Local News
Metolius and Crooked Rivers Offering Prime Late-Summer Trout and Whitefish Angling
Despite fire season smoke and drought conditions across Central Oregon, local anglers are finding excellent fishing on the Metolius and Crooked Rivers, with redband trout and mountain whitefish running strong.
Local News
Historic Drought Squeezes Jefferson County Farms as Irrigation Water Runs Short
A historically low 2026 snowpack has left Central Oregon irrigation districts struggling to meet demand this summer, with at least one district shutting off water deliveries entirely — a crisis that is hitting Jefferson County's agricultural community hard.
Public Safety
JCSO Sheriff Logs: Impaired Driver Crashes North of Madras, DV Report in Crooked River Ranch
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office reports an impaired driving crash north of Madras, a domestic violence call in Crooked River Ranch, and the arrest of a wanted subject in Madras during its latest incident logs.
Local News
Warm Springs Hosts Drummers Jammz Powwow Tonight; Tribal ECE Program Opens Fall Enrollment
The Warm Springs Community Wellness Center hosts its monthly Drummers Jammz Social Powwow tonight starting at 6:30 p.m., while the tribe's Early Childhood Education program is now accepting enrollment for the 2026-27 school year.
Weather
Smoke Advisory for Jefferson County Expected to Lift Wednesday Afternoon
An Oregon DEQ air quality advisory affecting Jefferson County since Monday is set to expire Wednesday afternoon — but Stage 2 fire restrictions and a full burn ban remain in place through fire season.
Jefferson County
Jefferson County Farms Strain Through Driest Summer in Years as Water Cutbacks Bite
With 86 percent of Oregon currently in some form of drought and water curtailments squeezing irrigation districts across Central Oregon, Jefferson County farmers and ranchers are managing one of the most difficult growing seasons in recent memory — all while navigating record heat and wildfire smoke.