Good morning, Bend.

Partners In Care will host its Light Up A Life bereavement event on Oct.

1 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, 61980 Skyline Ranch Road in Bend, featuring a luminaria walk + live music + name reading ceremony with a livestream option.

Evan Burton, one half of Bend’s acclaimed duo Indubious, will debut his solo project Heaven Zest with a release party for his album 'Yes' at Volcanic Theatre Pub (70 SW Century Drive) on Friday, Sept.

18 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $26 plus fees.

A study released Aug.

6 by the OSU-Cascades Sustainable Tourism Lab found that each 10-point rise in the Air Quality Index costs Bend hotels nearly $500,000 in lodging revenue, and the effect ripples through local retailers and city services + persistent smoky conditions discourage visitors over time.

Glaciers in the Three Sisters are melting fast, raising concerns that late summer water supplies for the community of Sisters and its surrounding ecosystems will be threatened.

Experts say that without cuts in carbon emissions, the region will lose this crucial meltwater source.

Think Wild is calling on volunteers to join its Beaver Works Oregon program, which extends beaver habitat restoration efforts after summer wildfires.

The nonprofit will train volunteers to build and maintain beaver dam analogs (no experience needed) to support wildlife.

Oregon health officials report 50 measles cases and two hospitalizations in 2026, with the outbreak driven by lower vaccination rates + online misinformation.

They advise that getting the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is essential to prevent further spread.

Starting Nov. 1, nearly 120,000 Oregonians buying private health insurance will use ExploreHealthOR.gov instead of Healthcare.gov — state officials say the state-backed platform will offer a marketplace designed to meet local needs and adapt to federal policies.

Construction is underway in north Bend at 3600 N.

Highway 97, where a new 5,330 sqft building will house Axel’s Taco Shop and a second restaurant. The property, featuring a drive-thru and 20 parking spaces, was once home to the Tom Tom Motel.

High school football teams in the Three Rivers League gear up for Week 1 after Week 0 games revealed predicted finishes and standout players, with coaches touting impact newcomers and returning stars (including key linemen and quarterbacks) to boost their season.

Central Oregon prep football teams are set to light up the field this Friday as a new list highlights top returning players from Summit, Mountain View, Bend High, and others + the athletes led strong seasons with key stats and playoff runs last year.