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Local News
Local News
Warm Springs Holds First General Council Meeting Since Fall; Plateau Travel Plaza Plans Grand Opening for July 11
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs gathered for a General Council meeting May 26 at the Agency Longhouse — the first since last fall's budget session. Tribal business updates included reports on Kah-Nee-Ta, Indian Head Casino, and a coming grand opening at the Plateau Travel Plaza.
Local News
Madras City Administrator Search Narrows to Three Finalists; Public Meet-and-Greet Set for June 10
After months of leadership turbulence, the City of Madras has identified three finalists for its next city administrator. Residents can meet the candidates at Initiative Brewing on June 10 before final interviews on June 11.
Local News
More Than 40 Energy Efficiency Projects Completed in Warm Springs — With Significant Cost Savings for Tribal Members
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Energy Trust of Oregon have completed more than 40 energy efficiency projects on the reservation over the past two years, cutting utility costs for tribal members as part of a broader push toward energy resilience.
Local News
Crooked River Ranch Board Candidate Applications Close — Community Election Season Opens
The May 29 deadline has passed for Crooked River Ranch Rural Services District board applications, kicking off a community election season for one of Jefferson County's largest unincorporated communities.
Local News
Jefferson County Homelessness: 80 Unsheltered Residents Counted Despite Existing Madras Shelter
New homeless count data shows 80 unsheltered people in Jefferson County versus just 23 sheltered — raising questions about gaps between available services and the people who need them most in rural Central Oregon.
Local News
Rafael Queahpama Sworn In as Warm Springs Chief on Tribal Council
Rafael Queahpama was sworn in as Warm Springs Chief on the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Tribal Council on May 20, following a period of community deliberation and consultation with district elders.
Local News
Warm Springs General Council Hears Financial Update, Welcomes New Leadership at First Meeting Since Fall
Eighty-four community members attended the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs' first General Council meeting since last fall, hearing a financial update and meeting new senior officials — including a new Chief Operations Officer and Director of Governmental Affairs.
Local News
Central Oregon Launches Public Assembly on AI — Jefferson County Residents Asked to Participate
A Central Oregon nonprofit has launched a three-phase public engagement process asking residents of Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties — and the Warm Springs Reservation — to shape how artificial intelligence affects the region. An online poll and small-group conversations are open through mid-June.
Local News
Warm Springs Tribal Council Faces Community Concerns at General Council Meeting
About 84 people attended the Warm Springs General Council meeting Tuesday at the Agency Longhouse, where tribal members raised questions about wages, support services, trust in leadership, financial transparency, and the balance between cultural tradition and modernization.
Local News
Central Oregon Homelessness Drops Nearly 20% — Including in Jefferson County and Warm Springs
The 2026 Point-in-Time Count found a 19.1% decrease in homelessness across Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs — the first significant decline in at least five years, attributed to expanded shelter capacity and housing programs.
Local News
Warm Springs Tribal Member and Oregon State Police Liaison Receives Governor’s Public Service Award
Glendon Smith, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and tribal liaison with the Oregon State Police, received Gov. Tina Kotek’s Public Service Ambassador Award for his work building collaboration between tribal police and state law enforcement across Oregon.
Local News
New Bus Route Brings Long-Awaited Transit Service to Remote Parts of Warm Springs Reservation
Cascades East Transit’s Route 21, which launched May 5, connects Madras to Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort and Simnasho three times daily on weekdays — bringing public transportation to parts of the roughly 1,000-square-mile reservation that have lacked reliable service for years. Free fares end in May; paid service begins in June.