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Local News
Local News
Over 1,700 Free Gun Lockboxes Distributed Across Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes Counties in Suicide Prevention Drive
A new evaluation report shows the S.A.F.E. firearm safety initiative distributed more than 1,700 free gun lockboxes across three Central Oregon counties over two years, with Jefferson County among the communities reached in the effort to reduce firearm-related suicides.
Local News
Warm Springs Tribe Leads Ancient Lamprey Restoration Across Oregon Rivers
Working with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs biologists are translocating Pacific lamprey to Oregon waterways in a race to restore a species that has survived on Earth for 450 million years.
Local News
Warm Springs Tribal Council and Bend City Council Hold Annual Joint Meeting, Focus on Water and Growth
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the City of Bend convened their annual joint meeting June 30, discussing Deschutes Basin water conservation, Bend's 20-year growth plan, and tribal public art — a relationship built on a 2024 MOU that remains the first of its kind in Central Oregon.
Local News
Drought Puts Deschutes Water Rights Under the Microscope — and Jefferson County Farmers Are Watching
A dry summer has renewed attention on Oregon's century-old Deschutes River water allocation system, which critics say directs half the river's flow to one powerful irrigation district while downstream farmers — including those in Jefferson County — struggle through dry years with less water and fewer options.
Local News
Warm Springs Tribal Council and City of Bend Meet on Water, Growth, and Shared Priorities
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the City of Bend held their latest joint council meeting June 30, tackling Deschutes Basin water conservation, groundwater usage, and Bend's 20-year growth plan. The meeting continues a landmark 2024 partnership between the Tribe and a Central Oregon city.
Local News
Drought Squeezes Jefferson County Farmers as Deschutes System Runs Dry
With the Wickiup Reservoir already at half capacity and river flows at historic lows, irrigation districts serving Jefferson County ranchers and farmers are cutting water deliveries — and state experts warn it may not stop before harvest.
Local News
Warm Springs Travel Plaza Reopens with Cultural Showcase and Expanded Amenities
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Plateau Travel Plaza celebrated a grand re-opening Saturday after a major expansion project that doubled its gaming room, remodeled its restaurant, and wove tribal cultural history throughout the new design.
Local News
Warm Springs Tribal Council Approves Hwy 26 Rest Area Study; Canoe Journey Launches July 20
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs moved on two fronts this week — approving a feasibility study that could bring a new Highway 26 rest area onto tribal land, and preparing to send youth paddlers to the Paddle to Nisqually canoe journey.
Local News
Lawsuit Against Madras Aquatic Center Dismissed; Recall Election Ballots Mail July 15
Jefferson County Circuit Court threw out a lawsuit targeting the Madras Aquatic Center Recreation District last week, while a related recall election for four board members is now just weeks away.
Local News
Jefferson County Schools Trim $2 Million for 2026-27, But No Staff Layoffs
The Jefferson County School District is absorbing $2 million in budget cuts for the upcoming school year — roughly 10% of its general fund — as declining enrollment and state funding formula changes squeeze district finances statewide. Eighteen positions are being reduced, but administrators say no employees will be laid off.
Local News
Warm Springs Tribal Council Greenlights Hwy 26 Rest Area Study; Youth Canoe Journey Sets July 20 Launch
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Tribal Council has unanimously approved a feasibility study exploring whether a new Highway 26 rest area could be sited on Reservation land — a move that could bring highway safety improvements and economic opportunity to the Tribe. Separately, the N'chi Wana Pum Canoe Family is preparing to launch its annual Paddle to Nisqually journey from Celilo Village on July 20.
Local News
Voter Registration Deadline for MACRD Recall Election Is Monday — Here's What to Know
Monday, July 14 is the last day to register or update voter registration in Jefferson County before ballots go out for the August 4 recall election targeting four Madras Aquatic Recreation Center District board members. The recall centers on allegations of fiscal mismanagement and reduced public access.