Local News
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County Clerk Offers Transparency on Voting Process

What happens to your vote after you submit it, signature verification and important voter deadlines
Avatar photoBy Jesse Coronado

As election day approaches and voter ballots are mailed out on April 29, the Deschutes County Clerk provided community members key information they should know about the process and behind the scenes counting activity.  Steve Dennison spoke about the importance of voter registration, key voter deadlines, how votes are verified and internal processes when votes […]

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Trailing in the GOP Gubernatorial Primary, Dudley Appears to Change His Views on Abortion

The former Trail Blazer recently told OJP he is pro-choice. Now he says he is pro-life.
by Nigel Jaquiss, Oregon Journalism Project

Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Dudley is sending out conflicting messages on a litmus-test issue for many primary election voters: abortion. In October, as he mulled entering the governor’s race, the former Portland Trail Blazer told the Oregon Journalism Project in a videotaped interview that he was pro-choice—i.e., that he supported a woman’s right to abortion. […]

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Deschutes County Commissioners Approve Third-Party Arbitration for William Bailey

But the process will stretch through the May primary — and potentially — the November general election
Avatar photo by Peter Madsen

Former Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Capt. William Bailey will receive a neutral re-evaluation of his March 2 termination, the Board of County Commissioners voted April 22. While Commissioners Phil Chang, Tony DeBone and Patti Adair had the option to postpone the decision to a later date, they unanimously voted yes to Bailey’s request for a […]

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Ground Breaks on Think Wild’s Aquatic Mammal Enclosure

The enclosure is the first of its kind in Oregon and will provide temporary sanctuary for otters and beavers
Avatar photoBy Jesse Coronado

Think Wild will soon provide temporary homes for injured beavers and otters in need of rehabilitation. Construction began on a 900-square-foot enclosure which will be the first of its kind in Oregon. It will feature large filtered pools, kennels, shift doors, climb-proof walls and 10-foot-tall, enclosed fencing. The enclosure will have four separate living spaces […]

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Update: Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Payouts Near $6 Million

A lawsuit is an option for former DCSO Captain William Bailey if he’s not reinstated after an alleged retaliatory termination. It would hardly be the first.
Avatar photo by Peter Madsen

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is still dealing with the fallout of alleged favoritism and retribution that has plagued the agency for years. The sheriff’s office, and Deschutes County, are now at the center of a grievance of termination and administrative appeal by William Bailey, a former DCSO captain who ran for sheriff against Kent […]

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Bend Compiles Traffic Crash Data for New Safety Plan 

An analysis shows the most dangerous roads and intersections in Bend as of a few years ago, but many projects have changed roads since then
Avatar photo by Clayton Franke

Bend is in the process of compiling five years of traffic crash data to help inform future safety plans and wants the public to help point out problem areas.   The City of Bend launched a new survey and an interactive comment map for people to say which areas they think need safety improvements and share challenges of traveling around Bend. More than 800 people have already […]

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U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer Resigns Amid Investigation

Oregon’s highest-level link to the Trump administration is out little more than a year after Senate confirmation
by Nigel Jaquiss, Oregon Journalism Project

U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned her position April 20, amid an investigation into various allegations of professional misconduct. Chavez-DeRemer, a Republican who got her start in politics on the Happy Valley City Council, represented Oregon’s 5th Congressional District from 2023 to 2025. With strong support from the Teamsters union, Chavez-DeRemer won Senate […]

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Without an Operator, Managed Homeless Camp in Redmond Sits Vacant 

Service nonprofits say the County is asking too much for too little funding
Avatar photo by Clayton Franke

In March, Deschutes County and the City of Redmond completed construction on a 36-site campground for people transitioning out of homelessness, complete with new gravel roads, water and power infrastructure and a black slatted chain link fence.   More than a month later, the campground remains empty, a padlock and chain latching the gate shut.   Meanwhile, hundreds of […]

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BioBlitz Aims to Gather Data for New Wildlife Crossings  

The wild-life crossing project is in its pre-construction phase. Crossings serve to prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve migration route connectivity.
Avatar photoBy Jesse Coronado

A collaboration between students and biologists is moving forward in gathering data on flora and fauna on the fatal-for-wildlife Highway 20.   The program contributes to the Bend to Suttle Lake Wildlife Passage Initiative, managed by Central Oregon LandWatch the Oregon Wildlife Foundation, COLW’s fiscal sponsor. The Initiative aims to create a solution to the hundreds of wildlife-vehicle collisions along the 35 miles of Highway […]

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Six People Treated for Drug Overdoses in 24 Hours

Local batches of cocaine and ketamine have been tainted with fentanyl. Six people overdosed within 24 hours
Avatar photo by Peter Madsen

Six overdoses requiring Naloxone resuscitation and hospitalization happened within 24 hours of April 17, according to Deschutes County Health Services. The folks who overdosed weren’t intending to ingest opioids like heroin or fentanyl; they were doing cocaine and ketamine, officials say. In a press release, the Health Services Department urges the public to generally assume […]

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