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Thaddeus Betz Leads Race for Deschutes County Circuit Judge

By 8 p.m. Tuesday evening, Thaddeus Betz carried a large margin
Avatar photo by Peter Madsen

In what was perhaps the staidest, if opaquest race in Deschutes County’s General Election, it appears that Thaddeus Betz has charged ahead of three challengers for the recently vacated Judge of the Circuit Court, 11th District, Position 3, with more than more than 32,730 votes, or about 38%, after the second batch of votes dropped […]

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Ty Rupert Leads the Deschutes County Sheriff Race

Interim Ty Sheriff Rupert has pulled nearly 69% of votes, so far besting opponent Lt. James “Mac” McLaughlin, who earned about 30%
Avatar photo by Peter Madsen

The race for Deschutes County sheriff appeared to be decided Wednesday morning for Interim Sheriff Ty Rupert, who pulled more than 62,000 votes, surpassing opponent James “Mac” McLaughlin’s approximate 27,000 votes. This sheriff race was nothing if not reminiscent of recent sheriff races that were tarnished with investigations and accusations of politicking and theatrics. Both […]

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Central Oregon Votes: Tuesday Night Election Results

Outcomes from city, county, state races for Bend, Redmond and Central Oregon
by The Source Staff

The 2026 midterm elections are behind us, and while Democrats’ decisive control of both chambers of Congress is the story on the national stage, the stories in Central Oregon include the apparent defeat of a controversial district map, the return of both mayors in Bend and Redmond, and the shift on the Deschutes County Board […]

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Where Are Bend’s ‘Gun Free Zones’ and How Do They Work?

Bans on concealed carry have caught criticism in the wake of the shooting tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary. Oregon law protects bystanders who act to save lives in a mass shooting.
Avatar photo by Clayton Franke

Schools and some local governments in Bend have banned the concealed carry of handguns in recent years. That’s been the subject of discussion and criticism in the wake of the deadly Oct. 15 shooting tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary, when a 16-year-old gunman killed three students and a teacher before being wrestled by another staffer […]

Posted inLocal News

Assistance League of Bend Helps Clothe Local Kids, Support Seniors

“Operation School Bell” is the main mission for the local chapter of a national nonprofit
Avatar photo by Nicole Vulcan

Plenty of people are thinking about the welfare of children in Bend right about now, in the wake of a tragedy that directly affected the young people of the city. At Assistance League of Bend, its members have had a similar mission in mind for decades. As part of a larger national network of Assistance […]

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Harmony Farm Sanctuary Benefits Humans as Well as Animals

Sanctuary near Sisters is a safe haven for up to 157 creatures
by Richard Sitts

There’s no doubt that the Harmony Farm Sanctuary is a godsend for rescued farm animals — but what’s in it for us humans? As soon as a visitor arrives at the Harmony Farm Sanctuary outside of Sisters, four-legged creatures of all shapes and sizes are eager to meet the new face. (“Maybe he has something […]

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NAMI Central Oregon Supports People Dealing with Mental-Health Challenges 

The grassroots nonprofit offers support groups, workshops and classes to help individuals and their loved ones deal with life’s challenges
Avatar photo by Dallas Finn Calvert

Casey Munck says being the regional director for the NAMI Central Oregon chapter is an honor, not a job. There are approximately 650 branches of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI Central Oregon serves residents of Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties, led by Munck and Devon Nelson-Harmon, the community and program manager, and a […]

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Central Oregon Boys and Girls Club Provides Youth Programs Year-Round — And in Times of Tragedy

The nonprofit stepped up to provide free child care in the aftermath of the Silver Rail tragedy
Avatar photo by Clayton Franke

In the days following the Oct. 15 shooting tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary, Michael Baker got a call from Bend-La Pine Schools.   The district needed help from the Boys and Girls Club of Central Oregon, for which Baker is the CEO. The schools were preparing hundreds of teaching staff to welcome students back. But with […]

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Bend-La Pine Schools Sets Silver Rail Return Date for Nov. 12

An overwhelming majority of families indicated their desire to return to the school after the Oct. 15 shooting tragedy
Avatar photo by Clayton Franke

Bend-La Pine Schools announced Monday it plans to welcome students back to Silver Rail Elementary Nov. 12 — what will be nearly one month after a deadly shooting at the school rocked the community.   In a survey sent out Oct. 22, 86% of Silver Rail families indicated they wanted their children to return to the […]

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Bend-La Pine Schools to Hold Community Engagement Session

Experts on mass violence and mental health will facilitate a community conversation between BLPS leadership and local residents
Avatar photo by Peter Madsen

The Silver Rail tragedy inflicted a communal trauma that most of us feel broadly. For others, that pain is acute. As such, Bend-La Pine Schools is inviting students, parents, district staffers and community members to its Community Engagement Session at Pilot Butte Middle School on Nov. 5, from 5:30-7:30 pm. For Silver Rail families and […]

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