Podcasts about opb

What can animals teach us about ourselves? That’s part of what poets Reginald Dwayne Betts and Mai Der Vang are both exploring in their new collections. “Doggerel” is Bett’s collection about the relationship between dogs and their humans. “Primordial” by Der Vang tells of a nearly extinct deer-like creature that lives in the jungles of Laos. They spoke to OPB’s Jenn Chavez at the 2025 Portland Book Festival.

What’s the philosophy behind enjoying a good roller coaster ride? What should travelers keep in mind as they’re waved through a construction site on the road? What’s it like to care for cattle at 4,200 feet elevation (and what’s the mooood on the range)?

"We always were having conversations about, if we can't solve it, what then? What is this about? Why isn't it solved? And what is our job? Is the job of a journalist to solve crimes? No, it's to document. So what are we documenting? We're documenting what had to happen for there to be no answer in a situation where there should be an answer," says Leah Sottile, reporter, writer, Hush."Sometimes making yourself uncomfortable is the way to find new creativity, or to challenge yourself to find a smart idea within that," says Ryan Haas, reporter, producer.Today we've got a fun one with CNF Pod regular Leah Sottile, investigative journalist, podcaster, author of Blazing Eye Sees All and When the Moon Turns to Blood.And we also have her long-time collaborative partner Ryan Haas. They are primarily here to talk about season 2 of Hush, an incredible series put out by Oregon Public Broadcasting that chronicles how a small town has, to date, failed to bring closure on the death of 18-year-old Sarah Zuber in 2019. The red herring of it all is that it starts like a classic true crime show, but it quickly becomes an interrogation of the true crime genre. One of Leah's great lines is that this isn't true crime so much as it is bureaucratic horror in the rural town of Rainier, Oregon.I love getting a chance to chat with Leah, and this was special to hear from Ryan Haas, too, who up until recently spent more than a dozen years at OPB. She and Leah worked on the epic Bundyville Podcast together and two seasons of Hush. I'm gonna miss Hush because I would run five miles listening to primarily Leah, though Ryan pops in every now and again, narrate this incredible story about what happens when journalism folds up shop in a small town, when the greek choir of Facebook is the primary news source, when power-hungry people leverage a tragedy for personal gain, when law enforcement becomes lax.In this episode, they talk about: The Grid of Doom The evolution of their partnership How they push each other Interrogating the true crime genre White board conversations Being open to where the reporting goes Being open to complication Finding the cliff hangers And breaking news! The future of Leah and Ryan's workOrder The Front RunnerNewsletter: Rage Against the AlgorithmWelcome to Pitch ClubShow notes: brendanomeara.com

Sometimes laughter can be the best way to make it through difficult times. And a good joke can go a long way to connecting with another person, no matter how different they are. Those are themes in the two new books “Stop Me if You’ve Heard This One” by Kristen Arnett and “So Far Gone” by Jess Walter. OPB’s Jess Hazel talked to Walter and Arnett about their books at the 2025 Portland Book Festival.  

What does survival look like if it comes at the expense of freedom? How can we build safe places in an increasingly unstable world? These questions are at the heart of two new books by authors Leni Zumas and Cleyvis Natera. Zumas’s book “Wolf Bells” tells the story of an intergenerational group home determined to make a space for people who fall through capitalism’s cracks. Natera’s book “The Grand Paloma Resort” tells the story of staff at an exclusive Caribbean resort as they navigate class, race and colonialism. OPB’s Allison Frost spoke to Leni Zumas and Cleyvis Natera at the 2025 Portland Book Festival.  

Irish-Canadian author Emma Donoghue is perhaps best known for her novel “Room,” told from the perspective of a 5-year-old boy held captive with his mother. Most of Donoghue’s work, however, is rooted in historical fiction. She frequently writes about characters and perspectives that are often erased from history. Her latest novel, “The Paris Express,” tells the story of a fateful disaster on a French train in 1895. Donoghue spoke to OPB’s Crystal Ligori in front of an audience at the 2025 Portland Book Festival.  

