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Local News
Local News
Historic Drought Squeezes Jefferson County Farms as Irrigation Water Runs Short
A historically low 2026 snowpack has left Central Oregon irrigation districts struggling to meet demand this summer, with at least one district shutting off water deliveries entirely — a crisis that is hitting Jefferson County's agricultural community hard.
Local News
Warm Springs Hosts Drummers Jammz Powwow Tonight; Tribal ECE Program Opens Fall Enrollment
The Warm Springs Community Wellness Center hosts its monthly Drummers Jammz Social Powwow tonight starting at 6:30 p.m., while the tribe's Early Childhood Education program is now accepting enrollment for the 2026-27 school year.
Local News
Warm Springs Evacuation Orders Lifted; Community Relief Center Open This Week
All evacuation levels on the Warm Springs Reservation have been lifted following weeks of wildfire threat. Tribal leadership has opened a community distribution center to assist displaced residents, with operations transitioning to Emergency Management on Wasco Street beginning Monday.
Local News
Drought and Curtailments Squeeze Jefferson County Farmers in Brutal Mid-Season
A punishing combination of record-low snowpack and aggressive water curtailments is forcing Jefferson County farmers to make hard choices, with North Unit Irrigation District patrons receiving only about 57% of a normal water supply.
Local News
Warm Springs Faces Years of Recovery After Bench Fire Tears Through Reservation
The Bench Fire burned at least six homes on the Warm Springs Reservation, left thousands without power or clean water for days, and dealt a deep financial and cultural blow to the Confederated Tribes — one that tribal leaders say will take years to heal.
Local News
Three New Doctors Join Madras Rural Residency, Expanding County's Healthcare Capacity
The Three Sisters Rural Track Program welcomed three new medical residents to Jefferson County this week, bolstering primary care access for the roughly 25,000 residents of one of Oregon's most medically underserved counties.
Local News
Warm Springs Tribe Builds Recovery Network as Bench Fire Rebuilding Begins
With at least six homes destroyed and thousands left without power or water, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are shifting from emergency response to long-term recovery — launching a tribal relief fund, a distribution center, and animal support resources.
Local News
Museum at Warm Springs Launches August Membership Drive with Statewide Support
The Museum at Warm Springs kicked off its annual membership drive on August 1 and is running through the end of the month, with dozens of Oregon cultural organizations helping to spread the word.
Local News
Warm Springs Families Begin Long Road to Recovery After Bench Fire
With the Bench Fire now 84 percent contained, Warm Springs tribal members are returning to find homes lost, wells dry, and a reservation facing months — if not years — of rebuilding ahead.
Local News
Museum at Warm Springs Launches Annual Membership Drive Through August 31
The Museum at Warm Springs has kicked off its annual Membership Drive, running through August 31. Memberships start at $25, unlock statewide reciprocal museum benefits, and support one of Oregon's most important Indigenous cultural institutions — right here in Jefferson County.
Local News
Severe Drought Squeezes Jefferson County Farms and Ranches Heading Into August
With 94% of Jefferson County locked in severe drought and a wildfire season already in full swing, local farmers and ranchers are facing a punishing summer. Governor Kotek's drought emergency declaration unlocks state assistance, but water shortages and scorched rangeland are taking a toll.