Posted inOpinion

Wildfire Risk Maps Are Just the Start of a New Reality Around Fire

Oregonโ€™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 […]

Posted inOpinion

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 โ€” plants, critters, the seasons and cycles, my family and my own entanglement in […]

Posted inOpinion

In Bend and La Pine, the Urban-Rural Divide is Apparent in Our Parks

When it comes to funding for things like park services, it seems that the cities of La Pine and Bend couldnโ€™t be further apart.

They’re both in the same county, but when it comes to funding for things like park services, it seems that the cities of La Pine and Bend couldn’t be further apart. Over the last year, the La Pine Park and Recreation District board of directors abruptly resigned, leaving the staff out of their jobs and […]

Posted inOpinion

Letters to the Editor 01/09/2025

RE: “The Damned Deschutes” Nigel Jaquiss’s recent article misses the point. The story is not one of an electric utility, its critics and the health of the Deschutes River. That framing is too narrow. The real story is one of tribal sovereignty, resilience and self-determination. To be precise, the sovereignty of the Confederated Tribes of […]

Posted inOpinion

Squabbles Among House Republicans Mean Big Hits for Rural Oregon Schools

Schools in a vast majority of Oregon counties are taking a big hit this year.

C ongress may have just passed its stopgap budget, but because of that last-minute squabbling, schools in a vast majority of Oregon counties are taking a big hit this year. Since the turn of the 21st century, rural schools in Oregon have gotten a financial boost from Congress through the Secure Rural Schools and Community […]

Posted inOpinion

Letters to the Editor 01/02/2025

On the Medicalization of Psychedelics I was struck by the 12/4 opinion letter criticizing Mary Sheridan’s 11/24 “The Psychedelic Frontier” column on how people can use psilocybin safely at home. Most psilocybin experiences in our planet’s history have been both safe and unsupervised. As a clinical psychiatric pharmacist who is an expert in psychedelic substances, […]

Posted inOpinion

Letters to the Editor 12/26/2024

RE: “City Engineer Resigns Following Internal Investigation into Partnership with Macher Developers” Great reporting! Thank you. This says it all and confirms my thoughts and comments I have made about our city and developer relationships. They are ruining this town. โ€”Nicole Perullo via bendsource.com on 12/16 As a CoB employee who understands this issue and […]

Posted inOpinion

Another Year, Another Painful Increase in Electric Rates

Having rate increases hit in the dead of winter, just after a holiday season that likely cost most households more money than usual, is yet another blow for the average person.

New Year’s Eve may be a night for celebration, but this year, New Year’s Day may also be a day for consternation. That’s because on New Year’s Day, electric rates are going up once again for many people in Oregon. Last week, Oregon’s Public Utilities Commission approved yet another rate increase for customers of both […]

Posted inOpinion

Letters to the Editor 12/19/2024

In the 12/12 Opinion, “The Machinations Continue with Sheriff-Elect’s Effort to Recoup Legal Fees,” we stated the records were released on Vander Kamp’s website, and that Vander Kamp’s attorney was based in California. Those statements were incorrect. We have also removed a section in the fifth paragraph that speculated on Vander Kamp’s hiring of a […]

Sign up for newsletters

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

Sending to:

Gift this article