Redmond schools have made progress on increasing attendance over the past few years...the challenge is to keep that momentum going.

At Thanksgiving, millions of Americans will see relatives who may be on the other side of the political divide for the first time since the election.  Rick Worthington reports, experts have some tips for approaching the conversation.

The Bend Park and Recreation District now has information about crimes and calls for service on the Bend Police Department's online data hub.  Julie Brown with Parks and Rec tells KBND News suspicious activity and off-leash dogs get the most complaints.

Thanksgiving is one of the heaviest travel weeks of the year, and Bend is seeing a good deal of travel on our roads already. Commute Options increases access to transportation options across Oregon. Kim Curley is with Commute Options in Bend and tells KBND your car may not be the best option for you to travel for Thanksgiving. And if you think you could benefit from letting someone else take the wheel, there are options.

The new main terminal at Portland International Airport will be a surprise for holiday travelers who haven't been to PDX in a while. Allison Ferre, with the airport, says an online map shows the ticket counters, baggage drop-off and TSA. The map also has information on local art installations and a carpet finder if you want to do a foot-selfie with the old carpet. Mornings are the busiest at the airport, So make sure to be there at least two hours early.

There's an experiment happening on the lawn at the Clinic of the Cascades.  Bend's Water Conservation Manager Dan Denning tells KBND News the city wants to learn about a water-friendly grass-seed mix they've planted there.  He says there isn't a lot of information available on water-saving turf alternatives...this study will serve as a baseline.
The city partnered with local company Accent Landscaping and the High Desert Horticultural Center on the project.

With grocery prices up, it's no surprise many people are looking to deliver a Thanksgiving celebration on a budget.  KBND's Rick Worthington explains there are a few minor tweaks you can make to enjoy your holiday, without downsizing.
 

A new study by Oregon State University sheds light on how farm economies impact groundwater reserves.  Researchers at O-S-U say they've developed a 30-year model to predict when irrigating farmland could over-tax groundwater reserves. Professor Bill Jaeger says it's an unpredictable but important resource. He hopes the new study will lead to more flexible water rules at the state level. 

Bend can add one-hundred acres to its Urban Growth Boundary thanks to a 2024 legislative decision on cities suffering a housing shortage.

The public is invited to weigh in on the two potential areas being eyed for expansion.

College and Career Day is an opportunity for Bend-La Pine students to consider options after-graduation. Thursday they were encouraged to dress up as a professional or wear a Ducks or Beavers sweatshirt, or any college they like.

Wednesday morning the Safe Schools Alliance made its annual commitment to working together to prevent or respond to school-safety situations.

It's made up of over 30 organizations across Central Oregon dedicated to that common goal.

Oregon ranks 43rd in the nation for home ownership, and a new coalition has formed to address the problem.  With housing prices nearly doubling in the last 10 years, the number of Oregonians who can afford to buy a home without assistance has dwindled.  

COCC's prison-education program at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution in Madras is at full-enrollment since staring earlier this year.  Funding for it comes from reinstatement of a federal student-aid program.

Adam Levin with the "What the Hack" podcast was a guest on KBND and discussed kids and adult safety on the internet. The concern is the exposure kids have to Artificial Intelligence and algorithms. Levin says the situation has dire consequences. 

With just 52-percent of the vote, the 98-million dollar Redmond School bond appears to have passed, allowing Superintendent Dr. Charan Cline to breathe a sigh of relief. He says there is now a lot of work ahead. Once project managers are hired and the bond sale underway, he says the district hopes to get minor projects done this next summer. Larger projects will have to wait, due to logistical challenges. That means at least another year of pink goo leaking from Redmond High's H-VAC system, which is on the list to be replaced. 

Some parts of Bend saw a little snow this weekend and Mt Bachelor kicked off its season, prompting Bend Police to remind drivers to make sure vehicles are ready for winter. Bend PD's Sheila Miller says good tires are critical - whether you choose studs, stud-less or just all-weather. But, she notes, you still have to know how to drive for the conditions. Miller also recommends keeping an emergency kit in your vehicle with a few essentials, in case you get stuck - like a blanket and a car charger. 

With more than 60 inches of early season snow, Mt. Bachelor opens Friday morning for a special "pass holders' weekend."  The mountain expects to have Little Pine and Skyliner lifts spinning with parking at the Skyliner lot and overflow at West Village. Sixteen trails are groomed, with about 650 acres of skiable terrain. A banner-breaking celebration is planned for 9 a.m. at the bottom of Skyliner. 

The median home price in Bend is now 800-thousand dollars, according to the latest Beacon Report. But that number may not be as bad as it first appears. The number of homes sold each month has hovered just over 140, which is low compared to two years ago. And, those sales involve larger, higher priced homes, which can skew the average. If you're in the market for something more affordable, you might have more luck in Redmond, where the October median price was 500-thousand dollars. 

Shepherd's House Ministries' Redmond Center has been open for one year Friday.  Shelter director John Lodice says in that time, they've served over 50-thousand meals with over 14-thousand overnight stays. Of the 400 different people they've served, more than a hundred have moved to a more stable situation. The public is invited to a first-anniversary gathering Friday at the Redmond Center on South Highway 97, from noon to 2 P-M.

