Bend Don't Break

BEND DON’T BREAK -- Gwenn Wysling has been the Executive Director of Bethlehem Inn, a non-profit providing shelter and aid to the homeless population in Central Oregon for over a decade. On April 27 it was announced that the organization would be given a grant through Project Turnkey to convert the Greenway Motel in Redmond into temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness. Bethlehem Inn...

A pending end to COVID risk levels in Oregon, changes for how Bend spends tourism money and a gun storage bill passes in the OR legislature, all in this week's podcast. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

In this week’s podcast, we look at La Niña’s deficit of rainfall and what results this will have on the wildfire system, and talk about a golf course that’s being sold to make room for new housing. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Deschutes County is among 15 counties that will be moving back into Extreme Risk, permanent restaurant parklets in the downtown area, and the Bend Farmers Market opens on Wednesday. We take a look at going back to Extreme Risk, parklet details, and a COVID-friendly farmers market. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

The Environmental Center's annual Earth Day Fair & Parade is getting a COVID-19 remake, including a virtual parade and interactive storytime for younger participants. Find out more details in this week’s podcast. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

A new bill being introduced would provide funds to create mobile mental health crisis intervention teams, and Luke Wirkkala walks free after being acquitted of murder charges. More details in this week’s podcast. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

While eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine is expanding in Deschutes County, the state itself is behind in percentage of the population that has received at least one shot. There has also been a push for equity in vaccinating Latino Oregonians. Find out more in this week's podcast. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

A local coffee shop has been fined $27,470 for violating COVID-19 standards, preregistration for the COVID vaccine is available via a new website, and Central Cascades Wilderness day use and overnight permits are allowed to be reserved beginning April 6th. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Details of a Bend man being charged with three counts of second-degree murder, and a retrial for an over-eight-year-old murder case. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

BEND DON'T BREAK--A veteran of Bend’s political scene shares his words of wisdom on Bend’s leftward lurch, the City’s rapid growth and his work to help people without homes. On this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we talk with former Bend City Councilor Bruce Abernethy. He is well-known in the community for his service work: He’s served on the board of directors for more than a dozen org...

The crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people is growing and has reached epidemic levels for women and girls. Here is what's being done and what challenges advocates face. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

BEND DON’T BREAK—Born and raised in New York City, Evelyn has lived and worked in predominantly white communities in the Pacific Northwest for most of his life. He’s not afraid to challenge small town paradigms. For this week’s “Bend Don’t Break” podcast we talk with Redmond City Councilor Clifford Evelyn. Evelyn won an insurgent victory in 2020 through a campaign of connecting with local business...

What effects did 2020 events have on trails in Central Oregon? Learn how COVID-19, wildfires, and stay-at-home orders are affecting recreational use in 2021, and find out about implementation of an online, limited-entry permit system from the Forest Service. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

BEND DON'T BREAK-- The founder of the Natural Mind Dharma Center in Bend discusses how spiritual practices increase coping mechanisms and brain health. For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we talk with Michael Scott Stevens, a Buddhism teacher and founder of the Natural Mind Dharma Center. When Stevens opened the center in 1996, Bend was a one-brewery ski town. Today, there’s a yoga...

In this week’s podcast, technical employees at St. Charles Medical Center plan to strike on March 4 in hopes of resolving a contract dispute with their employer, and deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office choose body cams to begin wearing in early May. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

The western monarch butterfly population has seen a steep decline in recent years due to loss of habitats. Here are some tips on how to help them this spring. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

BEND DON'T BREAK - While there are quite a few environmental organizations in Central Oregon at least partially dedicated to restoring the Deschutes, the DRC is unique in both its mission and structure. Kate explains the history of the DRC: It was founded in the 1990s to function as a collaboration between various interest groups including farmers, recreation advocates, ranchers, environmenta...

A housing project for veterans that could be used as a model for other homeless programs, a taproom that’s handing over the keys to a wine bar, and a new food cart pod opening in Prineville — all in this week’s podcast. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

BEND DON'T BREAK - This week we talk with Dr. Sabrina Hadeed-Duea, a Licensed Professional Counselor and a professor at Oregon State University – Cascades. During this conversation Hadeed-Duea details the benefits of wilderness therapy and explores the challenges and rewards of Zoom counseling. She also discusses the cultural implications of COVID precautions and the long-term impacts of heig...

BEND DON'T BREAK - Oregon’s District Two U.S. Representative Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario) represents Bend and all of Eastern Oregon in Washington, D.C. We asked Bentz how he is adjusting to life as an elected Congressman and his take on the riots at the U.S. Capitol. Bentz reiterated that he adamantly condemns violence and still supports the people’s right to peaceful protest. The day after the ri...

As we approach Deschutes County's move out of the Extreme Risk category on Feb. 12, we talk about what this will mean for restaurants and take a look into the status of vaccines in the county. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Jeshua Marshall is known and loved for his energetic theatrics and genre-bending musical genius. He shares the DL on the long-defunct Larry & His Flask that might brighten your day. For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we talk with Jeshua Marshall, the bassist and co-founder of the internally known punk band Larry & His Flask. The Flask toured with the Dropkick Murphys and played...

COVID Q&A with topics ranging from tips on how to not forget your mask to “we need indoor plumbing work done” to the new variants of the coronavirus in Bend. What should and shouldn’t you be doing to keep yourself safe? Find out in this week’s podcast! Send us Fan Mail Support the show

For this week’s “Bend Don’t Break” podcast we talk with Oregon’s U.S. Senator Ron Wyden who has been representing the state in Washington, D.C. for forty years. As he begins his tenure as the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Wyden discusses his plans for investment in renewable energy and a 21st Century Civilian Conservation Core. Wyden comments on his commitment to fight for federal legaliz...

In this week's podcast, we look into new indoor vs. outdoor guidelines issued by Gov. Kate Brown that will go into effect Jan. 29 and talk about what ahead-of-schedule vaccinations mean for seniors 75+. Send us Fan Mail Support the show