Opinion
Posted inOpinion

May 2025 Electoral Endorsements: Zone 6

Vote Ross Tomlin for Bend-La Pine Schools Board of Directors, Zone 6
by The Source Editorial Board

Voters have two quality candidates in this race. Theo Wilhelm is a K-12 classroom teacher with 25 years of experience; Ross Tomlin, the incumbent who was appointed by the board last year, is a career educator with administrative experience at the community college and education service district level. Both would serve the students, teachers, support […]

Posted inOpinion

May 2025 Electoral Endorsements: Zone 7

Vote Kina Chadwick for Bend-La Pine Schools Board of Directors, Zone 7
by The Source Editorial Board

In this race, the incumbent, Kina Chadwick, is most prepared to serve. From their years on the school board, Chadwick has a clear vision of the challenges ahead: funding cutbacks, a need for more early childhood literacy, engaging students and chronic absenteeism among them. They should have a chance to continue their work. Chadwick’s opponent, […]

Posted inOpinion

Letters to the Editor 05/01/2025

by The Source Staff

Battle of the Burgers Having spent the past seven decades compulsively grading and ranking every item I have experienced in every category of everything — 45’s, movies, albums, album covers, breads, beers, salads, breakfasts, and muffins, to name just a few — I must add my voice to those who have chosen Bend’s best burger. […]

Posted inOpinion

After the Latest Sheriff Revelations, More Questions Than Answers

Residents deserve far more from their top law enforcement official
by The Source Editorial Board

As the public learns new damning revelations about the newly elected Sheriff, Kent van der Kamp, lots of questions remain. But one thing is certain: The residents of this county deserve far more from their top law enforcement official than they’ve been getting thus far. The string of lawsuits stemming from the actions of former […]

Posted inOpinion

Letters to the Editor 04/17/2025

by The Source Staff

Guest Opinion: Fool’s Gold As a communications counselor for 40 years, working with large, complex organizations like IBM or Aetna, I have a lot of experience with “downsizing” efforts. The Trump administration claims that the actions they’re taking to cut jobs and eliminate functions will improve the efficiency of the Federal Government and save money. […]

Posted inOpinion

One-Two-Three Punch to Food Programs Mean More Suffering for Oregonians

Another week, another realization about how the federal government affects local people’s lives
by The Source Editorial Board

Another week, another realization about how the federal government affects local people’s lives. Last week, local nonprofit NeighborImpact sent out a warning about its ability to help keep people fed. Recent cuts to food programs would mean a 17% reduction in the amount of food it can provide to the tens of thousands of people […]

Posted inOpinion

Freedom Isn’t Free, But Speech Is Supposed to Be

There’s only so much despair and languor one can take
by The Source Editorial Board

This weekend’s “Hands Off!” demonstrations, which reportedly took place in over 1,400 locations, were an encouraging sight. Not only did they highlight the varied responses to the current president and his administration, but they reminded us once again of the importance of the First Amendment to the Constitution — which says that the government may […]

Posted inOpinion

Letters to the Editor 04/10/2025

by The Source Staff

Guest Opinion: A Path Forward My origin family has been Democrat since my grandmother worked with the FDR administration as one of the country’s first cohorts of social workers. We’re educated, progressive and global. I should be freaking out like the rest of the people in my choir. Trump’s integrity, temperament and many of his […]

Posted inOpinion

Bucking Bend’s Tree Code in the Name of Affordable Housing Sets a Poor Precedent

After it’s been in place for a year, the Bend City Council will look at how well the code is meeting the goal of preserving trees, while also assessing whether it’s allowing development to progress.
by The Source Editorial Board

When a City of Bend committee crafted the City’s tree preservation code, it was nothing if it wasn’t a community-driven process. Developers were among those represented on the committee that eventually came up with various means for large developments to handle the big trees on a given plot of land — preserving some of them […]

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