Interim City Administrator David Clyne says Madras is not entertaining any proposal to build a data center in Jefferson County, responding to social media speculation that followed a high-profile rejection of such a project in La Pine.

Central Oregon Community College's brand-new Madras campus building is open, and its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program — the first of its kind at the campus — is now accepting applications from RNs seeking to advance their careers close to home.

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs WIC program has begun distributing Farm Direct vouchers to help families purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at local farmers markets and farm stands through November.

With a documented history of fatal crashes on the 15-mile stretch between Terrebonne and Madras, local leaders and a regional coalition are pushing ODOT to act. Here is where things stand.

ODOT and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are removing roughly 1,000 hazardous trees along Highway 26. Drivers should expect 20-minute or longer delays through mid-June.

A third-party investigation into former Culver Superintendent Stefanie Garber found 10 of 12 complaints founded, including age discrimination, missed employee evaluations, and violations of board policy. The probe cost the district over $25,000. A new superintendent has now been hired and starts in July.

Warm Springs Tribal Chairman Dennis White III issued a formal statement demanding transparency and accountability for contamination that may have reached the Columbia River after a tank rupture at a Longview, Washington paper mill killed 11 workers. The tribe invokes its 1855 treaty fishing rights.

Mayor Mike Lepin announced he will not run for reelection in November, opening up the Madras mayor’s seat for the first time since 2023. Three city council positions are also on the November ballot, including a currently vacant seat.

Madras residents will have their only public chance to meet the three finalists for City Administrator at a free meet-and-greet Wednesday, June 10, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Initiative Brewing. The council will conduct closed interviews June 11 before selecting a hire.

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs will hold their annual Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days celebration June 26–28, with this year’s parade theme dedicated to honoring the cultural and spiritual bond between the people and the horse.

After 76 years in Madras, Central Oregon Community College marked the completion of a $22 million campus expansion in April, adding nursing and medical programs that could reshape healthcare workforce pipelines in Jefferson County.