials to warn the public of potential risks. The Oregon Health Authority and Multnomah County public health officials identified the grocery store at 2800 SE Hawthorne Blvd. as the site of the exposure.

The potential exposure occurred during specific time windows between March 26th and March 29th. The exposure windows occurred over four consecutive days. Potential exposures are linked to Thursday, March 26th, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, March 27th, from 2 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, March 28th, from 2:20 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, March 29th, from 2 p.m. to midnight.

Health officials are urging anyone who visited the location during those times to contact their health care provider to determine their immunity based on vaccination records, age, or prior infection history.

For individuals who do not have a primary care provider, Multnomah County offers services at seven primary care clinics and nine student health centers. While the health centers are located at high schools, they are available to anyone between the ages of 5 and 18. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 503-988-5558.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Viral particles can remain suspended in the air for up to 2 hours after an infectious individual has left the area. Those infected are contagious for four days before a rash appears and for four days after the rash develops.

Symptoms of the virus generally begin 7-21 days after exposure. Early signs include a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. A rash typically follows, starting on the face before spreading to the rest of the body. Common complications include ear infections, lung infections, and diarrhea, though swelling of the brain can occur in rare cases.

Health officials identified several high-risk groups, including children under age 5, adults more than 20, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems. In developed countries, the fatality rate for measles is between one and three deaths for every 1,000 cases.

Vaccination provides the highest level of protection against the virus. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing infection. Public health officials noted that the risk of severe disease is very low for those who are up to date on their vaccinations.

To prevent further community spread, individuals experiencing symptoms are asked to contact their medical provider or an urgent care center by telephone before arriving. This allows clinics to establish an entry plan that prevents exposing other patients in waiting rooms.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — At Assistance League Bend, volunteers don’t just fill roles, they stretch beyond them.

“We do. I mean, that’s what you get with an all-volunteer organization,” said Lisa Sarmiento, the assistant treasurer. “Everybody’s pitching in, and maybe they’re out of their comfort zone. I’ve learned a ton about how to work on websites. I never expected to know how to do web anything.”

Assistance League Bend volunteers

That spirit of adaptability fuels a nonprofit that runs a wide array of programs serving Deschutes County and beyond. From youth-focused initiatives to outreach for seniors, volunteers power nearly every aspect of the organization.

Supporting Youth and Seniors

Most of the league’s programs are designed for students and youth, but volunteers say their impact extends across generations.

Senior-focused efforts from the nonprofit include providing free personal hygiene items to to seniors in 17 long-term memory care and assisted living facilities throughout Deschutes County.

Assistance League Bend’s Secret Santa

‘Senior Connections’ is another example, where detailed handmade cards, designed and created by members, are delivered year-round.

“When you’re in a facility, you’re so separated from the rest of society,” Sarmiento said. “We just want people to know that they’re not forgotten.”

Signature Programs Make a Difference

Among the organization’s most visible efforts is Cinderella’s Closet, chaired by Dianne Benson. The program offers a boutique-style experience where students can select formalwear at no cost.

“They can get shoes, handbags, jewelry, and just feel like a princess for the night,” Benson said.

Cinderella’s Closet

Another cornerstone program, Operation School Bell, serves roughly 2,700 children each year. Students are invited to shop for new clothing with a set budget, allowing them to choose items that reflect their personal style.

“We want kids to have fewer barriers to their education,” Sarmiento said. “We want them to feel confident and excited about going to school.”

Operation School Bell

In addition, Assistance League Bend provides emergency clothing to children entering or transitioning in the foster care system through a partnership with Every Child Central Oregon, another one of our 21 Cares for Kids partners.

Teaching Life Skills Through Cooking

Beyond clothing assistance, the nonprofit is also helping children build practical skills through ‘These Kids Are Cooking’, which is an after-school initiative led by retired educators.

These Kids Are Cooking

The program goes beyond basic nutrition education: teaching students how to plan meals, prepare ingredients, and cook independently.

“If you don’t know how to cut things or cook things, it doesn’t matter if you know what’s healthy,” Sarmiento said. “It’s taking kids from knowing to actually doing.”

Volunteers Find Purpose and Community

For many volunteers, the work offers both personal fulfillment and connection.

Lisa Sarmiento (left) and Dianne Benson (right) in Cinderella’s Closet

“I don’t have kids in my house anymore, they’re all grown and gone,” Sarmiento said. “This is a way for me to care for children, especially local kids that maybe need a little extra.”

Benson said the reward comes from seeing the impact firsthand.

“Seeing the kids when they come into Cinderella’s Closet or Operation School Bell, to see the looks on their faces when they can go ahead and just be like everyone else. It’s a wonderful, wonderful feeling,” Benson said.

