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Bend Race Adds Non-Binary Category

Bend’s beloved Pole Pedal Paddle race, put on by Mt Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, introduced a new category specifically for nonbinary individuals. According to Marieka Greene, the MBSEF event and financial development director, two nonbinary individuals took advantage of the new categories.

“Pole Pedal Paddle has a long-standing tradition of including all ages, abilities, and levels of athletic experience. It was only natural that, when given the opportunity to adjust our categories to be more gender inclusive, we would do so,” said Greene. “It is important for this event to continue being centered on its diverse community of participants, and we are happy to make adjustments in order to make our racers more welcome come race day.”

—Julianna LaFollette

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Filing Open for Bend City Council

The filing period is now open for Bend City Council elections. The City Council has four positions that will be placed on the ballot for the November election. Individuals interested in being elected can file through Aug. 27.

Individuals elected will begin serving in January 2025 and receive an annual $30,000 stipend, health benefits and an annual $3,000 health and wellness stipend. Candidates must reside within the city limits for at least one year prior to taking office and can expect to meet in the Council capacity at least four nights each month.

—Julianna LaFollette

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“Do something that empowers you. You don’t need anyone else.”

– Foxtail Bakeshop owner Nickol Hayden-Cady, from this week’s Chow, “A Look Ahead to Foxtail’s ‘Den.'”

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– The vote count for the Redmond City Council’s vote on a proclamation supporting Pride in the town. From this week’s News story, “Redmond Recognizes Pride.”

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Oregon lags most states in public higher education funding, report finds

By Alex Baumhart, Oregon Capital Chronicle

Oregon is ranked 44th in the nation for public funding of higher education and 37th in the nation for per-pupil funding, according to the latest annual State Higher Education Finance report from the Colorado-based State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission is a member of the association.

The report compared state-by-state funding data from the 2022-23 fiscal year. While higher education investment in Oregon has increased in recent years, it has not been enough to make up for more than a decade of underfunding and of relying heavily on student tuition to cover rising costs, said Ben Cannon, executive director of the commission.

Cannon and university presidents have repeatedly asked the Legislature for more higher education dollars and a model of funding that balances state investment with tuition revenue.

—This is an excerpt of a story that was originally published in the Oregon Capital Chronicle June 3.

This article appears in Source Weekly June 6, 2024.