Located on the Warm Springs Reservation, Pelton Round Butte Hydro Project Now in Exclusive “Low-Impact” Club The largest hydroelectric project totally inside Oregon’s borders is now officially generating green power, with a designation achieved by only 26 hydro plants in the United States.   Pelton Round Butte Dam – photo courtesy warmsprings.com On March 28, the Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) Board certified the Pelton Round Butte project as low impact, based on an array of planned ... [full story]

Donate Life Northwest (formerly Oregon Donor Program) announced today the launch of a statewide online donor registry. The secure electronic system provides a safe, easy way for individuals to be certain their wishes to become an organ, eye and tissue donor are known and honored.  Currently, nearly 1.5 million Oregonians have “D” marked on their driver’s licenses, indicating their decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor. However, consent must be given by the ... [full story]

A new multi-agency traffic team (MAT) comprised of four law enforcement agencies within Deschutes County will begin April 11 with enhanced and saturated enforcement of traffic laws on the Bend Parkway, authorities reported. The MAT team operations will be conducted on a monthly rotating schedule between the involved agencies including Bend and Redmond Police Departments, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, and Oregon State Police (OSP), Sgt. Ron Taylor with Bend Police said.  “The purpose of this ... [full story]

Task force seeks other possible victims in Oregon, California A man wanted by the FBI's Los Angles-based SAFE Team (Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement) was arrested earlier this week in Portland, Oregon, pending his transfer to Los Angeles. David Charles Leonard, 46, was indicted in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on charges of possession of child pornography, J. Stephen Tidwell, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles announced.   David Charles Leonard – ... [full story]

SAN FRANCISCO - A bill being considered by the California Legislature would allow the state to remove pension fund investments from any foreign company tied to Iran.Written by Assemblyman Joel Anderson, R-El Cajon, the proposed bill would expand upon the current ban of U.S. companies dealing with Iran and remove all state-devoted pension funds from foreign businesses that deal with the Middle Eastern nation, The New York Times reported.The Republican assemblyman said Friday that the ... [full story]

KABUL - Taliban rebels in Afghanistan staged three public hangings of men they accused of being spies for British NATO forces in the area.A correspondent for The Independent said two of the men were hanged Sunday from trees in front of a crowd in a village between Musa Qala and Gereshk and the third was hanged in the main street in Musa Qala.Nizamuddin Khan, a Taliban commander, said the hangings were an example for the ... [full story]

TEHRAN - Citing "positive changes" in relations with Britain, Iranian state television said it would stop airing videotape of 15 detained British sailors and marines.Since the group was taken into custody March 23, Iranian state television has repeatedly shown videos of three males and one female sailor in its claims they had been in Iranian waters.However, a Novosti news agency correspondent in Tehran said Monday that despite the announcement, state television showed another clip of ... [full story]

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Fire officials in Arizona have warned that due to an especially dry winter, this year's fire season will likely last longer and be more dangerous.Officials such as Glendale Fire Department Deputy Chief Elio Pompa told the Arizona Republic that state residents should act now to prevent a dangerous fire season by removing combustible growth from their property.To help in the awareness effort, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano tabbed March 18-24 as Wildfire Awareness ... [full story]

An 11-year-old boy was critically injured Sunday afternoon when his mother’s pickup lost control, hit a snowbank and rolled on Timberline Road near the Mt. Hood Highway, Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers reported.  Philip Hunter Kollar of Banks was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected in the accident.   11-year old Philip Hunter Kollar was critically injured after being ejected from a pickup during a rollover accident Sunday afternoon on Timberline Road. He was ... [full story]

For the second time in nine days, a home at 651 SE Reed Market Road in Bend has apparently been targeted by arson, officials reported. Fire investigators were called to the vacant home owned by James Pasmore immediately following an alarm at 2:51 a.m. Monday April 2, Fire Inspector Dan Derlacki wrote in a news release issued by the Bend Fire Department.  “This fire is being treated as suspicious in nature,” he said, adding that the ... [full story]