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Local News
Local News
Madras Airport Receives $102,769 Federal Grant to Replace Aging Weather System
Madras Municipal Airport will receive more than $102,000 in federal funding to design a replacement for its outdated Automated Weather Observing System, part of a nearly $19 million package for Oregon airports announced this week.
Local News
New Bus Route Reaches Simnasho for the First Time, Connecting Remote Warm Springs Communities
Cascades East Transit’s new Route 21, funded by a $200,000 state grant, began service May 5 and now connects Madras, Warm Springs, Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort, and the remote community of Simnasho — the first time public transit has ever reached that corner of the reservation.
Local News
New Bus Route Reaches Simnasho for the First Time, Connecting Remote Warm Springs Communities
Route 21, launched May 5, gives residents of the reservation's most remote communities their first-ever public transit link — reaching Simnasho, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, and Madras on a 50-mile loop.
Local News
Energy Trust Completes 40+ Efficiency Upgrades Across Warm Springs Reservation
A two-year partnership between Energy Trust of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs has completed more than 40 energy upgrade projects, saving thousands of dollars annually while improving conditions at key community buildings.
Local News
Madras Municipal Airport to Receive Federal Grant for Critical Weather System Upgrade
The Madras Municipal Airport will receive $102,769 in federal funding to begin replacing its aging Automated Weather Observing System — a safety-critical tool relied on by pilots flying in and out of Jefferson County.
Local News
COCC's $22 Million Madras Expansion Brings Health Programs and Child Care to Jefferson County
Central Oregon Community College's new 24,000-square-foot Madras facility — officially celebrated with a ribbon-cutting last month — is already enrolling students in nursing and medical assistant programs alongside a child care center open to the broader Jefferson County community.
Local News
Warm Springs Tribal Council to Hold General Council Meeting May 26 with Solar Project Updates
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have scheduled a General Council Meeting for May 26, with updates from tribal leadership on finances, operations, and the tribe's major solar energy initiatives.
Local News
Warm Springs Voter Outreach Effort Reaches Tribal Members Ahead of Today's Primary
A community outreach campaign targeting underrepresented voters brought educational events to the Warm Springs Reservation and Madras in the lead-up to the May 19 primary, covering topics from tribal sovereignty to dam removal.
Local News
$42 Million Road Overhaul Coming to Madras This Summer — Public Open House Set for May 27
A major ODOT construction project is set to reshape the US 97 and US 26 corridors through Madras starting this summer. Residents can get the details and ask questions at a public open house on May 27.
Local News
Crooked River Ranch Uses Goats to Build Wildfire Defensible Space as Insurance Costs Soar
With wildfire season arriving early and home insurance increasingly difficult to obtain in rural Jefferson County, Crooked River Ranch is deploying goats to clear vegetation and create defensible space around homes.
Local News
ODOT Hosts May 27 Open House on $42 Million Madras Highway Reconstruction
The Oregon Department of Transportation is inviting the public to review plans for a major reconstruction of U.S. 97 and U.S. 26 through downtown Madras, a $42 million project expected to run from summer 2026 through spring 2028.
Local News
Culver School District Names Kevin Dinning as New Superintendent
The Culver School District has appointed Kevin Dinning as its next superintendent, replacing Stefanie Garber at the end of the school year. Dinning brings 12 years of administrative experience and a background in small, tight-knit communities.