Bend

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is scheduled to visit Oregon this weekend.  Senator Jeff Merkley said he’s asked the Secretary for some time to come to the state and talk about important investments in tourism.   “To discuss public recreation on public lands, which, we have these extraordinary lands that are in our collective ownership.  And we want to make sure...

State lawmakers in Oregon are considering changes to rules governing home-based food businesses.  Bend State Senator Tim Knopp is chief sponsor of the bill he said opens up opportunities for more small food-based businesses.   “Baked goods, confectionary items, coffee beans, teas, popcorn, jams, jellies, honey, syrup, fruit butters, mixed nuts, freeze-dried foods, dried and dehydrated foods.”   Je

Oregon projects aimed at increasing water efficiency will receive $198,668 in federal funding.  The grants, announced last week by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, will help the Arnold Irrigation District in Bend, the Van Brimmer Ditch Company in Klamath Falls, and the West Extension Irrigation District in Morrow County.   “Reli...

For the first time in a generation, Oregon’s 5th Congressional District is held by a Republican.  Lori Chavez-DeRemer beat Democrat Jamie McLeod Skinner by about a one-percent margin, becoming the first Oregon Congresswoman of Hispanic descent.  Judy Stiegler...

Oregon State University set an enrollment record this fall, as the population of Beavers increased 3.3% year-over-year. At 35,239 students, OSU remains the largest university in the state, marking nine years in a row at the top spot. The enrollment includes students learning at OSU locations in Corvallis, Bend, Portland, Newport, La Grande and through the university’s online E-campus program.   ..

The Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District will offer their 3rd and final workshop of the Irrigation Water Management Series on October 6th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Deschutes OSU Extension Office Building 4 in Redmond.  The session will be a panel discussion with farmers from Arnold, Tumalo, and Central Oregon Irrigation districts, discussing how they managed their irrigation water, wh

Central Oregon Irrigation District has announced that it will continue to run at the current delivery rate until October 1st; at that time, deliveries drop to season five flows .  When it comes to the last day of the season, October 13th has been set as the final shut off date for the Central Oregon Canal (service area east side of Bend/Alfalfa/Powell Butte), while October 14th will be the last da

“It’s definitely been a bad year for bear damage," said Michelle Dennehy, with Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, of last week’s incidents  In Bend, a cub was spotted in a neighborhood Wednesday.  It was tranquilized inside the city’...

September is National Preparedness Month, and the Oregon Office of Emergency Management is urging everyone to prepare now for potential hazards.  OEM Director Andrew Phelps said now is a good time to make sure you’re “two weeks ready.”   “Food, wate...

Oregon’s State Fire Marshal’s Office is taking public feedback as the agency develops new statewide code for defensible space.  OSFM’s Allison Green said they’ve heard concerns from farmers and ranchers in areas that might be considered at high or extreme risk for wildfires, which would trigger potential future code enforcement.   “We have folks here...