Category: ktvz-local-news

KTVZ

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — It’s been a relatively mild and calm late fall so far, but with winter coming, Prineville Police had a fun suggestion Thursday for how to stay safe on slick sidewalks: Waddle like a penguin.

“It’s that time of year when the sidewalks turn into surprise skating rinks and suddenly everyone in town thinks they’re a figure skater… right up until gravity humbles them,” the department said in a Facebook post.

“So please, for the love of your tailbone, walk like a penguin:

Arms out like you’re questioning your life choices

Tiny steps like you just saw a Lego on the floor

Full waddle — the kind that would make actual penguins proud

Waddling = dignity protected

Walking normally = an audition for America’s Funniest Home Videos,” the safety post concluded.

Click here to follow the original article.

KTVZ

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) –– Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-Oregon), alongside Senators Mike Crapo and James Risch (both R-Idaho) are leading a bipartisan coalition of 83 lawmakers in sending a letter Thursday to House leadership, requesting urgent reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Self Determination Act.

The bill, which the Senate unanimously passed in June, would reauthorize the program through fiscal year 2026 and provide lapsed payments for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, the senators said in a news release.

Funding for the SRS program lapsed in September of 2023, with the last authorized payments distributed to counties in early 2024. They totaled more than $47.7 million, including more than $2.56 million for Central Oregon counties.

“. . . Counties and school districts across 41 states have seen a 63 percent cut in funding. This $177 million loss is devastating for rural communities, leading to school closures, delayed road and bridge maintenance and reduced public safety services. These are not abstract policy debates; they are tangible consequences for local governments and the communities that steward untaxed federal lands,” the letter reads.

Background on the SRS program:

The first SRS program co-authored by Wyden was authorized in 2000 with enactment of the SRS and Community Self-Determination Act.

This legislation specifically assists counties containing tracts of federally owned forest land that are tax-exempt.

The program provides payments to county governments in areas where those forests are located because counties do not receive tax revenue from federal land; the payments come through timber receipts and other revenue generating activities within U.S. national forests.

In Oregon, $78.4 million was spread across 33 counties to help pay for educational programs, emergency response systems and other services this past year.

Since the program was not reauthorized, county payments reverted to 1908 timber sharing law, which represents about an 80 percent cut for some counties.

The entire letter is here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Claire Elmer

(Update: adding video, interview with Dr. Campbell of Recover Together Bend)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The holidays are often portrayed as joyful, warm, and filled with togetherness — but for those in addiction recovery or struggling with mental health challenges, the season can look very different. Instead of comfort, many experience a spike in loneliness, grief, and emotional triggers.

Dr. David Campbell, Clinic and Program Director at Recover Together Bend Treatment Center, says the “holiday ideal” doesn’t match reality for many families.

“The holidays can certainly be a wonderful time for warmth, happiness, togetherness,” Dr. Campbell said Thursday. “But this idealized fantasy of the holidays can actually amplify vulnerabilities and those struggling with mental health and be triggering for people in substance abuse.”

Studies show that up to 50% of people relapse within the first three months of sobriety — and those rates can more than double during the holidays.

Dr. Campbell says some of the most common triggers are the ones right in front of us: family tension, disrupted routines, and returning to old places or people associated with past use.

“We get put back into certain environments where we used to maybe use,” he said. “Empty seats at the table can reopen old grief and loss wounds. Dysfunctional family dynamics can again resurface — that can be deeply triggering and activating for people that struggle.”

He recommends having a plan that includes boundaries, time limits, and support. Communication is key: let someone know you may need to step out, bring a sober friend, or keep a sponsor on standby. Loved ones can also play an important role by simply noticing when someone seems “off.”

“The holidays may not necessarily create pain, but they can certainly illuminate it,” Dr. Campbell said. “And so when we notice that people are struggling, it’s not a weakness. It’s not a moral failing. It’s not a lack of resilience. Being empathetic, kind, courteous, offering connection and support, and a lot of understanding can make all the difference in the world for those that are struggling.”

For anyone who feels this year is hitting harder than usual — maybe drinking more often or withdrawing from others — experts urge that you don’t ignore it. Even small steps can help someone stay grounded and enter the new year on more solid footing.

If you or someone you know is struggling this holiday season, reach out to a mental health professional or someone you trust. You’re not alone.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Draxton

BEND, Ore (KTVZ) — The annual Christmas Parade is returning to the streets of downtown Bend, this Saturday, December 6th at noon.

Cascade Relays is producing the annual festivity for the first time. CEO and founder, Scott Douglass, said, “our north star of the Christmas Parade is and always remains putting smiles on the faces of the children of Bend.”

