Contributions of the Poor I appreciate and honor the poor among us because they walk, cycle and use public transportation, contributing very little to the carbon emissions polluting our air. They use very little water and do nothing to pollute our water resources with exploitative resource extraction and indiscriminate waste disposal. They do not destroy […]
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Posted inFood & Drink
Beer Abounds in Boise
On a tour of U.S. beer (this time closer to home!), Payette Brewing leads a suddenly-crowded pack
The drive along US-20 between Central Oregon and Boise can be pretty boring: vast tracts of uninhabited, sagebrush-filled land with little to ease the monotony until the mountains past Burns. But Idaho’s capital is worth at least a weekend visit for any Bendite, thanks to its towering state capitol, its vast array of outdoor activities […]
Posted inOutside
Natural World: From Marsh Hawks to Northern Harriers
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 […]
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 inOpinion
A Fish Ladder at Newport Dam: It’s Time for Collaboration
In a few weeks’ time, a new fish passage at the North Canal Dam, near the Riverhouse on the Deschutes in Bend, will be open. The effort is a collaboration between the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, (UDWC) and the North Unit, Swalley and Central Oregon Irrigation Districts, costing […]
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 […]
