GOP Candidate for Governor Gets First Big Check
The first big check in the 2026 Republican primary for governor arrived this week—and it didn’t go to House Minority Leader Christine Drazan, the 2022 GOP nominee and next year’s likely frontrunner, if she chooses to run. Instead, filings with the Oregon Secretary of State’s office show that Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell recorded a…
Volunteers Fill Gaps in Rural Oregon Emergency Medical Care
On New Year’s Day in 2023, Erik Kerr met up with a snowmobiling group near Crescent in south-central Oregon, intending to ride through the forest to the rim of Crater Lake. But he never made it that day. “I hit the tree dead between the skis,” Kerr said recently. “My torso went forward. My head…
Bend’s Police Chief Says Officers Do Not Take Part in Immigration Enforcement
Bend’s Police Chief put out a statement to the public to clarify his department’s relationship with ICE. Chief Mike Krantz says his officers have been misidentified as ICE agents. He says police officers are not a part of immigration enforcement efforts. This is the statement from Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz: We understand that the…
Clearing Up a Misattributed Quote About President Trump in ‘The Bulletin’
T o read it on its face, The Bulletin’s June 20 article, “Plan to sell public lands sparks backlash in Central Oregon,” read like another fairly reported story that localizes the latest repercussions of the Trump Administration here in Central Oregon. The piece covers the U.S. National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands that…
Delays on Reed Market/Bond Roundabout Spark Safety and Traffic Concerns
In recent years, the City of Bend has pushed back a road project which aims to expand the roundabout at Reed Market Road and Bond Street, causing frustration for residents who say the busy intersection cannot handle the current flow of traffic. At a June 18 meeting, Bend City Councilor Mike Riley requested that the…
The Village Baker is for Sale
The Village Baker, an iconic Central Oregon business, is for sale. Founder and owner Lauren Kurzman has decided to set down her bread mixer and live other dreams. The Village Baker was established 25 years ago and has operated in its present location since its inception. It has both a retail and wholesale operation that…
COCC Art Exhibition Interprets Northwest Landscapes
Central Oregon Community College’s (COCC) summer art exhibition, showing from July 8 to Aug. 28 at the Bend campus’s Barber Library, is a collection of nearly 50 landscape paintings by Oregon artist Don Olsen, titled “Rain Shadows.” “I’ve spent my life unraveling the mysteries of the Pacific Northwest,” said the artist in a statement. “With…
High Desert Rendezvous Returns on August 23; Signature Fundraiser Helps Support Museum Exhibits and Programs
Tickets are now available for the High Desert Museum’s signature fundraiser, High Desert Rendezvous — one of the longest-running galas in Central Oregon. Rendezvous returns for its 36th year on Saturday, August 23 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm. “We are excited to celebrate with our friends and supporters during what is always an engaging…
Three Sisters Irrigation District Completes Final Piping Project— A Major Milestone in the Ongoing Restoration of Whychus Creek
The final section of canal piping in the Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID) has been completed, marking a major milestone in streamflow restoration, on-farm efficiency, and renewable energy generation. Approved by the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) on April 22, 2024, this latest conserved water project adds permanent flow protection to Whychus Creek, a tributary…
Experience The World From Your Home – Host an ASSE International Exchange Student
Have you ever thought about welcoming a foreign exchange student into your home? ASSE International is looking for caring volunteer host families to provide a warm and supportive environment for high school exchange students, 15-18 years of age, from around the world. By hosting, you’ll gain a new cultural perspective, form lifelong connections, and make…
Discover Your Forest Offers Guided Cave Tours to Lava River Cave
Discover Your Forest invites you to discover your national forest while participating in a guided Lava River Cave tour! Immerse yourself in the volcanic history of central Oregon while exploring Lava River Cave. At Discover Your Forest, we want visitors to do more than visit. Forge a life-long connection to your public lands as interpretive…
Rangers Prepare Oregon State Parks for Busy Summer Camping Season
This weekend kicks off the official summer camping season, but the work to prepare Oregon’s more than 250 state parks and campgrounds has been going all year long. Behind the scenes, park rangers have moved mountains of sand, cleared thousands of downed trees and repaired roofs, bridges and trails around the state to keep parks…
Partial Closure at Pilot Butte State Park July 1-5 for Fireworks Preparation, Show
Pilot Butte State Park will experience partial closures July 1-5 in preparation for the Fourth of July fireworks display, which is held 10 p.m. Friday, July 4. Please observe the following closures and restrictions: -Vehicle traffic: The access road to the summit will be closed to all vehicle traffic from 10 p.m. July 1 to…
Time Running Out on a Bill That Could Help Wildfire Victims
As the 2025 legislative session lurches toward its conclusion, a bipartisan bill aimed at speeding wildfire damage payouts remains stalled in committee. The looming expiration of a federal tax break for fire victims adds urgency to Senate Bill 926. That tax break—available to people who get financial compensation for losses in fires that are declared…
Poll Shows Voters Aren’t Worried About Oregon Roads and Don’t Want to Pay to Fix Them