The annual Downtown Bend Christmas Parade is a staple of the holiday season, taking place every year for over 50 years.

Douglass said attendees should expect participants to include anyone, “from the fire department and the police department that are going to be in the parade all the way down to to local dog goups that wants to march in the parade with their frenchies.”

The goal of the annual festivities? To celebrate the community coming together.

The Grand Marshall of the 2025 Downtown Bend Christmas Parade is RL Garrigus. Folks selected to be the Grand Marshall are those who’ve had a widespread impact in the community.

Speaking on previous Grand Marshall’s Garrigus said they are, “really great people that have lived within the community, been a part of the community for many, many years. It’s a great honor.”

This year, the theme of the event is a Storybook Christmas, wrapping themes from all your favorite holiday tales.

Douglass recommends attendees get out by 10 am Saturday to secure their spots.

“Right there on Wall Street is such a beautiful place to watch the parade from. We’ll have our announcers stand right there at the intersection of Minnesota and Wall Street,” said Douglass.

In addition, with this being Cascade Relay’s first year producing the parade, they will be introducing a new and exciting race happening the same day, prior to the parade, the Mistletoe Miler. The three-mile fun run and walk will stretch along Deschutes River Trail, starting and finishing at Bend Brewing Co. in Downtown. There will be mistletoe moments, holiday cheer, and photo ops, all happening at 9:30 am.

The KTVZ News Team will also be participating in the parade, so feel free to say hello!

Click here to follow the original article.

Shannon Brady

It has been nearly a week after the expected opening day and Mt. Bachelor and this year is off to a slow start. The current base depth reads at just 2 inches.

Mt. Bachelor had an incredible 2024-2025 season. The resort opened early, on November 15th, which was the earliest open in 26 years. Don’t worry, because the four out of five of the last opening days were “late starts”. Mt. Bachelor shared with KTVZ the opening dates since 2020 and most were in early December.

The Climate Prediction Center forecasts a warm and wet Northwest through at least mid December. unfortunately, that pattern isn’t conducive for those “big dumps” we love to see. Temperatures are pushing 10-15 degrees above season averages into next week. The forecast calls for mostly rain and a wintry mix across the mountains which means totals won’t amount to much. You can expect 0-3″ by the end of the weekend. We will pick up more snow next week but it still looks pretty wet versus wintry.

Courtesy: Climate Prediction Center

Mt. Bachelor also shared with KTVZ average snowfall totals for the months of October through December. As expected, December usually pulls in the most snowfall, with an average of 88″ over the course of the month. The average total snowfall the mountain receives in a season is 410″.

Take a look below at the season snowfall totals for the last 10 years. The 2015-2016 season, the 2016-2017 season, the 2022-2023 season, and last year were all years the mountain received above average snowfall.

We are in a weak La Nina pattern which often provides above average snowfall across the Cascades. Last winter started as a weak La Nina but the event didn’t last long enough to be considered a La Nina winter.

El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a climate pattern defined by departures from normal in sea surface temperatures. La Nina is the cold phase, when sea surface temperature over the tropical Pacific Ocean are cooler than average and usually hint at a wetter and cooler winter in the PNW.

Courtesy: NOAA

There have been 25 La Nina winters since 1951, ten of those have occurred since 2000 but not every one has produced above average snowfall. ENSO Neutral is forecasted most likely in January to March 2026 which leads to pretty typical winter patterns and doesn’t hint at the forecast leaning any specific way.

This winter was forecasted to likely have a good snowpack with La Nina in place, but this season is slow to kick into gear. There is still time, but the region will need a few significant snow events to make up for it. Skiers and snowboarders will have to hold out on that opening day for a little while longer.

Don’t forget to download the Local Alert Weather App to stay connected with our team of meteorologists. 

You can get access to LIVE radar and receive urgent weather alerts so you’re always prepared.

Click here to follow the original article.

KTVZ – News Team

(Update: Update from Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office)

TERREBONNE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Trent Michael Conley was arrested and taken into custody at about 7:50 a.m. Thursday. He was arrested by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, Oregon State Police, and other agencies.

“There is no longer a threat to the community,” they said.

Near NW Galloway Avenue, in the east area of Highway 97, law enforcement remained present for a time. Residents were advised to “expect to see investigators and deputies in the area for the next few hours.”

DCSO Public Information Officer Jason Carr told KTVZ News Thursday afternoon that they might have more information to release in the case on Friday.

“The suspect is still at the hospital and hasn’t been booked into jail yet, and the team is in the process of interviewing both the suspect and the victim,” Carr told us.

The sheriff’s office sent Deschutes Alerts to area residents early Thursday about a hit-and-run that led to the manhunt, providing a description of the fugitive and advising them to stay inside and lock their doors.

