Laurel Brauns
Posted inNews

After the Brawl at Pilot Butte

Black Lives Matter protesters, Bend PD and a pro-Trump brigade clashed two weeks ago. Now local police want many participants charged with crimes
by Laurel Brauns

Up to 22 people may be charged in the wake of two competing demonstrations at Pilot Butte Neighborhood Park on Oct. 3. Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said he’ll announce his decision on the charges at a press conference later this week.  The groups that clashed earlier this month gathered primarily in response to […]

Posted inNews

Listen: Rivers Need Water with Tod Heisler 🎧

Central Oregon LandWatch’s rivers conservation director talks about the organization’s efforts to restore the Deschutes River to its historic flows
Laurel Brauns

For this week’s “Bend Don’t Break” podcast we talk with Tod Heisler, the rivers conservation director for Central Oregon LandWatch. Heisler cut his teeth in conservation politics by working in Washington, D.C. early in his career. Two decades ago, he moved to Central Oregon and worked for the Deschutes River Conservancy for 15 years, concentrating […]

Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides

Rescuing Animals Out of the Ashes

Behind the scenes with Central Oregon’s Pet Evacuation Team, which cared for dozens of pets from the recent fire zones
by Laurel Brauns

As the recent Oregon megafires ripped through the forests and towns east of the Santiam Pass and along the McKenzie River, some frantic evacuees barely escaped with their lives. Many were unprepared to leave immediately, awakened in the middle of the night by emergency response officials ordering them out. Some didn’t have time to prepare […]

Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides

Are Essential Oils Safe for Pets?

Diluted essential oils can help with pets’ emotional issues, as well as preventing some airborne illness, local holistic veterinarian says
by Laurel Brauns

Essential oils have been used for centuries to help people with physical and emotional ailments. The uplifting scent of citrus may bring to mind sunny summer days even in the darkest months of winter. As many pet owners have grown to love and depend on the healing effects of essential oils for themselves, many have […]

Posted inNews

Will My Ballot Get Thrown Out? Is Voter Fraud a Thing?

The County Clerk of Deschutes County offers voting advice for the 2020 elections, plus a rundown of Oregon’s unique voting laws
by Laurel Brauns

The 2020 election will look like no election in history—especially for people living outside of Oregon. Throughout the rest of the U.S., heavy turnout could mean long lines at the polls, and coronavirus precautions may make those lines even longer. Conflicts could arise between poll watchers from each party. On top of that, Americans may […]

Posted inNews

Listen: Oregon’s Amazing Vote-By-Mail Elections with Nancy Blankenship 🎧

Deschutes County Clerk Nancy Blankenship traces the history of Oregon’s “motor voter” law and mail-in ballot system, and makes some recommendations to help voters make sure their ballot is counted in this year’s historic election
Avatar photo Laurel Brauns and Aaron Switzer

For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we talk with Nancy Blankenship, who has been serving as the Deschutes County Clerk since 2003. Many of us know her name, but we wanted to find out more about the person behind the ballots in Deschutes County. Blankenship is a third-generation Oregonian who has lived in […]

Posted inNews

The Bubble That Won’t Burst

As people from affluent cities pour into Bend to escape COVID-19, home sales and rent prices skyrocket, leaving locals priced out of the market
by Laurel Brauns

“It’s quite extraordinary. Home sale prices increased by 15% just this summer. Historically, it’s 7% to 9% a year,” said Brian Ladd, a principal agent at Cascade Sotheby’s. Ladd grew up in the real estate industry and has been a broker for the past 20 years. “People are panic buying. I’ve never seen anything like […]

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