The iconic artist Rick Bartow, a small-town Oregon kid, went on to see his work featured in over 100 museums across the country, including an installation in the White House garden.    His work mirrored real life. It was raw, aggressive, dark and emotional. The beautiful and weird in his work came from, sometimes, a painful story.    He was drafted during the Vietnam War and came back with PTSD. He then struggled with addiction for nearly a decade. Art, he says, saved him.   “I realized the creator had given me something to do,” Bartow said. “And whether people understood that now didn’t matter. I have to do this, this is my job … here’s my gift, and I can use it today.”   In this week’s episode of The Evergreen, OPB Art Beat producer Eric Slade tells us about the life and work of Rick Bartow.  Catch the exhibition Rick Bartow: Storyteller at the Portland Art Museum until May 23, 2026. And you can also watch Slade’s recent documentary on Bartow here.   For more Evergreen episodes and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage. Follow OPB on Instagram, and follow host Jenn Chávez too. You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.   Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps: Hush  Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars Politics Now Think Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.

As 2025 comes to a close, the staff of OPB's "Think Out Loud" look back on some of their favorite conversations from the past year. Producers Sage Van Wing, Gemma DiCarlo, Rolie Hernandez, Sheraz Sadiq, Riley Martinez and Malya Fass join host Dave Miller in conversation.  

A powerful coast-to-coast storm continues to traverse the eastern United States, bringing with it a myriad of severe weather conditions. The National Weather Service has issued flood watches and river flood warnings for western Washington and northwest Oregon, while high winds affect the Northern Rockies and High Plains. As we delve into the specifics of this storm's impact, we will also discuss the emergence of lake effect snow and the potential for flash freeze slick spots downwind of the Great Lakes. Furthermore, wind advisories are in effect for parts of the Mid Atlantic as the cold front advances offshore. We will also address seismic activity, noting several small to moderate earthquakes recorded off the coast of Alaska without significant damage reported. Join us as we explore these weather phenomena and their implications for various states across the nation. The latest briefing commences with a comprehensive overview of the meteorological conditions affecting the United States on December 19th, 2025. A formidable coast-to-coast storm is currently traversing the nation, prompting the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue flood watches and river flood warnings across western Washington and northwest Oregon. In addition, high winds are impacting the Northern Rockies and the High Plains, creating perilous travel conditions and potential hazards for local populations. Furthermore, the Great Lakes region is experiencing lake effect snow and flash freeze conditions, leading to dangerous slick spots that may exacerbate the challenges faced by commuters.Takeaways:* Today, a powerful coast to coast storm continues to move eastward across the nation, bringing severe weather.* The National Weather Service has issued flood watches and river flood warnings for western Washington and northwest Oregon.* High wind warnings have been issued for the Pribilof Islands with gusts reaching 75-80 mph, creating hazardous conditions.* Dense fog is present in California's Central Valley, reducing visibility significantly and causing travel delays.* In Michigan, winter weather advisories remain in effect, predicting additional lake effect snow along the Lake Michigan shore.* Oregon faces ongoing flood warnings as an atmospheric river approaches, increasing the risk of landslides and flooding.Sources[NWS Anchorage overview & warnings | https://www.weather.gov/afc][NWS AFC High Wind pages | https://www.weather.gov/afc/HighWindWarningPribilofs , https://www.weather.gov/afc/HighWindBeringStormReview][NWS Hanford — Dense Fog Advisory & hazards | https://www.weather.gov/hnx/][Caltrans QuickMap travel info | https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov][NWS Baltimore/Washington — Wind Advisory & HWO | https://www.weather.gov/lwx/ https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=MDZ013&product1=Wind+Advisory][Washington Post Capital Weather Gang live updates | https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/12/19/dc-weather-live-updates-stormy-windy/][NWS Grand Rapids advisory summary | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=grr&wwa=all][NWS Detroit/Pontiac HWO & gales | https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?issuedby=DTX&product=HWO&site=NWS , https://www.weather.gov/dtx/][FEMA—Branch County flood maps meeting | https://www.fema.gov/press-release/branch-county-residents-invited-review-flood-maps][NWS Billings hazards | https://www.weather.gov/byz/][NWS statewide wind hazards page | https://www.weather.gov/byz/montana_statewide_information][NWS Buffalo advisories & marine gales | https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=PAZ001&product1=Lake+Effect+Snow+Warning, https://www.weather.gov/buf/BUFHWOBUF][WBEN/Audacy local briefing | https://www.audacy.com/wben/news/weather/strong-winds-falling-temps-and-rain-transitions-to-snow][NWS Portland—flood warnings & watches | https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?product1=Flood+Warning&warnzone=ORZ111 https://www.weather.gov/pqr/][OPB regional forecast update | https://www.opb.org/article/2025/12/18/atmospheric-river-flooding-oregon-washington-weather-forecast/][NWS Seattle—Flood Warnings/Watch text | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=sew&wwa=all][NWS Seattle office dashboard | https://www.weather.gov/sew/][NWS Cheyenne—High Wind Warning text & local page | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=cys&wwa=high+wind+warning , https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?textField1=41.1454&textField2=-104.792][Cowboy State Daily regional brief | https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/12/18/don-days-wyoming-weather-forecast-friday-december-19-2025/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

