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Local News
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.
Local News
Warm Springs Completes 40+ Energy Efficiency Upgrades With $90K Investment at Key Community Buildings
A two-year partnership between Energy Trust of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs has delivered more than 40 energy projects, improving the fire station, medical clinic, and lodge while saving the tribe $13,800 annually.
Local News
Warm Springs Community Sees Real Results From 40-Plus Energy Efficiency Projects
A two-year partnership between Energy Trust of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs has completed more than 40 energy upgrades — saving an estimated $13,800 per year at two facilities alone and improving quality of life for elders and first responders.
Local News
Historic New Bus Route Connects Remote Warm Springs Communities — Free to Ride Through May
Cascades East Transit's new Route 21 launched May 5, bringing public bus service to the community of Simnasho for the very first time and providing a direct link to the Kah-Nee-Ta resort. Rides are free all month.
Local News
Warm Springs Sees Real Results From $90,000+ Energy Upgrade Partnership
Over the past two years, Energy Trust of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have completed more than 40 energy efficiency projects across the reservation, from fire stations to elder care facilities — saving an estimated $13,800 a year and improving quality of life.
Local News
ODOT Open House May 27: Major Highway 97 Renovation Coming to Madras
The Oregon Department of Transportation wants to hear from Madras residents before construction begins on a significant Highway 97 upgrade from Earl Street to Colfax Lane. An informational open house is set for May 27.