Friday News for Warm Springs 9/18/26

Central Oregon families are feeling the squeeze at the light switch as local electricity costs continue to climb across the region. Driven by rising power demand, grid upgrades, and escalating wildfire mitigation expenses, major utility providers have introduced significant rate hikes. Central Electric Cooperative implemented a 13 percent increase this year, adding roughly 20 dollars a month to average residential bills. Wasco Electric enacted a 9 percent increase back in March due to rising wholesale costs and a 75 percent jump in equipment prices, while Pacific Power customers continue navigating multi-year rate hikes.

For local families needing relief, the Warm Springs Community Action Team is offering energy assistance today for up to 300 applicants from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the old school gym. To qualify, you must bring a printed physical copy of your most recent electric bill. Digital copies, emails, and phone apps will not be accepted, so be sure to print your statement beforehand. Processing takes time, so staff ask for your patience.  Because of ongoing construction, parking directly in front of the gym is closed. Drivers should park behind the gym, at the education center, near the campus pavilion, or toward Teacher Row.

The Museum at Warm Springs is inviting tribal artists to enter the 33rd Annual Tribal Member Adult and Youth Art Exhibit. Adult entries for judging and prize money are due by 5 p.m. October 20th, while non-judged adult and youth display pieces are due October 27th. Categories include traditional, contemporary and video art. Application forms are available at wsnews.org, the Spilyay Tymoo WEBSITE . The opening reception is November 18th. For information, call museum curator Angela Smith at 541-553-3331, extension 412.

CTWS Vital Statistics is asking for help reaching people with stale-dated checks that need to be reissued. A list of names is posted in a news story on the KWSO website.  People Listed should contact Vital Statistics at vitalstats@wstribes.org to confirm or update your mailing address and contact information. Community members who recognize someone on the list are asked to share this information with them.

KWSO is celebrating 40 years on the air this month with an open house today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community members are invited for a station tour, lunch and a KWSO 40th anniversary T-shirt while supplies last. The anniversary events conclude September 30th with a free screening of the Sundance award-winning documentary BAD PRESS at the Madras Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 3 p.m., the film begins at 4, and a panel discussion on press freedom and Native media is scheduled for about 5:30.  The BAD PRESS panel will include co-director Rebecca Landsberry-Baker, journalist and free press activist Angel Ellis, Brian Bull of Underscore Native News and KLCC, former Grand Ronde Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier, KWSO Station Manager Successor Liz Smith and longtime Madras Pioneer publisher Tony Ahern. The event is free and refreshments will be available.

KWSO has a new sign along highway 26 this week.  Installed by Carlson Signs of Bend, the sign was funded by an anonymous donation.

The Austin and Narrows fires west of the Warm Springs reservation are continuing to make progress. Clackamas County reported September 16th that all Level 3 evacuation notices had been lifted as fire behavior decreased and containment increased, although forest closures remain because of unstable trees, damaged infrastructure and ongoing heavy equipment operations.

Oregon’s wildfire season has also created financial losses for families receiving SNAP benefits. According to the Oregon Capital Chronicle, nearly 170 Oregon households requested replacement SNAP benefits after losing food during wildfire evacuations, representing more than 44-thousand dollars in groceries. Half of the requests came from Jefferson County following the Bench Fire near Warm Springs, while another third came from Klamath County after the Wrights Spring Fire. The Oregon Department of Human Services allows SNAP recipients to request replacement benefits when food is lost or spoiled because of a natural disaster.  Oregon lawmakers have also approved nearly 123 million dollars to help cover the cost of the 2026 wildfire season. The Oregon Capital Chronicle reports the Legislature’s Joint Emergency Board allocated 108 million dollars to the Oregon Department of Forestry and 15 million dollars to the Department of the State Fire Marshal after fires had burned about 2.5 million acres statewide.

In Indian Country, the U.S. Justice Department is expanding its Tribal Access Program, which provides federally recognized tribes access to national crime information databases. The program supports missing-person investigations, background checks, protection orders, sex-offender registration and other public-safety functions. The Justice Department says 152 tribes were participating as of July, with additional tribes selected through the latest application process.

Weather for the next three days will bring warmer and drier conditions today, followed by cooler temperatures this weekend. Winds will generally be light, with dry conditions continuing across Central Oregon.