KWSO News Briefs for Friday, October 16, 2026
Oregon voters statewide can monitor their vote-by-mail status via text, email, or phone through the Secretary of State's portal, and election officials advise mailing ballots at least seven days before Election Day. Oregon voters can track their election ballots from shipment to counting using the Oregon Secretary of State’s website. Warm Springs residents returning ballots locally can use secure drop boxes located at Warm Springs Fire & Safety on Campus or at 3 Warriors Market in Simnasho.
Local organizers Laura and Theresa Fuentes are hosting a Saturday morning rally in Madras from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the North Y to promote early voter participation. Residents can drop off ballots at the Jefferson County Clerk’s office or contact the Jefferson County Elections Office for assistance.
Communities across the region are mourning after a 16-year-old gunman killed three children and a teacher at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend on Thursday before being fatally shot by a bystander. "We are heartbroken. We are horrified," said Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Cook. In response, all Bend-La Pine schools, Central Oregon Community College, and OSU-Cascades closed today, while Jefferson County 509J schools remain open with increased police presence and on-site counselors.
State officials in Salem extended condolences to the Bend community, with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management and state health and education agencies coordinating recovery support. Authorities request the public to avoid the Silver Rail area and monitor official updates from the Bend Police Department.
Health leaders caution that tragic events such as school violence cause secondary trauma, resulting in hypervigilance, deep grief, and anxiety across broader communities. Parents and caregivers are urged to maintain routines, reassure children, and limit media exposure, while anyone needing emotional support can access 24/7 crisis counselors by calling or texting 988.
Central Oregon Community College finalized a new three-year contract with its faculty following board approval on Wednesday. The deal provides full-time faculty an average 19% salary increase in year one followed by 3% adjustments in subsequent years, while adjunct instructors receive an average 48% raise in year one.
Millions of participants across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho took part in the national Great ShakeOut earthquake and tsunami drill conducted in conjunction with FEMA. Brian Terbush, Earthquake and Volcano Program Manager, urged people to drop, cover, and hold on to maintain a low center of gravity during seismic activity.
In environmental news, the endangered southern resident killer whale population in Puget Sound rose to 76 individuals in the latest census, marked by two surviving calves. However, scientists from the Center for Whale Research warn that low birth rates persist due to water pollutants and a shortage of Chinook salmon.
Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 80°F before cooling down to 42°F tonight. Saturday brings partly sunny and breezy conditions with a high of 68°F and gusts up to 21 mph, followed by bright sunshine and a high near 65°F on Sunday.
