Sharlene Wills ran her fingers over the small arrow on the crosswalk button for her first hint. She squared up to the crosswalk, stepping out slowly until she felt the bumpy surface under her feet. She heard the cars to her left roll to a stop and the chime of a robotic voice in the air. “Walk sign is on to cross Division Street.” “Forward,” Wills told her yellow lab guide […]
Bend’s Roundabouts Can Be Roadblocks for Blind People. 3D-Printed Models Could Help.
Posted inCulture
Bend Author Claudia Hinz Sheds Some Light on New Book, ‘Safekeeping’
Claudia Hinz—author, former television reporter and Bend local — recently finished her fiction novel “Safekeeping,” and is preparing for its debut in September. In this Q&A she shares what inspired her to write the story and gives insight into her writing process, which she describes as a test of endurance, faith and grit. the Source: What inspired you to write this story? Claudia Hinz: I spent quite a bit of time as a television reporter reporting on stories from […]
Posted inOpinion
Should Bendites Have to Pay to Pollute?
This month, the Bend City Council opted to move forward with its plan to charge a fee to developers putting natural gas systems into new homes — a move aimed at meeting the city’s carbon emissions goals and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. There was no good timing for this. As a whole, Oregonians’ economic […]
Posted inBusiness News
The Season of Selling
Summer is more than a season of sunshine and outdoor recreation in Central Oregon — it’s also one of the busiest times of year for real estate. While homes sell throughout the year, summer has long been considered one of the strongest seasons for homeowners looking to maximize their property’s appeal and attract motivated buyers. […]
Posted inCulture
A Musical Tribute to the Greatest Generation
As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary of independence, a new musical at the Tower Theatre honors the women who served the country during World War II. The production, “Rosie the Riveter,” pays tribute to the estimated 6 million women who entered the workforce in the 1940s, taking over industrial jobs. Today, there are believed […]
Posted inBusiness News
MountainStar Opens Birdies 4 Babies Fundraiser Registration
MountainStar Family Relief Nursery (MountainStar) is kicking off summer with the invitation to join our biggest annual fundraising event. Registration is now open for the 12th Annual Birdies 4 Babies (B4B) Gala & Golf Fundraiser, following a record-breaking year that raised more than $600,000 to support children and families across Central Oregon. As MountainStar celebrates […]
Posted inBusiness News
Construction on the Galveston Corridor Safety Project to Begin in Mid-June
Construction is set to begin on the Galveston Corridor during the week of June 15, weather dependent. The project will be completed in three phases of construction. The first phase of work this summer will maintain two-way traffic on Galveston Avenue. Early in the project’s development, the community provided meaningful input that helped shape initial […]
Posted inBusiness News
Layoffs at Les Schwab Headquarters
Les Schwab Tires made the difficult decision to restructure portions of its headquarters team in Bend. These changes affect about 70 headquarters roles. Saying goodbye to coworkers who have contributed to the company is never easy, and we recognize the impact this has on employees and their families. Employees leaving the company as part of […]
Posted inBusiness News
Big Ponderoo and Breedlove Team Up for Custom Guitar Raffle
SFF Presents is offering a limited-entry raffle for the fourth consecutive year in conjunction with the 2026 Big Ponderoo Music + Art Festival, taking place June 26 & 27 at Village Green Park in Sisters, Oregon. One lucky winner will have the chance to take home a custom dreadnought guitar made by the esteemed local […]
Posted inBusiness News
County Recognizes 2026 Health Hero Award Winners
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners, the Public Health Advisory Board and the Behavioral Health Advisory Board are pleased to announce this year’s Health Hero Award winners. The 2026 Individual Health Hero Award winner for Public Health is Dr. Randy Jacobs. The winner for Behavioral Health is Lindsey Overstreet. Dr. Jacobs served as the volunteer medical director for […]
