News

In a joint meeting on Jan. 20, leaders from Deschutes County and the City of Bend agreed to extend the date of permanently closing the Temporary Safe Stay Area to June 30, 2027. That’s 170 acres in the Juniper Ridge area east of Highway 97, north of Bend, comprised of 50 acres of county land and 120 acres of city land.   In 2024, county and city officials agreed to jointly manage the TSSA […]

Since 2022, the state’s cannabis taxes have paid for free behavioral health and addiction treatment for more than 35,000 Oregonians all across the state, a first-of-its-kind program. But plummeting pot prices have resulted in a 38% decline in tax revenues since 2021, slashing funding for the Behavioral Health Resource Network and its clients. The Oregon […]

Last summer, on Aug. 21, Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District staff delivered a presentation to its board of directors about a potential pilot program to, among other things, aid wildfire-affected landowners. Literally that same day, the Flat Fire broke out near Sisters. It ultimately burned more than 23,000 acres and prompted that pilot program […]

Pattie Gonia, a nationally touring drag queen, entrepreneur and activist for LGBTQ and environmental causes, has been sued by Patagonia, the outdoor brand, for six claims of trademark infringement. The company is seeking a jury trial and damages of $1. The lawsuit may complicate Pattie Gonia’s upcoming national drag show tour, which will visit nearly […]

Snapping a fibula while helping a nonprofit repair a damaged trail. Dislocating a shoulder during cyclocross because the Belgian stair runup is slippery. The Fonz waterski-jumping a shark, biffing it and being eaten by said shark. The first two scenarios illustrate the inherent risks of various outdoor fitness and recreation pursuits. The injuries incurred might […]

In the upcoming legislative session that begins Feb. 2, each lawmaker is allowed to introduce two legislative concepts. The short session runs just 35 days, and there’s no guarantee these concepts will become bills. These are the concepts introduced by local lawmakers. Rep. Jason Kropf, HD-54 LC 273 would make changes to the gun permit […]

Ever locked eyes with “Blucifer” the killer horse on your way to the Denver airport? Or flown into Tampa and taken a selfie with the 21-foot-tall Phoebe the Flamingo? Memorable art installations can make airports destinations in their own right.   While the Redmond Municipal Airport isn’t looking specifically for oversized, unsettling animal sculptures, the City […]

The Hunger Prevention Coalition, a charitable nonprofit that has raised and provided funds to support food distribution in Central Oregon since 2000, has announced its dissolvement.  “This was not an easy decision,” HPC Board Chair Robin Popp told the Source. “But the entire board agrees that the HPC has come to a point where the needs […]

As lawmakers search for a funding solution for the Oregon Department of Transportation, an OJP analysis of Oregon bridge data shows that only 6% of the state’s bridges are in poor condition. Of the 7,183 Oregon bridges used by motor vehicles, 425 are classified as “poor,” meaning part of the bridge has significant damage or […]