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Local News
Local News
JCSD 509J Schools Gear Up for New Year as Madras High Graduates Earn Record Biliteracy Honors
Jefferson County School District 509J is preparing to welcome students back for the 2026-2027 school year, with Madras High School celebrating a record-setting number of Oregon State Seals of Biliteracy earned by the Class of 2026 — a milestone reflecting the district's diverse and multilingual student body.
Local News
Drought Squeezes Jefferson County Farmers as Harvest Season Looms
With Jefferson County under a state drought emergency since April, reduced irrigation allotments from the North Unit Irrigation District, and wildfire smoke complicating fieldwork, area farmers are heading into harvest facing one of the toughest growing seasons in years.
Local News
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Launch Tomahawk Newsletter, Unveil New Leadership Team
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have released the inaugural issue of the Tomahawk Newsletter, spotlighting a new executive leadership team and laying out ambitious plans including a Youth and Elder Center, a Highway 26 rest area, and a warming and cooling shelter for tribal members.
Local News
Tight Water, Tough Harvest: Jefferson County Farmers Grinding Through Drought Summer
With reduced water allotments, extreme drought conditions, and a punishing fire season, Jefferson County farmers are managing one of the most difficult growing seasons in years. As harvest winds down for summer crops, the financial toll is coming into focus.
Local News
Warm Springs Turns Focus to Long-Term Recovery as Bench Fire Closes Out at 67,000 Acres
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are entering a new phase of recovery after the Bench Fire was largely contained at just over 67,000 acres. A boil water notice has been lifted, but tribal leaders say rebuilding will take months or years — and they still need the community's support.
Local News
Jefferson County Schools Gear Up for Fall: What Families Need to Know for 2026–27
With the 2026–27 school year on the horizon, Jefferson County School District 509J and COCC's Madras campus are preparing to welcome students back — including a Warm Springs Back to School Barbecue on September 3.
Local News
Warm Springs Wildfire Recovery Fund Surpasses Goal; Boil Water Notice Lifted
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs say immediate supply needs are met after the Bench Fire, but leaders warn that full community recovery will take months — and years — of sustained effort.
Local News
COCC Madras Campus Welcomes Fall Term Registration as Transformed Facility Enters First Full Year
Central Oregon Community College's Madras Campus is heading into its first full academic year inside its newly expanded and transformed facility, with fall term registration open and new career-focused programs drawing interest from Jefferson County students.
Local News
Warm Springs Wildfire Recovery Fund Surpasses $324,000 as Community Rebuilds
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Wildfire Recovery Fund has exceeded its original goal by 130 percent, raising more than $324,000 from donors across Oregon and the nation as residents continue the long road back from the Bench Fire.
Local News
Warm Springs Water Safe to Drink Again as Tribe Shifts Focus to Long-Term Fire Recovery
With the Bench Fire largely contained, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have lifted a boil water notice and confirmed their water system is safe. The tribe's recovery fund has surpassed $324,000, but leaders say the hardest work is still ahead.
Local News
Warm Springs Begins Long Road to Recovery as Bench Fire Contained
With the Bench Fire now largely contained after burning more than 67,000 acres, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are shifting from emergency response to the harder work of long-term recovery — a process tribal leaders say could take years.
Local News
A Summer Like No Other: Jefferson County Farmers Face Drought, Fire, and a Difficult Harvest
Between a Governor-declared drought emergency, back-to-back wildfires, and scorching temperatures, Jefferson County's agricultural community is heading into harvest season under some of the toughest conditions in recent memory.