As the Oregon Legislature prepares for looming floor votes on House Bill 2025, a transportation funding bill at the center of the legislative session, polling obtained by the Oregon Journalism Project shows voters are unconvinced of the need for legislation that would raise nearly $2 billion in new funding annually. And perhaps more importantly, the…
Deschutes County Sheriff Resigns, Effective July 31
Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp resigned from his position on Monday morning, following months of scrutiny for accusations of dishonesty. Around 8:20am on June 23, van der Kamp sent an email to Deschutes County, stating his resignation from the Office of Sheriff, effective July 31. According to an email from Deschutes County Clerk…
Under Pressure, Travel Oregon Reveals CEO’s New Salary
After a week of secrecy, Travel Oregon and its commissioners have revealed what they are paying CEO Todd Davidson to stay on in the top job for one more year after he retires this month. Davidson, who made a $365,000 base salary in 2024 and is one of highest-paid agency heads in state government, will…
Residents Weigh in on Public Lands Sale Proposal
Bend locals gathered at Drake Park June 21 to march in protest against the proposed sale of millions of acres public lands in several Western states, including Oregon. The proposal was introduced in early June as an amendment to a Republican budget bill called colloquially the “big beautiful bill.” According to reporting from The New…
Gov. Kotek Comes to Bend to Discuss Cuts to Government Assistance
Governor Tina Kotek attended a roundtable in Bend at Mosaic Community Health on June 18 to speak with 11 hospital workers, caregivers and people receiving benefits to discuss how proposed federal cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could impact the lives of those needing care in the region and in rural eastern…
100 Dead Animals Found Inside House
A La Pine man is being charged with animal neglect after Deschutes County Sheriff’s detectives say they found more than 100 dead animals. The investigation began last October at a home in the 50000 block of Deer Street south of La Pine. A woman contacted the sheriff’s office after entering the house to retrieve property that…
Fair Play: Behind the Scenes at Deschutes County’s Biggest Attraction
The Source sat down with Deschutes County Fair and Expo Director, Geoff Hinds, to talk about what makes the fairgrounds special, the facility’s impact on tourism throughout the region and its expansion plans moving forward. the Source: What makes Deschutes County Fairgrounds different from other places? Geoff Hinds: It’s one of the largest County fairs…
Cheap Bites $5 or Under
I went on a mission to find substantial food at a price point of $5 or less. Not an easy challenge in an economy of rising prices. Below are some of the options I found in Bend which may not make a meal but are filling enough to satisfy a craving. Sliders Sliders are usually a…
The Drone Bill May Respect the Rule of Law, But Federal Leadership Doesn’t
This month’s capture of a man suspected of planning a shooting attack in Bend was eye-opening. It’s always unsettling to know that someone is planning such an act. In this case, what was also noteworthy was how police were able to use drones to identify the man and then go in an make an arrest…
Burgers, Wings and Wine Deals
Happy Hour is more than just a marketing trick. It’s a time-honored tradition that dates back more than 100 years in this country, with roots tangled up in the sneaky pre-dinner rituals of the Prohibition era. Back when alcohol was banned, people would gather for “happy hours” at speakeasies to get their drink on before…
Redmond Makes Way for Natural Wastewater Treatment
Redmond is set to transform the way it treats wastewater with a new natural system known as the Redmond Wetlands Complex, intended to meet the needs of its growing population. In constructing this project, the City of Redmond will decommission its existing, mechanical Water Pollution Control Facility to transition to its new system, which will…
Cheap Eats
It’s difficult to find good food at a price anyone would consider “cheap.” Nonetheless there are some tasty deals out there if you know when and where to go. We have tips about pizza slices, tacos, grab-and-go items and bites $5 or under. Hopefully there’ll be something to meet each person’s tastebuds. Taco Time! Big…
Feel Bad Inc
I can count on one hand the number of times a corporate production company/distributor logo excited me for whatever film they were releasing. As a kid, if New Line Cinema had their logo in front of a horror movie, I was there for it (they get a lifetime pass from me for “Evil Dead,” “Nightmare on…
In Praise of the Cheap Slice: A Lunch Pizza Tour of Bend
Pizza might not be the obvious lunch choice on a hot, cloudless, 90-degree day, but when the mission is to find the best cheap slices in Bend, comfort and temperature take a backseat to melted cheese and crisp crust. The plan was to find at least one affordable lunch slice on every side of town…
35 Years and Going Strong
Over the past 35 years. Barenaked Ladies has left a considerable mark on pop culture. Dip into the band’s canon and you’ll find songs that plug into generation-spanning sitcoms ranging from ’90s behemoth “Friends” (“Shoe Box”), appearing as a guest band on “90210’s” fictional Peach Pit After Dark nightclub (they played a three-song set that…
Bend Pizza Kitchen Redefines a “Slice”
A few years ago our northern neighbor, Portland, was named “The Best Pizza City in the U.S.” by writers who traversed America in search of the best za, beating out such obvious competitors as New York, Chicago, New Haven and newer-to-the-table stalwart, Detroit. Portland achieved this by offering excellent pizza emulating each of those municipal styles.…
Should YOU Own Rentals in a Recession?
