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Sarah Isak-Goode

Sarah is a local writer with a knack for interviews and research. She is passionate about representing the human experience, no matter the subject. When not writing, she enjoys painting, reading historical texts and hiking with her dog, Thor.

sarah@gmail.com
Posted inLocal News

Sondra Marshall, Ph.D  

Local psychologist is accelerating elite competition opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities
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Sondra Marshall, Ph.D has become a familiar name across Central Oregon over the past two decades. The Bend-based psychologist founded the Programs of Evaluation, Development and Learning at St. Charles Health System, creating what has become a lifeline for local families navigating developmental and medical challenges. Marshall also helped launch the Central Oregon Concussion Program […]

Posted inLocal News

Bend Mayor Joins Statewide Opposition to Federal Troop Deployment in Oregon 

Officials say federal troops not needed as Portland protests stay peaceful
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On Monday, Sept. 29, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed for a restraining order to block President Donald Trump from federalizing 200 Oregon National Guard troops, calling the deployment unjustified and warning it could provoke unrest. Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler joined the chorus of opposition, arguing that Oregon cities need federal support for basic needs […]

Posted inLocal News

New Mental Health Facility Rising in Redmond as Youth Center Awaits Federal Funding 

Two treatment centers and a senior wellness initiative address growing behavioral health needs in Central Oregon
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Redmond is set to significantly expand mental health services with two new treatment facilities under construction and ongoing community wellness programs for seniors, marking a major investment in Central Oregon’s behavioral health infrastructure.  Youth facility timeline shifts  Deschutes County is also moving forward with a 15-bed youth mental health facility, though construction has been pushed […]

Posted inLocal News

What Went Wrong with Hawthorne Bridge? 

$5M overrun forces Bend to reconsider project scope
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The cost of Bend’s planned Hawthorne Overcrossing bridge has jumped by $5 million, throwing a wrench into the City of Bend’s timeline and design plans for the project.  The City reports that the Oregon Department of Transportation recently informed them of the cost hike. ODOT is managing the design and construction due to federal funding […]

Posted inLocal News

Deschutes County Board Weighs Redistricting Plan  

Five-district map would require commissioners to live in districts while keeping at-large voting for all residents
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On Monday, Sept. 29, the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners discussed using Missoula County, Montana’s model approach for drawing up a new commissioner district map and possibly changing how commissioners get elected. The Deschutes County District Mapping Advisory Committee is also meeting weekly to work on map proposal ideas. The map proposals, developed by […]

Posted inLocal News

City Council at a Crossroads on Greenwood Redesign 

Leaders weigh next steps as residents push back on road changes
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One year into the City of Bend’s “quick build” of Greenwood Avenue, data shows safer streets and a surge in biking and walking. City survey results, meanwhile, tell a different story. Nearly 80% of respondents to a recent survey said they “hate” the new layout, while only 10% rated it “good” or “great.”  At a […]

Posted inCulture

The Show Must Go On… Somewhere Else 

Local arts groups scramble for performance space as Bend’s cultural scene outgrows its venues
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Despite Central Oregon’s expanding cultural landscape, local artists and arts organizations report being constrained by Bend’s shortage of dedicated performance and rehearsal venues.   “One of the challenges we’ve consistently heard from members of our artistic communities involves the limited availability of performance and rehearsal spaces,” says Taylor Dusick, marketing and communications manager for the Central […]

Posted inLocal News

Teacher Surprised at Assembly with Top Honor 

Redmond High School’s Mona Mensing named Oregon regional Teacher of the Year
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Mona Mensing, an English teacher at Redmond High School, was named one of Oregon’s 16 regional Teachers of the Year for 2025-26 during a surprise all-school assembly Sept. 16.  “I feel seen and heard, just like my students, and it’s truly amazing,” Mensing said after receiving the honor. “This is a shout-out to all English […]

Posted inLocal News

From 1925 to Today: Bend Education Center Celebrates Milestone Century 

The evolution from pioneering high school to modern educational headquarters
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A century ago, downtown Bend celebrated as the city’s new high school — a grand earth-toned brick building nestled among towering ponderosa pines — welcomed its first students. Today, that same structure — now the Bend-La Pine Education Center — sits in the heart of downtown Bend as the district’s administrative hub and a living […]

Posted inLocal News

Bipartisan Unity Takes Center Stage at City Club of Central Oregon

Lawmakers from both parties collaborate on wildfire prevention, mental health funding amid looming budget crisis
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In a display of bipartisan unity, lawmakers from Central Oregon gathered in Bend on Sept. 18 for a City Caucus meeting hosted by the City Club of Central Oregon. The event brought together Sen. Anthony Broadman, Sen. Mike McLane, Rep. Emerson Levy and Rep. Jason Kropf to review the outcomes of the 2025 legislative session and […]

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