Wildland firefighter numbers plummet, as need for job rises
You may have heard that wildfire seasons are getting longer, with blazes burning more intensely and lasting longer than ever. The need to combat these conflagrations is growing at the same time huge numbers of wildland firefighters are quitting or retiring — and they are not being replaced.
Today's show
Four perspectives on Oregon’s landmark Bottle Bill
Investigation shows Oregon’s early learning agency faces management challenges
Featured stories
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek to consider establishing Office of the First Spouse
Oregon's first lady will be getting two state-funded staffers and security detail for an out-of-state conference. OPB political reporter joins us to discuss the potential of an Office of the First Spouse.
Oregon nonprofits get grants from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
We check in with some of the organizations to hear more about their work.
REBROADCAST: Author Edwidge Danticat on “Everything Inside”
Edwidge Danticat is an award-winning writer of novels, short stories, essays, and memoirs, with a focus on the rich experiences of the Haitian diaspora. Her latest book is the collection of short stories “Everything Inside.”
In the Columbia River Gorge, officials are preparing for unexpected train disasters
We learn more about efforts to prevent future oil spills from the editor of Columbia Insight.
Portland City Council will soon weigh options for the future of the Keller Auditorium
Some are arguing for an extensive renovation of the current space, while others are pushing for a new auditorium to be built on the Portland State University campus or as part of a redeveloped Lloyd Center.
OPB podcast ‘Salmon Wars’ highlights story of Indigenous fights for salmon on Columbia River
OPB’s latest podcast, “Salmon Wars,” tells the story of salmon in the Northwest in a way you haven’t heard before — through the voices of one Yakama Nation family that has been fighting for salmon for generations.
How school districts across Oregon and Southwest Washington are dealing with budget cuts
Inadequate state funding and the end of COVID-19 relief dollars have left school districts across Oregon and Southwest Washington with multimillion-dollar budget deficits.
After years of record highs, gun violence in Portland has decreased
After seeing an all-time high for gun violence at the end of 2022, Portland saw a 22% decrease in overall shootings last year. We'll hear from city officials to learn more about the decline.
How a training program is preparing babysitters in Oregon
With spring break around the corner, many students will be enjoying their time away from school work, but some may find themselves picking up jobs as babysitters. We'll learn more about an Oregon program training babysitters.
Volunteer creates yearly weatherproof, pocket-sized guide to Vancouver homeless services
In 2017, Vancouver resident Lois Anderson got the idea to put out a succinct print guide to resources and services for people experiencing homelessness. Smith now puts out the guides yearly as an independent project that is funded entirely by donations.
OHSU study finds young children are being exposed to fentanyl more often
Within the last three years, there has been a 449% increase in children under the age of 6 being exposed to fentanyl, according to a new study from Oregon Health and Science University. We'll hear from a researcher to learn more about the increase and what it looks like in Oregon.
How students at Oregon School for the Deaf prepare for Poetry Out Loud
Two Deaf students share their process for translating, interpreting and performing poetry in ASL.
Oregon volunteer nurse treats hundreds in Gaza
Keizer-based nurse Yvonne Groenhout has decades of experience as an intensive care unit nurse. She is has also volunteered her medical expertise in Chicago, Los Angeles, Ukraine and, most recently, Gaza, as reported in the Salem Reporter.
SafeSpace aims to expand child advocacy services, impact with new Hood River facility
We hear from the executive director of SafeSpace, a children's advocacy center about the growing need for services to support victims of suspected child abuse in the Columbia River Gorge region.
March Madness features 3 Oregon college basketball teams
Three Oregon college basketball teams are competing in this year's NCAA Tournaments. We'll hear about the upcoming games, including some Sweet 16 and Elite Eight contests that will be held in Portland next weekend.
Indigenous perspectives showcased in new Sasquatch exhibit at High Desert Museum in Bend
For many Indigenous people, it isn’t a question of whether Bigfoot exists, but whether you have seen him. A new exhibit at the High Desert Museum in Bend features the work of many Indigenous artists exploring a relationship with Sasquatch. Phil Cash Cash and Frank Buffalo Hyde, two artists featured in the exhibit, joined us to talk about their work.
In Multnomah County, older adults struggle with housing instability
The National Alliance to End Homelessness found that nearly one in four people experiencing homelessness were over the age of 55, based on data from 2023′s Point-in-Time count.
UW study reveals how social media influencers profit from spreading misinformation
We hear from a University of Washington researcher who recently studied social media influencers who profit from the spread of misinformation online.
Love on the front lines
Even in the midst of great suffering, humans continue to live and love. Two new books from Louis Alberto Urrea and Alice Winn focus on the human relationships that take place in the midst of War. Winn’s novel, “In Memoriam,” tells the story of two gay British soldiers coming to terms with their relationship during the brutal trench warfare of WWI. Urrea’s book, “Goodnight, Irene,” chronicles the life of a woman serving on the front lines of WWII as a “Donut Dolly.” These heroic Red Cross volunteers served coffee and donuts to American soldiers to keep up their morale. OPB’s Geoff Norcross talked to Urrea and Winn at the 2023 Portland Book Festival.
New strain of hazelnut blight overcomes disease resistance in Oregon orchards
An OSU plant pathologist joins us with more details about the new strain and what it could mean for Oregon's hazelnut industry.
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