Volunteers also build lasting friendships through their shared mission.

Assistance League Bend volunteers

“You get to meet different people, and you build friendships,” Benson added. “We’re all here for the same thing, to help our community.”

Fundraisers and Community Support

The nonprofit is currently inviting community members to get involved through donations, volunteering, and upcoming events.

One major fundraiser, the Dream Trip Raffle, offers travel prizes with $30 tickets. Proceeds help fund programs like Operation School Bell, with ticket sales closing April 15th and a drawing set for April 17th.

Another highly anticipated event, the Kitchen Kaleidoscope Home Tour, returns June 20th in Eagle Crest. The event features tours of local homes paired with culinary experiences from area chefs.

“You get to meet a local chef, sample some food,” Sarmiento said. “It’s just a fun day out!”

A Growing Need for Help

As the organization expands its reach, the need for volunteers continues to grow.

“We always need volunteers,” Sarmiento said. “Many hands make light work.”

From sewing chemotherapy hats to confidence through clothing, opportunities span a wide range of interests and skills.

“We kind of do it all,” Sarmiento said.

For Assistance League Bend, that all-hands-on-deck approach is exactly what keeps its mission moving forward.

Click here to learn more about Assistance League Bend.

To learn more about our 21 Cares for Kids partners, click here.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend-area man charged along with his nephew with murder and conspiracy in the 2020 deaths of a couple at their northeast Bend home has pleaded guilty to reduced manslaughter charges and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. 

Kenneth Wayne Atkinson, now 61, and his nephew, Nathan Shane Detroit, now 35, were arrested on murder and conspiracy charges in October of 2021, more than a year after the August 2020 alleged murder-for-hire killings of Atkinson’s younger brother, Ray Atkinson Jr., 34, and his fiancé, Natasha “Tasha” Newby, 29.  

The couple’s bodies were found in the basement of their Northeast 12th Street home by a concerned friend and relative checking on their welfare. Then-District Attorney John Hummel said they died of blunt force trauma. 

Kenneth Atkinson, Nathan Shane Detroit II (Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office)

Court records show Atkinson filed a guilty petition on March 20 to two counts each of first-degree manslaughter and conspiracy to commit murder. Two murder charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal, and he was sentenced that day on the four Class A felonies by Deschutes County Circuit Judge Wells Ashby.

Detroit, who also pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder and two counts of conspiracy, is still scheduled for an eight-week jury trial that’s currently set to begin on June 15, although a two-day settlement conference in that case is scheduled for April 13-14, court records show. A similar settlement conference took place last May. 

Deputy District Attorney Matthew Nelson told KTVZ News on Thursday, “Our office cannot disclose specifics of negotiations, as the co-defendant’s case is still pending trial.”

“However,” Nelson added, “with this resolution, Mr. Atkinson has admitted guilt, waived all rights to appeal and will serve the full 25 years in prison. Finality was important to our office, and to the victims’ families.

“Should Mr. Atkinson survive his time in prison, he will be 82 years old if released,” the prosecutor said. 

The 2 victims in this case: Ray Atkinson (left), and Natasha Newby (right).

Court records filed since the killing quoted several witnesses who said Kenneth Atkinson had threatened the couple several times. The brothers had been in a dispute since their father’s death in 2019 over the house where Atkinson and Newby were living. There was no will, and the brothers were named co-executors of the $400,000 estate.

A judge in June 2022 set late 2023 and early 2024 trial dates for the two men, but further delays ensued.

Damian Lawson, 38, a Texas resident who called Kenneth Atkinson “Uncle Kenny,” told KTVZ News Thursday he was a “really good friend” of his parents and that they had been following the case “since day one.”

But he said he didn’t believe Atkinson had done what he was accused of – until learning of his recent guilty plea.

“I”m still blown away he pleaded guilty,” Lawson told us. “Until I found out and was told, I still had the belief that he was innocent.”

Lawson said around the time of the killings, Kenneth Atkinson moved to Nevada and came back to Central Oregon to help his father move.

He said he thought back to everything that happened around that time. The day after the alleged killings, Lawson said they’d picked him up for dinner and he sat with Lawson’s children in the car.

“To be sitting next to my kids — I’d have never thought it of him,” until he heard” Atkinson admitted to the killings.

Now, Lawson said, “I can’t say that I feel that enough justice has been done, honestly – it being true, what he did to his own brother. As much as I loved the guy growing up, after what he did, I can’t think of him the same any more. If the families feel that justice has been done for (the killings), I’m happy for them. I feel it should have gone to the death penalty.”

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