Jefferson County Commissioners Advance Battery Storage Project in Madras

The Fourth of July holiday weekend is one of the busiest times of year on the Lower Deschutes River near Maupin. With drought conditions, fire restrictions, and expanded watercraft permit requirements now in effect, here's what you need to know before heading to the river.

Central Oregon Community College's transformed Madras campus is now six months into serving students in five new programs — including nursing, certified nursing assistant, medical assistant, and early childhood education — inside a brand-new 24,000-square-foot facility built on donated land.

Jefferson County's biggest annual event is just around the corner. The Jefferson County Fair & Rodeo runs July 21–25 at the Event Complex in Madras — five days of livestock shows, carnival rides, live entertainment, and the county rodeo. Here's your preview.

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Chairman Dennis White III has called for strict environmental accountability and full public transparency following the deadly May 26 rupture of a chemical storage tank at a Longview, Washington paper mill that killed 11 workers and raised concerns about contamination reaching the Columbia River.

Kentucky Bluegrass grown by farmers in Madras and Culver is being played on by the world's best soccer players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Oregon produces 70% of the world's Kentucky Bluegrass seed supply — and Jefferson County is a major part of that story.