Editorial
Posted inOpinion

In Oregon, Reproductive Health Moves Forward, Not Back

Oregon begins to offer a birth control pill that does not require a prescription
by The Source Editorial Board

Look around the United States and the status of reproductive rights and reproductive health care can feel pretty depressing. Due to the repeal of Roe v. Wade, there are efforts to restrict abortions, to ban them all together, and to put the watchful eye of the federal government on women who may be pregnant and […]

Posted inOpinion

A Turnabout for the County Adult Parole and Probation Facility Raises Questions About Fiscal Responsibility

Whatever moral issues are at hand here, there’s a lack of professionalism that is stunning and costly.
by The Source Editorial Board

Last week, we had questions about the way an Adult Parole and Probation home funded by Deschutes County was designated, and how that might have affected public notice for such a contentious property. This week, we have more questions. The new questions come after the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners abruptly voted last week to […]

Posted inOpinion

If Public Officials are Confused About Shelter Designations, What About the Rest of Us?

Something beyond the topic of economic or geographic segregation caught our eyes
by The Source Editorial Board

Editor’s note: On Wed., March 20, following a fiery public comment session, the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners voted to move the Adult Parole and Probation facility to another location, away from Wilson Avenue. We’ll follow up with more news coverage on this topic in the days to come. Last week’s News section featured a […]

Posted inOpinion

The Pros and Cons of Recently Passed Bills in the Legislature

The Oregon state legislative session wrapped up last week, and compared to past years that were mired by walkouts, it’s fair to say that a lot got done
by The Source Editorial Board

The Oregon state legislative session wrapped up last week, and compared to past years that were mired by walkouts, it’s fair to say that a lot got done. And while some legislation, such as the reform of Measure 110, got a lot of the attention, a couple bills were also noteworthy, including a bill to […]

Posted inOpinion

Oregon's Land Use Laws Needed a Little Loosening

There are no black-and-white solutions to issues as important as housing
by The Source Editorial Board

Among state policies, two things have made Oregon make national headlines in recent decades: One, of course, is Measure 110 and its attempt at a new path for drug decriminalization and treatment – a measure that got something of a reversal this week when legislators passed HB 4002. The other policy that has made Oregon […]

Posted inOpinion

Power Rate Increase, Say What?!?

Oregon PUC Should Decide on Proposed Rate Hike Sooner Rather Than Later
by The Source Editorial Board

If you’re feeling the pain from the hike in rates for Pacific Power customers that went into effect in January, you’re not alone. The 12.9% rate increase that went into effect Jan. 10 is already causing some pain in the pocketbook for those who heat their home with electricity. But that could be just the […]

Posted inOpinion

With Affordable Housing, Why Are Deschutes County and the City of Bend Ignoring the Low-Hanging Fruit?

Over the past several years, state and local governments have spent a lot of time, energy and money trying to solve Oregon’s massive shortfall of housing
by The Source Editorial Board

Over the past several years, state and local governments have spent a lot of time, energy and money trying to solve Oregon’s massive shortfall of housing. “Oregon needs to develop more than 550,000 new housing units across income levels to accommodate 20 years of population growth and account for current underproduction,” read a June 2023 […]

Posted inOpinion

On Homelessness, Major Strides in Kotek’s First Year

Oregonians got what they asked for when they hired Tina Kotek to make good on her campaign promises
by The Source Editorial Board

The pandemic years — and the ones just after — are a time we will remember for the rest of our lives. Between the rapid shift in lifestyles — the shutdowns and restrictions, and the isolation and uncertainty, the advent of COVID-19 was history in the making. And then there was the aftermath — the […]

Posted inOpinion

The Legislative Walkout Brigade Has One More Chance to Do the Right Thing

If those senators didn’t show up for their own benefit, knowing they’d risk being disqualified, what’s to say they’re going to play nice for the benefit of the rest of us?
by The Source Editorial Board

Cue the music, pop the champagne, because after a host of headlines and opinion pieces about legislative walkouts and subsequent legal challenges, the Oregon legislators who refused to do the people’s business in the Oregon State Legislative Assembly have officially been disqualified by the state Supreme Court. Last week, the court agreed with the decision […]

Sign up for newsletters

Get the best of The Source - Bend, Oregon directly in your email inbox.

Sending to:

Gift this article