OPB reporter April Ehrlich joins the Exchange to offer more insight on the new federal law that reauthorizes funding for rural counties and schools.

What happens when boats are abandoned in the water and start falling apart? Whether it’s a big barge or a small sailboat, abandoned and derelict vessels, or ADVs, have to be dealt with. If an ADV sits too long, it could end up blocking a navigation channel or becoming an environmental hazard, especially if it sinks.  It can be really challenging to figure out how to pay for the removal operation, and if someone is living on board, law enforcement has to balance the boat’s potential hazards with removing shelter from someone who may not have another place to live.    OPB “Oregon Field Guide” producer Noah Thomas joins us to talk about the reporting he did on ADVs. We’ll meet people who work on removing these boats from the water, someone who lives on a boat he bought at an auction for $110 and a community organizer who paddles her kayak around the Willamette bringing food and other supplies to liveaboards.    Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps: Hush Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars Politics Now Think Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.

A potent Pacific atmospheric river is currently inundating Washington and Oregon, resulting in significant urban and river flooding. The episode elucidates the ongoing flood warnings affecting several rivers in these regions, while simultaneously addressing a rapidly advancing winter storm traversing the upper Midwest and Great Lakes. This storm is anticipated to produce bursts of snow, pockets of freezing rain, and robust winds, thereby complicating travel and potentially causing localized power outages. Moreover, Southeast Alaska is grappling with perilous wind chills under cold weather advisories, as the National Hurricane Center confirms a lack of active cyclones in both the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific during this off-season. Throughout the discussion, we emphasize the necessity for vigilance and preparedness in the face of these severe weather conditions.Takeaways:* The Pacific atmospheric river continues to cause significant urban and river flooding in Washington and Oregon, necessitating urgent caution. * Multiple regions are under flood warnings due to saturated soils and strong winds, which pose risks of falling trees and power outages. * Severe winter storms are affecting the Midwest and Northeast, leading to hazardous travel conditions and potential power disruptions due to ice and snow. * In Alaska, dangerously cold temperatures persist, bringing about severe wind chill advisories that require vigilance and preparedness. * California's Bay Area is experiencing notable coastal hazards, including strong currents and high breaking waves, prompting advisories for beachgoers. * Oregon remains under flood watch as continuous heavy rain leads to rising river levels and associated dangers in the region. Sources[NWS — Cold Weather Advisory product summary | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=Cold+Weather+Advisory][NWS Fairbanks discussion portal | https://www.weather.gov/afg/AOD][NWS San Francisco/Monterey — hazards page | https://www.weather.gov/mtr/][NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard — hazards page | https://www.weather.gov/lox/][NWS Honolulu Surf Forecast — issued today | https://www.weather.gov/hfo/SRF][Kauaʻi Now News advisory write-up | https://kauainownews.com/2025/12/10/moderate-swells-trigger-high-surf-advisory-for-north-west-shores-of-kauai-niihau/][NWS Caribou — office hazards page | https://www.weather.gov/car/][NWS point forecast—Caribou with advisory timing | https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?textField1=46.8668&textField2=-67.9906][NWS Gaylord—WWA text | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=grr&wwa=winter+weather+advisory][Big Rapids News roundup | https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/news/article/michigan-winter-weather-advisories-december-9-21233133.php][MPR News school delays/commute impacts | https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/12/09/winter-storm-forecast-snow-freezing-rain-strong-winds][NWS Duluth office portal | https://www.weather.gov/dlh/][NWS Billings—Absaroka/Beartooth WSW | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=mso&wwa=winter+storm+warning][NWS Great Falls/Missoula advisory summary | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=mso&wwa=winter+weather+advisory][NWS Binghamton—Northern Oneida WSW | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=bgm&wwa=winter%20storm%20warning][Adirondack Daily Enterprise—travel impacts today | https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2025/12/tricky-travel-today/][NWS Bismarck—hazards page | https://www.weather.gov/bis/][InForum statewide travel impacts | https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/high-winds-snow-freezing-rain-create-hazardous-driving-across-north-dakota][NWS Portland—hazards page showing Flood Warnings | https://www.weather.gov/pqr/][OPB recap of flooding/landslides | https://www.opb.org/article/2025/12/10/weather-pacific-northwest-storms-flooding-landslides/][NWS Burlington—office hazards | https://www.weather.gov/btv/][NWS Burlington recreational forecast/advisory timing | https://www.weather.gov/btv/recreation][NWS Seattle—hazards page showing Flood Warnings | https://www.weather.gov/sew/][AP regional recap including rescues and outages | https://apnews.com/article/8eb0a0bbfa34a5b542c727fefed668a4][NWS Wisconsin WWA summary page (selected zones) | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=mkx&wwa=winter%20storm%20warning][NWS Riverton—WSW text (Yellowstone/Absaroka/Teton) | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=riw&wwa=winter+storm+warning][LocalNews8 alert mirror of NWS product | https://localnews8.com/weather/alerts-weather/2025/12/10/winter-storm-warning-issued-december-10-at-337am-mst-until-december-10-at-500pm-mst-by-nws-riverton-wy/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

