Our Values Unite Us The actions coming out of Washington, and more recently out of our County Commission, are causing anxiety and fear among many of our neighbors, especially the members of our Latino community and other underrepresented groups. We’ll all need to work together here in Bend to find ways to deal with those […]
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
One Way to Make People Hate Alternative Transportation
The rollout of so many traffic-snarling endeavors at once may radicalize people against alternative forms of transportation.
Ah, road construction. No matter when it comes, or how long it delays us, it’s going to be a perennial source of conversation. But this month, with the double whammy of lots of snow and the closure of key streets that allow Bendites to get around the center of town, the City of Bend has […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the Editor 02/06/2025
Romance in Sobriety Can Happen Successfully Romantic relationships are complex, transformative and often deeply rewarding. They bring joy, connection and growth but also come with challenges. For individuals in recovery from substance use, romance carries additional layers of complexity. Balancing sobriety with the emotional demands of intimacy requires careful attention, intentionality and self-awareness. Understanding how […]
Posted inOpinion
And You Thought Eggs Were Expensive
Recent activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is having a chilling effect on the local economy
Regardless of your political affiliation, one thing holds true right now: President Trump’s blitzkrieg approach to the start of his administration is having the shocking effect it was meant to convey. The string of executive orders issued from the White House has been so fast and so far-reaching, that it can be hard to keep […]
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Letters to the Editor 01/30/2025
RE: “Nowhere to Stay,” 1/22 In “Nowhere to Stay,” Jennifer Baires provides readers a glimpse of children and their families struggling to navigate Oregon’s broken mental health system. As a consulting registered nurse who works with kids in schools, I am familiar with this struggle. But given my caseload, my time with any one student […]
Posted inOpinion
The DMV Headaches Keep Coming
Due to decreased funding, the DMV’s level of service is changing
Many people panicked when the Oregon Department of Transportation announced last winter season that the state agency would be doing less plowing of roads than it had in the past. Due to decreased funding levels — at least some attributed to declining gas tax revenues — its level of service was set to decrease. But […]
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Letters to the Editor 1/23/2025
RE: “Historic Skyliners Lodge to Close in June,” 1/1 This is a great opportunity for a building/roofing company with deep pockets in our community to do the right thing. Perhaps they could donate the labor for this roof repair as a tax write-off for the nonprofit and the funds already secured by the Forest Service […]
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Bend’s Walkout King Leads Another Hypocritical Charge
You gotta hand it to Tim Knopp. After beginning his political career in Oregon in 1999 with three terms in the Oregon House, followed later by stints in the Oregon Senate that lasted through this January, he’s got a new gig working as the Oregon state co-chair for U.S. term limits. In the new role, […]
Posted inOpinion
Wildfire Risk Maps Are Just the Start of a New Reality Around Fire
Oregon’s wildfire hazard maps meant to help us all learn more
When the State of Oregon released its wildfire hazard maps in 2022, it’s safe to say it did not go well. Many were shocked to see their homes put into the “red” zone, meaning their properties were considered to be in a higher-risk zone for wildfires. Many worried that their insurance companies would use the […]
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Letters to the Editor 01/16/2025
An Optimistic Middle Ground for Psilocybin Facilitation in Central Oregon I became fascinated with the connection of science and spirituality as a young girl venturing into the deciduous forests and lush countryside that surrounded the home I grew up in. Interconnection — plants, critters, the seasons and cycles, my family and my own entanglement in […]
