Sarah Isak-Goode

The Sisters Festival of Books will showcase more than 25 authors from across the Pacific Northwest during a three-day celebration of storytelling and literature Sept. 12-14 in Sisters.  The festival features a community StorySLAM, author presentations and signings, workshops, and an eight-course literary banquet at venues throughout the town. Events range from free to ticketed […]

Redmond School District will ban all personal electronic devices during school hours starting with the 2025-26 school year, following the statewide Executive Order No. 25-09 signed by Gov. Tina Kotek on July 2.  The district’s “bell to bell” policy prohibits students from using cell phones, smartwatches, smart glasses and earbuds from the start of regular […]

The Oregon House of Representatives passed a significant transportation funding package on Monday, Sept. 1, moving the state closer to avoiding massive layoffs and maintaining critical road services across Oregon.  The bill now heads to the Senate during the ongoing special legislative session. If approved, it would prevent what could be the largest government layoff […]

Whether you’re foraging for fun or for profit, mushroom foraging in the Pacific Northwest can be very rewarding.   The commercial Matsutake mushroom season opens Tuesday, Sept. 2, in the Deschutes National Forest, giving harvesters a 62-day window to collect the prized “pine mushrooms” through Nov. 3.  Commercial permits cost $200 for the full season, $100 […]

Oregon lawmakers will hold a special session on Aug. 29 to consider funding for the Oregon Department of Transportation. The governor’s proposal includes raising payroll and gas taxes as well as vehicle registration fees. It also seeks to stronger accountability. Recent investigations into ODOT have revealed a lack of financial transparency.    Thousands of Oregonians […]

As of Monday, Aug. 25, the fast-moving Flat Fire in Central Oregon was 5% contained.  Eric Perkins, operations section chief for the Oregon Department of Forestry, reported on Monday morning that the fire stopped advancing forward. “Lots of structures in along this southern end of the fire as it moves into town … that fire […]