Northwest News Network (N3)

The city of Bend is reeling this morning after a shooter entered Silver Rail Elementary School yesterday [[THURS]], killing three students and a teacher. Thousands attended a vigil near downtown last [[THURS]] night. Joni Auden Land reports.

[[Bend school shooting ((20261015_AL_BendSchoolShootingNEWPresser_SA:10 AL/aw))]] Families and community members are shaken across Oregon after police confirmed this evening [[THURS]] that three children and a teacher were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in Bend.

Bend shooting ((20261015_AL_BendShooting_Neighbor_SA:12 NOTE: This holds to Friday morning The audio is 48 khz AL/AW)) Police confirmed three children, ages 5, 8 and 11, are dead following a shooting at an elementary school in Bend.

[voicer: Annual census shows endangered Puget Sound orca population grew, ERT 1:06, BP-VX-ORCA CENSUS, Bellamy Pailthorp, Jennifer Wing, 10-15-2026] The southern resident killer whale population that frequents Puget Sound grew in the most recent census [reported Monday Oct 12.] As of July 1st, the official count of the endangered orcas is 76 identified individuals — two more than last year.

Bend shooting ((20261015_AL_BendShooting_Neighbor_SA:12 AL/AW)) NOTE: THIS IS IN 48 KHZ Three children were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in Bend today [[THURS]]. That’s according to three sources who confirmed the deaths to OPB.

With colder weather on the horizon, preparations are underway for a local network of warming centers. But as KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, it’s uncertain if a Springfield site will be available.

Bend reporter standup ((20261015_AW_Bend reporter standup_SA:30 AW/al)) Police in Bend say multiple people have been shot at Silver Rail Elementary School. Officials say at least two people were taken to Saint Charles Bend hospital and that the suspected shooter is dead.

Bend shooting ((20261015_AL_BendShooting_Neighbor_SA:12 AL/AW)) The suspect in an active shooter incident at an elementary school in Bend is dead, according to police. Authorities say multiple people, including children, were transported to a nearby hospital.

((20261015_AL_BendShooting_SA:12 Note: The audio is in 48 k 24. Did not have time to re-export to 44 ERT: 52 AL/AW)) Multiple victims — including children — have been transported to Saint Charles Bend hospital, after police responded to reports of an active shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School today [[THURS]].

Grants Pass’s newest homeless shelter has announced a partnership with a local nonprofit.

In November, Seattle residents will vote on a sales tax to expand bus service in the city. The proposal from Mayor Katie Wilson would double Seattle’s expiring transit measure — from 15 cents to 30 thirty cents on every hundred dollar purchase.

Seattle voters will decide in November whether to double the city’s transit sales tax to pay for expanded bus service. KNKX reporter Nate Sanford has more.

Officials in the Northwest say big earthquakes don’t happen often in this region, but they want people to be ready when they do.

[[101526_LG_WesternStateCemetery_Feature 10/15/26 FEATURE Lauren Gallup/JD ERT: 3:43 Host lead-in: For over 20 years, a nonprofit has been working to finally put names on the gravestones at Western State Hospital. As N-W-P-B’s Lauren Gallup reports, the last one has been placed.

The three Northwest states participated today [Thursday] in a global earthquake preparedness exercise.

[WRAP ERT: 1:01 Editor: Carol Smith] Inflation in the Seattle area rose faster than almost any other West Coast city over the past year. KUOW’s Monica Nickelsburg has more.

Eugene School District 4J is discussing possible budget reductions for the 2027-28 school year. That comes after already making tens in millions of cuts ahead of this school year. KLCC’s Ellie Graham reports: [SOQ 0:49]

[101526JR_CruiseShipFEA.wav. JR/LJ. ERT: 7:03] Seattle’s cruise ship season wrapped up this week [Oct. 11]. Close to a million people hopped on a cruise ship in Seattle this year, a record number. Moving these floating resorts through the sea can have big impacts – from hitting whales to heating the planet. Cruise lines are under pressure to do less harm. Our story begins along the Inside Passage...

A library system in Southwest Washington is hoping voters approve a tax levy lift, to increase funding.

Voters in southwest Washington are being asked to raise their taxes to support the Timberland Regional Library System. As KNKX's Lisa Brooks reports, they're hoping to end decades of service cuts.

The Oregon State Senate seat that represents eastern Lane County and most of Linn County is on the ballot this November.

LEDE: Washington state’s head of education is urging the Governor not to participate in a federal program that could put billions of dollars into schools. Reporter Sarah Mizes-Tan has more.

Tacoma has some of the strongest renter protections in Washington, but housing activists say they haven’t been properly enforced. An initiative on November's ballot would make the city responsible for issuing fines and investigating noncompliant landlords.

Lane Public Meeting 101426 RHW/ ERT:1:00 The Lane Community College Board is again in conflict, now over a disagreement about whether a meeting months ago violated open meeting law. KLCC’s Rebecca Hansen-White reports that was before the Oregon Government Ethics Commission last week.

Corvallis city workers went on strike today [Wednesday] as the fight continues over a new contract.