Cover Stories
Outsourcing the Hard Part of Dating
According to the latest demographics, more than half the people living in Central Oregon are married. That still leaves a chunk potentially searching for a partner. Data shows 27% of the local population have never married; 13% are divorced and 5% are widowed. It’s a pretty equal split among the number of men and women…
A Single Sort of Valentine
Dating is a special kind of hell in Central Oregon. The town is quite small and a good majority of the people are very sporty, active and outdoorsy. I mean, I like a hike as much as anyone else, but I guarantee you, the first time I snowboard or ski is the last time I…
What is Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine focuses on therapies to repair, replace and or regenerate damaged cells and tissues and restore normal function. Instead of just treating symptoms, it aims to heal the root causes of diseases or injuries using Prolotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), and Stem Cell Therapy. Regenerative medicine helps the body heal itself. Regenerative Medicine involves harnessing…
High Desert Speaker Series Coming This Winter
Oregon Natural Desert Association’s 2026 High Desert Speaker Series invites audiences across Oregon and beyond to uncover the landscapes, geology and cultural histories of eastern Oregon through a pair of engaging online talks this winter. Registration is now open for the free, online public series, which runs from February through March. The High Desert Speaker…
15 Insanely Romantic Movies to Watch with Your Partner
I’m not sure if any two people find the same things romantic, but there are still movies and moments I think are absolutely undeniable. After a cozy night in or a decadent night out, here are a few romantic-as-all-hell movies that will play as the perfect nightcap to your special day. 1: “Phantom Thread” (2017):…
New Music Festival Features Retro Tribute Bands
A new music festival is coming to Central Oregon this summer which will rewind the clock to a nostalgic, bygone era. Harefest LLC is presenting “Legends Reloaded.” It’s a two-day classic rock tribute festival celebrating rock’s most iconic artists. The family-friendly event will be at the Jefferson County Event Complex in Madras over two days…
Free Will Astrology, Week of Feb. 5
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The coming weeks will challenge you to think with tenderness and feel with clarity. You’ll be called on to stay sharply alert even as you remain loose, kind, and at ease. Your good fortune will expand as you open your awareness wider, while also firming up the boundaries that keep mean…
Olney Avenue: Soon to Be Back in Action
Sick of taking the long way on Greenwood, Franklin or Revere? Hang tight for ‘Olney’ one more week (sorry). An east-west segment of Olney Avenue, a key arterial in Bend, will be reopening to traffic on Wed, Feb. 11. Several blocks of the street initially closed in early 2025, including its intersection with NW Wall Street, as part of the Olney Avenue Improvements…
UPDATE: LOGE Entrada Shutters Feb. 11
Lev Stryker, the co-owner of Cog Wild, recently stood under the tall stand of ponderosas in front of his bicycle guide company’s office at the LOGE Entrada motel campus, pointing out the perch of a great horned owl. “There’s three of them in there,” Stryker said. “At night they hoot to each other.” Stryker will…
A Grateful Night to Remember the Dead
Grooving out to Grateful Dead records with a friend of mine from Providence, we treated ourselves to a separate part of the late guitarist Bob Weir’s discography: a 1976 self-titled album by the band Kingfish. Not too separate, though; its first two songs were adopted by the Dead as live show material, with “Supplication” in…
Bentz and the Main Street Caucus Aren’t Asking for the Moon — Just for the President to Keep His Promises
Oregon Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR2) told the Baker City Herald late last month that he’s been lobbying the administration to take a “different approach” on the massive deportation campaign currently underway. Oddly enough, that lobbying effort sounds a whole lot like what we were promised during the last presidential election. If you’re among those who…
Bombing the Community with Love
Student elves at The Waldorf School of Bend have been busy for weeks making felt hearts. It’s a project the entire school, including parents, undertake to continue the annual tradition of heart bombing downtown Bend on Valentine’s Day. “Our entire school comes together, sometimes other people not from my school, and it just feels joyful,”…
An Evening of Documentary Film Shorts
A one-day film festival will feature more than two dozen documentary shorts made by filmmakers from around the world. The Oregon Documentary Film Festival is being held at The Commonwealth Pub on Sunday, Feb. 15. It begins mid-afternoon with a social networking event involving the filmmakers. An awards ceremony is at 3pm with screenings beginning…
Letters to the Editor, Week of Feb. 5
New ‘Prosperity Officer’ Thank you for your Opinion piece of 22 January 2026, highlighting the new Oregon “Prosperity Officer” and the current economic challenges faced by the Oregon economy. However, discussing the “falling economic outlook” fails to discuss other, more important aspects of measuring the success of a society and its economy. According to the…
Peace on Earth and the Daily News
In my humble opinion, the majority of people in the world prefer Peace on Earth to the alternative. I’ve asked around, not exactly a scientific survey, and everyone I’ve asked prefers Peace on Earth. What exactly are we preferring when we contemplate this ever-prayed-for dream? Peace on Earth is way more complex and soulful than…
Home Loans Made Simple
For many buyers, the most intimidating part of purchasing a home isn’t choosing the house—it’s choosing the loan. With so many acronyms and options, mortgages can feel unnecessarily complicated. The good news? Most buyers fall into just a handful of common loan categories. Here’s a straightforward breakdown of the most popular home loan options, explained…
Sweet on Local
Valentine’s Day has a way of sneaking up on us. One minute it’s January gloom and wool socks. The next you are staring down Feb. 14 wondering how to say, “I love you,” without resorting to a drugstore heart box that could have been bought anywhere by anyone at the last minute. This is where…
Special Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day
There are several ways you can celebrate Valentine’s Day, from an intimate evening at home to a splurge on a special dinner at a local restaurant. We’re highlighting just a few of the events happening over Valentine’s weekend. Dinner & Wine Pairing A pop-up dinner and wine pairing is being held at The Winery at…
UPDATE: Two ‘Pretti Good’ Reasons to Ride Gravel Bikes Together
Alex Pretti loved bikepacking. He was also known in his South Minneapolis neighborhood as a friendly guy who enjoyed walking his dog, someone who greeted the folks who passed by. On Jan. 24, while filming U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity and helping a shoved woman to her feet, Pretti was pepper-sprayed by ICE agents…
New Trial Dates Set for Ian Cranston
Ian Cranston appeared virtually with his attorney on Jan. 28 at a hearing at Deschutes County Circuit Court, where Circuit Judge Beth Bagley set future dates for Cranston’s re-trial in the 2021 shooting death of Barry Washington Jr. A new 10-day in-person trial will begin on Oct. 20. A general trial readiness hearing will happen…
Oregon Breaks Its Own Record for Cannabis Production
Oregon continues to have a cannabis industry with great news for cannabis consumers, but brings financial misery to those growing, processing and selling it. Last year saw a trend continue that has plagued the Oregon industry — namely, growers produce far more cannabis than we consume. In 2025, licensed growers produced 13.5 million pounds, up from 12.3 million pounds in…
