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Local News
Local News
BestCare Breaks Ground on Oregon's Only Latino-Specific Residential Treatment Facility in Madras
BestCare Treatment Services broke ground May 20 on a new $6.5-to-$8-million, 16-bed residential treatment facility in Madras designed specifically for Latino men — the only program of its kind in the state.
Local News
Warm Springs Tribal Member Honored by Gov. Kotek for Bridging Tribes and Oregon State Police
Glendon Smith, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs who serves as a tribal liaison with the Oregon State Police, received Governor Tina Kotek's Public Service Ambassador Award for his work strengthening relationships between law enforcement and tribal communities.
Local News
Jefferson County Homelessness Data Shows Mixed Progress: Two New Transitional Homes Open, But 80 Remain Unsheltered
New Point-in-Time homeless count data shows some improvement in Jefferson County — including a cleaned-up camp near the Madras Shelter and two new transitional homes — but 80 individuals were counted as unsheltered compared to just 23 who were sheltered.
Local News
Rural Oregon's Pharmacy Crisis: How Jefferson County Residents Feel the Squeeze
Rural Oregon ranks near the bottom nationally for pharmacy access, with some communities forced to travel long distances or rely on medication pickup boxes. As state lawmakers struggle to rein in pharmacy benefit managers, the gap between urban and rural care keeps growing.
Local News
Central Oregon Homelessness Drops 19%; Jefferson County Sees More Unsheltered Individuals
A new regional count shows homelessness fell nearly 20% across Central Oregon in 2026 — but Jefferson County's numbers tell a more complicated story, with more people unsheltered than in prior years despite the presence of a local shelter.
Local News
New CET Bus Route Connects Warm Springs Reservation to Kah-Nee-Ta and Simnasho
Cascades East Transit's new Route 21, which launched May 5, is bringing long-overdue public transit service to remote parts of the Warm Springs Reservation — linking Madras, Warm Springs, Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort, and Simnasho with three daily round trips.
Local News
Rafael Queahpama Sworn In as Warm Springs Chief; Installation Ceremony Planned for May 30
Rafael Queahpama was officially sworn in to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Tribal Council as the new Warm Springs Chief on May 20, filling a lifetime chieftain seat on the governing body. A traditional installation ceremony is scheduled for this Saturday at the Simnasho Longhouse.
Local News
Warm Springs Tribes Hold General Council Meeting; Plateau Travel Plaza Eyes July 11 Grand Opening
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs held their first General Council meeting since fall last night at the Agency Longhouse, with financial updates, enterprise reports, and a major milestone: the remodeled Plateau Travel Plaza in Madras is targeting a grand opening on July 11.
Local News
New Bus Route Reaches Remote Warm Springs Communities; 40-Plus Energy Projects Also Complete
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.
Local News
Plan Ahead: 20-Minute Delays on Highway 26 Between Warm Springs and Mount Hood Through June 15
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.
Local News
Rafael Queahpama Sworn In as Warm Springs Chief; Traditional Ceremony Scheduled for May 30
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.
Local News
Airshow of the Cascades Watching Navy Investigation After Idaho Growler Collision
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.