When we interviewed candidates in Bend and Redmond for the recent school board elections, one thing was almost unanimous: they, like many teachers, are in favor of having strong policies in place that restrict the use of cell phones in schools. There were some nuances in candidates’ arguments — such as a consideration for those […]
A Bill Banning Cell Phones in Schools Died in the Legislature. If the Governor Takes It Up, the Details are Going to Matter.
Posted inOutside
Glass Act: Saving Birds from Windows
Picture the perfect morning: songbird voices filling the air with their joyful chorus, announcing the new day. Then a sickening thud. Sadly, this heart-wrenching sound is all too familiar. What many do not realize is the staggering scale. New research (Kornreich et al., 2024, PLoS One) indicates that up to one billion birds may die […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Second Annual Oregon Gin Festival
The Oregon Gin Festival returns for its second year. Oregon Spirit Distillers on NE First Street in Bend is hosting the event on June 7. It’s an opportunity to sample products or sip a cocktail. Fifteen local distilleries are participating. Attendees can taste a variety of gin flavors and create what’s being described as a […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the Editor
Fix Our Forest Act is Misguided Having lived most of my adult life between Central Oregon and California, I’m no stranger to the devastating impact of wildfires on our homes, health, and communities. These fires have intensified as policy makers fail to implement crucial climate change mitigation measures. The proposed Fix Our Forest Act (FOFA) […]
Posted inCulture
Horoscope Week of May 29, 2025
CANCER (June 21-July 22): You are now highly attuned to subtle energies, subliminal signals, and hidden agendas. No one in your sphere is even half as sensitive as you are to the intriguing mysteries that are unfolding beneath the visible surface. This may be a bit unsettling, but it’s a key asset. Your ability to […]
Posted inMusic
Inaugural Bend Blues Fest
This year the summer solstice will be filled with the blues. Silver Moon Brewing is hosting its first Bend Blues Fest on June 21. Two outdoor stages will feature a lineup of local musicians starting at 2pm. Last October, Silver Moon launched a monthly Blues Revival after a regular performer at Sunday night open mic […]
Posted inOutside
June Pride
Each June, Pride Month is a time to celebrate diversity, equality and inclusion, but it’s historic roots were mired in rage. On June 28, 1969, riots began in New York City after a police raid on a gay bar. A year later, the first Pride marches were held in four cities. Pride Month was officially […]
Posted inNews
Bias In Our Backyard
He was an Immigration & Customs Enforcement agent. Or that’s at least what the uniformed man said when he boarded a Cascade East Transit bus at the Hawthorne Station in Bend on April 28. He walked down the aisle, asked passengers their immigration status and rummaged through one passenger’s bag. Then he left. An hour […]
Posted inCulture
The Gay Show
Did comedian Jamie Shriner ever tell you about the time she put gum in her older sister’s hair, right before the pair were set to audition for a production of “Beauty and the Beast”? And the crazy part? By the end of this funny-ass anecdote, Shriner, astoundingly, isn’t the villain. “That’s another one of those […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Americana Goes Brick-and-Mortar with Bigger Menu, Same Prices
A popular food truck known for its mouthwatering smash burgers is opening a new location in downtown Bend. Americana, which currently operates its truck at local food cart pod, The Podski, is opening a brick-and-mortar burger shop in the former Seven Nightclub spot on Bond Street. It’ll offer classic burgers and a variety of fan-favorite specials […]