May Election Results
The special district election took place on May 20. Here’s a complete list of results for local levies, as well as school and park boards in Deschutes County. Go to deschutes.org for the full list of election results. Bend-La Pine Schools district: Zone 1: Jennifer Lynch(unopposed) – 98.37% Zone 2: Marcus LeGrand (unopposed) – 97.97%…
Helicopter Crashes Near Prineville Airport
A helicopter crash near the Prineville Airport on May 17 killed one individual and severely injured another, according to the Prineville Police Department. A press release stated that the deceased was an 80-year-old male. The individual’s name is not being released at this time, Prineville Police Department said in an email. The second victim was a…
The Deschutes County Sheriff may lose his badge for lying
Last September, then-Deschutes County Sgt. Kent van der Kamp was about to win a big promotion. As a candidate for sheriff, he promised to reform a public safety agency with a history of costly lawsuits and overspending. But as Election Day neared, van der Kamp’s future seemed increasingly imperiled by accusations of dishonesty. His bosses…
Annual Count Shows 17% Increase in Homelessness
The annual point-in-time count, measuring the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January, was released on May 19, showing a 17% total increase throughout the region. The PIT Count is conducted each year across the tri-county region, including Bend, Redmond, Sisters, La Pine, Madras, Prineville and the Confederated Tribes of Warm…
Medical trauma survivors honored at May 21 St. Charles event
St. Charles Health System’s Trauma Program will honor and recognize former trauma patients Wednesday, May 21 at St. Charles Bend. The event will include a visit from therapy dogs, free barbecue lunch and the chance to connect with St. Charles caregivers, first responders and fellow medical trauma survivors. “Every year this is an incredible event…
Central Oregon Nonprofits Share $382,360 to Make Progress on Pressing Challenges
Nonprofits tackling Central Oregon’s most pressing challenges are receiving a boost. Oregon Community Foundation has distributed new grants to organizations making progress on housing, child care, hunger, substance abuse, arts and culture, and those serving immigrants, refugees and others. In all, OCF’s Community Grants program is investing $382,360 in the work of 24 Central Oregon…
‘High Desert, Higher Costs: Bend And The Housing Crisis In The American West’
The growing cost of keeping a roof over one’s head — or owning said roof — isn’t lost on many folks in Central Oregon. At what point will non-wealthy people simply not be able to afford to live here? Jonathan Bach can’t predict the future, but the journalist analyzes some potential solutions to our region’s…
Statewide Arts Group Sues DOGE & National Endowment for the Humanities
Oregon Humanities filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration Friday, May 16, in U.S. District Court in Portland. The organization, a nonprofit formerly known as the Oregon Council for the Humanities, was founded in 1971. It advocates for and distributes money to arts groups all over the state. Nearly half of its $2.46 million…
DEQ Pauses Controversial Advanced Clean Trucks Rule
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality said today it was delaying enforcement of its Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which went into effect Jan. 1. “Effective immediately, Oregon DEQ will refrain from pursuing enforcement or assessing civil penalties against any manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (Classes 2b–8) who does not meet the specified [zero-emission vehicle]…
Vaccination Avoidance Rises in Oregon
The percentage of Oregon kindergartners whose families opted them out of vaccinations for nonmedical reasons jumped to 9.7% for the 2024–25 school year. That percentage is the highest in state history, according to the Oregon Health Authority, and marks the fourth consecutive annual increase. Like other states, Oregon allows two types of exemptions from common…
The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation opens applications for the $25,000 Spark Awards for Oregon Artists in the Literary and Media Arts
Today, the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation opened applications for the 2025 Spark Award for Oregon Artists. The Spark Award for Oregon Artists is inspired by the Foundation’s belief that the self-directed pursuit by professional artists of new ideas, opportunities and skills is essential to our state’s cultural vitality. The three-year pilot program…
COCC to Dedicate New Veterans Center with Ceremony, Chinook Helicopter
Beginning with the landing of a U.S. Army MH-47G Chinook on its Bend campus athletic field, a Central Oregon Community College (COCC) dedication event for its newly revamped Robert D. Maxwell Veterans Resource Center will celebrate veterans and a new space for student veterans beginning at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28, at the Coats…
Celebrate Buttes, Brews & Big Views: The 5th Annual Big Butte Challenge Returns May 23–October 1
Central Oregon’s most scenic adventure is back for its fourth year! The Big Butte Challenge invites hikers, runners, and beer-lovers alike to take on 9+ iconic buttes and celebrate each summit with a cold craft pint from local breweries. This self-paced summer challenge kicks off May 23rd and runs through October 1st. Whether you’re climbing…
KTVZ to Launch New Weekly Sports Show, “Beyond the Score”
KTVZ is proud to announce the launch of its new weekly sports show, Beyond the Score, hosted by Sports Director Dylan Anderman. The show premieres Sunday, June 15th at 10:30 p.m. on KFXO (FOX) and will re-air on KTVZ+, giving viewers multiple ways to tune in and connect with the heart of local sports. Beyond…
