Local News

1. Juniper Ridge Buyout: After earning the ire of the local business and real estate development community, the city of Bend cuts ties with its "Mater Developers" at the beleaguered Juniper Ridge high tech business campus. Juniper Ridge Partners agrees to hand over its "Master Plan" for the project in exchange for a roughly $2.6 million buyout and retains a portion of the profit from some future real estate sales. The deal follows reports that one of JRP's principals was negotiating side deals with property owners adjacent to Juniper Ridge. Who you calling "Good Ol' Boy"?
2. Merkley - Smith Campaign: In the most costly and arguably snarkiest campaign ever conducted in Oregon history, Former state representative, Jeff Merkley rides a wave of voter discontent with Republican rule to victory over Sen. Gordon Smith.
Careful what you wish for… Smith's name has been floated as the likely Republican candidate for governor in 2010 when incumbent Ted Kulongoski will have to step aside because of the state's term limit law.
3. Obama Mania: Okay so this isn't a local story per se, but the fact that Barack actually came to Central Oregon during the primary campaign stoked local Obama mania, helping "Obama 08" officially unseat Not Another Wal-Mart as the preferred bumper sticker of Bend progressives.

Recession and rising hay prices have made it harder for rescues to get animals adopted. Tiffany Offsteader carries a pocketful of carrots and wears a smile to her reunion with Montana, an 8-year-old quarter horse that she bought for her daughter five years ago. But it's a bittersweet meeting as Offsteader reaches across the fence to stroke the nose of her companion who has been living at a Bend horse rescue and adoption facility since August.
Montana is one of the many pets orphaned by the ongoing recession and owners faced with increasing costs for food and care. Horses have been particularly hard hit by the recent downturn, which has come at a time of near-record prices for hay. And the problem is expected to only grow worse with the onset of winter as cash-strapped owners wrestle with costs of feeding animals that are no longer able to forage in pasture. Montana is one of the lucky ones, he landed at Equine Outreach, a non-profit ranch where he will be fed and cared for until a new home can be found. But some owners are going to extremes to rid themselves of their animals, leaving them at training facilities along with unpaid bills, abandoning them on public lands, or, worse.