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Baker County, Oregon

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About Baker, OR

Local News
Comprehensive local news coverage for Baker County, Oregon. Stay informed about government decisions, community events, business developments, and civic matters affecting residents of Baker City, Haines, Halfway, Richland, Sumpter, and surrounding eastern Oregon communities.
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Baker City, Haines, Halfway, Richland, Sumpter and 3,088 square miles in eastern oregon

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Newsroom monitoring local Baker, OR developments. Next update cycle in 38 minutes.

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Smoke advisory issued for Halfway as prescribed fires drift north

Smoke advisory issued for Halfway as prescribed fires drift north

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Baker tennis sweeps singles, posts strong home win over Mac-Hi

Baker tennis sweeps singles, posts strong home win over Mac-Hi

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Baker County log shows harassment arrests, traffic stops and crash reports

Baker County log shows harassment arrests, traffic stops and crash reports

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More Local News

Vanderwiele family named Baker County Fair's 2026 Fair Family of the Year
Community

Vanderwiele family named Baker County Fair's 2026 Fair Family of the Year

Vanderwiele family was named the Baker County Fair's 2026 Fair Family of the Year, honoring Cass Vanderwiele's support for youth programs. The award spotlights the volunteers behind Baker County's fairground traditions.

Lisa Park2m read
Baker County log shows arrest on probation violation warrant
Government

Baker County log shows arrest on probation violation warrant

A Baker County log listed Preston T. in a probation-violation arrest tied to a Malheur County warrant, showing cross-county enforcement in eastern Oregon.

Marcus Williams2m read
Crews work around the clock on Powder River Fire in Baker County
Community

Crews work around the clock on Powder River Fire in Baker County

The Powder River Fire reached 20,727 acres and 10% containment as evacuation zones expanded west of Richland and smoke turned Baker City air unhealthy.

Marcus Williams2m read
Baker County schedules hearing on proposed noxious weed ordinance
Government

Baker County schedules hearing on proposed noxious weed ordinance

A proposed weed ordinance could spell out who must clear infestations, how fast, and what costs can landowners face on Baker County pasture and rural ground.

Marcus Williams2m read
Baker City Council raises city manager pay to $140,000
Government

Baker City Council raises city manager pay to $140,000

Baker City lifted the city manager’s pay to $140,000 after earlier raises and a $20,000 bonus, putting the job above senior department heads.

James Thompson2m read
Crews quickly contain new brush fire near New Bridge
Community

Crews quickly contain new brush fire near New Bridge

Crews surrounded a new brush fire near New Bridge before it spread, as Richland-area residents were already under extreme fire danger and burn restrictions.

Sarah Chen2m read
Baker County police log reports trespassing arrest in Baker City
Community

Baker County police log reports trespassing arrest in Baker City

Rudy Jay Saarheim, 40, was booked on a first-degree criminal trespassing arrest in Baker City, the clearest entry in a July 20 police log that tracks daily county enforcement.

Sarah Chen2m read
Wildfire smoke pushes Baker City air quality to unhealthy levels
Healthcare

Wildfire smoke pushes Baker City air quality to unhealthy levels

Smoke pushed Baker City into unhealthy air, triggering a National Weather Service alert for Baker, Harney and Malheur counties and warning of eye and lung irritation.

Cara Whitfield2m read
More than 500 fight two major wildfires in and around Baker County
Community

More than 500 fight two major wildfires in and around Baker County

More than 500 firefighters, engines and a helicopter were on two Baker County blazes as Greenhorn and Granite braced for evacuations and road closures.

Marcus Williams1m read
Local group plans to expand Baker City Motorcycle Rally
Community

Local group plans to expand Baker City Motorcycle Rally

The Baker City Motorcycle Rally returned July 10-12, and organizers now want to grow it beyond a weekend ride. They are weighing what bigger crowds would mean downtown.

Lisa Park2m read
Wildfire closures at Anthony Lakes cost Baker County summer revenue
Business

Wildfire closures at Anthony Lakes cost Baker County summer revenue

Fire closures shut down campgrounds, cabins and the Summer at the Starbottle at Anthony Lakes, cutting off summer income just as the Anthony Fire grew to 1,948 acres.

Sarah Chen2m read
Baker City leans on backup water sources amid system strain
Government

Baker City leans on backup water sources amid system strain

Baker City is drawing hard on backup water as its watershed runs low, raising questions for household use, firefighting readiness and how long the strain will last.

James Thompson2m read
Quail Ridge hosts first Oregon Golf Association junior tournament
Community

Quail Ridge hosts first Oregon Golf Association junior tournament

Quail Ridge’s first OGA junior tournament put Baker City on Oregon Golf Association’s junior map and brought young players and families to 2801 Indiana Avenue.