Deschutes County commissioners will pursue a ballot measure to establish districts for their positions. They heard options Wednesday to divide the county, costs, and timelines. The districting decision would be on the May 2026 ballot at the earliest. Commissioners took up the idea after voters appear to have approved the addition of two seats. Those would be at-large positions in the 2026 election.

Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity is buying a small property from Bend-La Pine Schools to build an 18-unit townhome community. The one-acre lot is right next to Silver Rail Elementary, left over from the school’s construction. Work on “Stone Creek Commons” is expected to begin in early 2026. Homeowner applications from qualified school district staff will be given priority during the selection process and eight of the units will remain deed restricted for future district employees for 99 years. 

Redmond's City Council continues to consider a possible ban on all consumer fireworks, following public testimony this week on the proposal. A number of people told Councilors fireworks pose a major fire risk, trigger PTSD in veterans and cause pets to run away. But others said they rely on the sale of fireworks every July to raise money for different organizations. The Mayor says they'll make a decision in the next month or two. 

The number of Deschutes County defendants waiting for a lawyer to be assigned to their case has been cut in half over the last month ... amid a statewide shortage of public defenders. District Attorney Steve Gunnels says 80 cases remain unassigned, but he's pleased with the trend. Defendants who sit too long without representation could see their charges dropped, which Gunnels has said is unacceptable. He's hopeful the legislature will address the shortage in the upcoming session. 

BEND, OR -- A suspicious package led to the evacuation of the Deschutes County Services building in downtown Bend on Tuesday. "It was about 12 o'clock," says Deschutes County Sheriff's Lt. Bryan Husband, "An employee here at the Deschutes County building noticed a suspicious package in front of the DHS office." 

The package was next to the door into the Department of Human Services, but County Elections and Board of County Commissioners offices are also in the building at 1300 NW Wall Street. 

Lt. Husband says this was a typical response for a government building, including the deployment of the State Police bomb squad. "We cordoned off the area," he says, "Removed people from the immediate area, Oregon State Police inspected the package further and deemed it not to be a threat."

In fact, they later determined it was a package of hygiene products. No word on who left the items at the door. 

The area reopened after about 90 minutes. 

Democrat Janelle Bynum is the projected winner of Oregon's 5th Congressional District. Pundits agree there's no viable path for Incumbent Republican Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer to win. Bynum leads Chavez-DeRemer 48 to 45 percent. The victory returns the seat to Democrats, two years after Kurt Schrader chose not to run for re-election and Chavez-DeRemer defeated Democrat Jamie McLeod Skinner, of Terrebonne.

Redmond's City Council invites the public to weigh in tomorrow night (Tu) on a proposed fireworks ban for next year. Councilors will take public testimony at the 6 p.m. meeting... and will accept written comment until December 10th, when they're scheduled to deliberate. Councilor John Nielsen says they've also invited last year's fireworks vendors to testify before deciding whether to impose a ban on the sale of personal fireworks, possession, neither, or both. The decision would not impact commercial fireworks shows. 

Bend's Mayor hopes new city infrastructure work will help spur private development projects. Melanie Kebler says developers are watching their bottom line and admits there have been slowdowns.  She blames market conditions, including high interest rates. The Fed approved another rate cut last week, which could have an impact. And Kebler says, investments in projects like the reconstruction of Second Street, could entice more commercial development. 

BEND, OR -- A 17-year-old faces 130 counts of encouraging child sex abuse, and Bend Police are now searching for local victims. In September, Bend PD received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, claiming the teen had accessed child sex abuse material and uploaded it to a cloud-based storage device.

The suspect was arrested last week, following a search of a home on Stonewood Drive in Bend. Investigators learned the teen worked nearly two-dozen shifts as a safety monitor at Mountain Air Trampoline Park. He is no longer employed there, and the company provided a list of dates and times when the suspect may have come in contact with young children:

• Saturday, Feb. 17, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Sunday, Feb. 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
• Saturday, March 2, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Friday, March 22, 4:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
• Monday, March 25, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
• Wednesday, March 27, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Friday, March 29, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. 
• Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
• Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
• Sunday, April 7, 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
• Saturday, April 27, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
• Monday, April 29, 6:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. 
• Saturday, May 25, 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Sunday, June 2, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
• Sunday, June 9, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 
• Friday, June 21, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. 
• Sunday, July 21, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Saturday, Aug. 3, 2 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. 
• Saturday, Aug. 24, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Sunday, Sept. 1, 11:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Saturday, Oct. 5, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. 
• Saturday, Nov. 2, 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 

Investigators want to hear from anyone whose child may have experienced unwanted contact. Please contact non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911 and ask to speak with Det. Jared Wiebold

The city of Bend is now accepting applications from homeless service providers willing to offer outreach services at Juniper Ridge and other local encampments. Funding for the new grant program comes from the American Rescue Plan Act. Bend received more than $14 million from ARPA and still has about $ 2.6 million left.

