Deschutes County
Posted inLocal News

Deschutes County Asks Redmond to Pause Homeless Camp Sweep 

As homelessness on undeveloped land stifles industrial growth, County officials fear evicting dozens of campers will only result in more problems
Avatar photo by Clayton Franke

Deschutes County asked the City of Redmond to pause the eviction of dozens of homeless campers from undeveloped land in a City-owned industrial park, saying the move would add chaos to an effort to remedy homelessness in the area and make way for development.   The Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners approved a letter detailing the request at a meeting March 18. That came one week after the Redmond City Council agreed to start notifying people living in tents and trailers on […]

Posted inOpinion

A County Map in Search of a Problem

Voters approved two different citizen initiatives aimed at a more democratic, less-partisan Deschutes County commission. That’s not what they’re getting.
by The Source Editorial Board

Deschutes County government is embarrassing itself. Earlier this month, the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners voted 2-1 to put a map, dividing the county into five districts, before voters. In a subsequent 2-1 vote the Board voted to put that map before voters in November. The Commission could have gotten this painful map process […]

Posted inOpinion

Why Get in a Lather Over a Lil’ Ol’ County Map?

Gerrymandering and pulling the levers of power in Deschutes County
by The Source Editorial Board

Right now, county residents are up in arms about a district mapping proposal that would divide Deschutes County into five districts. If you have been following the labyrinthine path that got us to this political point, then you know none of this had to be this way. Voters said yes to a referendum in the […]

Posted inOpinion

Are County Districts a Solution in Search of a Problem?

Before the county commission expands to five, the public may have a chance to weigh in on a five-district map. But are districts really needed?
by The Source Editorial Board

If there’s anything that gets people fired up in politics, it’s the topic of where to draw the lines that separate one voting bloc from another. In Texas right now, it’s a fight that may wind its way to the Supreme Court. In Deschutes County, it’s shaping up to be a bitter battle. For the […]

Posted inOpinion

The Redmond Managed Camp Cleared a Funding Hurdle. Can It Clear the Toughest One?

When it comes to helping the unhoused, service providers are a sticking point
by The Source Editorial Board

If you were in Central Oregon before the pandemic, you would have seen a very different landscape as it pertains to the people living unsheltered. People camped in the junipers and overstayed their allotted time on public lands. Tent encampments were still visible. But what did not exist as it does now: The breadth of […]

Posted inNews

Omicron Incoming

The newest COVID variant is concerning many public health officials
Avatar photo by Jack Harvel

A new COVID variant detected in South Africa is causing concern among Oregon Health officials. South African scientists announced a new variant, now called the Omicron variant, was spreading in their country last week and it’s already been detected in 20 other countries.  Scientists are working to understand the novel variant, but it’s currently unknown whether […]

Posted inNews

Accused Shooter Charged With Murder

Deschutes District Attorney John Hummel announced the arrest and charges of Ian Cranston, who is accused of shooting 22-year-old Barry Washington
Avatar photo by Jack Harvel

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel announced that Ian Cranston was charged with the crimes of murder in the second degree, manslaughter in the first degree, manslaughter in the second degree, assault in the first degree and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon in the shooting of 22-year-old Barry Washington on Sunday, September […]

Posted inOpinion

Vote YES on Measure 9-134, regarding Deschutes County New Pot Businesses

A “yes” vote on this means that new marijuana businesses can at least try to get new, legal, and law-abiding licenses approved
by The Source Staff

Editor’s note: The print edition of this issue had a “NO” in the title. Because this measure asks voters to decide whether new additional marijuana businesses should be allowed in the county, our vote is YES. Is there anyone else out there that yearns for the return of a pro-business Republican party? Where have the […]

Posted inOpinion

Vote 2020: All the Source Weekly’s Candidate Endorsements

Our selections for local, state and national races
The Source Editorial Board

We’ve spent months interviewing candidates to arrive at these endorsements. To see the interviews that helped us make our decisions, visit the Elections section. >>Versión en Español aqui.<< Local Races Vote Melanie Kebler for Bend City Council Pos. 1 Vote Anthony Broadman for Bend City Council Pos. 2 Vote Chris Piper for Bend City Council […]

Sign up for newsletters

Get the best of The Source - Bend, Oregon directly in your email inbox.

Sending to:

Gift this article