Bend Don't Break

For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break,” we talk with Ellen Waterston, an acclaimed Oregon writer who has published numerous works including an essay collection, a memoir, and four books of poetry. One book of poetry “Vía Láctea, A Woman of a Certain Age Walks the Camino,” was converted into a libretto and premiered as a full-length opera. She’s also an advocate of the literary arts and the...

This week, we talk about the plan for vaccinations. Oregon is prioritizing teachers and other school staff over seniors, causing a couple week delay in eligibility for people ages 65-80. Why? Send us Fan Mail Support the show

For this week’s “Bend Don’t Break” podcast we spoke with Roger, CEO of Economic Development of Central Oregon. EDCO is a nonprofit dedicated to creating a diversified economy and it helps recruit businesses from outside the area which will provide middle-class jobs for the region’s workforce. Lee has been with EDCO for 21 years and before that he was the director of the Baker City Economic Develop...

In this week’s podcast, we discuss the plan for returning to school as the hybrid learning program starts up and take a look at the swearing-in of new Bend City councilors. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

For this week’s “Bend Don’t Break” podcast we spoke with Isabel and Fiona Max. These fraternal twins are record-breaking runners from Bend who started their Freshman year at Princeton University this fall… remotely. They often finish within seconds or split seconds of each other in races, though Isabel is known for wins in shorter sprints, while Fiona has excelled in longer cross-country races. Th...

This week, we talk about a campaign launched by OHA to help the effects social distancing has been having on mental health, and take a look at a nonprofit organization run by women and queer people of color. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

As the Source puts out its last issue of the year, Editor Nicole Vulcan joins Publisher Aaron Switzer for a chat about the paper's top-viewed stories, and the "Boot/Slipper" editorial, giving their take on some of the biggest issues of 2020. See more podcasts, video and news coverage at https://www.bendsource.com. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

This week, we look into Governor Kate Brown's decision to let school districts decide locally when to resume in-person education. What will the district officials choose to do? Send us Fan Mail Support the show

This week, we talk about COVID restrictions and determine whether they are enforceable. Will legal action be taken if indoor dining continues? We also look into the body cam evaluations being done by Bend officers. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we spoke with Rys Fairbrother of What If We Could, and Aaron Switzer, the Source Weekly’s publisher and founder of Central Oregon Gives. Both Switzer and Fairbrother have been working to help nonprofits for years through sponsorships, marketing and storytelling. The Central Oregon Gives program combines all three strategies within a simple digital plat...

The first doses of the coronavirus vaccine are headed to Bend, and details on the upcoming session of the Oregon legislature, aimed at helping renters and businesses affected by the shutdowns, along with wildfire victims, all in this week's podcast. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Anthony Broadman was recently elected to Position Two on the Bend City Council. He's recently helped lead an effort to get Bend-LaPine students back in school as soon as possible. Broadman, along with all of Bend’s current City Councilors, newly elected City Councilors, the County Commissioner-elect Phil Chang and some members of the school board, sent a letter to Gov. Kate Brown and the Oreg...

Plans for COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Bend and Central Oregon and assessing Gov. Kate Brown's new framework, in which Deschutes County and 24 other counties are in the "extreme" risk category. How do we move out of "extreme?" We suss out the details. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we talk with Ryan Houston, who has been serving as executive director of the Oregon Natural Desert Association since 2018. Growing up in California, Houston developed an early interest the desert environment and eventually earned a master’s in ecology from the University of Arizona. He has a reputation in Central Oregon as a collaborator and coalition-...

In this week's update, we're reviewing the conditions of the extended state shut down and reporting on city policing of Thanksgiving and other social gatherings. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

In this week's update, we're discussing the conditions of Oregon's unemployment payments and the push to extend the eviction moratorium. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we spoke with Judy Stiegler who served in the Oregon State Legislature for House District 54 from 2009-2011 and is now an instructor of political science at OSU - Cascades. (This district covers the City of Bend and was won by Deputy District Attorney Jason Kropf in the recent election.) Stiegler and her husband Mike Dugan have been involved in Bend’s...

In this week's update, we're discussing the new, temporary warming shelter that has opened in response to the tragic death of a Bend citizen. Also, we are taking a look into the guidelines of the two week statewide shut down. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we spoke with Tyler Neese, the government affairs director for the Central Oregon Association of Realtors, also known as COAR. After the recent election, we wanted to catch up with some local PACs that had an impact on the political process. COAR was one of the biggest contributors to candidates in local races. During this discussion, Neese described t...

In this week's update, parents express anger towards extended school closures and the Bend City Council announces a tax proposal to supplement affordable housing. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we talked to Luann Abrams who is the Treasurer of the Strengthening Central Oregon Political Action Committee, a new community PAC designed to support underrepresented candidates who will bring diversity, fresh perspectives and nonpartisan solutions to the issues facing the region. The PAC had a lot to celebrate on election night: Most of their candida...

In this week's update, we're reviewing the Bend City Council election results and talking to the winning candidates. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Joel Wirtz is the co-executive director of the Deschutes Defenders, the public defense firm for Deschutes County. The agency handles two-thirds of all cases involving people who can't afford a defense lawyer. Wirtz has tried cases from shoplifting to murder, but he said he's most proud of his work as a defense attorney for Mental Health Court, helping people with a history of trauma, men...

In this week's Source Weekly Update, a look back at clashes between Black Lives Matter and Trump supporters, and a change in city policy that allows for a new type of housing. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we talk with Peter Sparks, professor of psychology at Oregon State University Cascades. We wanted to have Sparks on in light of Measure 109 on the general election ballot which would legalize the use of psilocybin (psychedelic mushrooms) in a clinical setting. It would make Oregon the first state to allow some legal use of the drug. (Full disclosure: T...