The Deschutes County Sheriffโs Office Work Center will house up to 48 men and women per night this winter, filling part of the need for an emergency warming shelter in Bend. The Homeless Leadership Coalition has been working with local shelters and area nonprofits to find a temporary space for Bendโs unhoused since early this […]
James Cook
A Push for a Warming Shelter in Bend
Temperatures dropped below freezing the night of October 29โwhile people without homes braved the life-threatening temperatures out of doors, huddling in their vehicles or cuddling with their animals for warmth, many hidden from sight on Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service land on the outskirts of town. That morning, city and county officials, […]
Deschutes County’s marijuana blues turn a darker hue
The “Blue Wave” that swept dozens of Democrats into the U.S. House didn’t mean much to those of us residing in what is still decidedly Trump Country. Reefer Madness now dominates the Deschutes County Commission in the forms of incumbent Phil Henderson and Commissioner-elect Patti Adair, who defeated Democrat James Cook by a thin margin […]
2018 Midterm Election Results
Find up-to-date results for the 2018 midterm races and measures below. (Editor’s note: Page last updated 10:38 pm Tuesday). Some takeaways thus far from election night: -All state measures defeated, except Measure 102.– Democrat incumbent Kate Brown wins the governor’s race against Republican Knute Buehler– Republican Cheri Helt set to win the Bend’s Oregon House […]
No Voting System is Perfect
On Tuesday, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office reported the discovery of a batch of stolen mail on Bureau of Land Management land, including a number of unopened election ballots. For those not in support of vote-by-mail systems, this might seem like ammunition to help their cause. In this case, none of the ballots were opened, […]
The State of Cannabis in Deschutes Countyโand Beyond
There’s a lot going on out there in the world of cannabis, including rule changes at the county level, overproduction, the black market and hemp. So sit back, maybe even light a doob, and read on. Deschutes County Rule Changes The current Deschutes County Commission, made up of Tony DeBone, Phil Henderson and Tammy Baney, […]
Vote Barb Campbell for Bend City Council position 6
Three candidates are running for position 6 in Bend’s City Council race, including incumbent Barb Campbell, Sarah McCormick and Ronald Boozell. With Boozell in the Deschutes County Jail yet again on charges related to non-payment of child support, it leaves two serious contenders to consider. Campbell is the owner of Wabi Sabi, a downtown Bend […]
County Commissioner Debate
On Sept. 11, the Bend Chamber of Commerce hosted the latest of its “What’s Brewing” debates, inviting candidates for open Deschutes County Commission seats to weigh in. Candidates participating included Republican incumbent Tony DeBone and Democrat Amy Lowes, running for position 1, and Republican Patti Adair and Democrat James Cook, running for position 3. Below […]
Party-line voting is never idealโbut this year, that’s even more apparent
As the 2018 election season begins to elevate to fever pitch, voters are being challenged, perhaps more than in other years, to truly think for themselves as they cast their votes. We’d like to say that voters should always be compelled to go beyond party-line voting and to choose candidates based on merit and positionโbut […]

