The May 29 deadline has passed for Crooked River Ranch Rural Services District board applications, kicking off a community election season for one of Jefferson County's largest unincorporated communities.

New homeless count data shows 80 unsheltered people in Jefferson County versus just 23 sheltered — raising questions about gaps between available services and the people who need them most in rural Central Oregon.

Rafael Queahpama was sworn in as Warm Springs Chief on the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Tribal Council on May 20, following a period of community deliberation and consultation with district elders.

Eighty-four community members attended the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs' first General Council meeting since last fall, hearing a financial update and meeting new senior officials — including a new Chief Operations Officer and Director of Governmental Affairs.

A Central Oregon nonprofit has launched a three-phase public engagement process asking residents of Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties — and the Warm Springs Reservation — to shape how artificial intelligence affects the region. An online poll and small-group conversations are open through mid-June.

About 84 people attended the Warm Springs General Council meeting Tuesday at the Agency Longhouse, where tribal members raised questions about wages, support services, trust in leadership, financial transparency, and the balance between cultural tradition and modernization.

The 2026 Point-in-Time Count found a 19.1% decrease in homelessness across Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs — the first significant decline in at least five years, attributed to expanded shelter capacity and housing programs.

Glendon Smith, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and tribal liaison with the Oregon State Police, received Gov. Tina Kotek’s Public Service Ambassador Award for his work building collaboration between tribal police and state law enforcement across Oregon.

Cascades East Transit’s Route 21, which launched May 5, connects Madras to Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort and Simnasho three times daily on weekdays — bringing public transportation to parts of the roughly 1,000-square-mile reservation that have lacked reliable service for years. Free fares end in May; paid service begins in June.

BestCare Treatment Services held a groundbreaking ceremony May 20 for a new 16-bed, 8,000-square-foot residential treatment facility designed specifically for Latino men in Madras — the only program of its kind in Oregon. The project carries a price tag of up to $8 million.

Madras has narrowed its search for a permanent city administrator to three candidates: Brenda Fahey, Maurice Henderson II, and Jody Yates. The city is now seeking community input before making a final selection.