The Warm Springs Reservation got two significant infrastructure wins this month: a new Cascades East Transit bus route now connects Simnasho and Kah-Nee-Ta to the outside world four days a week, and more than 40 energy efficiency upgrades have been completed across the reservation in partnership with Energy Trust of Oregon.

ODOT and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are removing hundreds of hazardous dead and dying trees along U.S. Highway 26 between mileposts 71 and 87. Drivers should expect delays of 20 minutes or more Monday through Thursday through mid-June.

Rafael Queahpama was sworn in as the new Warm Springs Chief on the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation, taking a lifetime seat on the Tribal Council. A traditional installation ceremony will be held May 30 at the Simnasho Longhouse.

Organizers of Madras' annual Airshow of the Cascades are closely monitoring the U.S. Navy's investigation into a midair collision between two EA-18G Growler jets at an Idaho air show — the same type of demonstration planned for Madras.

The 2026 Point-in-Time Count shows Jefferson County's homeless population remains largely unsheltered — 80 people reported living outside versus 23 in the Madras shelter. Regionwide, Central Oregon saw a 19% drop in homelessness.

A $15 million bond measure that would have funded a new library in Madras and a branch in Culver was soundly defeated in the May 19 election. Library district leaders must now reconsider how to address aging facilities.

Nine people incarcerated at Deer Ridge Correctional Institute in Madras will receive associate degrees from Central Oregon Community College in June — the first graduating class from a program launched to give incarcerated people a path to higher education.

New point-in-time data shows Madras reduced its homeless count by more than 50 percent in one year. A regional nonprofit credited local coordination — and singled out Jefferson County's community-driven approach as a model.

ODOT and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are removing roughly 1,000 dead or dying trees along Highway 26 between the OR 216 junction and Warm Springs. Traffic in both directions will be stopped while crews work.

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs resort is rolling out its biggest set of improvements in years, including a Travel Oregon-supported welcome center, revived salmon bake events, and 30 renovated hotel rooms.

The Salmonfly Solar and Energy Storage Project — a 250-megawatt partnership between BrightNight and Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises — received project assessment approval from the Tribe's Branch of Natural Resources.