There was a time in the long-long-ago of “bird-watching” when today’s Northern Harrier was known as the Marsh Hawk, because the low-flying, small bird- and mammal-eating raptor could almost always be seen in western marshes, flitting along just a few inches above the foliage, always looking down and rarely where it was going. Those were […]
Central Oregon
Posted inNews
Cover All Kids
Bills that would offer insurance for all Oregon children have passed through committees in the state House and Senate. But if passed, where will the money come from?
Health care coverage is a “hot topic” these days, and Oregon is no exception. The uncertainty created by discussions in Washington, D.C., only adds to the chaos in the health care arena—but a pair of bills currently making their way through the Oregon Legislature meets this head-on. Senate Bill 558 and House Bill 2726, commonly […]
Posted inNews
The Dirt on Dirty Diesel School Buses
How the recent settlement with VW could benefit local school bus fleets
“Kids are like hummingbirds. They breathe a lot,” said Dr. Paul Lewis at a recent Oregon Senate committee hearing on Environment and Natural Resources. “Their lungs are small and a lot more of this stuff gets in there…when exposed early in life, there are a lot more decades for those changes to your cells to […]
Posted inNews
State Marine Board Considers a Lifejacket Requirement
House Bill 2320 would require adults to wear lifejackets, even on non-motorized watercraft
Lifejacket sales will get a big boost this summer if the Oregon Marine Board gets its way. House Bill 2320—introduced this legislative session at the request of Gov. Kate Brown on behalf of the Marine Board—would require persons using a nonmotorized craft—including inner tubes, air mattresses and pool toys, in a river or stream, to […]
Posted inOpinion
Gas, Cars and Roads
A gas tax, not a change in room tax allocations, should fund road improvement
Roads are one of those core government services that are a great reflection of a community. It doesn’t matter what your political affiliation, when your right tire goes deep into a pothole, slamming your teeth together, you’re going to curse “government.” The leaders of our cities and states know this, and that’s why no matter […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
The Creators
The People Combining Art & Business in Central Oregon
Art can be something you hang on your wall—but for those who can’t afford that large painting or print to display, there are thankfully other alternatives. It’s nice when that artful thing you’re seeking is affordable, and even better, when it’s also locally made. Here in Central Oregon, practical, useful art, made by local people, […]
Posted inNews
Saving a Town with Cannabis
How a dusty Oregon border town got its mojo back, and (presumably) doubled its city budget
The Associated Press and the Idaho Statesman, which I believe are a part of the deeply feared and dreaded “opposition party” Emperor Pussy Grabber has spoken of, both ran pieces this week that give us some insight to just how much people enjoy cannabis. The story looks at Huntington, an Oregon town so small I […]
Posted inCulture
Picks 3/15-3/23
Nell Robinson & Jim Nunally Band Thursday 16 FOLK AMERICANA — This dynamic talent returns to Bend with a genre-busting, toe-tapping time. Combining jazz and bluegrass with some folky blues thrown in, this is true roots music at its best. Described as a “modern day Patsy Cline,” Robinson is joined by Grammy award-winning guitarist Jim […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
The Dreamers
The people dreaming of a better world
in Central Oregon
New businesses pop up year-round in Central Oregon. A special few conceptualize and produce their products locally. Even fewer sell their merchandise with the intention of effecting positive change. The following innovators stand out from the crowd with a vision that goes beyond selling goods. These entrepreneurs are using their inspiration to creating local jobs […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
The Change Makers
The people innovating in the tech sector in Central Oregon
Local entrepreneurs are doing big things in the tech world, and some of them are even winning cash awards for their efforts. The 2016 Bend Venture Conference handed out over $3,755,000 in funding—a new record for Oregon angel conferences—and some of Central Oregon’s innovators were among the winners. The founders of Cascade Wellness Technology, Investipro […]