Lisa Park2m read
Baker City fire department imposes burn ban amid high fire danger
Government

Baker City fire department imposes burn ban amid high fire danger

Baker City residents could no longer light burn barrels or open piles at midnight Thursday, as fire officials tightened rules amid dry, high-risk conditions.

James Thompson1m read
Powder River Fire near Richland triggers evacuations, grows to 8,500 acres
Community

Powder River Fire near Richland triggers evacuations, grows to 8,500 acres

Level 3 evacuations went up west of Richland as the Powder River Fire surged to 8,500 acres, with BLM crews joining local firefighters.

Sarah Chen2m read
Union Pacific locomotive sparks three fires near Baker City
Community

Union Pacific locomotive sparks three fires near Baker City

A Union Pacific locomotive threw sparks from its exhaust stack and lit at least three small fires near Baker City. The flare-up came during an already active fire season across eastern Oregon.

Sarah Chen2m read
Virtue Flat offers Baker County riders scenic off-highway adventure
Community

Virtue Flat offers Baker County riders scenic off-highway adventure

Virtue Flat gives Baker County riders more than 5,000 acres of marked OHV terrain, seasonal services and big Eastern Oregon views just outside Baker City.

Marcus Williams5m read
Fire crews report progress containing Baker County wildfires
Community

Fire crews report progress containing Baker County wildfires

Granite’s evacuation level was lowered as the Salmon Fire reached 15% containment, while the Anthony Fire held at 1,948 acres and 6% contained. Crews gained ground, but closures and smoke still affected Greenhorn, Anthony Lakes and nearby roads.

Marcus Williams2m read
Baker man charged with cocaine possession twice in July
Government

Baker man charged with cocaine possession twice in July

A Baker man faced cocaine possession charges for a second time in July, deepening a run of drug and jail cases that has kept Baker County's justice system busy.

Marcus Williams2m read
1960 Anthony Burn still shapes Baker County wildfire fears
Community

1960 Anthony Burn still shapes Baker County wildfire fears

The 1960 Anthony Burn still shapes how Baker County reads the high country, and this fire season’s closures at Anthony Lakes make that history feel immediate again.

Lisa Park4m read
Snake River-Mormon Basin byway offers scenic Baker County loop drive
Community

Snake River-Mormon Basin byway offers scenic Baker County loop drive

The Snake River-Mormon Basin loop turns Baker County’s valleys, mining camps, and backcountry roads into a one-day lesson in how the county was built.

Marcus Williams5m read
Spencer Kilpatrick brings touring music to Baker City taproom
Community

Spencer Kilpatrick brings touring music to Baker City taproom

Reno musician Spencer Kilpatrick is bringing his Dog Run tour to Barley Browns taproom, adding another summer night of live music downtown.

Marcus Williams2m read
Baker City Shriners celebrate 75 years of community service
Community

Baker City Shriners celebrate 75 years of community service

Baker City Shriners marked 75 years with the same downtown parade, Bulldog Memorial Stadium football and barbecue that have long raised money for children’s hospitals.

Sarah Chen2m read
Talk explores Chinese immigrant history in Baker City and Pendleton
Community

Talk explores Chinese immigrant history in Baker City and Pendleton

Baker City’s Chinese Cemetery and Chinatown mark a history local talks are bringing back into view. The story reaches beyond heritage labels to how eastern Oregon was built and then forgotten.

Sarah Chen5m read
North Powder hosts student exchange for a week of firsts
Education

North Powder hosts student exchange for a week of firsts

North Powder spent a week showing exchange students a rural life built around host families, the Badgers school and long distances. The visit was part of a fully funded national program.

Lisa Park2m read
Baker City police log shows harassment, felon in possession arrest
Community

Baker City police log shows harassment, felon in possession arrest

Baker City Police logged a harassment case tied to felon-in-possession charges, one of the more serious entries in Baker County’s daily public-safety record.

Marcus Williams2m read
Baker School District begins turning former Central Building site into lawn
Education

Baker School District begins turning former Central Building site into lawn

Workers began preparing the former Central Building site near Baker Middle School for grass, turning district-owned dirt into one of Baker City’s biggest lawns.

Marcus Williams2m read
Baker County commissioners seek proposals to manage parks
Government

Baker County commissioners seek proposals to manage parks

Commissioners are preparing to seek outside proposals for Hewitt and Holcomb parks, reopening a fight over fees, upkeep and local control.

Marcus Williams2m read
How to trace Baker County roots using local library records
Community

How to trace Baker County roots using local library records

Baker County’s library, courthouse, and state archives can answer the hard questions fast, from a burial site in Baker City to a Sumpter miner in an old newspaper.

Sarah Chen6m read