Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies are busy making preparations for the National Forest closure on the area south of Bend for a wildfire mitigation project.  Mike Thomas reports:

A Central Oregon youth workforce development organization is marking its 25^th anniversary with an ambitious goal.  KBND's Mike Thomas was there.

The Redmond High School F-F-A placed at the top of several categories in recent competitions.  Mike Thomas reports:

State lawmakers consider a bill banning foreign nationals from China from buying land in Oregon.  KBND’s Heather Roberts reports.

A couple and their six children, plus their dog, are safe after they escaped a house fire on Research Road in Tumalo. Smoke alarms awakened the family around midnight. They saw their porch and the entire front exterior of the house on fire. While the exact cause is yet to be determined, the electricity had been out in the neighborhood and the fire broke out shortly after power was restored.  Crews were able to contain the blaze in about 45 minutes.  The house and all the contents are a total loss, estimated at 1-point-4 million dollars.

Bend Parks and Rec's Julie Brown

Summer activity registration for Bend Parks and Recreation District youth programs is next month…Monday March 17^th, and Tuesday March 18^th.  KBND's Mike Thomas has the story.

Recent rainfall helps Oregon recover from persistent drought.  But, as KBND’s Heather Roberts reports, warmer weather could prove troublesome. 

University of Oregon’s Presidential Chair in Science and a former Under Secretary at the Department of Energy says federal layoffs will impact the Pacific Northwest power grid.  Heather Roberts reports. 

Isabella Isaksen

In the wake of massive layoffs by the Trump Administration, fired Forest Service workers worry about the impact on Oregon’s wildfire season.   KBND’s Heather Roberts reports. 

Isabella's complete interview with Mike Thomas is here.

UPDATE: 

Three suspects wanted in connection with a Bend child abuse case have been arrested in Coos County.  They were found in a hotel.  33-year-old Sarah Session is also accused of attempted murder.  She and her parents, Paula and Gary Hardenburg, were indicted last week by a Deschutes County Grand Jury.  Court documents outline disturbing allegations of abuse between November 2023 and February 2024.  
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The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office is asking the public’s help with apprehending three Bend residents wanted for attempted murder and assault stemming from charges of child abuse on a 9-year-old.  Sarah Session and her parents, Paula Hardenburg and Gary Hardenburg were indicted by a grand jury Tuesday.  Their whereabouts are currently unknown.
Sheriff’s sergeant Jason Wall tells KBND News both Deschutes County Sheriff’s detectives and the district attorneys office are actively looking for the trio… and they are now wanted on national felony arrest warrants. 
Anyone with information is asked to contact Deschutes County non-Emergency Dispatch at 541-693-6911.

Bend-La Pine schools’ upcoming Life and Career Readiness Night has been organized and driven by students.  KBND's Mike Thomas has the story:

picture courtesy of Central Oregon Daily News

(Bend) – Authorities have identified the pair killed in a Central Oregon avalanche as Terry and Renee Skjersaa, a family well-known in Bend’s ski community.  Terry Skjersaa’s grandparents Olaf and Grace Skjersaa opened Bend’s first ski shop in 1939. 

Deschutes County Sheriff Kent Van derKamp says Monday’s conditions were a recipe for avalanche. “When we have good hard snowfall and then it’s followed by some warm weather and some rain, it creates an unstable snowpack.” He says, that means recreators need to take extra precautions, “We warn people who are in the backcountry to be prepared, have an avalanche beacon, have an avalanche airbag, but most importantly: look at those forecasts and make sure you’re planning your trip accordingly and avoiding those areas.” Van derKamp adds, “Tell people where you’re going. Show people on a map where you’re expected to be, so people where to look if something happens. That’s what these folks did; they actually were prepared, but I don’t think they were prepared enough to know it was a danger.”

After the couple didn’t return as expected, “Their friends ultimately were able to find them with a phone tracker. They went out and searched for them and found a debris field.” He says they notified Search and Rescue at around midnight, “About 2 a.m., they made it to the debris field and found that it was still unstable,” says the Sheriff, “So they withdrew until daylight, and then they went in and completed the rescue once it was deemed safe.” Their bodies were recovered Tuesday. 

