Cover Stories
Oregon GOP’s #1
After the Oregon Legislature approved $400 million in new spending at the Dec. 13 special session—notably for renters facing a winter eviction and farmers harmed by drought— lawmakers and political players praised the negotiating skills of Sen. Tim Knopp (R-Bend) as the person responsible for convincing Senate Republicans to approve four bills whose chief sponsors…
Christmas Day & Family Photo Ops
To celebrate an adventurous Christmas, imagine standing at the top of a winter wonderland waterfall or on a snowy volcano with your loved ones. In this modern, millennial-ruled holiday corner of the calendar, you’d better have an Instagram-worthy family photo to push around on all your channels or you might just fall off the self-importance…
Holiday, Not Hams
It is that time of year when there seems to be a steady stream of over-the-top meals where calories seemingly don’t count and every extended family member or friend wants you to try their sickeningly sugary “famous sweet potato pie” or “grandma’s buttered ham” that even Paula Dean herself wouldn’t put that much lard on.…
Survival is Insufficient
There really is no underestimating the importance of art in a time when certain creature comforts get left behind. I’ll never forget when I was going to Central Oregon Community College in the early 2000s and Oregon State was putting in its Cascades Campus; there were some issues with money and COCC experienced a financial…
New Normal is Normalized Censorship
Project Censored’s co-directors, Mickey Huff and Andy Lee Roth, title their introduction to this year’s edition of “State of the Free Press,” “A Return to News Normalcy?” drawing a direct parallel between our world today to that of post-World War I America, “When the United States faced another raging pandemic and economic recession,” with other…
Daytime Warming Shelters Open in Bend, Redmond
The cold snap that has hit most of the Pacific Northwest is causing local groups to open up more spaces for people to be indoors. In addition to the warming shelters already in operation in every town in Central Oregon, at least two more spaces are open this week to accommodate those who need somewhere to go.…
Noticias en Español
En su reunión del 15 de diciembre, los concejales de la ciudad de Bend recomendaron cambios en relación a la eliminación de campamentos de la ciudad en los lugares de paso público para personas sin hogar. La ciudad aprobó una política para quitar un campamento ubicado sobre la avenida Emerson en junio, pero el consejo…
Right to Camp, Right of Ways
Bend city councilors recommended changes to the City’s houseless camp removal in public right of ways at their meeting Dec. 15. The City approved a policy for removing a camp on Emerson Avenue in June, but the council tailored that policy just for the Emerson camp. The policy changes proposed during this month’s meeting can…
Plowing Streets: Who Ya Gonna Blame?
Snow fell on Bend this past week, and for a brief window of time—based on the frenzy of commentary on social media—you would have thought we were entering a fuzzy white version of the apocalypse. A video captured from a porch on Bend’s west side caught a Prius careening down a hill, with the driver…
Letters to the Editor 12/23/21
Mt. Bachelor Fast Tracks Many people of Bend have been upset about the introduction of Fast Tracks at Mt. Bachelor, a new program starting this season where you can pay an additional sum of at least $49 to skip the line. Skiing and snowboarding are already fairly non-equitable sports by nature, due to the necessary…
Oregon’s December Session: What got done
The Oregon Legislature met on Dec. 13 in a special session, passing a series of bills that total $400 million in new spending for a variety of needs across the state. They include: • $100 million for additional emergency rental assistance for low-income tenants facing eviction • $100 million to support partnerships with existing local…
A Riot of Robins
A rash, a hood, a riot—all collective nouns for a group of robins. And boy, are there ever groups, big groups, of them around central Oregon this fall! Have you seen them, too, as you drive through areas thick with juniper trees? If you, like me, have seen clouds of these beautiful birds dive bombing around…
Time Keeps on Thwipping
I know I’m not going to convince anyone who isn’t a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to suddenly give it a chance because, at the end of the day, superheroes aren’t for everyone and they really don’t need to be. I’ve been collecting comics since the mid-1980s and so every time I go see a…
A Doped-up Comedy Show
Marijuana legalization is taking large strides when it comes to changing pothead culture in America. Every legal state you go to you can find an awesome weed event where the only topic being discussed is good, better and the best weed in the country. As the green wave continues to swell, and dope events become…
End-of-the-Year Feels
The end of the year is approaching, and it really is starting to feel like winter here in Central Oregon. However, winter is a season of complex emotions—and it can mean different things for different people. Everyone is in different places this time of year, which is something important to consider and be empathetic towards.…
Remodel for Selling
This is the second article in a series highlighting ways to give a home more perceived value in the buyer’s eyes through remodeling projects before bringing the home to market. Our last article touched on painting and kitchen remodeling. If there is still a budget left for projects, here are some other areas of the…
The Third Act
I’m a soft touch when it comes to the finals of any team competition. Good luck picking what to watch over the holidays! Christmas Day—all about the NBA. Boxing Day is devoted to that other kind of football. Don’t forget the New Year’s Six! Whichever sport, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know players…
Truth Ache, Barking Bad
Truth Ache I spent an entire Sunday with a really cute guy I met through a dating app. We kissed a bit, and I stayed over at his place (though I said no sex). Things felt weird Monday morning, so I texted to see whether we were still on for dinner. He asked to push it…
A Christmas-Eve Outing
Not a lot of events happen on Christmas Eve. Between the frantic last-minute shopping and wrapping and food-making, plenty of people seem to take the words of writer Hunter S. Thompson to heart when it comes to Christmas Eve planning: “…skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and…
New Year’s Eve Snowtacular
As 2021 slowly turns the corner into 2022, and the heavens finally open up in Central Oregon for a good powder dumping, focus your gaze toward the slopes this holiday season to discover exciting New Year’s Eve plans—including Hoodoo’s all-day party on the mountain. On Dec. 31, ring in a fresh start at this family-friendly…
Free Will Astrology—Week of December 23
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): To ensure that 2022 will bring you the most interesting and useful kind of progress, take good care of your key friendships and alliances, even as you seek out excellent new friendships and alliances. For best results, heed these thoughts from author Hanya Yanagihara: “Find people who are better than you…
