ODOT’s Alternative to the Gas Tax Is Stuck in Neutral
On March 25, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation discussed two related problems that could turn its future into roadkill. First, the Oregon Department of Transportation’s budget calls for spending far in excess of projected revenue. What’s more, ODOT over relies on revenue from the gas tax, which is vulnerable to inflation, greater fuel efficiency…
Advocates Fear China Hat Closure Will Exacerbate Homelessness and Cause a Strain on Services
A planned forest restoration project in south Bend, near Cabin Butte, is set to begin May 1, leading to a temporary closure of 34,600 acres. The Cabin Butte Vegetation Management Project, which includes fire treatments like forest thinning and prescribed burning, will restrict access to the area for at least one year. As the closure looms,…
Redmond Launches New Tourism Campaign
The City of Redmond launched a new tourism campaign last week in an effort to increase year-round visitation. The new campaign, Destination Redmond, promotes Redmond as “Oregon’s Basecamp,” giving visitors the opportunity to experience everything the region has to offer, due to its location in the heart of Central Oregon. The first major part of…
COCC’s Madras Expansion Loses Federal Funding
Central Oregon Community College lost $3 million in federal funding for the construction of its new campus expansion in Madras. The expansion project will increase COCC’s academic offerings in health care and early childhood education. While COCC plans to continue moving forward with its construction, which is currently underway, the college is working to quickly…
SELCO Community Credit Union Teams Up with SMART Reading to Host Community Book Drive
Children’s literacy nonprofit SMART Reading and SELCO Community Credit Union are partnering to support SMART Reading programs by hosting their second annual community book drive. The goal is to collect new and gently-used children’s books, which will be sorted, cleaned, and gifted to local children to ensure they have books to read over the summer.…
Central Oregon Locavore Teams Up with School of Ranch to Bring Local Food Cooking Workshop
School of Ranch and Central Oregon Locavore invite you to their collaborative, upcoming workshop: “Spring Salads: Hearty, Healthy, Flavorful”, our 2nd of 4 cooking classes for the DIY community of Central Oregon! Led by local wellness and culinary educator Suzanne Landry, this class will teach you how to create nutritious, flavorful salads that boost your…
Indigenous Speaker Series Returns to the Museum in April with Three Inspiring Events
This coming April, explore identity, cultures and how to live the good life when the High Desert Museum’s Indigenous Speaker Series returns. Promising a vibrant showcase of Indigenous voices, the series features an array of Indigenous artists, storytellers, scholars and more who share their unique perspectives with the community. “We are honored to once again…
KPOV 2025 Celebrates 20 Years!
KPOV is celebrating its 20th anniversary! Since its founding in 2005, KPOV has been a trusted and vibrant voice for Central Oregon, delivering local news, arts, and entertainment to the community. Our mission is to provide radio by the people and for the people of Central Oregon strengthening community, arts, culture, and democracy through independent,…
Bend WinterFest Donates $10,300 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon
The magic of winter and the power of community came together once again at 2025 Bend WinterFest, raising an impressive $10,300 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon (BBBSCO). This annual celebration isn’t just about winter fun—it’s about giving back, and this year’s contribution continues a strong tradition of supporting local nonprofits. Lay It…
Sisters Folk Festival announces new poster artist and initial 2025 lineup
SFF Presents has announced the initial 26 artists slated to perform at the annual Sisters Folk Festival on Sept. 26 – 28, 2025 in Sisters, Oregon and unveiled this year’s poster artist, Sheila Dunn. The preliminary lineup includes Loudon Wainwright III, Katie Pruitt, Kyshona, Martyn Joseph, Grace Bowers & the Hodge Podge, John Fullbright, Sean…
LISTEN: Grand Craft Bend, James Watts 🎧
We sit down with Silver Moon Brewing co-owner James Watts to discuss Bend’s third oldest brewery’s upcoming 25th anniversary and how the brewery, and the industry, have grown including how beer itself is no longer the sole thirst-slaker at such pubs. Of course, Silver Moon, being a central hub for events and entertainment, has plenty…
2025 Pet Photo Contest
We love our pets and it’s clear y’all do too! This year, our Central Oregon Pets Photo Contest had over 450 photos submitted and then almost 2,000 votes in 15 categories. Thank you to everyone who submitted photos of your pets and to everyone who took the time to vote for this year’s winners. We…
Best Practices for Handling Off-Leash Dogs in Central Oregon
As a dog parent, there’s no better feeling than watching your dog run free, doing dog things and living their best life. These small freedoms are incredibly important to our dogs’ physical and mental well-being. We’re so privileged to live here in Central Oregon, where ample opportunities to give our dogs this freedom abound. However,…
The Art of Fish Keeping
A fish may not be the most traditional pet, but it can be the ideal option for those wanting a low-maintenance animal while also looking to dip their toes into a new hobby. The act of fish keeping can be therapeutic, a creative outlet or just an aesthetically pleasing activity. “It’s one of those hobbies…
Parking Lot Birds
If you want to set the burdens of the world aside for a few minutes by watching beautiful birds, you can hike up a mountain or drive to a remote lake or forest. Or, you can simply head to a parking lot. Take, for instance, the now-empty parking lot at the former Costco in Bend,…
Central Oregon Pets 2025
A quick glance at this page and you can clearly see that the staff of Central Oregon Pets (aka the Source Weekly and our wonderful contributors) are parents to a pet or few. Our furry and usually* four-legged friends mean the world to us, and we know that feeling extends to so many in our…
Confessions of a Cat Junkie
The two brother cats, formerly known as “Fluffy” and “Mousecatcher 2000,” are now named Mack and Mo. We brought them home in early February. They had been residing in one of the exam rooms at our veterinarian’s practice, relocated from a horse ranch in the Los Angeles area (before the fires). They were the last…
