The Deschutes County Commissioners will have a hearing Wednesday on the Grievance of Termination filed by William Bailey, a former Deschutes County Sheriff’s office Captain.

Bailey, who unsuccessfully ran for Sheriff in 2024 against now-former Sheriff Kent van Der Kamp, is filing the administrative appeal against the county’s decision to fire him over comments made in the media by Bailey about Van der Kamp during a 2025 radio interview.

The commissioners have the hearing schedule for 1:30 this afternoon as part of the regular board meeting agenda.

The Commissioners could make a decision whether to uphold Bailey’s termination at the hearing.

picture credit: Central Oregon Daily News

U-S Education Secretary Linda McMahon was in Oregon Monday. As part of her 50-state “returning education to the states” tour, she stopped at Crook County High School and Crooked River Elementary in Prineville. Congressman Cliff Bentz says his team facilitated the visits, which were not open to the press, along with County Commissioner Seth Crawford. Secretary McMahon toured Crook County’s Career and Technical Education Facilities. She discussed early literacy at the elementary school.

photo credit: Evan Vucci / AP

Former Oregon Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer has resigned as President Trump’s Labor Secretary. According to a statement from the White House, Chavez-DeRemer is stepping down to take a job in the private sector. Although, her tenure in Trump’s cabinet was marred in recent months by an internal investigation into allegations of day-drinking and taxpayer-funded vacations. Her husband was also banned from Labor Department headquarters amid sexual assault allegations, although he was cleared of criminal wrongdoing. 

Deschutes County health authorities are alerting residents after six overdoses related to possible fentanyl-laced cocaine or ketamine in the past week.

Naloxone was used to revive those affected.

Officials urge the public to assume any street drug could contain opioids, recognize overdose signs, and keep naloxone accessible.

Help is available at deschutes.org / harm reduction.

A brush fire erupted along NE Studio Rd just after 10 Thursday morning, igniting a 40-foot strip of ornamental juniper bushes in front of a home. The resident tried to douse the flames with a hose, but gusty winds fueled the blaze. Bend Fire & Rescue crews arrived swiftly, extinguishing the fire before it could threaten the house or additional bushes. No damage was reported beyond the scorched landscaping, and Studio Rd was briefly shut down during the response. Investigators say the fire started while the occupant used a weed burner, which is prohibited in Bend city limits. All debris burning will be closed throughout Central Oregon at the end of the day on April 30th.