Avatar photo

Julianna LaFollette

Julianna earned her Masters in Journalism at NYU in 2024. She loves writing local stories about interesting people and events. When she’s not reporting, you can find her cooking, participating in outdoor activities or attempting to keep up with her 90 pound dog, Finn.

1reporter@bendsource.com
Posted inNews

Bend Public Transit Set to Expand in 2025 and Beyond

With the pandemic behind us, Cascades East Transit looks to make changes in 2025 to increase ridership
Avatar photo by Julianna LaFollette

As Bend continues to grow, Cascades East Transit (CET), the region’s public transportation service, plans to expand services in 2025 to increase usage and plan for necessary timing and location improvements. Following major service cuts during the pandemic, CET looks ahead to 2025 to increase service hours, buses and routes. As a result of COVID-19, […]

Posted inNews

Redmond Embraces Pod Structures as Shelter Option

The City of Redmond approved an amendment allowing micro-shelters at safe parking sites
Avatar photo by Julianna LaFollette

Redmond will begin allowing micro-shelters at safe parking sites within the city, offering another shelter option for individuals taking part in the program. The City Council unanimously approved the amendment to its code on Jan. 28 following an overwhelmingly favorable public hearing. Mountain View Community Development (MVCD), the nonprofit that operates Redmond’s safe parking program, […]

Posted inNews

Plans for West Bend Trail Improvements Finalized

Deschutes National Forest to improve, build trails west of Best and Sunriver
Avatar photo by Julianna LaFollette

Changes lie ahead for several sections of Bend’s most popular trails, following a proposal to improve heavily used areas west of Bend and Sunriver. The Deschutes National Forest signed the final decision for its West Bend Trails Project on Jan. 14. The project aims to provide more opportunities for all trail users, including hikers, mountain […]

Posted inFood & Drink

Catch Up with Buck Bales at D&D Bar & Grill

Buck Bales, voted Best Bartender in Bend, talks industry growth, popular cocktails and bar recommendations
Avatar photo by Julianna LaFollette

Buck Bales at D&D Bar & Grill was voted Best Bartender in the Source Weekly’s Best of Central Oregon readers’ poll in 2024. Bales, who has been at D&D since 2010, has worked in several local spots over the years, including Cascade West and JC’s, to name a few. The Source Weekly caught up with […]

Posted inNews

A Prefabricated Path to Homeownership

Touted as one of the most affordable homeownership options, officials grapple with the pros and cons of manufactured homes
Avatar photo by Julianna LaFollette

In March 2019, Jim Dailing decided to move into a manufactured home park in southeast Bend. Following his divorce, Dailing, a self-employed artist, didn’t have many options when looking for an affordable place to live. At the time, the median home price was around $450,000. According to Dailing, he could either rent an apartment or […]

Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides

Sober Curious? Bend’s Got Your Back

Bend boasts a growing selection of nonalcoholic social spaces
Avatar photo by Julianna LaFollette

“Dry January,” a term used to indicate a break from drinking, may be transcending past a popular month-long challenge. In recent years, studies have shown that younger people are drinking less and becoming more “sober curious,” a movement prompting people to be more mindful of their alcohol consumption. According to a Gallup poll from August […]

Posted inNews

NeighborImpact Opens New Food Bank Warehouse in Redmond

The new space will allow the organization to accept more food to keep up with growing demand
Avatar photo by Julianna LaFollette

NeighborImpact, a nonprofit offering food assistance, energy assistance and emergency housing to people in need, celebrated its 40th anniversary January 24 and held a grand opening for its new food warehouse in Redmond. The organization’s new building, housing a wide variety of food products for those in need, will help the nonprofit keep up with […]

Posted inFood & Drink

A Journey to Cheesecake

After operating on and off for years, Little Slice of Hell is an established hit at two Central Oregon food carts
Avatar photo by Julianna LaFollette

While cheesecake may seem like an unconventional product for a food cart, local business Little Slice of Hell strikes just the right balance of originality and quality. After years of wanting to offer joy through endless flavors of cheesecakes, Julie Higgins, the owner of Little Slice of Hell, is thrilled about her position within the […]

Posted inNews

Former Senator Tim Knopp on Accomplishments, Next Steps

Tim Knopp talks to the Source Weekly about his new role and his time in the Oregon legislature
Avatar photo by Julianna LaFollette

Former Sen. Tim Knopp served in the Oregon legislature for 18 years, working as a state representative from 1999 to 2005, then as a member of the State Senate from 2013 to 2025. Knopp, ineligible to run for reelection in 2024 after leading the longest walkout in the state’s history, says he’s going back to […]

Posted inNews

Former Redmond Motel Reopens as Apartment Complex

Redmond officials held a grand opening on Tuesday to introduce the NOVA Apartments in downtown Redmond
Avatar photo by Julianna LaFollette

Redmond leaders and community members attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 21 to introduce a new apartment complex in the downtown area. The NOVA Apartments, situated on Redmond’s Fifth Street, will support the city’s ongoing revitalization efforts of the downtown neighborhood. Formerly known as the Village Squire Motel, the building was converted to studio apartments, […]

Sign up for newsletters

Get the best of The Source - Bend, Oregon directly in your email inbox.

Sending to:

Gift this article