Letters to the Editor

Save the Bees Oregonians have a unique opportunity to help Oregon’s pollinators, wildlife and ecosystems. HB 2679 is currently proceeding through the legislature. This bill would reclassify neonicotinoids (neonics) as a restricted-use pesticide and would limit their application to licensed professionals only. This measure would significantly reduce the prevalence of neonics in the environment where […]

Guest Opinion: Bentz Defends GOP Budget that Hurts His District At a recent town hall, U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-District 2) was asked to explain and defend the federal budget proposal put forward by House Republicans. That proposal calls for drastic cuts in a number of critical services, and even more tax breaks for corporations […]

Guest Opinion: The Idea of Public Lands Needs No Defense, It Only Needs Defenders Millions of acres of high desert public lands in Central and Eastern Oregon include some of the region’s most beloved areas like Steens Mountain, the Owyhee Canyonlands, the John Day River and Hart Mountain. Those who enjoy exploring these sinuous canyons, […]

Guest Opinion: One Common Sense Bill to Protect Bend’s Recreation IndustryIn Central Oregon, outdoor recreation is more than a weekend pastime — it’s a critical driver of our local economy. From guided mountain bike rides in the Deschutes National Forest to fly fishing on the Crooked River, outdoor businesses fuel jobs, support small enterprises and […]

Guest Opinion: Fixing Oregon’s Mental Health Crisis Requires Consistency, Not Recruitment With the highest prevalence of mental illness in the U.S., Oregon is caught in the middle of a behavioral health crisis. The need for mental health and substance use disorder services is growing at an alarming rate, but the workforce to meet that need […]

Correction: “After the Inferno,” 2/13 The Oregon Journalism Project story “After the Inferno,” published in the Source Weekly on 2/13, originally misstated the frequency with which the Public Utility Commission notified PacifiCorp of vegetation management shortcomings. OJP regrets the error. The story has also been updated to include context about a lawsuit filed last year […]

Our Values Unite Us The actions coming out of Washington, and more recently out of our County Commission, are causing anxiety and fear among many of our neighbors, especially the members of our Latino community and other underrepresented groups. We’ll all need to work together here in Bend to find ways to deal with those […]

Romance in Sobriety Can Happen Successfully Romantic relationships are complex, transformative and often deeply rewarding. They bring joy, connection and growth but also come with challenges. For individuals in recovery from substance use, romance carries additional layers of complexity. Balancing sobriety with the emotional demands of intimacy requires careful attention, intentionality and self-awareness. Understanding how […]