Every week, Molly Johnson posts at least one hiking trip to the Bend Adventure Group's online Meetup page. The trips are typically recreational, but she also leads work parties into the wilderness to install trail signs, clean backcountry camp sites, and, unfortunately, pick up human and dog waste along the trails.

Johnson moved to Bend in 2001 from her native Iowa after earning a masters degree in physical therapy. She came to Central Oregon for the reason most do—a love of the wilderness.

"When I got out of school, therapy jobs were plentiful so I could go anywhere I wanted," she said. "I was definitely looking for a drier, milder cli

Full Story

It's the date when Marty McFly's flying DeLorean lands in the future in 1989's "Back to the Future Part II." In fact, Oct. 21, 2015 has officially been designated Back to the Future Day.

That is TODAY. Yeah, finally here. Can't believe it. 30 years? Where did it all go?

"Back to the Future is today!!!" combines nostalgia with virality, and preys on the Internet's predilection for blindly hitting that "share" button without Googling first. Who doesn't love "Back to the Future"? And who's going to fact-check a goofy photo

Full Story

Mintz, a 30-year-old U.S. Army veteran who has been hailed as a hero for his selflessness during the attack at Umpqua Community College in the town of Roseburg, described shooter Chris Harper-Mercer as emotionless.

He was "nonchalant through it all, like he was playing a video game," Mintz wrote on his Facebook page about the Oct. 1 massacre.

Harper-Mercer, 26, killed nine people before being shot by police then killing h

Full Story

"Another unique sighting outside of the Aquarium, a sun dog!," Boothe said. "Also known as a phantom sun, sun dogs are created by ice crystals in the atmosphere interacting with light."

They are also known as mock suns, but their scientific name is parhelia. They of

Full Story

Folks are encouraged to dust of the films in their attic to share with their friends and neighbors in this fun public forum. Films that can be projected included 16mm, 8mm, and super 8mm; note that video tape will not be screened. While viewing other films, or waiting your own to be screened,

Full Story

Since he and the popular Chinese pianist Lang Lang were classmates at Curtis  and knew each other t

Full Story

Providing everything from wine to entertainment, towns along the Oregon Coast encourage visitors to come indoors during the rainy season. Art walks from Astoria to Brookings often give guests the opportunity to meet with artists, listen to live music and enjoy all the participating galleries and shops have to offer.

Astoria: Second Saturday Art Walk | Downtown businesses keep their doors open late from 5-8pm, provide refreshments and entertainment and exhibit original works. Venues are marked throughout town with colorful pinwheels. See astoriadowntown.com/page/29 or call 503.791.7940 for mor

Full Story

On Monday, Oct 12, 2015, at a press conference in Portland, a statewide ballot initiative began to protect some of the planet’s most iconic animals – 12 different taxa, including elephants, rhinos, lions, sea turtles, rays, and sharks, all facing a range of human-caused threats that jeopardize their existence. The ballot petition was submitted by three chief co-petitioners: Congressman Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.; former Republican state senator Bruce Starr; and Oregon Metro Council President and Democrat Tom Hughes.

The Oregon initiative i

Full Story

It wasn’t easy, but 19-year-old Hannah Miles said extra mental health resources, prayers and community support made it possible.

"The whole community turned out to welcome everybody back and it felt like coming home," she said. Miles was in her writing class at Snyder Hall on Oct. 1 when Chris Harper-Mercer opened fire in the classroom right next door, killing nine and wounding nine others.

Miles recalled hearing rapid fire shots and people crying as she and her classmates ran to safety.

Miles reconnected with her writin

Full Story

Family members say 31-year-old Justin McCary was looking for rocks with his daughter and niece along the tracks on this bridge on Martha Avenue in East Ridge.

Around 2 Thursday afternoon, they heard the train coming. His niece got away but his 10-year-old daughter couldn't after her foot became stuck in one of the tracks.

McCary was able to get her free but only had enough time to push his daughter over the bridge to keep her from being struck, allowing himself to be fatally struck instead.

Full Story