Local News
New Bus Route Reaches Remote Warm Springs Communities; 40-Plus Energy Projects Also Complete
The Warm Springs Reservation got two significant infrastructure wins this month: a new Cascades East Transit bus route now connects Simnasho and Kah-Nee-Ta to the outside world four days a week, and more than 40 energy efficiency upgrades have been completed across the reservation in partnership with Energy Trust of Oregon.
Weather
Memorial Day Wind Advisory Packs a Punch; Weather Returns to Normal This Week
A powerful Pacific front swept through Central Oregon on Memorial Day, bringing wind gusts up to 55 mph to the Madras and Redmond areas and dropping temperatures sharply. The system has moved on, with warmer, calmer conditions expected through the week.
Events
Navy F-18 Growler Team to Headline 26th Annual Airshow of the Cascades in Madras This August
The U.S. Navy's elite F-18 Growler Demonstration Team has confirmed it will perform at the 26th Annual Bright Wood Airshow of the Cascades on August 28–29, 2026, at Madras Municipal Airport — shaping up to be the biggest show in the event's history.
Election 2026
Drazan-Kotek Rematch Locked In for November: What It Means for Jefferson County
Christine Drazan won the Republican primary for Oregon governor on May 19, setting up a November rematch with incumbent Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek. Jefferson County, which votes heavily Republican, will be a closely watched piece of the electoral map.
Public Safety
Forecasters Warn of Severe 2026 Wildfire Season for Oregon; Jefferson County Already Under Burn Restrictions
AccuWeather and Oregon state fire officials are sounding the alarm about the 2026 wildfire season, citing record-low snowpack, historic drought, and dry vegetation. Jefferson County has been under summer burn restrictions since May 4.
Local News
Plan Ahead: 20-Minute Delays on Highway 26 Between Warm Springs and Mount Hood Through June 15
ODOT and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are removing hundreds of hazardous dead and dying trees along U.S. Highway 26 between mileposts 71 and 87. Drivers should expect delays of 20 minutes or more Monday through Thursday through mid-June.