Local News

Redmond School District will ban all personal electronic devices during school hours starting with the 2025-26 school year, following the statewide Executive Order No. 25-09 signed by Gov. Tina Kotek on July 2.  The district’s “bell to bell” policy prohibits students from using cell phones, smartwatches, smart glasses and earbuds from the start of regular […]

 Roughly 24 hours after the launch of the West Coast Health Alliance, Hawaii is joining California, Oregon, and Washington in a shared commitment to safeguard public health. Together, these states will provide evidence-based immunization guidance rooted in safety, efficacy, and transparency — ensuring residents receive credible information free from political interference. “We are proud to announce […]

The Oregon House of Representatives passed a significant transportation funding package on Monday, Sept. 1, moving the state closer to avoiding massive layoffs and maintaining critical road services across Oregon.  The bill now heads to the Senate during the ongoing special legislative session. If approved, it would prevent what could be the largest government layoff […]

Whether you’re foraging for fun or for profit, mushroom foraging in the Pacific Northwest can be very rewarding.   The commercial Matsutake mushroom season opens Tuesday, Sept. 2, in the Deschutes National Forest, giving harvesters a 62-day window to collect the prized “pine mushrooms” through Nov. 3.  Commercial permits cost $200 for the full season, $100 […]

An oxygen-acetylene welding set-up inside a shipping container leaked, causing an explosion early Friday morning damaging several buildings in NE Bend. Bend Fire & Rescue says it happened just before 5:30am Aug. 29 outside Kercher Electric on NE Yale Avenue. Debris from the explosion landed on the Bend Parkway. Several vehicles hit the debris and […]

The City of Prineville today announced the retirement of Police Chief Jeff Profio after nearly 31 years of dedicated service to law enforcement. Chief Profio has led the City’s Police Department since November 1, 2024. “We thank Chief Profio for his service to the community and commend him for his success at fostering positive relationships […]

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office says a body has been recovered from Lava Island Falls southwest of Bend. Kayakers discovered the body Wednesday, Aug. 27 when they stopped at the island to take photos. That area of the Deschutes River is difficult to access and recovery took several hours. Lava Island Falls is about two […]