Oregon Democratic Gov., Tina Kotek, will focus on affordable housing and combatting homelessness. Learn more here.

By CLAIRE RUSH/Associated Press/Report for America

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s newly sworn-in Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek signed three executive orders intended to combat homelessness on her first full day in office Tuesday, a sign of how critical the shortage of affordable housing has become in the state and across the nation.

The orders call for boosting construction and marshaling resources to help the nearly 18,000 people living outside in Oregon.

Advocates welcomed the measures. But they said that shoring up mental health and addiction services must also occur in order to help people move off the street.

Just last year, Oregon lawmakers…

Just over a dozen Oregon cities, towns and unincorporated areas had their status changed from urban to rural, the result of a new definition the U.S. Census Bureau for the 2020 census.

Those places — including Mount Hood Village, Boardman and Irrigon — joined more than 1,100 nationwide, with a combined 4.2 million residents, that are now rural areas according to the bureau.

Under the old criteria, an urbanized area needed to have at…

Bend High School has been awarded a large grant from the American Welding Society. Learn more here.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Senior High School has been awarded a $24,510 grant from the American Welding Society to upgrade its welding program and give students the opportunity to earn an entry-level, Level 1 welder certification while still in high school.

“We are really excited, since this will allow us to provide our students hands-on experience with the tools and equipment that are being used in the workplace right now, and create a pipeline for local businesses who desperately need these trade professionals,” instructor Chuck Hill said.

The funds were provided through the AWS Foundation as part of a nationally competitive…

The sale of gasoline-powered passenger vehicles will be prohibited by 2035. Learn more here.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Policymakers for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality on Monday approved a rule that prohibits the sale of new gasoline-powered passenger vehicles in Oregon by 2035.

The effort comes as Oregon plans to cut climate-warming emissions by 50% by 2035 and by 90% by 2050, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The transportation sector accounts for nearly 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon.

The rule is based on vehicle emission standards California adopted in August. The standards require car manufacturers to sell a certain percentage of zero-emission vehicles — electric cars, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles — as part…

Skyline Sports Complex in Bend has a groomed cross-country ski area. Find out more here.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Thanks to recent snowfall and help from volunteers, the Bend Park and Recreation District has a groomed cross-country ski area at Skyline Sports Complex in Bend.

The ski grooming at Skyline Sports Complex is done by community volunteers in partnership with Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation and BPRD.

Currently, there is a one-kilometer loop groomed for skiing, no track set. The groomed area is flat and users are asked to do their part to maintain the groomed surfaces by not walking or bringing dogs through the area.

“We need everyone’s cooperation to help keep this in-town skiing opportunity for…

The Doubletree Hilton Hotel in downtown Bend has new ownership. Learn more here.

Article by KTVZ

BOISE, Idaho (KTVZ) — Braintree Group, a privately held, vertically integrated, national real estate development and investment firm, announced Monday it acquired the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bend, located in downtown Bend and plans a renovation and rebranding.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The 117-room property (originally the Phoenix Inn) features an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, business center, and three meeting rooms totaling 2.327 square feet of meeting space, according to the announcement that continues in full below:

It is located right off US Route 97 in the heart of downtown Bend, Oregon. Bend is known for its scenic setting and year-round…

Ballot Measure 114 concerning gun laws will not go into effect today. Learn more here.

By Jonathan Levinson (OPB)

Ballot Measure 114 will not become law at 12:01 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 8.

The Oregon Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a state Department of Justice petition asking the court to throw out a lower court’s temporary restraining order blocking the law from taking effect.

Harney County Circuit Court Judge Robert Raschio issued the order Tuesday, saying the law violated the Oregon state constitution’s right to bear arms. Raschio said Oregonians would be “unable to lawfully purchase a firearm or bear a magazine capable…

The timeline for obtaining a REAL ID has been delayed. Learn more here.

By Central Oregon Daily News

The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that it is delaying the enforcement of REAL ID another two years.

The deadline for residents of states, including Oregon, to become REAL ID compliant was May 3, 2023. DHS now says it will be May 7, 2025, to give states and the District of Columbia the extra time they need to make sure residents get REAL ID-compliant drivers licenses or identification cards.

DHS says the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are to blame for the postponement.

“REAL ID progress over the past two years has been significantly hindered by…

Joolz in downtown Bend has closed after 13 years. Find out more here.

Original article by KTVZ

A popular downtown Bend restaurant has closed its doors after more than 13 years. Owners were selling everything inside on Thursday.

Joolz served Middle Eastern and Lebanese-influenced food. It closed the location on Wall Street in June.

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