The episode elucidates the current atmospheric conditions affecting various regions of the United States, particularly highlighting the ongoing Pacific atmospheric river that is inundating Washington and Oregon. The National Weather Service has issued multiple flood warnings, including a flood watch for the Seattle Metro area, which is expected to persist through Friday. Concurrently, a winter storm is advancing through the Northern Plains, bringing significant snowfall and hazardous conditions that may lead to treacherous travel. Additionally, damaging winds are impacting South Central regions, compounding the challenges faced by restoration efforts in areas previously affected by severe weather. As we navigate these multifaceted weather phenomena, I urge all listeners to exercise caution and remain informed about local conditions.Takeaways:* The Pacific atmospheric river is significantly impacting Washington and Oregon, leading to multiple flood warnings. * Residents are urged to avoid flooded roads and remain vigilant for potential landslides in steep areas. * A fast-moving winter storm is expected to bring severe weather conditions across parts of the Midwest. * High winds are causing additional challenges in South Central Alaska, with ongoing power restoration efforts indicated. * Winter storm warnings are in effect for several states, including Minnesota and Michigan, with substantial snowfall predicted. * Ongoing flooding concerns persist in western Washington as river flood warnings remain active through Friday. Sources[NWS Mat-Su High Wind Warning | https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=61.5814&lon=-149.4410][Anchorage Daily News | https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/mat-su/2025/12/08/mat-su-residents-many-still-without-power-brace-for-another-day-of-wind/][NWS Gaylord WSW (W. Mackinac) | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=mqt&wwa=winter+storm+warning][Detroit Free Press roundup | https://www.freep.com/story/weather/2025/12/08/michigan-snow-rain-winter-storm-warning-doppler-radar/87670899007/][NWS Twin Cities WSW | https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=MPX&issuedby=MPX&product=WSW][MPR News forecast | https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/12/09/latest-winter-storm-to-bring-a-wintry-mix-and-heavy-snow][NWS MT advisories/warnings (statewide excerpts) | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=byz&wwa=winter+weather+advisory][NBC Montana forecast update | https://nbcmontana.com/weather/forecasts/cold-front-to-bring-increasing-wind-atmospheric-river-continue-through-thursday][NWS Bismarck/Grand Forks hazard pages | https://www.weather.gov/bis/; https://www.weather.gov/fgf/][Valley News Live First Alert | https://www.valleynewslive.com/2025/12/08/first-alert-tuesdays-winter-storm-brings-mix-snow-wind/?outputType=amp][NWS Portland hazards | https://www.weather.gov/pqr/][OPB regional flood watch coverage | https://www.opb.org/article/2025/12/08/weather-oregon-wahington-atmospheric-river-rain-flooding/][NWS Flood Warnings text (Seattle) | https://a.atmos.washington.edu/data/warning_report.WWA.html][KIRO-7 roundup | https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/heres-where-expect-rising-rivers-strong-atmospheric-river-comes-washington/QDZWK3R2DVGQ5EZWXSAMMLZE4Q/][NWS Twin Cities WSW (NW WI counties) | https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=MPX&issuedby=MPX&product=WSW][Wausau Pilot & Review update | https://wausaupilotandreview.com/2025/12/09/winter-storm-warning-issued-for-central-wisconsin-as-heavy-snow-bitter-cold-loom/][NWS Riverton WSW (Yellowstone/Absaroka) | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=winter+storm+warning][WYDOT 511 road conditions (I-80 district example) | https://www.wyoroad.info/pls/Browse/WRR.STATIC5?SelectedDistrict=1] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