Kids Curate Exhibition Shares Work of Yearlong Program with Elementary Students
The High Desert Museum invites visitors to experience the culmination of a yearlong program that dove into the diverse perspectives of wildfire in Central Oregon. Explore the artistic voices of young students in Kids Curate, open now through Sunday, June 1. Every year, Kids Curate integrates art, science and history into classrooms and field-trip experiences…
Mt. Bachelor Wins National Award for Inclusion & Belonging
The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) named the winners of its annual awards in sustainability, safety, marketing, and beginner conversion (growth) at its National Convention and Tradeshow in Marco Island, Florida, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Mt. Bachelor is thrilled and honored to have won the “Mountains are for Everyone” award, which recognizes the ski…
Prineville Reevaluates UGB Expansion, Location for Biomass Facility
The City of Prineville decided this week to pause a proposed Urban Growth Boundary expansion, set to accommodate space for a prospective biomass facility among other expansion opportunities. The Prineville City Council voted 4-2 in opposition of the UGB expansion, following concerns from residents about the planned location and a lack of community input. The…
Bend Brews & Beyond
Billing itself as “a new kind of brew fest,” the Bend Brews and Beyond is the Bend Brewfest 2.0. It’s at a new location in Drake Park which means you can literally float up to it. There’s also a larger focus on cider and non-alcoholic drinks. In fact, there will be more than a dozen…
Horoscope Week of May 15, 2025
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The most successful people aren’t those who merely follow their passion, but those who follow their curiosity. Honoring the guidance of our passions motivates us, but it can also narrow our focus. Heeding the call of our curiosity emboldens our adaptability, exploration, and maximum openness to new possibilities. In that spirit,…
Letters to the Editor 05/15/2025
Local law enforcement’s stance on cooperation with the Trump administration. I think it would be interesting to hear from the leaders of our local, county and state law enforcement agencies regarding their opinions of the overreach by the current president and his administration. Especially with regard to honoring sanctuary status, or cooperating with the federal…
BBQ & Line Dancing for a Good Cause
Central Oregon Locavore is serving up a BBQ and hoedown! It’s the first time the local nonprofit has done a fundraiser like this. The event will be at Cross-Eyed Cricket Watering Hole in Bend on May 24. Hattie’s BBQ will provide locally sourced pork from Well Rooted Farms. The meat will be smoked slowly overnight.…
Dam(n) Busy as Beavers
Beaver Works Oregon has been busy as the proverbial beaver to restore beaver habitat in LaPine and Collier Memorial State Parks. Along with Oregon State Park staff and other partners, Beaver Works has been planting willow, dogwood, and black cottonwood cuttings along stream and river banks, then installing wire fencing to allow the cuttings to…
Allowing RVs as Dwellings on Rural Properties is a Good Step. And Yet.
As of last week, it’s now legal for people in rural areas of Deschutes County to rent a portion of their property to someone living in an RV. The Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners approved this change in line with a state bill from the 2023 legislative session that authorized the use of RVs…
May theatrical roundup
Cinema is robust enough to feel almost limitless as an art form. Although movies are nearly 130 years old, a few filmmakers continue to push the medium forward every year, finding innovative and groundbreaking new ways to tell stories. While it’s rare to come across a film that feels wholly singular, I still find joy…
Sonic Journeys, Evolving Sounds
Khruangbin (pronounced KRUNG-BIN) in Thai means airplane. It’s also the name of the mostly instrumental trio that has been making major waves ever since releasing its 2015 debut, “The Universe Smiles Upon You.” Made up of bassist Laura Lee, drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson and guitarist Mark Speer, the threesome’s ethereal sound has wide-reaching influences ranging…
Talking Real Estate Statistics:
Our local real estate market is a hot topic, and every month brings a fresh batch of statistics. We eagerly await the reports detailing average home prices, hoping to glean insight into the market’s health and the value of our own properties. However, while figures like the mean, median, and mode offer a seemingly straightforward…
Dogwood Curates Food Carts for All
The newly revamped and relocated Dogwood at the Pine Shed just opened its doors in February, offering tasty cocktails and a wide variety of tasty food options for any palate. The carefully curated food carts include Mexican, Vietnamese and Dominican cuisines, along with unique sandwiches, pizza, wings and crepes. With warmer weather ahead, the tasty…
Llama Love: Spreading Joy
“I can’t believe I saw a llama.” That’s a phrase often repeated as folks encounter Jeff Wagner and his llama, Yogi. Wagner hauls Yogi in a trailer, from La Pine to the Old Mill District, on a regular basis so they can take a stroll. He started doing this during the pandemic because he thought it…
Dine-Out Drought
Downtown Bend has traditionally been known as the heart of the city; a charming, pedestrian-friendly area that invites both locals and tourists to walk the streets and indulge in shopping, dining and nightlife. About 40 restaurants occupy the downtown area, offering a wide variety of options for those looking to dine in or grab a…
