Editorial
Posted inOpinion

Parking Pains are Only Beginning. Survey All Residents About How to Proceed with Old Bend Program

A reminder of the power of human connection and the pleasure that can be found in seeing musicians play live on a gorgeous summer night
by The Source Staff

This past week, the City of Bend’s new Old Bend Parking District program got its first big test when the annual Munch and Music free event debuted once again in Drake Park. To the average person who biked or walked to the event, it was a grand success—a reminder of the power of human connection […]

Posted inOpinion

Redmond’s Growing Pains Shouldn’t Include Honoring Traitors and Slavery

In a parade where no political flags were supposed to fly, a “Civil War re-enacter” brought perhaps one of the most political flags Americans know
by The Source Staff

Over the past week, the drought and the danger of fire saw most locals complying with the repeated pleas to avoid personal fireworks on the 4th of July. That part of the 4th went relatively smoothly, with no major fires reported in the area. Another facet of the 4th, however, offered a big area of […]

Posted inOpinion

Boot: People are dying in the heat, while others are collecting likes on social media for trolling them.

The record heat we are experiencing all around the region became deadly this past weekend for two people living on the literal margins of Bend
by The Source Staff

This week, while the average person hunkers down in front of a fan or in that coveted air-conditioned room, people on the margins in our community are fighting for their lives. The record heat we are experiencing all around the region became deadly this past weekend for two people living on the literal margins of […]

Posted inOpinion

Support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act

The traditional advertising business models has made it far more difficult for local news outlets to provide the depth of coverage that you deserve
by The Source Staff

If you’re reading this sentence, it’s probably because you value local news. So you may be surprised to hear that local news is collapsing around the country. The number of journalists has dropped 60% since 2000, and thousands of communities have either no newspaper or ghost newspapers that provide barely any local coverage. We at […]

Posted inOpinion

In a Housing Crisis, Camps in the Streets are Just the Canary in the Coal Mine. Everyone Should Do Their Part.

A managed camp is the bare minimum we as Bendites can do to support the people on the lowest rung of a housing crisis that has hit epic proportions
by The Source Staff

By now, much has been said about the recent sweeps of camps occupied by those without homes in Bend. The advent of a new policy outlining how and when camps will be swept has been met with relief by some; with ire and protest by others. In a city that continues to outpace the growth […]

Posted inOpinion

With a Lane-Splitting Veto, Another Concern About Balance of Power

If a governing body that directly represents the people passes a bill, there should be a high bar for a veto
by The Source Staff

With less than two weeks left for the current session of the Oregon State Legislative Assembly, there’s lots going on. Legislators have passed a bill paving the way for a new police oversight board in Portland, and they’ve made Juneteenth an official state holiday. House Republicans have signed a letter encouraging one of their own, […]

Posted inOpinion

Sign the Petition to Make the Deschutes County Commission Non-Partisan

While the commission ultimately voted against putting the idea on the ballot because of the costs involved, a group of citizens is picking up where they left off
by The Source Staff

Right now, a group of locals is spearheading an effort to try to move the races for the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners from partisan to non-partisan. This has been a topic of conversation since at least last year, when then-Democratic candidate Phil Chang—now a county commissioner—said he was in favor of the switch. While […]

Posted inOpinion

More Bread Crumbs for a Solution on Mirror Pond

The general public continues to be asked to hold out hope that there is a resolution at the end of this red-tape tunnel
by The Source Staff

This week, a new committee, the Mirror Pond Fish Passage Advisory Committee, was scheduled to have its first meeting. The purpose of the committee is to “advise and make a recommendation on a fish passage solution” for the portion of the Deschutes River that flows through downtown Bend. Those who have been around a while […]

Posted inOpinion

The Center Must Hold. Oregon Politicians Should Return to It.

Going far afield with wild claims about pedophilia is way too out there.
by The Source Staff

Not long ago, the Deschutes Republicans sent out an email that demonstrated some wild swings in rationality. At the top of the email, it came out in favor of a bill—now defeated in the Oregon House—by Rep. Jack Zika (R-Redmond) that aimed to restore the balance of power in state government by allowing the state […]

Posted inOpinion

Conservative Candidates are Stoking Needless Fear about the “Critical Race Theory” Boogeyman in Schools. That’s Fake News.

A coordinated effort to push an anti-anti-racist agenda is happening all over the country—including Bend and Redmond
by The Source Staff

It seems the entire community is talking about the current school board elections for Bend-La Pine Schools—a strange turn for a May election, which oftentimes is barely a blip on voters’ radars. While we have already commented on the disservice rendered to local voters when candidates opt not to engage in the non-partisan forums and […]

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