The nearby manhunt prompted closure of Terrebonne Community School, on the advice of sheriff’s deputies.The school remained closed for the day after the arrest, as staff were unable to report to the building and bus routes were not operating, the Redmond School District reported.

Previous information

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office says it is actively searching for a man wanted on a nationwide felony assault warrant, facing a slew of charges including Kidnapping I, Rape I, Assault II, Strangulation, Felony Hit and Run, Misdemeanor Hit and Run, Reckless Endangering, and Reckless Driving, following a single-vehicle rollover crash early Thursday morning near Terrebonne.

DCSO identified the suspect as 29-year-old Trent Michael Conley of Washington. According to the agency, Conley is believed to still be in the area and may be armed and dangerous.

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office searching for felony suspect Trent Michael Conley near Terrebonne

The sheriff’s office said around 1:00 a.m. Thursday morning, deputies located a female who was injured and trapped inside of a vehicle next to the Alpaca Ranch property following a rollover crash. Conley allegedly fled the scene.

DCSO is asking residents in the area to remain alert, do not approach Conley, and immediately contact 911 if you see him.

“The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is actively searching for a suspect who fled the scene of a single-vehicle rollover crash early this morning in the area of Odem Avenue South of Terrebonne. The crash occurred at 1:00 a.m. next to the Alpaca Ranch property, where deputies located a female who was injured and trapped inside the vehicle.

Deputies have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Trent Michael Conley of Washington State. Conley is wanted on a nationwide felony assault warrant and is facing additional charges from this incident, including Kidnapping I, Rape I, Assault II, Strangulation, Felony Hit and Run, Misdemeanor Hit and Run, Reckless Endangering, and Reckless Driving. 

Conley is believed to still be in the area and may be armed and dangerous. A K-9 unit and multiple deputies are actively searching the surrounding neighborhoods and properties. 

Residents in the area are asked to remain alert. Do not approach or attempt to contact Conley. Anyone who sees him should immediately call 911. 

This investigation remains active. Additional updates will be released as new information becomes available.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Tracee Tuesday

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A major housing proposal in southwest Redmond faced an unexpected setback this week after the Redmond Urban Area Planning Commission voted to deny a new residential project from MonteVista Homes.

The proposal would have introduced a curvilinear-style neighborhood near Southwest Helmholtz Way — a design emphasizing winding, organic streets rather than Redmond’s traditional grid system.

MonteVista Homes CEO Luke Pickerill presented the project as an opportunity to rethink neighborhood design and create a community that feels open and connected to nature.“We’ve gone to great lengths to look inside the windows of the houses and show that everywhere you look in our community, you have a sense of openness — a place people want to call home,” Pickerill said.

Despite that vision, commissioners expressed concerns about traffic flow, pedestrian access, and potential infrastructure costs tied to the nontraditional layout. Those issues ultimately led to the project’s denial after less than 2 hours of discussion.

Pickerill said he was disappointed by the decision. “We had four and a half acres of less street and utility infrastructure that didn’t have to be maintained — land that went to build parks and open spaces,” he said. “And the city said no.”

Redmond Planning Director Kyle Roberts acknowledged the unusual nature of the denial, noting that staff typically work with developers to reach an agreement. “City Planning staff very rarely recommend denial for these sorts of projects,” Roberts said. “In this case, the proposal’s major departure from Redmond’s grid street standard and several other exceptions made it one staff could not support.”

Although the commission’s decision halts MonteVista’s current plan, members indicated the door could remain open for a revised version of the project. They suggested that with more detailed planning, data, and design adjustments, a future proposal might earn approval.

Click here to follow the original article.

Cami Porter

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Tetherow Resort hosted a special Christmas shopping event this evening, the 2025 Holiday Bazaar. The event, which ran from 4pm to 8pm, offered a festive opportunity for shoppers to explore unique gifts while supporting local makers and two Bend charities.

The free holiday bazaar features vendors and artists from across Central Oregon, offering fine goods, handcrafted jewelry, candles, art, and holiday-themed items. The event typically draws around 800 attendees.

According to Tetherow Resort’s Director of Sales, Debra Hertzong, the variety of vendors showcases “a little piece of Bend and the flavor of the region,” with artisans sharing everything from garden gifts to handcrafted maps and photography.

Proceeds from the bazaar benefit two local nonprofits: Think Wild Rehab and MountainStar Family Relief Nursery.

Guests enjoyed snacks and cocktails while they browsed. For those who can’t make it tonight, Tetherow is offering two additional holiday experiences later this month: Brunch with Santa on December 14 and a Christmas Eve Buffet. Tickets for both events are available online through Tetherow Resort.

