Stagnant air conditions over North Central Oregon, the Lower Columbia Basin in Oregon, the foothills of the Blue Mountains and the John Day Basin is prompting the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to advise against open burning and limiting use of uncertified woodstoves. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) at Pendleton, a ridge building over Eastern Oregon today through Saturday will intensify stagnant air conditions allowing little or no mixing, keeping pollutants trapped ... [full story]

Like a thirsty juniper growing on Oregon’s high desert, Bend needs water. So do Redmond and Madras, Prineville and Sisters, Warm Springs and La Pine. Growth in central Oregon is changing the face of its people, the landscape, and water resource management.   Deschutes County's population is expected to increase 40 percent by 2020. This view, looking west from Pilot Butte, shows Bend's growth toward the Cascade Range.  All photos by Steve Dodrill.    Patrick Griffiths and Amy Jo ... [full story]

A Prineville woman arrested for drunk driving will also face charges related to the attempted kidnapping of her grandson, deputies said.  Sharon Johnson, 54, allegedly made two attempts on Tuesday to take her 23-month-old grandchild without permission from a home about ten miles south of Prineville, once fighting with the child’s caregiver and then returning armed with a pistol.   Sharon Johnson, Crook County Jail Photo Johnson’s first attempt ended in a physical fight with the child’s ... [full story]

A Hubbard, Oregon man was cited for careless driving when his vehicle slid out of control on icy roads, triggering a four-car collision and blocking all four lanes of Highway 126 west of Prineville Wednesday evening, police said. The Prineville 9-1-1 center received a call reporting a motor vehicle crash near milepost 14 of Highway 126 shortly before 6 p.m. January 10, said Detective Sgt. Travis Jurgens.  Crook County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to investigate what ... [full story]

PORTLAND -- More homebuyers in Deschutes, Jackson, Lane, Marion and Polk Counties may be eligible for FHA insured mortgages and home improvement loans under new mortgage limits effective January 1 announced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. FHA mortgage limits have been increased to better meet the need in the markets of several Oregon counties. Deschutes, Jackson and Lane mortgage limits increased again.  Over the past year, these three counties have seen ... [full story]

Redmond Mayor Alan Unger and officials from the Oregon Department of Transportation were on hand Monday, January 8 to officially open the Maple-Negus Overpass and activate the new traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 97 and Maple Avenue.   Redmond Mayor Alan Unger activates the new traffic signal at Hwy. 97 and Maple Avenue. The new overpass and traffic signal, in conjunction with the newly opened Maple Avenue Bridge, are designed to improve traffic flow.  The Maple-Negus ... [full story]

Oregon State Police are asking the public for their help in locating and prosecuting the person or persons responsible for the illegal killing of three elk, a cow and two calves, in the Terrebonne area on January 4. Troopers were called to 6800 N. Highway 97 in Terrebonne (about 22 miles north of Bend) to investigate three elk heads which were dumped along a private driveway near railroad tracks.   The TIP program offers rewards for ... [full story]

Federal law enforcement officers want the public’s help in prosecuting those responsible for cutting off the tops of about 50 trees on the Deschutes National Forest about four miles south of Sisters.   “This was a selfish act at the public’s expense,” Perl said. USFS photos. Deschutes National Forest Law Enforcement Officer Fred Perl said it appears someone destroyed the ponderosa pine and western juniper trees in late December because the trees obstructed skyline views.  The site ... [full story]

A truck driver from Fresno, California was cited for reckless driving Thursday afternoon after he lost control of his semi-truck and trailer when he attempted to pass a slower moving vehicle as another auto approached on ice and snow covered Highway 97 north of Gilchrist. Both the truck and trailer rolled on their sides, skidded down the highway, and came to rest blocking both lanes of traffic for over an hour, Oregon State Police reported. ... [full story]

In Central Oregon we have approximately 44,000 children growing up under our protection.  According to national statistics, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are being, have been, or will be sexually abused before they reach their 18th birthday.  This means approximately 8,800 children in Central Oregon will potentially fall victim to this crime.    The KIDS Center (Kids Intervention and Diagnostic Service Center), a non-profit child abuse intervention center serving Central Oregon, ... [full story]

A California couple and their three children died Friday afternoon in a three-vehicle crash on Highway 97 about fifteen miles south of the Diamond Lake junction, in almost the exact same location where another three-vehicle crash occurred the day before, said authorities. The victims were identified as driver John Stephen Hanson, 43; his wife Victoria, 44, and their children Michael, 8, Elizabeth, 12, and Matthew, 10, all of Davis, California.  Three others were transported for ... [full story]

A 20-year old Salem woman was killed Friday afternoon when she lost control of her small car on ice and snow-covered Highway 20 about three miles east of the Santiam Junction, crashing nearly head-on with a commercial truck towing a trailer, said authorities. Kara Marie Copeland of southeast Salem was westbound on Highway 20 near milepost 78, about ¼ mile east of Lost Lake when the accident occurred about 12:40 p.m. December 29, said Sgt. ... [full story]

Oregon State Police have issued an emergency report announcing that a fatal traffic crash has closed Highway 97 near milepost 231, about 15 miles south of the Diamond Lake Junction (approximately 65 miles south of Bend). The accident which occurred about 2 p.m. Friday, involved multiple vehicles with two fatalities confirmed.  Others are reportedly in serious condition. Oregon State Police (OSP), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and emergency medical responders are on scene. ODOT reports ... [full story]