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Local News
Local News
Jefferson County Commissioners Advance Battery Energy Storage Project Near Madras
Jefferson County commissioners approved a site control agreement this week for a proposed battery storage facility in Madras, clearing the way for a feasibility study. County leaders stressed the move is not a final commitment to the project.
Local News
Central Oregon Homelessness Falls 19% — and Jefferson County's Work Is Getting Noticed
The 2026 Point-in-Time Count recorded a 19.1% drop in homelessness across Central Oregon, the first meaningful decline in years — and housing advocates say Jefferson County's coordinated, community-driven approach has helped drive the change.
Local News
Cascades East Transit Expanding Bus Service to Madras and Redmond Beginning June 15
Cascades East Transit is rolling out new schedule changes on June 15 that add runs on the Madras-Redmond connector and expand service hours in Redmond — building on the Route 21 launch that already extended transit into Kah-Nee-Ta and Simnasho.
Local News
Warm Springs General Council Hears Financial Update, Welcomes New Leadership
About 84 community members gathered at the Agency Longhouse Tuesday night for a General Council meeting that included a financial briefing, introductions from newly hired senior staff, and pointed questions from tribal members on wages, transparency, and cultural services.
Local News
Madras Narrows City Administrator Search to Three Finalists; Public Meet-and-Greet Set for June 10
The City of Madras has named Brenda Fahey, Maurice Henderson II, and Jody Yates as finalists for its permanent City Administrator position. Residents can meet all three candidates at Initiative Brewing on June 10.
Local News
BestCare Breaks Ground on Oregon's Only Latino-Specific Residential Treatment Facility in Madras
BestCare Treatment Services broke ground May 20 on a new $6.5-to-$8-million, 16-bed residential treatment facility in Madras designed specifically for Latino men — the only program of its kind in the state.
Local News
Warm Springs Tribal Member Honored by Gov. Kotek for Bridging Tribes and Oregon State Police
Glendon Smith, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs who serves as a tribal liaison with the Oregon State Police, received Governor Tina Kotek's Public Service Ambassador Award for his work strengthening relationships between law enforcement and tribal communities.
Local News
Jefferson County Homelessness Data Shows Mixed Progress: Two New Transitional Homes Open, But 80 Remain Unsheltered
New Point-in-Time homeless count data shows some improvement in Jefferson County — including a cleaned-up camp near the Madras Shelter and two new transitional homes — but 80 individuals were counted as unsheltered compared to just 23 who were sheltered.
Local News
Rural Oregon's Pharmacy Crisis: How Jefferson County Residents Feel the Squeeze
Rural Oregon ranks near the bottom nationally for pharmacy access, with some communities forced to travel long distances or rely on medication pickup boxes. As state lawmakers struggle to rein in pharmacy benefit managers, the gap between urban and rural care keeps growing.
Local News
Central Oregon Homelessness Drops 19%; Jefferson County Sees More Unsheltered Individuals
A new regional count shows homelessness fell nearly 20% across Central Oregon in 2026 — but Jefferson County's numbers tell a more complicated story, with more people unsheltered than in prior years despite the presence of a local shelter.
Local News
New CET Bus Route Connects Warm Springs Reservation to Kah-Nee-Ta and Simnasho
Cascades East Transit's new Route 21, which launched May 5, is bringing long-overdue public transit service to remote parts of the Warm Springs Reservation — linking Madras, Warm Springs, Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort, and Simnasho with three daily round trips.
Local News
Rafael Queahpama Sworn In as Warm Springs Chief; Installation Ceremony Planned for May 30
Rafael Queahpama was officially sworn in to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Tribal Council as the new Warm Springs Chief on May 20, filling a lifetime chieftain seat on the governing body. A traditional installation ceremony is scheduled for this Saturday at the Simnasho Longhouse.