Good morning, Bend.

Today, the Central Oregon Holiday Toy Drive donated 100 backpacks filled with school supplies to Family Access Network to help local students (this follows a similar donation in August) and the network will host an organizing party later this month to sort donations.

Family Access Network gave away 200 backpacks in Bend on Aug.

18 to help local families offset rising back-to-school costs. The nonprofit aimed to ease expense burdens for students and parents.

Tetherow Resort has opened its newest fine dining restaurant, Coorie, on the west side; the venue serves locally sourced ingredients from nearby farms (including microgreens and mushrooms) and will host a farm-to-table dinner in November.

Cascades Theatre in Bend will host its annual Sneak Peaks event at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, giving local theater fans a preview of short scenes from the 2026-27 season’s shows (including Cricket Daniel’s play Spreading Joy, which opens Sept.

4).

Redmond Proficiency Academy opened its expanded Forest Building on Aug.

15, nearly doubling its downtown campus with six modern classrooms and 9,000 sqft of learning space (a major step in innovative education). The school also announced a leadership change as Dr. Amy Kappel became Executive Director.

Firefighters are building containment on the Bologna, Cottonwood, Little Bear and Rosenbaum fires while ODF CIMT 3 (the state team) will demobilize Friday, Aug.

21 as local responders take over. Officials warn that hot, dry winds may spark new fires if fire restrictions are not followed.

Overnight infrared flights on August 19 revealed few remaining heat spots on the Henry, Coyote, and Shingle fires near Paulina Guard Station, Post, and southeast of Mitchell; today crews will mop up smoldering fuels as warmer, drier conditions heighten safety concerns (officials advise caution due to ongoing road closures).

The Agriculture Department announced Tuesday that the Forest Service proposed rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule, a change that may affect national forest management near Bend.

Public comments on the proposal will be accepted through Sept. 21.

A new industry report found that Oregon’s 2025 healthcare law is slowing private equity takeovers of local clinics—deals declined by 18.5% overall and by 36% for management control—between Q2 2025 and Q2 2026.

Moda Health will leave Deschutes County's individual market in 2027, leaving locals with two Cambia-owned plan options and steep rate increases as about 6,453 buyers with Moda coverage must switch insurers by Jan.

1.

After construction wrapped a week ago, a Bend family received the keys to their new south Bend home on Wednesday morning.

The home, built by First Story with $9,000 in community contributions on Geary Drive, offers a no down payment option for working families, with applications opening Nov. 9.

Central Oregon’s top 15 returning high school volleyball players were featured ahead of the season starting Aug.

28, including standout Brooklyn Fobi of Bend — a key performer last year. The list highlights players from local teams as they gear up for a competitive season.