The year 2025 and its unpredictable market are now comfortably in the rearview. With interest rates briefly reaching three-year lows, the real estate market must be returning to some semblance of normalcy… right? Let’s take a look at what the January stats are telling us about the first month of 2026. One important thing to […]
Bend’s January Market Snapshot
Posted inOutside Features
The Iconic Osprey
If the Seattle Seahawks lived up to their namesake, they would be known as the Seattle Osprey. Inspired by these magnificent birds of prey, the team unveiled their team sea hawk logo in 1976, which was a stylized inspiration paying homage to artwork of the Kwakwaka’wakw people who lived along the Pacific Northwest coast, primarily […]
Posted inChow
Reubens, Rye and a Room with a View
Familiar, but fresh. Big flavors without the fuss. A New York City-style deli through a Pacific Northwest lens. That’s how I would sum up the new Stacks Dinner and Delicatessen in the Old Mill District. The nostalgic, yet polished Stacks comes from longtime local restauranteurs Steve and Cheri Helt, the duo behind Zydeco Kitchen and Cocktails […]
Posted inLocal News
Oregon’s Economy Has Lagged for Decades. Some Blame a Shrinking Workforce and Too Much Red Tape.
When Gov. Tina Kotek convened the first meeting of her newly named Prosperity Council on Jan. 22, she told the 16-member panel what she hoped to achieve. “The goals I’ve put forward—about growing our GDP, creating new jobs and supporting the workforce we need for the future—those are very simple goals,” Kotek said. “And they […]
Posted inBusiness News
Computer Kiosk in the Bend Office of Dept. of Revenue Lets Taxpayers E-File for Free
With anticipated delays in paper return processing in 2026, the Oregon Department of Revenue reminds taxpayers planning to file a paper return that they can use public computer kiosks in the department’s regional offices to file their Oregon personal income tax returns for free and get their kicker and their refund sooner. “The computer kiosks […]
Posted inPolitics
State Lawmakers Take Steps to Keep Trail Blazers in Oregon
Governor Tina Kotek, Senate President Rob Wagner, House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson testified before the Senate Committee on Rules in support of providing a path to renovate the Moda Center without raising taxes. The testimony was in support of Senate Bill 1501, chief sponsored by […]
Posted inBusiness News
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Wraps Up “Click It or Ticket” Campaign
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office recently concluded its participation in the national Click It or Ticket campaign, which ran from January 26 through February 8. This initiative focused on encouraging drivers and passengers to buckle up when hitting the road and on sharing important tips for properly securing child car seats. During the campaign, deputies […]
Posted inBusiness News
East Cascades Bird Alliance Accepting Youth Scholarship Applications for Nature Camp
The East Cascades Bird Alliance (“ECBA”) is excited to announce its second annual youth scholarship for a student to attend the American Birding Association’s (“ABA”) Camp Colorado in Allenspark, CO, from August 2-8, 2026 (the “Camp”). As part of the Camp, attendees explore Colorado from grassland to glaciers, from the shortgrass prairie of northeastern Colorado […]
Posted inBusiness News
The Bend Chamber To Celebrate 100 Years
The Bend Chamber is excited to share that we will mark a major milestone—our 100-year anniversary—on May 26, 2026! To celebrate this historic milestone, the Bend Chamber will launch a year-long Centennial campaign, highlighted by a Centennial Celebration Gala on May 21, 2026, from 6PM-8PM at the High Desert Museum. Attendees can look forward to catered […]
Posted inBusiness News
First Interstate Bank Introduces Oregon Banking Leadership Team
First Interstate has a refreshed Oregon leadership team designed to bring decisions closer to clients, simplify how they work together, and respond faster to local needs. The new approach aligns market leaders and empowered bankers across Oregon who know their communities and can act quickly in their best interest. “Our purpose is simple — build […]