This week, we talk about the plan for vaccinations. Oregon is prioritizing teachers and other school staff over seniors, causing a couple week delay in eligibility for people ages 65-80. Why?

For this week’s “Bend Don’t Break” podcast we spoke with Roger, CEO of Economic Development of Central Oregon. EDCO is a nonprofit dedicated to creating a diversified economy and it helps recruit businesses from outside the area which will provide middle-class jobs for the region’s workforce. Lee has been with EDCO for 21 years and before that he was the director of the Baker City Economic Development Department.

We begin this conversation learning about how Lee became interested in economics: He was studying in Germany the day the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 and he got to see the stark difference between a demand economy and a command economy first hand.

In this week’s podcast, we discuss the plan for returning to school as the hybrid learning program starts up and take a look at the swearing-in of new Bend City councilors.

For this week’s “Bend Don’t Break” podcast we spoke with Isabel and Fiona Max. These fraternal twins are record-breaking runners from Bend who started their Freshman year at Princeton University this fall… remotely. They often finish within seconds or split seconds of each other in races, though Isabel is known for wins in shorter sprints, while Fiona has excelled in longer cross-country races. They are the daughters of Sarah Max, who won the Pole Pedal Paddle four times here in Bend. Their father Kevin Max, is the editor and founder of 1859 Magazine.

This week, we talk about a campaign launched by OHA to help the effects social distancing has been having on mental health, and take a look at a nonprofit organization run by women and queer people of color.

As the Source puts out its last issue of the year, Editor Nicole Vulcan joins Publisher Aaron Switzer for a chat about the paper's top-viewed stories, and the "Boot/Slipper" editorial, giving their take on some of the biggest issues of 2020. See more podcasts, video and news coverage at https://www.bendsource.com.

This week, we look into Governor Kate Brown's decision to let school districts decide locally when to resume in-person education. What will the district officials choose to do?

This week, we talk about COVID restrictions and determine whether they are enforceable. Will legal action be taken if indoor dining continues? We also look into the body cam evaluations being done by Bend officers.

For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we spoke with Rys Fairbrother of What If We Could, and Aaron Switzer, the Source Weekly’s publisher and founder of Central Oregon Gives. Both Switzer and Fairbrother have been working to help nonprofits for years through sponsorships, marketing and storytelling. The Central Oregon Gives program combines all three strategies within a simple digital platform that connects local nonprofits with new potential donors with the help of small businesses. Each time someone makes a donation, they receive a “perk” or free prize like a beer or a cup of coffee. Last year, the program raised over half a million dollars for 72 local organizations ranging from children’s advocacy groups to environmental watch dogs.

The first doses of the coronavirus vaccine are headed to Bend, and details on the upcoming session of the Oregon legislature, aimed at helping renters and businesses affected by the shutdowns, along with wildfire victims, all in this week's podcast.