Van derKamp says the danger remains, “Some of the forecasting we have from the Central Oregon Avalanche Center confirmed that avalanche activity is still “potential” and actually, I think they’re calling it “moderate” now in that same region from the watershed all the way up into the high Cascades.”

picture courtesy of Central Oregon Daily News

Two backcountry skiers died in an avalanche outside Bend, along a snowmobile trail.   Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue responded late Monday night to an area known as “Happy Valley,” between the Bend Watershed and Broken Top.  Tuesday afternoon, crews recovered the bodies from the area of “Trail 8”.  Although no names have been made public at this time, Sheriff Kent van der Kamp released a statement that said in part, he was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the couple who lost their lives in the avalanche… Their long history in our community and the lives they touched are a testament to the spirit and resilience that make Central Oregon such a special place to live."

Authorities say avalanche danger in the Central Cascades is moderate to considerable. 

picture courtesy of Central Oregon Daily News

An Eastern Oregon man is paying for a new billboard challenging the Greater Idaho movement.  But, as Heather Roberts reports… its location is not part of the proposed border shift.

A group of four local churches is spearheading an educational platform to find solutions for homelessness in Bend.  KBND's Mike Thomas has this report:

Just days after Oregon’s latest winter storm, state lawmakers are looking at how the emergency shelter system could be improved.  KBND’s Heather Roberts reports. 

Bend Police have opened a community camera registry called Connect Bend.  KBND's Mike Thomas reports:

A group of eastern Oregon counties is pushing back on Oregon’s Wildfire Hazard Map. 

KBND’s Heather Roberts reports. 

picture courtsy of Central Oregon Daily News

Deschutes County is asking community members to nominate local businesses, individuals and organizations for the 2025 Safe Sidewalk Awards.  KBND's Mike Thomas reports:

picture courtesy of KGW-TV

A massive pile-up shut down a major east-west highway for most of Thursday.  KBND’s Heather Roberts reports. 

Thanks to court staff and local attorneys, Deschutes County no longer has the public defender shortage that is still rampant in other parts of Oregon.  KBND Mike Thomas has the story:

Four people now face charges in connection with a burglary ring authorities believe stretched from the Portland area to Bend and Eugene.  KBND’s Heather Roberts reports.

Bitter cold temperatures in the forecast have Bend Fire & Rescues issuing some reminders to stay safe while trying to keep warm.  KBND’s Mike Thomas has more:

Almost three weeks into Oregon’s 2025 legislative session, House Republicans say they are working toward their top priority bills.  KBND’s Heather Roberts reports. 

The City of Bend will continue to follow Oregon law and pushback against Federal actions if they are illegal.  KBND’s Rick Worthington reports, city leaders in Bend had a lot to say during this week’s city council meeting.

Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch delivered his state of the city address Thursday. KBND's Mike Thomas was at city hall for the address and sat down with the mayor.

The rising price of eggs has a lot of people thinking about raising their own chickens.  But, as Heather Roberts reports, that could lead to a new problem. 

The Deschutes County Commissioners discussed a hot button item during its meeting on Wednesday.  KBND’s Rick Worthington reports.

At least two Oregon Head Start programs are at risk of closure, after federal payment systems stopped reimbursing promised funds last week.  KBND’s Heather Roberts reports. 

Bend Police Department’s biannual survey shows over three-quarters of respondents trust and have confidence in its officers.  The results are consistent from previous surveys.  Mike Thomas has more:

The Deschutes National Forest has signed the final decision for the West Bend Trails Project.  KBND’s Rick Worthington reports.

Gas prices saw some movement this week.  The average price for a gallon of regular in Bend went up 9-cents to 3-52.  KBND's Heather Roberts has more on the numbers. 

Commercial real estate fundamentals appear to be in relatively good shape here in Bend as we enter 2025.  KBND’s Rick Worthington explains that’s according to a new report just released.

While Washington continues to experience areas of snow drought this winter, Oregon benefits from recent storms.  KBND’s Heather Roberts reports. 

Redmond School District's graduation rate increased nearly four percentage points from 2023 to an all-time high in 2024…91 percent is well above the state average of just under 82 percent.  KBND's Mike Thomas reports:

Every year, thousands of Oregonians miss the Earned Income Tax Credit.  KBND’s Heather Roberts reports on how to know if you qualify this tax season.