Several cars of a BNSF Railway cargo train derailed at about 2:30am Monday near Madras, spilling about 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel from the fuel tank of an engine. The 80-car train, carrying vehicles and other cargo, had two crew members who were not injured, according to BNSF spokesperson Courtney Wallace. The train hit boulders on […]
Hilary Corrigan
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DA Cautiously Optimistic with Budget Result
‘Hybrid’ solution involves some new staff, some work changes
District Attorney John Hummel is looking forward to seeing how a “creative” solution plays out after a back-and-forth with the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners in the spring over funding he requested for nearly a dozen new positions. “We ended up in a good place,” Hummel said. Hummel had argued that due to a high […]
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Cuts to Public Advisory Groups Spark Concern
Senators highlight the importance of public participation in BLM decisions
Oregon’s senators want to spare the volunteer groups that advise the Bureau of Land Management from proposed cuts, warning that getting rid of the groups could hinder the public from managing public lands. An executive order from President Donald Trump in June called for each executive department and agency across the federal government to evaluate […]
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Get Your Local Road Improvement Ideas Ready
Program targets safety fixes for Bend streets
Those looking to make changes to roads in their Bend neighborhoods can get their proposals ready. A new city program targets small-scale residential street projects, focusing on pedestrian and bike safety, speeding, intersection crossings and other issues, according to information from the city. The Bend City Council in June had approved an $800,000 two-year budget […]
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Police Identify Body
Cops are still looking for more information from the public
A body found early this week west of Sunriver is that of 48-year-old Curtis Fredrick Pagel, according to a news release from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. A camper walking a dog reported the decomposed body on Sunday. Authorities suspect foul play in the case. Lt. Chad Davis with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said Friday […]
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Highway 97 Changes Advance
Traffic flow, safety, development benefits expected
Long-planned efforts to improve US 97 at Bend’s north end have moved a step closer to construction with a $60.4 million federal grant. The project to reroute US 97 on the north side of the city will complete the final segment of the Bend Parkway. The money from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Infrastructure for […]
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Filling a Void
Public housing projects aim to combat flat wages, high housing costs
More public housing will open over the next year or two, providing a much-needed supply of homes for a growing Central Oregon population that faces rising housing costs and incomes that fail to keep up. In an annual update to Deschutes County commissioners July 24, David Brandt, executive director of the local public housing authority, […]
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Dog Walker Finds Decomposed Body Near Sunriver
Authorities suspect foul play
Authorities suspect a decomposed body found near Sunriver on Sunday is the victim of foul play. Someone camping in the area reported the body after walking a dog that found the remains, according to Sgt. William Bailey of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. The state medical examiner’s office in Clackamas finished an autopsy on Tuesday, […]
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Bomb Scare Closes Downtown Bend Roads, Buildings
Suspicious package deemed a hoax
A suspicious package at the Deschutes County Courthouse caused roads and buildings to close Monday morning in downtown Bend. Authorities found it contained no explosives and deemed it a hoax. A 911 call just after 7 am Monday reported a bomb directed at the courthouse, according to Sgt. William Bailey with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. […]
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Bend Changes Bulbs as Climate Plans Take Shape
City switches street lights to more efficient bulbs; community tackles bigger tasks
Bend begins switching its street lights to LEDs this week—part of a broader effort to reduce the city’s fossil fuel use and grow more resilient in a warming climate. The move changes the light fixtures of about 2,300 street lights on public roads to light-emitting diode fixtures. The new LED lights use up to 50% […]