Union members supporting stop the gas tax petition: Their cost of living is going up also: https://oregoncatalyst.com/92987-union-members-stop-gas-tax-petition.html Skeptical Fishwrap headline hurts Dems/Kotax if we help people connect the dots: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/12/oregon-leaders-pledge-to-make-the-state-more-business-friendly-but-offer-few-specifics.html Even lib OPB admits economy not working: https://www.opb.org/article/2025/12/08/oregon-economy-state-leaders-job-business/ OR's budget crisis is Kotax's fault, not Trump's: https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025/12/opinion-oregons-budget-crisis-didnt-start-in-washington-it-started-here-at-home.html ODOT still hiring winter maintenance workers: they know they are gonna get money from Legislature soon: https://katu.com/news/local/odot-continues-hiring-winter-maintenance-positions-with-funding-in-limbo-department-of-transportation-oregon-portland-salem-snow-ice-severe-weather-icy-plow-jobs-unemployment-no-tax-oregon

Esta es la versión en español de este episodio del podcast. Click here to listen in English.   Luis Lamas salió de Oregon por miedo.   “No quiero averiguar si me van a meter a un centro de detención o si voy a vivir tantos años más y que me digan sabes que, siempre no, te tienes que ir a tu país.” dijo.   Lamas se encuentra entre el creciente número de personas que están abandonando los Estados Unidos por temor a ser arrestadas o detenidas, ya que el gobierno de Trump ha prometido arrestar o deportar a cualquier persona sin estatus legal. Inmigrantes con estatus legal también han sido detenidos.    Este semana en The Evergreen, el reportero de OPB Alejandro Figueroa narra el viaje de Luis Lamas, un inmigrante mexicano que solía vivir en Woodburn.   Para escuchar más episodios de The Evergreen y compartir tu opinión con nosotros, visita nuestra página web.    Síguenos en nuestra página de Instagram y también sigue a nuestra presentadora Jenn Chavez.   Suscríbete a nuestro correo electronico para recibir todas las noticias que necesites directamente en tu buzón.    No olvides explorar nuestros otros programas de podcast. Los puedes encontrar en tu plataforma de podcasts favorita:    Hush  Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars Politics Now Think Out Loud Y muchos mas! Visita nuestra lista completa aquí.

This is the English version of this podcast episode. Haga clic aquí para escuchar en español. Luis Lamas left Oregon out of fear.    “I don't want to find out if they're going to put me in a detention center or if I'm going to live so many more years [here] and be told, you know what, no, you have to go back to your country,” he said in Spanish.    Lamas is among a growing number of people choosing to leave the U.S. out of fear of arrest or detention, as the Trump administration has promised to arrest or deport anyone without lawful status. Immigrants with lawful status have also been detained.   In this week’s episode of The Evergreen, OPB reporter Alejandro Figueroa chronicles the journey of Luis Lamas, a Mexican immigrant who once called Woodburn home.   For more Evergreen episodes and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage. Follow OPB on Instagram, and follow host Jenn Chávez too. You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.   Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps: Hush  Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars Politics Now Think Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.  

