Letters to the Editor

Editor’s note: Happy fall! In the midst of all the fires, protests and election season drama, I think it’s safe to say that most Central Oregonians were thrilled with the good news of seeing a few drops of rain fall this past week—and to see a cooler season approach—at least as it pertains to tamping […]

Editor’s note: Oregon—and the entire Pacific region—has been making national headlines again this week, and once again, it’s not for anything good. Our hearts go out to the many families who have lost their homes in the fires that continue to blaze in Oregon, and to the ones who have lost a loved one or […]

Editor’s note: Last week, we focused our attention on preparations for school. This week, embedded inside Laurel Brauns’ news story on unions is more info on where we stand: Deschutes County has met the testing metrics three weeks in a row to begin the process of sending kids back to school. We, like many, are […]

Editor’s note: Where did the summer go? To a whirlwind of protests, demonstrations, press conferences around the virus… to spending more time cleaning and Zoom-ing and Slack messaging—or perhaps worrying and job hunting—that’s where…. As September begins, some of the usual rituals a lot of families participate in—school-supply shopping, that final trip “before we’re stuck […]

Editor’s note: Not long ago, I got an email I didn’t want to get. Longtime Natural World contributor Jim Anderson was writing to tell me he was crafting a farewell column, as he packs up his home and plans to move in with family to live out his days. Surely this can’t be the last […]

Editor’s note: Wow, what a week. Do I find myself saying that a lot lately? Very likely, yes. These are unprecedented times, and it seems that each week, they get a little more unprecedented. Inside these pages you’ll hear a plea from two undocumented students, asking you to vote and why it matters more than […]

Editor’s note: More than two months after the killing of George Floyd at the hands of cops, we’ve explored and learned a lot about policing in the U.S. and in our own little part of the world. This week—tucked before and after our Best of Central Oregon ballot, our hugely popular readers’ poll—you’ll find perspectives […]

Editor’s note: You might have heard the tales second- or third-hand: The Oregonian who, after not receiving unemployment checks throughout the pandemic, now has a stack of checks, received all at once. (Or maybe you are one of the people it happened to!) In this week’s feature story, Laurel Brauns chats with people experiencing that, […]

As journalists, we are among those rare breeds who choose to go into chaos and unrest when others are steering a clear path away. Such was the case this past week when I ventured to Portland to see the protests there for myself. People said I was brave for doing so. Others questioned whether a […]

Editor’s note: In other years, we’ve put out our annual Restaurant Guide earlier in the season, giving locals and tourists alike a guide to what’s good to eat in Central Oregon. This year, everything is different. Restaurants and bars continue to grapple with new and changing regulations, with customers who might not be ready to […]