33°CloudyHigh 56° · Low 34°

  1. 6 a.m.Cloudy.33°
  2. NoonPartly cloudy.52°
  3. 6 p.m.Cloudy.48°
  4. MidnightCloudy.42°

Sunrise 6:45 a.m. Sunset 4:50 p.m.

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  1. 6 a.m.Cloudy.33°
  2. NoonPartly cloudy.52°
  3. 6 p.m.Cloudy.48°
  4. MidnightCloudy.42°
  1. TodayCloudy. High 56° Low 34°
  2. ThuPartly cloudy. High 56° Low 36°
  3. FriCloudy. High 57° Low 40°
  4. SatPartly cloudy. High 67° Low 43°
  5. SunCloudy. High 51° Low 36°

Sunrise 6:45 a.m. Sunset 4:50 p.m.

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Today’s edition · Wed., Nov. 4

Kotek projected to win a second term; Deschutes ballots top 65%

Plus, McKenzie Pass closes Thursday and Cascade Lakes Highway follows on Nov. 17.

The Bend Daily News team2 stories14 sources5 min read

ElectionTop story

Central Oregon beat the state on ballot returns as Gov. Kotek declared victory

Crook and Deschutes counties were ahead of the state by Tuesday morning

Source: Central Oregon Daily

View as table
Value
Crook55.34%
Deschutes54.01%
Oregon48.3%
Jefferson46.66%

If you voted Tuesday, you were part of a turnout that beat the state. The Oregon Secretary of State's Office reported just after 8 p.m. that more than 1.8 million voters, just over 58%, had returned ballots, and all three Central Oregon counties topped that.

  • Deschutes: nearly 110,000 ballots, over 65%
  • Crook: nearly 14,000 ballots, nearly 65%
  • Jefferson: nearly 9,900 ballots, nearly 64%

Gov. Tina Kotek declared victory after national networks named her the projected winner. "What a great night for Oregon!" she told a cheering crowd. NBC News declared that Rep. Janelle Bynum won re-election in Oregon's 5th Congressional District.

Oregon's turnout has ranged from 66.9% to 82.0% in a decade

Source: Central Oregon Daily

View as table
Oregon turnout
201680.3%
201869.7%
202082.0%
202266.9%
202475.4%

Missed the 8 p.m. drop-box deadline? Mailed ballots with a proper postmark may arrive up to seven days after the election and still be counted.

Asked

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Getting Around

McKenzie Pass closes Thursday, and Cascade Lakes Highway follows Nov. 17

If you love a mountain drive, take one soon. ODOT crews will close McKenzie Pass, OR 242 on Thursday, Nov. 5. The Deschutes County Road Department will close Cascade Lakes Highway and Paulina Lake Road at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Two mountain road closures land in November

November 2026

  • McKenzie Pass closes
  • Cascade Lakes, Paulina Lake Rd

Check TripCheck.com or call 511 for open routes.

Source: MyCentralOregon.com

View as table
Days
McKenzie Pass closesNov. 5
Cascade Lakes, Paulina Lake RdNov. 17
  • (OR 242): closes Thursday, Nov. 5
  • Cascade Lakes Highway: closes 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17
  • Paulina Lake Road: closes 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17
  • Reopening: typically before Memorial Day, weather permitting

Both county roads could close early if significant winter weather hits. While the roads are closed to regular traffic, public access is still permitted for cross country skiers. Elk Lake Resort remains open during winter (starting Dec. 18) and offers transportation via snowcat.

Winter snow on Central Oregon's mountain roads can run deep

5,325 feet
is McKenzie Pass's elevation
5 to 10 feet
or more of snow can pile up at the road summits
1962
is when McKenzie Pass became a seasonal scenic highway

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News Notes · More

Fire season

The Oregon Department of Forestry's ended fire season for all the forestlands it protects at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. KTVZ reports the district protects more than 2.1 million acres. Lightning caused more than 140 fires between July 15 and July 24, ODF said, and the Akawa Butte Fire and Rowe Creek Complex were among the larger ones. Central Oregon DailyKTVZ

Gas prices

Oregon's gas average fell 9.5 cents in a week to $4.75 per gallon, according to GasBuddy. That's still nearly 92 cents higher than this time last year. KTVZ

Oregon's $4.75 gas average sits above the national $4.12

$4.75

Oregon average

Source: KTVZ

View as table
PriceAmountDifference
Oregon average$4.75
Portland$4.80−5¢
Eugene$4.69+6¢
Salem$4.60+15¢
U.S. average$4.12+63¢
Lowest in Oregon$3.99+76¢
Highest in Oregon$5.64−89¢

