Local News
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Fact-checking local claims about unhoused residents in the Bend Central District

The Source’s data hub explores calls for service across downtown Bend and the Bend Central District
by Sophie Rentschler

Source readers may have read Julianna LaFollette’s story about plans to make the so-called underutilized Bend Central District a walkable community hub. While stakeholders on the project say it’s off to a slower-than-desirable start, they explain this renovation is still underway, while also paying attention to unhoused residents and crime in the BCD. Sheila Miller, […]

Posted inNews

Candidate List for Five-Seat Deschutes County Commission Growing

At least seven people are running thus far for the non-partisan positions
Avatar photo by Nic Moye

The 2026 primary race for an expanded Deschutes County Commission from three to five seats continues growing. Four of the five seats are up for election. Two of those are held by incumbents Tony DeBone and Patti Adair. The two new seats are at-large. Commissioner Phil Chang’s seat in Position 2 is not up for […]

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Governor Kotek Signs Bills to Support Public Schools, Improve Student Outcomes

Bipartisan legislation supports educators to deliver high-quality public education across the state
by The Source Staff

Today, Governor Tina Kotek commemorated the signing of Senate Bill 141,House Bill 2140, House Bill 3037, and House Bill 3040, all bipartisan legislation aimed at improving Oregon students’ academic outcomes. She signed the bills alongside advocates, legislators, and local leaders. “Getting public education right is one of the biggest promises we make to Oregonians. Students […]

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OBRC Says Big Layoffs at Glass Plant Will Not Imperil Bottle Bill

Despite a partial shutdown, Owens Brockway will continue taking Oregon’s glass for recycling.
by Nigel Jaquiss, Oregon Journalism Project

Owens Brockway, the glass company that operates a recycling and manufacturing facility in Northeast Portland, announced this morning it will lay off 90 workers and close its bottle manufacturing line.  That’s bad news for the state’s wobbly economy and tough for a company that is crucial to Oregon’s iconic Bottle Bill. (Owens Brockway is part […]

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Bear Creek Road, Pettigrew Road, Purcell Boulevard Roundabout
Construction Ahead of Schedule

Avatar photo by Nic Moye

Progress on the Bear Creek Road, Pettigrew Road, and Purcell Boulevard roundabout construction is ahead of schedule due to remarkable coordination among the project teams. Crews now anticipate completing the work within this year’s construction season, with no need for an additional intersection closure next spring. Please note the Bear Creek Road, Pettigrew Road, and […]

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Abstrax’s Extracts Are on the Nose

Cannabis industry’s flavorists spark new joint for brewers
Avatar photo by Brian Yaeger

I‘d like to open by issuing Abstrax’s national sales manager, Barbara Stone, an apology. In discussing the brave new world of smell and taste wrought by Abstrax’s 100% plant-derived terpene extracts—a terpene being the aromatic compound found in all plant life and notoriously central to the world of cannabis—I provincially asked if dosing cannabis products […]

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Source Warmup

Quick news for Central Oregon
by The Source Staff

Woman Arrested After Setting Two Small Fires Bend Police arrested a 45-year-old Bend woman in connection with two brush fires near Sawyer Park. Shortly after 11pm on Saturday, July 26, multiple callers reported a fire on the west side of the Deschutes River. Bend Fire & Rescue quickly contained the fire, then requested law enforcement […]

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Two Candidates Announce Intent to Run for Deschutes County Commissioner

Next May voters will elect four commissioners in what will soon be a five-member commission
Avatar photo by Nic Moye

Two people have announced their intention to run for a seat on Deschutes County’s Board of County Commissioners next spring. The current three-person commission is in the process of outlining districts for a five-person commission, after voters approved increasing the size of the commission in 2024. One of the people who led the effort for […]

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Swift Water & K-9 Teams Lead Search at Dillon Falls

Floater Missing Since July 19
Avatar photo by Nic Moye

Search and recovery efforts at Dillon Falls continued this week for a man swept over Dillon Falls on July 19. Two women died in the same incident. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office says swift water experts worked in and around Class 5 rapids, tethered to safety systems while navigating hazardous conditions near the waterfalls. Professional […]

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