New Year’s Eve may be a night for celebration, but this year, New Year’s Day may also be a day for consternation. That’s because on New Year’s Day, electric rates are going up once again for many people in Oregon. Last week, Oregon’s Public Utilities Commission approved yet another rate increase for customers of both […]
The Source Editorial Board
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Deschutes County Appoints Kent Vander Kamp as Sheriff, One Week Early On Dec. 18, Deschutes County Commissioners appointed Kent Vander Kamp as sheriff for the period of Jan. 1 until his term begins on Jan. 6. While Vander Kamp’s term would typically begin on Jan. 6, state law required him to be appointed early, as […]
Bend Don’t Break Podcast Guests: Top 10 Moments from 2024
Our humble podcast of conversations with the local people who shape our lives had a great list of guests this year. While we regret that we can’t revisit every episode, please enjoy these end-of-year top 10 lists from 10 of our favorites. If you want more, you can find the complete podcasts online. As we […]
Keep Homeless Law in Place, and Focus on Housing
Over the last several years, much has been said about homelessness in Oregon โ and everyone has an opinion. Lock them up, some say. Allow them the small dignity of sleeping on the street when they find themselves down on their luck, others say. In the midst of public dismay over visible camping on the […]
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City of Bend Hosts Open House for Bend Bikeway Project The City of Bend is hosting an informational, online open house from Dec. 16 to Jan. 2 on the final design for the Bend Bikeway Project. According to a press release, the open house will be the last public review opportunity before the designs are […]
The Machinations Continue with Sheriff-Elect’s Effort to Recoup Legal Fees
We thought we were getting a shot at a corruption-free and drama-free Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office when we advocated for voters to select Kent Vander Kamp as the next sheriff. And while it may still be true that Vander Kamp is in the best position to change the culture at the office, which has been […]
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Bend and Sisters Move Forward on UGB Actions After considering two possible sites to bring into the city’s urban growth boundary, the Bend City Council selected a site in southeast Bend, adjacent to Knott Road. The council voted 4-2 to select the Caldera Ranch site, which is 91.4 acres. The plan calls for 716 housing […]
When Proposing Ideas that Change City Processes, Involving Those Most Affected is Key
We love the vision of the “people streets” project that the City of Bend is currently exploring: more room for people, rather than their gigantic vehicles of steel and glass, to roam the public spaces of the city. But while we think the notion of limiting โ or even completely closing โ certain streets in […]
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Redmond Ice Rink Closed for Upcoming Season The City of Redmond announced Dec. 3 that its downtown ice-skating rink will not open for the 2024-2025 season due to a series of costly equipment failures. While the City decided not to invest more into the rink, the Downtown Urban Renewal Advisory Committee will explore replacement options […]
A Half-Connected Project on Hawthorne Avenue Undercuts the Vision of a United Central Bend
Don’t get us wrong: The vision for the Hawthorne Bridge is a good one. The design is beautiful, and it will be the conversation piece that city leaders hope it will be, when locals and visitors alike are going to and fro along Highway 97. It will be a nice showpiece, but those of us […]