Who said in 1989: “Lets go after the drug lords where they live”? https://x.com/mazemoore/status/1996308495105196037 Dems side with narco terrorists: https://thefederalist.com/2025/12/05/democrats-side-with-venezuelan-narco-terrorists-over-americans/ Big Lie: Kotax now tries to say she is anti tolling: She created it and signed the bridge toll bill this year: https://oregoncatalyst.com/92914-kotek-calls-antitoll-governor-run-true.html Even the Fishwrap doesn't buy Kotax re election spin: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/12/oregon-gov-kotek-announces-2026-reelection-bid-setting-up-drazan-rematch.html OPB headline is not good for Kotax: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/12/oregon-gov-kotek-announces-2026-reelection-bid-setting-up-drazan-rematch.html Supreme Court allows TX redistricting: https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/12/supreme-court-allows-texas-to-use-redistricting-map-challenged-as-racially-discriminatory/

By now, you’re probably used to hearing the long list of letters and cities that make up our station IDs. But how does all that actually work? How does OPB radio reach your ears in Bend, Burns and Baker City? Well, it’s thanks to OPB’s team of broadcast engineers, who maintain radio transmitters across the state. And it is not easy to do. Imagine driving to the top of a mountain on a Sno-Cat in the winter to climb an icy tower. We learn more about what makes statewide radio transmission possible.– For more episodes of The Evergreen, and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage. Follow OPB on Instagram, and follow host Jenn Chávez too. You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.   Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps:HushTimber Wars Season 2: Salmon WarsPolitics NowThink Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.

Some might argue that pie is the quintessential American dessert. Certainly Stacey Mei Yan Fong makes that argument in her cookbook. Fong’s “50 pies, 50 states” is an “immigrant’s love letter” to this country as told through pie. OPB’s Crystal Ligori talked to Fong at the 2023 Portland Book Festival.

The U.S. Constitution likely would not have been ratified in 1788 without Article 5, which allowed for amendment. Many of the original founders championed the idea that the document would need to change as the country changed. As historian Jill Lepore points out in her newest book most of the 27 amendments to the constitution have happened just after times of war or conflict, and after 33 years without an amendment, we may be headed that way again. OPB’s Geoff Norcross speaks to Lepore in front of an audience at the 2025 Portland Book Festival about “We the People: A history of the U.S. Constitution.”  

In 2023 and 2024, four out of six dams on the Klamath River were taken out, in the largest dam removal project in US history. Tribes in the Klamath Basin had been fighting for dam removal for more than a century. This summer, a group of Indigenous youth from multiple tribes made the first descent of the river from its headwaters in Southern Oregon to the Pacific Ocean in Northern California since the dams came out — by kayak. Many of the kayakers had trained for over two years with the program Paddle Tribal Waters.   Jessie Sears, Karuk tribal member and OPB “Oregon Field Guide” producer for Indigenous communities, was there for part of the 300-plus mile, 30-day journey to help document this historic moment. She joins us to talk about the First Descent, how the river has changed, and what it all meant to the Indigenous youth carrying on their ancestors’ work.   -   For more episodes of The Evergreen, and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage. Follow OPB on Instagram, and follow host Jenn Chávez too. You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.   Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps:HushTimber Wars Season 2: Salmon WarsPolitics NowThink Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.

As the school calendar shifts into holiday mode, many public school students are about to be out of the classroom for a long time.  And as families brace for time off, educators are bracing too – for potential budget cuts. And that’s as Oregon’s education system remains one of the worst performing in the nation. On this week’s episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake, Ellizabeth Miller and Tiffany Camhi discuss some major education issues facing Oregon’s K-12 system and higher education world.    Plus, if you have not checked it out, they discussed Miller’s Class of 2025 project, an OPB endeavor that was 13 years in the making.   

Last Friday morning, Oregonians were able to begin accessing their full monthly benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to fully fund the federal food aid program which serves more than 42 million Americans. But many of those households face new uncertainty after the Supreme Court granted on Friday night the Trump administration’s emergency appeal of the ruling. In a statement, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said the state had acted lawfully in sending out the SNAP payments and vowed to fight the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s demand that states “undo any steps” they took to issue  the full November SNAP benefits. Food pantries across Oregon, including at William Temple House in Portland, have mobilized in recent weeks to help people like Elaine, one of the more than 750,000 Oregonians who are SNAP recipients. To protect her privacy, OPB is identifying Elaine only by her first name. She says SNAP has been a lifeline to her for nearly 20 years while being unable to work fulltime because of a disability and experiencing periods of homelessness. Elaine joins us to discuss the restoration of her SNAP benefits after nearly a week without them, and the uncertainty about the program’s future. 

