Jay Hein, an experienced conservative think tanker, will also be deputy assistant to the president The appointment of Jay Hein, a relatively unknown right-wing think tanker, to head the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives may be a sign that the George W. Bush administration has just about thrown in the towel on promoting what was supposed to be -- when announced in January 2001 -- the centerpiece of the president's domestic policy ... [full story]

Smoke may cause potential health impacts in Bend and nearby communities; Air quality may approach the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” level; Smoke from prescribed burning in Pringle Falls area contributes to problem Smoke concentrations in Bend, La Pine, Sunriver and neighboring communities may approach the ”unhealthy for sensitive groups” level on the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Wildfire Air Quality Rating Scale (WAQR).  DEQ reminds area residents – especially those individuals who may be sensitive to ... [full story]

New President’s Club member John Churm awarded Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. recently announced John Churm from the Red Robin restaurant in Bend, Oregon, is one of only 12 general managers selected from across North America to join its President’s Club. This elite group represents two to three percent of the restaurant chain’s entire operations system. In recognition of their achievement, Churm received a special, one-of-a-kind President’s Club ring with an insignia of the company’s ... [full story]

After rounding the final bend of the trail near the summit, I find myself in the midst of the skeletal remains of charred trees, remnants of a 200-acre forest fire sparked by lightning in September of 1981. In the distance, Mount Jefferson stands like a beacon, overlooking the surrounding wilderness. Farther to the north, Mount Hood, Oregon’s highest peak, reaches into the clear mountain air. The lookout tower comes into view and a few minutes ... [full story]

Movie Review of "MAN OF THE YEAR" It's funny. It's smart. Cloaked in hip humor, "Man of the Year" is about questionable voting machines, monetary gain above all else, and a country so fed up with politics as usual that a comedian falls through the wisecracks, ultimately becoming the President Elect. But "Man of the Year" has a tone problem. It's as if Jon Stewart, in the middle of a brilliant bit on "The Daily ... [full story]

Bend-La Pine Schools (BLS) rated well in Wednesday’s release of State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo’s State School Report Card. Three schools -– High Lakes Elementary, Lava Ridge Elementary and RE Jewell Elementary -- rated ‘exceptional’. Statewide, only 137 of the state’s 1,256 schools attained this rating for the 2005-2006 school year. Students in the Bend-La Pine schools met or exceeded statewide averages in every category measuring student performance and academic achievement. Students are tested on ... [full story]

Central Oregon workers suffer from a health care gap because their employers cannot find affordable health insurance, according to a new report released by the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations (NWFCO), Oregon Action and Central Oregon Jobs with Justice. The new study, "2006 Northwest Health Gap Study: Quality Health Insurance Out of Reach for Small Businesses," stresses that small businesses struggle more than larger businesses when it comes to offering health insurance benefits to employees. The ... [full story]

The race for Bend city council position 6 began in earnest Monday as incumbent Bill Friedman launched a website a www.billforbend.com and a new commercial featuring Bend’s new bus system and Friedman’s role in establishing it.In the commercial, running on network and cable in the Central Oregon region, two city councilors, Jim Clinton and John Hummel express support for Friedman:   Bill Friedman ”I give Friedman the credit,” says Hummel. “We were a pretty divided council and he ... [full story]

Detailed report concludes the Hood River site is not a practical or feasible site for the Warm Springs casino; Coalition urges elected officials to reject a Gorge casino and embrace on-reservation site in fast-growing Central Oregon A coalition of tribal, environmental, small business and pro-family organizations released a comprehensive engineering and land use report study today that concludes the proposed location of a threatened casino in Hood River is not possible. The report states, “… ... [full story]

The St. Charles Foundation recently announced that it has received a $10,000 capital campaign pledge from Focus Pocus, a family portrait studio owned by Bend residents K.C. and Lisa Flynn. The Flynns’ contribution to the “Expanding the Vision” capital campaign is designated for the Family Birthing Center (FBC) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and was given in recognition of their experiences there. “When you are a healthy person you don’t expect that anything will ... [full story]