Local News
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Forest Closure Takes Effect as Houseless People Attempt to Relocate

Local service providers are working to help relocate an estimated 40 to 60 people remaining in the China Hat Area following the May 1 forest closure
Avatar photo by Julianna LaFollette

People living on U.S. Forest Service land south of Bend have been forced to relocate following a May 1 closure of the area. A collection of lived-in vehicles lined the streets of China Hat Road on Thursday morning, just outside of the now-restricted area that hundreds of houseless residents called home. The closure, in effect […]

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Deschutes County Delays Movement on East Redmond Encampment

County Commissioners will discuss plans for its property in east Redmond at the end of May, to factor in timelines for other proposed projects in the area
Avatar photo by Julianna LaFollette

The Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners is looking at plans to evacuate those in a growing encampment on east Redmond property following a code violation in the area. The violation is on County-owned property near the garbage facility, Negus Transfer Center. After years of discussing the removal of houseless people living on the nearly […]

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Source Warmup

Quick news for Central Oregon
by The Source Staff

Attorney General Rayfield Stops in Bend for Town Hall State Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined a panel of local leaders in Bend on Saturday, May 3, to discuss how the state is pushing back against federal policies impacting communities like Bend. Rayfield was joined by Congresswoman Janelle Bynum, State Sen. Anthony Broadman (D-District 27) and […]

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A Call to Ease Screen Addiction Among Students

A bill moving through the legislature, HB 2251, could further restrict student cellphone use in public schools
by Julianna LaFollette, in collaboration with Matthew Draxton, KTVZ

A bill in the Oregon legislature aims to restrict the use of cellphones in schools statewide. The bipartisan bill aims to cut down on student distractions, social media incidents and other challenges schools are grappling with in an age of cellphone addiction. While Central Oregon school districts already have policies in place that limit the use […]

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LISTEN: Bend Don’t Break with Dr. Sarah Hellman 🎧

board-certified OB-GYN and co-host of the podcast Wine with Your Gyn
by The Source Staff

On this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron sits down with Dr. Sarah Hellmann, a board-certified OB-GYN at St. Charles Health System and co-host of the podcast Wine with Your Gyn. From her journey from social work to women’s health, to creating a podcast that blends humor and honesty around often-taboo topics, Dr. Hellmann shares […]

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LISTEN: Grand Craft Bend: Brett Thomas

Brewery Director of Sunriver Brewing
Avatar photo by Brian Yaeger

We sit down with Sunriver Brewing’s director, Brett Thomas, to discuss Sunriver’s impressive tenure of quality and consistency that’s led to numerous awards locally (Oregon Beer Awards), nationally (Great American Beer Festival including being the reigning Brewery of the Year) and even globally (World Beer Cup).  As Sunriver prepares to open its fifth tasting room […]

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900 Wall Abruptly Closes

The downtown Bend restaurant has been struggling for months
Avatar photo by Nic Moye

A day after announcing its sudden closure, employees at 900 Wall were clearing out the restaurant. A social media post on Monday, May 5 said “We did all we could to continue to provide a living for our employees, a sense of community for our guests and a platform for all of the local farmers and […]

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Oregon has Spent $46 million Fighting Black Market

Experts say the state’s lack of market-related data may be hampering its efforts.
by Kaylee Tornay / InvestigateWest

The tales of illicit cannabis operations were coming from all corners of Oregon, and by 2018 — four years after the state voted to legalize recreational weed — lawmakers were feeling the pressure to act.  Workers on unlicensed grows just miles north of California were sleeping in shipping containers and being held on site by armed […]

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Skyliners Lodge Finds Stewards in NatureConnect Central Oregon

The historic landmark — ‘a beautiful thing’ — reopens July 1
Avatar photo by Peter Madsen

Skyliners Lodge, the historic log cabin near Tumalo Falls, will soon reopen under the new stewardship of educational nonprofit NatureConnect Central Oregon. NatureConnect will oversee Skyliners Lodge operations and resume renting out the lodge for private events, such as weddings, company retreats and parties. Profits from the rentals will go toward school field trips and […]

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Dismal Financial Results Threaten Oregon Hospitals

Costs are rising much faster than reimbursements
by Nigel Jaquiss, Oregon Journalism Project

In the 18 years of hospital profitability data the Oregon Health Authority has collected, only one year—2022, a COVID hangover—yielded lower profits than 2024. “We are at a tipping point in this state,” Becky Hultberg, CEO of the Hospital Association of Oregon, said in an interview. “Hospitals are on the brink of closure.” A report […]

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