Bend-La Pine’s School Board has approved a nearly 260-million-dollar budget, as district leaders work to manage long-term funding pressure.

Superintendent Dr. Steven Cook says the district used about 9-million dollars in reserves last year to help finance education on a roughly 250-million-dollar budget. He says the new plan brings spending closer in line with available funding, while avoiding deeper staffing cuts.

Cook says the district trimmed 7-million dollars without eliminating jobs.

Bend-La Pine Schools employs about 2,000 people across 33 schools and departments, making it Deschutes County’s second-largest employer.

Bend Fire & Rescue says an unattended candle sparked an apartment fire at the Stonebriar Apartment Complex on Bend’s east side just before 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Crews arrived to find sprinklers activated in a third-floor unit, with management already working to evacuate the building. Firefighters shut off the sprinklers and began removing water from the burned apartment and two units below. Residents will be displaced from a few days to a few weeks because the automated sprinklers kept the fire from spreading. Damages are limited to about $40,000 between the three affected apartments. Residents are reminded never to leave candles unattended.

Bend Police arrested a 48-year-old Bend man Monday morning after reported assaults and robbery incidents on Southeast Third Street.

Officers say José García Chávez was identified as the suspect in incidents at Eco Laundry Mat and Ace Market.

Two victims had minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

Police say no officers were injured.

García Chávez was treated at St. Charles, then lodged at the Deschutes County Jail.

Witnesses are asked to contact Bend Police.

A Prineville man has died after a motorcycle crash east of Prineville.

Crook County deputies say 56-year-old Jason Fall was riding on Ochoco Ranger Station Road Saturday evening when his motorcycle hit a guardrail, sending him over it.

He was taken to hospitals in Prineville and Bend, but later died due to injuries from the crash.

Oregon State University Cascades will hold its twenty-fifth commencement celebration this Sunday, June fourteenth, at ten in the morning. A record class of three hundred seventy-seven students will receive three hundred eighty degrees across twenty-six programs. About three thousand family members and friends are expected to attend, with tickets required and a clear bag policy in place. The graduating class represents twenty-seven Oregon counties, twenty-four other states, and one other country. Retiring faculty member Dennis Lynn will deliver the commencement address, marking his final lecture at the campus.