The Source Editorial Board, Author at The Source - Bend, Oregon

A shopping cart in an abandoned parking lot

If Feeding the Hungry Isn’t Big Government’s Role, Show Us Whose Role It Is

As nonprofits struggle to fill the gaps left from federal funding cuts, individuals are supposed to step in. Are you?

by The Source Editorial Board November 4, 2025November 3, 2025

As we write this, one in eight Americans is living in an existential limbo. Monday was the deadline for the Trump Administration to say whether it would follow the rule of law and comply with a judge’s order to release emergency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — a lifeline for a vast contingent […]

Developer stands in front of four tiny homes in a village

Opinion

One Good Turn Deserves Another

One developer helping the homeless shouldn’t get this much attention.

by The Source Editorial Board October 28, 2025October 28, 2025

It’s not a secret, and it’s nothing new: Central Oregon has too few homes for the people who already live here — not to mention the ones who keep coming — and the housing we do have is expensive. On this page, over the years we’ve advocated for all sorts of solutions: for governments to […]

A man sits in a hotel room next to a row of pills

Opinion

Supportive Housing is a Lifeline. The Public Deserves Strong Oversight of How It’s Going.

Residents at Bend’s Cleveland Commons facility say drugs and other issues are challenging their ability to stay sober and move forward with their lives

by The Source Editorial Board October 21, 2025February 27, 2026

A recent investigation published in the Source revealed the complications and conundrums that can come up when trying to offer stability to those for whom instability has been the norm. At the start of this year, the region’s housing authority opened the first supportive housing community east of the Cascades, aimed at providing not just […]

The Three Sisters mountain range with fall colors in the foreground

Editorial

With Health Insurance Costs Set to Rise, Deschutes County Will Remain ‘Poverty with a View’

Health insurance is already expensive. Add it to the list of mounting expenses in one of Oregon’s most unaffordable locales.

by The Source Editorial Board October 14, 2025October 14, 2025

Amid a government shutdown and growing economic uncertainty, one thing is sure: Health insurance — already expensive — is going to get a lot more spendy in the coming year. Part of that is inflation, but another part of it has to do with the tax credits that have helped keep health insurance relatively affordable […]

Oregon National Guard troops in formation in front of the Oregon State Capitol

Editorial

The Jokes About a Portland Deployment Were Funny. The Cost of War on American Cities Isn’t.

In a time when the national debt is soaring, what happened to the conservative deficit hawks?

by The Source Editorial Board October 7, 2025October 6, 2025

Throughout the week, comedians both national and local have been having a lot of fun with the notion of sending National Guard troops into Portland to protect the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building from the few dozen demonstrators who have gathered there. Jokes about a need for troops to address shortages of oat milk, or […]

Rock band on stage with spotlights pointing upward

Editorial

The Performing Arts Have Value. Can Central Oregon Find Creative Solutions to Fund a Center?

In turbulent times, the arts still matter.

by The Source Editorial Board September 30, 2025September 30, 2025

In tumultuous political times such as we are seeing right now, nonprofits tend to be among the first entities to see the impact. When federal funds run short, as they are now, basic needs begin to go unmet. Kids go to school hungry. People of all ages skip out on necessary health care, and on […]

Photo of a red light camera against a blue sky

Opinion

Will More Cameras Make Bend Safer for Drivers and Pedestrians?

With a new red light camera system, new concerns around the potential for abuse

by The Source Editorial Board September 23, 2025September 22, 2025

This week, the Bend City Council approved a vendor for its new red light camera system, giving authorities another way to enforce speeding violations and other infractions in the city. With Bend growing and pedestrian deaths continuing to climb in the United States, it seems like a helpful tool for law enforcement — but that […]

Neon sign that reads "Free Speech Fear Free"

Editorial

Let’s Champion Political Debate, Without Fear

Can you be effective and convincing AND respectful, all at the same time?

by The Source Editorial Board September 16, 2025September 15, 2025

A lot has been said this week about the shooting death of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. Many have made him out to be something of a martyr. Others have said his inflammatory rhetoric made him an inevitable target for political violence. According to the binary political positions that some people live under, he was either […]

Exterior of the Deschutes County Services Building in Bend, Oregon

Opinion

With a Bigger County Commission, a Messy Middle

As a county committee works to draw new district lines, expect plenty of robust discussion.

by The Source Editorial Board September 10, 2025September 8, 2025

This month, a seven-member committee, the District Mapping Advisory Committee, had its first meeting to draw new boundaries for county commission seats. Expect a spicy process.

A ridesharing e-bike lies on its side in front of a local business

Editorial

Chill Out, They’re on an E-Bike

More people move to Bend every day, adding more traffic to our roads. E-bike ridesharing is part of the solution.

by The Source Editorial Board September 3, 2025September 2, 2025

Every day, like it or not, more people move to Bend, putting a strain on our roads and adding more traffic at our stop lights. Ridesharing is part of the solution.

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