The Source Editorial Board
Posted inOpinion

School Attendance, Community Supports and Oregon’s Educational Outcomes are All Intertwined

Oregon needs more accountability for families after their children disappear from school
by The Source Editorial Board

Last week, Reporter Clayton Franke’s story on the Silver Rail shooter started with the basic premise of, ‘why wasn’t this kid in school?’ We wanted to know when the student attended Bend-La Pine Schools, when he did not and what happened in between, in some attempt to understand more about the 16-year-old and why he […]

Posted inOpinion

Mental Health Services Deserve Greater Funding (and Oversight)

It’s one of the few things we believe we can agree on
by The Source Editorial Board

If we have not gone through this directly, we’ve seen it on the news enough times to know how it goes. Innocent victims die in a place of learning. The public is outraged and heartbroken. Parents call for more safety measures; students walk out of class to do something — anything — to display their […]

Posted inElections

In the Swirl of the Week, Your Ballot Arrived

While the Central Oregon community reels, Election Day is still ahead. These are our Editorial Board’s endorsements in local races.
by The Source Editorial Board

See the videos of our interviews with the candidates on our Elections page at bendsource.com. City Elections Redmond City Council Our picks: Tobias Colvin, Kathryn Osborne, Barbara Tate Five people are in the running for three seats on the Redmond City Council, including Tobias Colvin, the manager of the SCP Redmond Hotel and a former […]

Posted inElections

Vote Ty Rupert for Deschutes County Sheriff

Our choice is Rupert, but whoever you decide to vote for in this race, do it in the spirit of having skin in the game
by The Source Editorial Board

We don’t fault anyone who harbors doubt, or even downright disdain about the state of things at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. A culture of retaliation and dishonesty has pervaded the office for years. While they may or may not have taken part in all of it, the two people running to be the next […]

Posted inElections

Vote Chris Beck for Oregon’s Congressional District 2

Oregon’s rural voters deserve more than they’re getting
by The Source Editorial Board

Beyond the talk of flipping the U.S. House or sticking it to the Trump regime, the facts are plain: Cliff Bentz doesn’t seem to care much about the people of his district. The Oregon Health Plan covered some 70% of kids in Oregon’s large 2nd Congressional district in 2025. Over 40% of people in the […]

Posted inElections

Vote Lauren Connally for Deschutes County Commissioner, Pos. 3 ▶ with video

Both candidates have strengths that would serve them well on this commission; however, our endorsement goes to Connally
by The Source Editorial Board

Deschutes County voters have some big decisions to make this time around — including deciding on a controversial district map proposal and the addition of two more commissioners to the Board of County Commissioners. This race doesn’t make decision-making much easier, as the two candidates on the ballot for Position 3 this November are both […]

Posted inElections

Vote Melanie Kebler for Mayor of Bend ▶ with video

We would relish some hearty debates between two well-prepared candidates for Bend mayor — but unfortunately, this race is not that
by The Source Editorial Board

Imagine you’re applying for a job. You submit your resume; you get the interview. During said interview, you extol the values of listening and having good information to inform you as you go about your work; only, as the interview goes on, it becomes clear that you have neither listened nor gathered much information — […]

Posted inOpinion

Vote Ed Fitch for Redmond Mayor

Two candidates with plenty of experience, and plenty of votes, from which to analyze their leadership
by The Source Editorial Board

Redmond’s mayoral race is a matchup between incumbent Ed Fitch and fellow City Councilor Jay Patrick — a contest that means both have plenty of experience, and plenty of votes, from which to analyze their leadership. (Another person, Charles Webster Baer, is also in the running, but we did not consider him a viable candidate […]

Posted inElections

Vote Emerson Levy for House District 53 ▶ with video

Vying for her third term, the Bend-Redmond state representative has advocated for meaningful change for the people of her district
by The Source Editorial Board

Representing a “purple” district like House District 53 is no easy task. With Democrats currently holding the majority in both chambers of the state legislature as well as the governor’s office, it could be easy for a Democrat like Emerson Levy to simply fade into the blue and go along for the partisan ride. But […]

Posted inElections

Vote Colvin, Osborne, Tate for Redmond City Council ▶ with video

Voters will select three candidates among five running
by The Source Editorial Board

Redmond’s city council elections operate slightly differently than other elected positions in the area, using a “multi-seat contest” format in which a pool of candidates run to fill a certain number of seats. This year, three seats are up for election, with two current City Council candidates not running again. Five people are in the […]

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