As whispers of a potential economic downturn grow louder, many are tightening their budgets, reassessing their investments, and asking the age-old question: where’s the safest place to put my money right now? And while stocks feel shaky and interest rates remain in flux, real estate, specifically rental properties, might just be the steady ship. Here…
Chill Out with Mint Juleps and Boozy Bourbon Slushies
There’s something about a cold drink in a frosty glass that makes warm weather feel a little more magical. Whether you’re lounging on a shaded porch, firing up the grill or packing a cooler for the lake, the right cocktail can set the mood. Bourbon lovers, rejoice: these two, easy-to-make drinks bring bold flavor, plenty…
Source Warmup
Shelter Appoints New Leader The Bethlehem Inn has a new leader. The board of directors appointed Michael Hancock as the new executive director. He’s replacing Gwenn Wysling, who announced her retirement in February. Hancock has been with the Bethlehem Inn for six years. “I joined the team in 2019, a time of transition. Or as…
Fields Farm
Perhaps you’ve driven by and noticed a large piece of wide-open space within the city of Bend along Pettigrew Road. This oasis, surrounded by a neighborhood and development, is Fields Farm, a quiet, nearly 10-acre plot of land that has been nourishing its community for more than three decades. Jim and Debbie Fields began farming…
Mystical Sidewalk Shrine
What are you hungry for in life and community?” That’s one of many messages rotating on the front of a white, defunct Kenmore refrigerator sitting on the curb outside a home on Northwest Cumberland Avenue in Bend. Passers-by are invited to open the fridge and rummage through the treasures inside, which are constantly changing. On…
Turning a Corner — Cascade East Transit Expands Central Oregon Services
The Cascade East Transit bus trundled along Route 2 past downtown Bend during the evening rush hour on June 12. Finished with work, Jill Hanson boarded the bus at Hawthorne Station, choosing a window seat among four other passengers. Hanson has ridden the bus since her car broke down in February. She tried bike commuting…
Album Release Party
The High Desert Music Collective just released its second digital album featuring more than 80 artists, most of them local. To celebrate, it’s hosting a party on Wednesday, June 25 with 17 of the musicians performing on four stages. That includes Good Life Brewing, The Commonwealth Pub, The Ale Apothecary and Play Society. The party…
Native Plant Garden Tour
For native plant enthusiasts, the drought for a native plant garden tour is about to end in Bend during National Pollinator Month. The High Desert Horticultural Center is offering a curated tour of private and public gardens that feature and focus on native plants and pollinators on June 21 in Bend. There will be 12…
Christian Country Star: Chad Bushnell
Nothing says summer in Central Oregon like live country music. On June 27, the Blacksmith Public House in Redmond is hosting an up-and-coming Christian country star, Chad Bushnell. His Christian country roots and raw storytelling mixed with the fun and welcoming atmosphere of the Blacksmith Public House make this free performance one you won’t want…
Horoscope Week of June 19, 2025
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries writer Joseph Campbell was a world-renowned mythologist. His theories about the classic hero archetype have inspired many writers and filmmakers, including Star Wars creator George Lucas. As a young man, Campbell crafted the blueprint for his influential work during a five-year period when he lived in a rustic shack and…
The Medicine Cabinet Within: Holistic Medicine and Your Power to be Well
The concept of rugged individualism is a central theme in the American ethos, and for many still runs deep in the way we move through our lives. The idea that it is through our own grit and determination that we will find success, happiness and well-being certainly has its place, but in some ways is…
Letters to the Editor 06/19/2025
No kings here? President Trump doesn’t like the idea of people protesting that he has become a king: “I don’t feel like a king; I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.” I think the chief executive is on to something here. If he were really a king, his unilateral edicts would be…
Taco Time!
An issue about cheap eats would be remiss to leave out traditional budget-friendly taco deals. There was once a time when it seemed taco and Tuesday could be interchangeable. Below is a sampling of some of the best local taco deals. Feel free to add what we missed in the comment section of this article…
Burgerville Arrives
Central Oregon’s first Burgerville will open Monday, June 23 at the corner of SE Third Street and Wilson Avenue in Bend. A grand opening celebration begins at 7am with a ribbon cutting at 10am. Burgerville menu items include a variety of burgers, chicken sandwiches, crispy halibut sandwiches and a plant-based burger. The chain offers gluten-free…
Kid-Approved Cheap Eats
Going out to eat with kids can be a challenging experience. Someone is bound to be picky, and spending a small fortune on a barely-touched sandwich can be disappointing for everyone. To save your sanity when going out to eat, take the advice of local kids about some kid-approved cheap eats around Bend. Breakfast Mother’s,…
Two Bobcat Kitten Patients Admitted to Think Wild
Two orphaned bobcat kittens, estimated to be four-weeks old, were admitted to Think Wild, Central Oregon’s wildlife hospital and conservation center, on May 19. ODFW notified Think Wild that a member of the public had picked up two female bobcat kittens at a rest stop near the Tygh Valley area. The young appeared abandoned due…
