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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
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High Desert Museum Sees Funding Cuts to Several Projects

Local museum, offering exhibits on animals, art and history, awaits direction after lost funding
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Leaders at the High Desert Museum learned that federal budget cuts could impact a number of projects offered to museum guests. The funding cuts, realized primarily through the termination of federal grants, are set to impact a series of improvement projects at the museum. Museum Director Dana Whitelaw says they’ve learned about the losses over […]

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Rundown for the May Election

Check out a list of levies, along with school and park board candidates, for the upcoming May election
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The special district election will take place on May 20. Here’s a complete list of upcoming levies, school and park board candidates in Deschutes County. School Boards For the Bend-La Pine Schools district, candidates for Zone 1, 2 and 4 are running unopposed – Jennifer Lynch for Zone 1, Marcus LeGrand for Zone 2 and […]

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Local Food Bank Reports Growing Demand

Food bank, NeighborImpact, reports record-breaking rise in people who need food assistance
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Local organization, NeighborImpact, which operates the regional food bank for Central Oregon, revealed a record-breaking rise in demand for food across the region, leading to concerns around heightened food insecurity. After collecting data, the organization revealed on April 16 that it served an average of 83,000 individuals per month in its most recent quarter – […]

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Water Hero: Kate Fitzpatrick

Kate Fitzpatrick, executive director of Deschutes River Conservancy, is passionate about water and stewardship
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Kate Fitzpatrick, the executive director of Deschutes River Conservancy, wears many hats as an advocate for water and the outdoors. Her work with DRC, a local nonprofit, helps to restore streamflow and improve water quality in the Deschutes River Basin. Fitzpatrick has been with the organization for 21 years, and in her current position for […]

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Newest Hero: Think Wild & Youngest Hero: Sally Compton

Think Wild, which launched its wildlife hospital in 2020, offers protections for local wildlife, led by conservation enthusiast Sally Compton — earning it two “Earth Heroes” nods
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Think Wild, a local organization that works to care for and protect native wildlife through education, conservation, rescue and rehabilitation, continues to expand its services to help. While the nonprofit initially formed in 2016, it launched its wildlife hospital and conservation center, one of its main programs, in 2020. Executive Director Sally Compton has been […]

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Redmond Welcomes Marijuana

The City of Redmond voted to allow marijuana dispensaries within city limits, with certain limitations
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The Redmond City Council voted in favor of allowing marijuana dispensaries within city limits on April 10. The vote implemented a 3% tax on the sale of marijuana items, and applied time, place and manner restrictions to how dispensaries can be operated within the City. The vote comes after a November advisory ballot measure, gauging […]

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Prineville Residents Challenge Proposed UGB Expansion for Biomass Facility

Locals criticize the City’s notification process
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Prineville community members are calling to halt a proposed urban growth boundary expansion intended to make room for a new energy source. The UGB expansion is set to pave the way for a biomass facility, accommodating space for the prospective project, among other expansion opportunities. While the City Council is set to vote on the […]

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Redmond Welcomes Marijuana

The City of Redmond voted to allow marijuana dispensaries within city limits, with certain limitations
Avatar photo by Julianna LaFollette

The Redmond City Council voted in favor of allowing marijuana dispensaries within city limits on April 10. The vote implemented a 3% tax on the sale of marijuana items, and applied time, place and manner restrictions to how dispensaries can be operated within the City. The vote comes after a November advisory ballot measure, gauging […]

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Funding Freeze Hits Local Food Banks

Redmond food assistance program, NeighborImpact, sees decrease in food resources due to federal cuts
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Local food assistance organization, NeighborImpact, is sounding the alarms about a federal funding freeze that’s affecting its ability to provide food to Central Oregonians. The payment freeze, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is aimed at a set of food assistance programs that redistribute food commodities to food banks, leading to a significant decrease […]

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From Porch to Stage

Bend's Larkspur Stand talks about finding its groove through practice and creativity
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Larkspur Stand was born on a front porch in the east Bend neighborhood known as Larkspur, the band’s namesake. What started as a few friends casually jamming out together eventually grew as more neighbors joined and merged talents to create the band’s current crew. The five-person band includes instruments like guitar, banjo, drums, an upright […]

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