Opinion Archives - The Source

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Much Ado About Psilocybin

Oregon’s experiment into mushroom as therapy seems to be going well — except for all the issues that we already knew about

by The Source Editorial Board July 14, 2026July 14, 2026

A recent review of Oregon’s psilocybin therapy program brings up some of the most obvious points about the initiative, approved by voters just a handful of years ago: High-earning individuals are often the ones accessing the program. Many of them come from out of state to do so. People are accessing the program not just […]

Opinion

Parking Reform: The Toughest Gig in America

A murky survey, mounting pushback and a resignation of the Downtown Bend Business Association’s executive director demonstrate the thorny nature of addressing paid parking in Bend

by The Source Editorial Board July 7, 2026July 6, 2026

If we weren’t previously convinced that parking is one of the thorniest issues in America, we are now. As a June 17 story in the Source detailed, parking has been a divisive issue in Bend for decades — probably going back to when Bend became one of the first cities, in the 1940s or ‘50s, […]

Single orange road cone on a black background

Opinion

As Costs Climb, City Leaders Made the Right Choice to Back Off Transportation Fee

Yet, a growing city needs both new infrastructure and maintenance of what already exists

by The Source Editorial Board June 30, 2026June 30, 2026

Take a look at what you were paying for electricity, water or other bills just a handful of years ago and you’re sure to get a shock. Costs for all of these services have skyrocketed since the pandemic years, and for low- and middle-income people, that’s meant making choices between everyday indulgences and paying the […]

Person holding a newspaper in front of his face.

Opinion

If Journalism is the Last Job…

Today, journalism is increasingly the bridge between the inevitable rise of the digital world and the humans who live in and around it

by The Source Editorial Board June 23, 2026June 23, 2026

A recent article in The Hollywood Reporter offers a chronicle of how journalists may soon be adjudicated in the court of AI justice. As disturbing as that piece may be, it did contain an intriguing muse about the future of journalism, and the future of work. In it, entrepreneur Aron D’Souza — the founder of […]

Side view of a Deschutes County Sheriff car

Opinion

In a Sheriff’s Office as Troubled as This One, Skepticism Comes with Every Turn

With the latest revelation, a renewed need for more oversight of the office

by The Source Editorial Board June 16, 2026June 16, 2026

Maybe the allegations levied by Sheriff Ty Rupert against his Deschutes County sheriff opponent, Lt. James “Mac” McLaughlin, are no big deal. Or maybe they’re grounded in facts and evidence. Based on recent revelations uncovered by this paper, it seems that the latter could very well be true. But when it comes to the sheriff’s office today, with as many skeletons as this one, forgive us if the whole thing comes with a lot of skepticism — and […]

Closeup of gas cooking burner and blue flame

Opinion

Should Bendites Have to Pay to Pollute?

A controversial City Council decision means yes

by The Source Editorial Board June 9, 2026June 9, 2026

This month, the Bend City Council opted to move forward with its plan to charge a fee to developers putting natural gas systems into new homes — a move aimed at meeting the city’s carbon emissions goals and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. There was no good timing for this. As a whole, Oregonians’ economic […]

Rows of black surveillance cameras with one row of white cameras

Opinion

Local Law Enforcement is Right to Be More Cautious of New Video Surveillance Technology

You may “not be doing anything wrong” now, but it only takes the flick of a pen to change what “wrong” means

by The Source Editorial Board June 2, 2026June 2, 2026

In recent months, local law enforcement agencies, including the Bend Police Department, Redmond Police and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, have considered adding new video surveillance technology — or replacing cast-off technology — that helps them monitor the community and ostensibly better solve crimes. Given the breadth of information coming at us about privacy and […]

Opinion

Four Takeaways from the May Primary Election

How non-partisan participation affected local races

by The Source Editorial Board May 26, 2026May 26, 2026

The May primary election has come and gone, and in Deschutes County, much of the oxygen went toward the races for the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners. That body will see two additional members next year. In the wake of the election, these are some observations we’ve made about our region’s changing political landscape. […]

Local News

With Primary Victory, Deschutes County’s Own Patti Adair Has Shot At Congress

by Clayton Franke May 20, 2026May 21, 2026

Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair is one step closer to the U.S. House of Representatives after Tuesday night’s primary election. A victory over incumbent U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum in November would make her the first Deschutes County resident elected to Congress in recent memory — maybe ever. When asked if she knew whether a Deschutes County Commissioner had ever gone on to […]

Opinion

A Data Center Hopes to Move into La Pine and Use 15X the Power the Town Currently Uses

In about a year’s time, sentiment around data centers has soured both locally and nationally. La Pine residents seem to be connecting the dots.

by The Source Editorial Board May 19, 2026May 19, 2026

It’s too soon to tell the fate of the proposed data center in an industrial park in La Pine, but if local action and national sentiment are any indication, approval of the project looks iffy. According to Source reporting, a company called Boxminer, which “mines” bitcoin, is seeking to build a data center on a […]

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