After an extensive and thoughtful search process, Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) is pleased to announce the hiring of Casey Andrews as the new Executive Director. The search engaged the Hiring Committee of the Board of Directors, additional board members, staff, and volunteers, who collectively dedicated more than 1,000 hours reviewing over 40 applicants, conducting […]
Central Oregon Trail Alliance Selects New Executive Director
Posted inPolitics
Wyden, Merkley, Bynum Celebrate $3.8 Million in Federal Funding for Expansion of Redmond Airport
U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum announced $3.8 million in federal funding to kickstart the expansion of Redmond Airport. “My visit to the Redmond Airport last fall showed me firsthand how this funding is a solid and key investment in infrastructure and economic growth in Central Oregon,” Wyden said. “From […]
Posted inCulture
“Under Pressure”
While volcanoes date back millions and millions of years, knowledge about them continues evolving. A study by the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences published in January 2025 found that all volcanoes, including dormant ones, have persistent and large magma bodies. Scientists used seismic waves to identify magma chambers beneath six volcanoes within the Cascade […]
Posted inPolitics
Lawmakers Seek Public Testimony on Legislation Removing Unintended Barriers to Affordable Housing and On-Site ChildCare Facilities
Senator Dick Anderson and Representative Vikki Breese-Iverson, chief sponsors of Senate Bill 1566, are encouraging Oregonians to provide public testimony on critical legislation designed to remove unintended regulatory barriers that are blocking affordable housing development and on-site child care facilities across the state. The Senate Committee on Labor and Business will hold a public hearing […]
Posted inPolitics
State Democrats Advance Legislation to Lower Taxes
Today [Monday, Feb. 9], the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue advanced legislation to the Senate floor that cuts taxes for more than 200,000 low-to-moderate income Oregon households, spurs job growth in Oregon businesses, and protects $291 million in needed funding for education, health care, and public safety. Senate Bill 1507 achieves these benefits for working […]
Posted inOutside Features
Oakridge Offers Miles of Picturesque, Quiet, Forest Trails for Mountain Biking and Hiking
In the time it takes to polish off a breakfast burrito and listen to an episode or two of your favorite podcast, Derrick Bell wants you to know that you could be enjoying the solitude of nearly 600 miles of biking and hiking through serene forest trails, reminiscent of Central Oregon a couple decades ago. […]
Posted inLocal News
What to Know About Fares on Cascades East Transit
This month, Cascades East Transit resumed fare collection, which had been suspended on non-recreational routes since the spring of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Operating fare-free had been possible because of federal relief funding, CET stated, but that money has long been in the rearview mirror. CET is operated by the Central Oregon […]
Posted inBusiness News
Spring Into Action: Preparing Your Central Oregon Home for the Market
Have you been thinking about making 2026 the year you sell your home? Consider this. Your home is one of the assets you own (unlike your car) that increases over time. U.S. home prices experienced rapid growth from 2019 to 2024, with cumulative increases reaching approximately 55%, or a 9.2% average annual increase. Now price […]
Posted inFilm
The Politics of Insanity
For like five minutes, I thought it would be a funny idea to start this review pretending like I was doing a deep dive into the new “Melania” documentary, but then I had the (quite obvious) epiphany that giving money, publicity, or my words to propaganda directed by a hack filmmaker photographed cuddling women next […]
Posted inColumns
Why Your Partner Deserves Better Than Your Barista Gets
Dear Dr. Jane, My wife and I are trying to improve our relationship and we’re seeing a couples counselor to help with communication. The sessions are challenging—we fight a lot. Of course, our fighting isn’t just about everyday stuff. We fight about intimacy too, which means we almost never connect. There’s so much conflict. I […]