Local News
St. Charles Madras Among 21 Oregon Hospitals to Receive Rural Maternity Care Funding
A state investment in maternity care infrastructure at 21 rural Oregon hospitals includes St. Charles Medical Center–Madras, offering some relief to a county where access to obstetric care has been a persistent challenge.
Business
Jefferson County Commissioners Approve Site Agreement for Proposed Battery Storage Project Near Madras
Jefferson County commissioners have approved a site control agreement for a proposed large-scale battery energy storage project in Madras, clearing the way for a feasibility study on what could become a major renewable energy infrastructure addition to the region.
Local News
New Midday Bus Trips Now Connecting Madras and Redmond as Cascades East Transit Expands Service
A new weekday 11:30 a.m. departure from the Madras DMV fills a longstanding midday gap in public transit between Jefferson County and Redmond. Additional morning trips to Bend were also added in the mid-June expansion.
Election 2026
Jefferson County Primary Results Certified: Both Incumbent Commissioners Headed to November
Both Mark Wunsch (Position 1) and Kelly Simmelink (Position 2) led their fields after May 19 primary ballots were counted. All four contested county races advance to the November general election.
Election 2026
State Police Committee Recommends Lifetime Decertification for Jefferson County Sheriff Candidate Tyler Anderson
Oregon’s Police Policy Committee voted May 21 to recommend permanent revocation of Tyler Anderson’s law enforcement credentials — two days after he advanced to the November general election against incumbent Sheriff Jason Pollock.
Local News
Health Advisory Now Covers All of Lake Billy Chinook. Here’s What Visitors Need to Know.
Oregon health officials have expanded a cyanobacteria advisory to all three arms of Lake Billy Chinook, warning against swimming and high-speed water activities. The advisory is in effect heading into the Fourth of July weekend.