New Year, new laws. As 2020 dawns, these are some of the changes Oregonians will see. New Oregon Laws – In Effect Jan. 1 Single-use plastic bag ban HB 2509 Oregon’s single-use plastic bag ban takes effect Jan. 1. Single-use plastic bags are prohibited at retail locations and restaurants. People will be required to pay […]
harassment
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Calls to Action on Race
As Central Oregon’s diversity increases, are local schools doing enough to address racist incidents among students and staff?
During the 2017-18 school year, Bend-La Pine Schools’ student population was 82 percent white, according to Oregon Department of Education statistics, making the non-white student population roughly 18 percent. Compare that to the 1997-98 school year, when the district had a “minority population” of 4.3 percent, and it’s clear demographics are changing. With 18,064 students, […]
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Alleged Harassment in the Forest Service
A PBS story exposed a pattern of discrimination in the agency. Now a Central Oregon archeologist speaks about her experiences
Imagine your son gets run off a bridge, Molotov cocktails are thrown through your window and the word “sh*t” is written with sewage in your backyard. That’s what Janine McFarland said she endured—and more—working for the U.S. Forest Service; a dream job turned nightmare. McFarland, an archeologist with the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District of the […]
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Fellow Councilor Calls for Boddie to Step Down
Accusations against City Councilor and House 54 candidate prompt community leaders to speak out
Accusations against City Councilor and House 54 candidate, Dr. Nathan Boddie are prompting at least one of his fellow city councilors —and others—to call for him to step down. Boddie’s public response to Newbold’s allegation was reprehensible and beneath the dignity of a sitting city councilor and candidate for future office. Boddie is entitled to […]