School grants

If you work at a public school in the Bend-La Pine, Redmond or Sisters districts, The Environmental Center is offering waste prevention grants of up to $2,000 per project. Projects can cover reuse, repair, recycling and composting. The Source says the funding comes with support from the Deschutes County Department of Solid Waste, and KTVZ says applications are accepted on a rolling basis while funding lasts. KTVZThe Source

Furnish Hope

After four months of waiting, Furnish Hope's building permits for 355 NE 2nd St. are approved. The renovation will turn about 21,000 square feet into its new home, up from a 4,500-square-foot warehouse, with a move expected in three to four months. The Source

New bar

UN/COMMON Cocktail Cafe will open by the end of the month in Bend's Central District, replacing Canteen at Campfire Hotel. Drinks will riff on pop culture, with daytime specialty coffee to follow. Bend Bulletin

Home

Two home kitchen upgrades under $24 while sales last: super-absorbent dish towels that come in an eight-pack and include a hanging loop, and a water-absorbing stone sponge holder that’s minimalist, compact, and keeps counters and sponges dry with natural diatomite stone. Advertising from Amazon.

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Content marked with an * is advertising.

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.

— Jack London

Things to Do

Things to Do

Bend, OR

Wednesday, Nov. 4

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Around the Block

Around the Block

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Lost and found

I have a pair of cute Corgis that like their fenced front yard, but the female can be unpredictable and snap.

“I saw someone leaning over my at least 41/2' picket fence to reach into my yard and try to pet the dogs. I said "excuse me, please don't touch the dogs." through my ring camera and they continued until I scolded them again. Am I being unreasonable? What kind of people trespass into your private property without…”

— A neighbor, Bend

15 likes · 30 comments

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The Wrap

A Sunriver photographer spent about five months watching a family of bald eagles near Harper Bridge on the Deschutes River, and now he has a book to show for it. Paul Evenson's first photo book, “Guardians of the High Desert,” follows the pair and their three fledglings. Some mornings, he says, produced nothing at all. Patience pays off.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Ballots are due at 8 p.m. today, and McKenzie Pass closes Thursday

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Every source in this edition14 links · 8 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. Central Oregon Dailycentraloregondaily.com
  3. KTVZktvz.com
  4. MyCentralOregon.commycentraloregon.com
  5. Redmond Spokesmanredmondspokesman.com
  6. MyCentralOregon.commycentraloregon.com
  7. Central Oregon Dailycentraloregondaily.com
  8. KTVZktvz.com
  9. KTVZktvz.com
  10. KTVZktvz.com
  11. The Sourcebendsource.com
  12. The Sourcebendsource.com
  13. Bend Bulletinbendbulletin.com
  14. Bend events calendarbenddailynews.com

Past issues

  1. Tues., Nov. 3Ballots are due at 8 p.m. today, and McKenzie Pass closes Thursday
  2. Mon., Nov. 2Bend-La Pine plans Silver Rail community session Thursday
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Bend Daily Newsto me · Wed., Nov. 46:00 a.m.

Kotek projected to win a second term; Deschutes ballots top 65%

Plus, McKenzie Pass closes Thursday and Cascade Lakes Highway follows on Nov. 17.

The TLDR

  1. All three Central Oregon counties beat the state's ballot return rate
  2. Gov. Tina Kotek declared victory after networks projected her win
  3. McKenzie Pass closes Thursday, Nov. 5, for the winter
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Bend Daily News’ other editions

All the news
Election DayDrop box ballots are due by 8 p.m. today, and Deschutes County turnout is nearing 50%If you haven't voted yet, today's the day. Deschutes County was approaching 50% turnout on Monday, which County Clerk Steve Dennison called "fantastic for where we are in the cycle." Officials say turnout is running higher than in past midterm cycles.Getting AroundMcKenzie Pass closes for the winter on Thursday, and ODOT won't maintain itIf you like the drive over McKenzie Pass (OR 242), time's almost up. The Oregon Department of Transportation will close the highway Thursday as winter weather approaches. The route is a scenic secondary highway, and ODOT puts its plowing effort into main highways instead.SchoolsBend-La Pine Schools will hold a Silver Rail community session ThursdayIf you have questions or concerns after the Silver Rail Elementary tragedy, Bend-La Pine Schools has set up a community session for Thu., Nov. 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Pilot Butte Middle School, 1501 NE Neff Road. District leaders, school board members and Bend Police Department representatives will be there to listen and answer questions.

Around Bend

From Central Oregon Daily, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

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