That money must be contracted and allocated by the end of this year, and spent by the end of 2026 

The first ever local Civic Assembly presented 23 recommendations to address youth homelessness Thursday night, to the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council.

The group says revamping the foster care system is a top priority. They hope COIC will help tackle transportation needs.

COIC, along with the City of Bend, Deschutes County and other organizations partnered to form the Central Oregon Civic Action Project to address major community challenges through the civic assembly. 

BEND, OR -- A 42-year-old Bend man is accused of selling a variety of illegal “party drugs” from his house near Westside Village Magnet School in Bend. The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team arrested North O’Connor during a recent traffic stop near Fourth and Greenwood.

Detectives later searched his home and vehicle and say they found cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, steroids, cash, and other drug paraphernalia.

CODE continues to investigate and authorities say there may be more arrests in the case.

In perhaps the most contentious local campaign of the season, Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp (59%) has won the race for Deschutes County Sheriff, against his coworker Capt. William Bailey (40%)

State Rep. Emerson Levy (D) has won the race for House District 53, which includes the north end of Bend, the southern half of Redmond and all of Sisters against challenger Keri Lopez (R) by a margin of 54% to 45% of the vote.

With 59% of the vote, Bend City Councilor Anthony Broadman (D) wins the race for Senate District 27 vs Redmond School Board Member Michael Summers (R) (40%) to replace outgoing Bend Senator Tim Knopp.

The Bend City Council had four open positions on the November ballot. Megan Norris, Gina Franzosa, Megan Perkins, and Steve Platt appear to be winning those seats.

In Redmond, Ed Fitch will remain Mayor, with 57% of the vote to Cat Zwicker’s 36%.

It looks like newcomer Jay Patrick, will join incumbents Shannon Wedding and Clifford Evelyn on the Redmond City Council, where three seats were up for grabs.

And, in Crook County, the race for County Commissioner is currently in incumbent Seth Crawford’s favor with 52%,  versus former Commissioner Ken Fahlgren‘s 47%.

Voters in Deschutes County have decided to expand the board of County Commissioners to five members.

That measure is up by a margin of 64% to 35%.  [M9-173]

Redmond voters have approved a measure to allow marijuana dispensaries in the city, 53% to 46%. [M9-177].

At the same time, voters are approving the two-year moratorium on psilocybin service centers in Redmond.

The Redmond School bond is passing 53% to 46%. [M9-174].

The Redmond Area Park and Rec levy is failing, 67% voting no to 32% yes. [M9-175].

And the levy for the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District is barely passing with 50% Yes and 49% No.  [M9-176]

Deschutes County Commissioners blocked requests Monday to allow mini-storage businesses to open on land zoned as Multi-Use Agricultural. Two companies wanted the county to allow mini-storage facilities on any land zoned MUA-10. Commissioner Phil Chang says the decision doesn’t stop those applicants from requesting exceptions for their individual properties on Highway 97 and Highway 20, but he didn’t want a blanket change for the zoning designation. 

The boardwalk at Miller’s Landing Park is getting redeveloped this fall, to accommodate boaters and river users of all abilities. Bend Parks and Rec crews will also improve water access on the north end of the park for swimmers and waders. The project is part of a larger river access and habitat restoration plan the district started in 2021, in areas damaged by increased demand. The work at Miller’s Landing should be done by next summer. 

BEND, OR -- A search for a man reportedly seen armed with a gun near the Mountain View High football and baseball fields forced the school briefly into "secure status" Tuesday morning. According to Bend Police, someone reported seeing a white man in his early 20s, wearing a white shirt and a blue baseball hat and possibly carrying a pistol, just before 8:30 a.m. 

MVHS was initially put in lockdown, as law enforcement responded, but that was changed to secure status, with the front door serving as the only entrance as people arrived at school for the day. 

BPD drones and officers on the ground searched the area, including the campus and parking lot. No one matching the description was found but Bend Police says the School Resource Officer and others remain on scene, and students should expect an increased police presence Tuesday. 

The contentious race for Sheriff could be driving voter turnout in Deschutes County. With only about one day before the election Deschutes County boasts one of the highest ballot return rates in the state. County Clerk Steve Dennison believes hotly contested local elections are helping. He thinks the state will see at least 80-percent turnout for this election. If you plan to drop off your ballot, it must be to an official drop box before 8 p.m. tomorrow. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday and received at the elections office within seven days. 

REDMOND, OR -- Prineville BLM officials are searching for the person or people responsible for vandalizing a fence west of Redmond. In September, someone systematically cut all four strands of the fence for almost a mile.

The fence served as a boundary marker between public and private land along Kingwood Avenue. It helped distinguish the edge of the Buckhorn Off Highway Vehicle Trail System and limit access to public lands for illegal dumping.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call the Prineville BLM office at 541-416-6700. The office will restring the wire when time and funds allow. 

The 12-year-old student accused of bringing a loaded gun to Pilot Butte Middle School last week was released from custody, following a Thursday hearing. Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels says his office strongly objected to the release, as did the PBMS parents and students who came to court. But ultimately, the judge disagreed. Criminal charges have been filed, but details are not available, due to the suspect’s age.