Click here to follow the original article.

Spencer Sacks

(Update: Adding video and quotes from Commissioner Phil Chang)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday to discuss an advisory committee’s recommended map to put before voters that would split the county into five districts.

During the meeting, commissioners heard from members of the District Mapping Advisory Committee (DMAC) including Bend Mayor Melanie Keebler and the facilitator of the committee, Neil Bryant.

The process for the map has been ongoing and at times contentious. After the DMAC voted 4-3 to pass map C and called off a final meeting, commissioners now must decide whether the map is acceptable and if so, send it to voters next year.

Commissioner Phil Chang was very outspoken about the map and plan during the meeting. KTVZ News caught up with Commissioner Chang after the meeting, and asked him about his views.

Commissioner Chang told KTVZ News, “Even though Democrats outnumber, Registered Democrats outnumber Registered Republicans, in the county, this map would give Republicans control of three of the five seats, on the Board of Commissioners. So it’s gerrymandered. The representation is not good.”

The five districts include: two in Bend, one in Redmond proper, one outside of Redmond including Sisters, and one down south including LaPine and Sunriver.

As has happened across the country, map making includes a lawsuit.  During the meeting, committee member and former commissioner Phil Henderson was asked about this from Commissioner Chang.

“A lawsuit can be filed whether its merit has merit or not. we’ll see.,” Henderson said during the meeting. “I feel like other members have said, we followed the guidelines of the commission, but also those laws, I don’t know. Some of this is uncharted territory a little bit. so I guess we’ll see.”

At the end of the meeting, commissioners tony debone and patti adair asked for a public hearing which will take place in the near future

Chang at that point proposed sending several other proposals to the ballot with the map, such as making the commissioners a part-time position, imposing term limits and a cap on commissioner salary increases.

Back in 2024, Commissioners voted to approve the districting plan. At the time, Commissioner Chang was enthusiastic about districting however he says the plan has gone down hill

Commissioner DeBone says he wants more discussion with Deschutes County residents before making a decision.

When that hearing happens, KTVZ will be there and bring you the details as it happens.

Click here to follow the original article.

Harley Coldiron

Defense attorney says he shot the cat, believing it was feral and was attacking his chickens

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jason Swick, 48-year-old pastor at Prineville Church of Christ, was arraigned Wednesday in Crook County Circuit Court and pleaded not guilty to a first-degree animal abuse charge, a Class A misdemeanor, according to our partners at the Prineville Review, who provided the only media coverage inside the courtroom.

The charge stems from allegations that Swick shot a neighborhood cat named Pumpkin multiple times at his home on or about Sept. 8, causing serious physical injury by leaving it permanently blind, before placing it in a dumpster behind the church.​

Pumpkin survived after emergency surgery at a Bend veterinary hospital, having been discovered alive and bleeding by owner Amanda Lougher, who rushed it for treatment following Swick’s admission.

Swick posted on Facebook, later deleted, that he believed the cat was feral and attacking his family’s chickens, expressing remorse: “I’m so sorry and feel terrible. I was afraid and didn’t know what else to do in the moment.” Lougher noted no private apology or restitution from Swick or his attorneys despite the public post.​

Defense Attorney’s Statement

Bend attorney Jason Wheeless of Gilroy Napoli Short Law Group spoke exclusively with the Prineville Review post-hearing.

“We’re a bit perplexed about this charge, since the initial law enforcement investigation determined that no wrongdoing was done, and that is actually written into a police report,” Wheeless stated. “He determined that no crime had been committed, that, Mr. Swick’s chickens were in his coop and that a stray cat or a feral cat had entered the coop and was attacking those chickens. And that because of that, he was doing nothing more than protecting his livestock.”​

Wheeless declined to address claims that Swick dumped the wounded cat in the dumpster. Crook County District Attorney Kari Hathorn confirmed the charge, stating, “The District Attorney’s Office believes the law and evidence supports the charge of animal abuse filed against Mr. Swick.  While the deputy’s report references Oregon laws that allow an owner of livestock to protect livestock from dogs, those statutes do not apply in this case.” 

Background and Community Reaction

The incident sparked protests at the church and widespread outrage in Prineville. Swick, who lists himself as a basketball referee and holds an active restricted substitute teaching license, works at Crook County High School per state records.

Next Court Steps

Swick signed an agreement Wednesday to obey all laws, keep in touch with his attorney, not possess firearms, weapons or ammunition and not possess any animals. An early-resolution conference is set for January 29 at 2 p.m. If convicted, Swick faces up to a year in jail and fines.

Click here to follow the original article.