Jefferson County
Warm Springs Completes 40+ Energy Efficiency Upgrades Through Energy Trust Partnership
Energy Trust of Oregon has completed more than 40 energy upgrade projects on the Warm Springs Reservation over the past two years, reducing energy costs for tribal households and buildings. The partnership is a model for rural tribal energy efficiency.
Business
Jefferson County Climbs Up Oregon's Economic Distress Rankings — Progress, But Work Remains
Jefferson County has improved from the third most economically distressed county in Oregon to the eighth, according to new state data. EDCO officials say targeted investment is beginning to pay off — but the county still faces significant challenges.
Events
Memorial Day 2026: Jefferson County Pauses to Honor the Fallen
Today, Monday May 25, communities across Jefferson County mark Memorial Day — a federal holiday set aside to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Government offices and many businesses are closed.
Local News
Airshow of the Cascades Watching Navy Investigation After Idaho Growler Collision
Organizers of Madras' annual Airshow of the Cascades are closely monitoring the U.S. Navy's investigation into a midair collision between two EA-18G Growler jets at an Idaho air show — the same type of demonstration planned for Madras.
Jefferson County
New Bus Route Finally Connects Remote Warm Springs Communities to Madras and Kah-Nee-Ta
Cascades East Transit's new Route 21 launched May 5, running 50 miles through the Warm Springs Reservation to connect Simnasho and Kah-Nee-Ta with Madras — bringing transit service to areas that have gone without it for years.
Local News
New Data: 80 People Unsheltered in Jefferson County Despite Local Shelter Access
The 2026 Point-in-Time Count shows Jefferson County's homeless population remains largely unsheltered — 80 people reported living outside versus 23 in the Madras shelter. Regionwide, Central Oregon saw a 19% drop in homelessness.