Good morning, Bend.

Skydog Ranch outside Bend offers a new home for over 350 wild horses and mules saved from BLM's slaughter pipeline.

The sanctuary gives rescued animals a chance at a safe life on its 9,000-acre property (founded in Southern California in 2014) as they adjust to long-term care.

Downtown Bend will host the Bend Fall Festival from Oct.

2-4, offering an arts and crafts marketplace, live music and a harvest bake-off with free admission for all attendees.

Crook County extended the free County College program's deadline to Oct.

8, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., with sessions starting Oct. 15. The six-session series gives residents (living, working, or owning a business locally) a close look at county government.

Hunters planning fall trips in Central Oregon can help wildlife biologists monitor grouse and mountain quail health by donating one wing and tail from each harvested bird; collection sites at major junctions and ODFW offices will accept samples through Jan.

31 (check the online map for locations).

A glacier collapse in Tibet this week has prompted Oregon experts to examine local glaciers for similar risks.

The Oregon Glaciers Institute and a PSU geology professor said glaciers on North Sister and Mount Hood show vulnerable features (though an immediate collapse is unlikely) due to warming conditions.

Wind Cave near Bend, closed since 2012 for graffiti and trash, is undergoing a three-day sandblasting cleanup by volunteers, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, and local partners, with restoration expected to finish tomorrow, Aug.

30. The effort marks the final restoration for this local lava tube.

The Bend Bulletin reports that extreme drought in Central Oregon has forced irrigation districts to limit water deliveries—reservoirs are low and streamflows near record lows—while Hood River County requested a drought declaration amid 26% of Oregon in extreme drought.

Gov. Kotek urged residents to practice fire safety as wildfires have scorched over 2.5 million acres, with international firefighters and National Guard support helping fight the blaze+ the governor advised extra caution ahead of Labor Day weekend.

Road construction projects continue in Bend this fall.

The city will finish Butler Market Corridor improvements by September and work on Franklin Avenue repairs with intermittent lane closures (including detours on Butler Market and water pipe replacements) through the season.

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management transitioned the State-level Emergency Coordination Center to Level four – Steady State today as wildfire support needs eased.

Staff return to regular duties while the center continues monitoring fire conditions and advises residents to follow fire safety measures.

Fewer people in Deschutes County have died from fentanyl overdoses, yet Bend police now must use extra doses of Narcan when street drugs are mixed with dangerous fillers (which may lower its effect).

Health officials say patients should get further care after revival.

Mountain View football won 13 to 10 against West Albany last Friday at Jack Harris Stadium after an early interception return gave the Cougars a 7 to 0 start and a rushing touchdown extended the lead before West Albany scored 10.

They will play a nonleague game next Friday.

High school fall sports begin this weekend as The Bulletin asks five preseason questions on local soccer.

The feature examines Bend High girls defending their state title (with nearly the entire lineup returning) and challenges Summit teams to overcome last season’s setbacks.