Bend has once again caught national attention. According to the Milken Institute 2016 Best Performing Cities Report, the Bend-Redmond area was ranked first in the U.S. Best-Performing Small Cities index, up from last year’s ranking at eighth place. The report bases its rankings on nine different indicators, and Bend-Redmond posted gains on seven of the […]
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Posted inMusic
Classic Reggae
Mykal Rose brings reggae’s past, present and future to the Capitol
Often home to rising talents, Bend will soon be hosting one of reggae’s longest running stars. Mykal Rose, the leading voice of Black Uhuru, emerged onto the global stage when the group’s album “Anthem” won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album—the first time that award was given out. After a few more years with Black […]
Posted inNews
Shining Bright
Bend has a lot of solar power in its future, but not everyone is happy about it
Ron Rupprecht isn’t thrilled at what he sees 250 feet from his house in east Bend. His property borders a major development with nearly 150 acres of solar panels, now beginning to produce electricity and send power to a Pacific Power substation. Tucked just off Neff Road, Rupprecht purchased his small acreage in 2000 as […]
Posted inMusic
Reunion Time
Texas country star Robert Earl Keen hits the Tower
What the hell is “Americana” and why is it something we use to describe things? Does it mean that something is intrinsically “American?” I know when the word is used to describe music it means a hodgepodge of folk, country, blues, bluegrass, rock and R&B, but isn’t that just spouting off different genres of music […]
Posted inMusic
Gung Ho for Shows 1/11-1/18
Book these shows now so you don’t miss out. January 25 "The Price is Right" Live GAME SHOW—Just in case you have never spent a day sick on the couch watching this classic game show—"The Price is Right" first began in 1956 and features contestants pulled from the crowd to compete to win cash and […]
Posted inNews
Mapping Cannabis Use
Every year, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health asks Americans about their use of cannabis and other drugs. The results of the 2015 survey, released recently, show that 8.3 percent of Americans aged 12 and up said they had used cannabis at least once in the past month. Meanwhile, 13.5 percent said they […]
Posted inNews
Side Notes 1/11-1/18
State Attorney General Takes Over Investigation of Police Shooting Case Oregon State Police have released the names of the two Bend police officers involved in the officer-involved shooting that happened Dec 23 in downtown Bend. OSP say Officer Scott Schaier fired his handgun during the incident, and that one or both of the officers, which […]
Posted inCulture
The Great Wall
“Fences” is an undisputed masterpiece
I had a pretty terrible stepfather growing up; a redneck cop who spent his free time encouraging me not to read, think or grow. When I moved out, I carried this weird mixture of fear and rage with me. I eventually grew up and tried to let it go. I barely think about him anymore, […]
Posted inNews
Stoners and Driving
Research uncovers surprising data about traffic deaths and weed consumption
The word “billion” comes up a lot when discussing cannabis use in the United States these days. For starters, Colorado surpassed $1 billion in cannabis sales in 2016. In 2017, the newly-legal recreational cannabis market in Los Angeles is expected to exceed $1 billion. That’s right, the size of the cannabis market in L.A. alone […]
Posted inMusic
Legends Never Die
R.A. The Rugged Man will melt your face
When it comes to hip-hop legends, far too many have passed on. No doubt, Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac or Big L would find lots to rhyme about in 2016 and 2017. I bet 2Pac, for one, would have some pretty powerful things to say about a Trump presidency. Unfortunately we’ll never have a chance to find […]
