A bill that would expand the scope of Oregon’s prevailing wage law is moving toward a floor vote with key questions unanswered. That matters because the expansion could impact just about every public works project in Oregon, from roads and sewers to schools—both renovations and new construction. House Bill 2688 “applies the prevailing rate of wage […]
Prevailing Wage Expansion Advances With Key Questions Unanswered
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LISTEN: Bend Don’t Break: Brian Rankin 🎧
In this episode, we’re joined by Brian Rankin, the City of Bend’s Senior Strategist and one of the key minds shaping how our city grows. From expanding the urban growth boundary to navigating the complexities of housing, transportation, and infrastructure, Brian’s work is all about guiding Bend’s long-term future with intention and care. Host Aaron […]
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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 […]
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Redmond City Council Approves Emergency Firework Ban Effective July 5
REDMOND, OREGON On Tuesday, July 1, Redmond City Council unanimously approved an emergency declaration, banning the personal use of all fireworks effective 12:01 a.m. July 5, 2025, due to high fire risk in Redmond and across Central Oregon. The declaration, which allows the city to efficiently mobilize resources to respond to public needs during an […]
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Deschutes Trails Coalition Stewardship Grant Projects Reach Completion
The $600,000 Deschutes Trails Coalition Stewardship Grant Program funded by Deschutes County unrestricted Transient Room Tax dollars was granted in 2023 to support trail or trail-related infrastructure projects. This 2-year program recently came to a close, resulting in nine projects funded by local organizations. Awardees include: Bend Parks and Recreation District – Shevlin Park […]
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Source Warmup
Pilot Butte Access Limited for Fireworks Show The road up Pilot Butte State Park will close to all vehicle traffic starting at 10pm July 1. It will remain closed until the afternoon of July 5. The closure is to allow preparation and cleanup of the July 4 fireworks display. Walkers and bicyclists can access the […]
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Why Local Agents Prefer Local Lenders
One of the most crucial pieces of advice I can offer you when embarking on your homebuying journey is to partner with one of our trusted local lenders. A few weeks ago, I wrote about how your lender and real estate agent work together. This article is more about why I often recommend a few […]
Posted inMusic
A Joyful Evening with Lake Street Dive
Lake Street Dive plays the type of music that makes you want to dance, sing, clap, and cry, all because it sounds so damned good. I spoke with keyboardist and vocalist Akie Bermiss about the band’s intention to create joy even when it feels like the world is falling apart. We also talk about Star […]
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Pink Martini's 30th Anniversary Tour
Imagine this: It’s 1943, and somewhere in Nazi-occupied Europe, a group of young people huddles around a crackling radio, desperately tuning through static to catch the forbidden sounds of swing. The penalty for being caught? Imprisonment, or worse. But the music—oh, the music—was worth the risk. While many musical genres found their audiences in the […]
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The Psychedelic Frontier
This week, we are honored to feature one of Mary’s teachers, Brittany Jade Wilson, as a guest columnist. Her Eco-Sensual Trauma-Informed Herbalism and Advocacy Training has been an invaluable resource for psychedelic practitioners and a key source for Mary’s own knowledge of herbal allies and the plant kingdom. Q: I have been taking psychedelics, mostly […]