Every American city — including Portland — is divided by crumbling old highways, and every city is trying to figure out what to do with them. "The Big Dig" podcast from Boston came to town for a conversation with OPB’s Lillian Karabaic, whose “Stop Requested” project looked into public transit across Oregon, about Portland’s own attempts to solve that puzzle and undo the harms of the past.    -   For more episodes of The Evergreen, and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage. Follow OPB on Instagram, and follow host Jenn Chávez too. You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.   Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps:HushTimber Wars Season 2: Salmon WarsPolitics NowThink Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.

Interview Date: December 14th, 2024Episode Summary:Vanessa Fuller, a dancer, choreographer, and the artistic director of Xcape Dance Company. Vanessa shares her inspiring journey from growing up in Eugene, Oregon, to becoming a multifaceted professional in the dance industry. She discusses her extensive career, including working with artists like E-40 and Twista, and her recent appearance on HBO Max's Second Chance Stage. The show, which provides a platform for individuals over 30 to chase their dreams despite past obstacles, features Vanessa as one of the few dancers. Vanessa reflects on how she balanced family life, owning a dance studio, and maintaining her passion for dance, despite the challenges. She emphasizes the importance of perseverance, maintaining relationships in the industry, and building an authentic personal brand. She also shares business tips for aspiring dancers, highlighting the importance of being true to oneself and using authenticity as a key to long-term success. Vanessa encourages dancers to embrace discomfort and use challenges as opportunities for growth. Show Notes:(0:00) Introduction to Vanessa Fuller(2:00) Vanessa's early dance journey and passion for movement(5:30) Balancing family life with a dance career(10:00) Running Escape Dance Company and owning a studio(13:45) Vanessa's appearance on HBO Max's Second Chance Stage(18:00) The concept of Second Chance Stage for dancers over 30(21:00) Transitioning from studio owner to pursuing larger opportunities(25:00) The importance of perseverance and relationships in booking work(30:00) Building an authentic personal brand(35:00) Advice on standing out in auditions(40:00) The role of community in the dance world(45:00) Managing business and family while staying connected to dance(50:00) Embracing discomfort for growth(55:00) Tips for dancers on navigating the business side of dance(60:00) Building a strong social media presence(65:00) Advice for older dancers and overcoming comparisons(70:00) The importance of persistence and passion(75:00) Closing thoughts on staying true to your journeyBiography:Vanessa Fuller is a dancer, choreographer, and artistic director originally from Eugene, OR. She is the artistic director of Xcape Dance Company, where she has produced 10 full-length shows. Her dance and choreography have graced the stages of Club Jeté—LA's premier dance experience—and concerts from New York to California with artists such as E-40, Twista, The Game, Bone Thugz-N-Harmony, Zion I, and E.T. She has also worked on industrial projects for NAPA Auto Parts, Build San Francisco, the Qwest Events Center in Seattle, and Rockstar Energy Drink. She was a winning contestant on CBS's Let's Make a Deal with Wayne Brady. Vanessa and her dance company filmed a casting pilot for MTV's Made, a regional commercial, print ads for the University of Oregon, and have been featured performers in various professional events. Vanessa's choreography has won numerous awards at competitions and conventions and has won the JIGTV Brian Friedman Video Choreography Critique Contest at www.jigtv.com! Most recently, Vanessa was a dancer in the Emmy-nominated production of DanceAbility on Art Beat for OPB and choreographer and dancer for the headlining performance at the World Track and Field Festival sponsored by ASICS.Vanessa's training background includes hip-hop, jazz funk, and contemporary. She has trained at EDGE PAC (Los Angeles), Millennium Dance Complex (North Hollywood), Dance Mission (San Francisco), Monsters of Hip Hop, and master workshops with some of the best in the industry.Connect on Social Media:https://www.instagram.com/vanessafullerdancehttps://www.facebook.com/vanessafullerdanceWebsitehttps://xcapedance.my.canva.site/vanessafullerdance

Portland’s public camping ban went into effect over the weekend. Police can now issue citations for people living in vehicles or camping in parks, streets and other public spaces if “reasonable shelter” is available. The ordinance originally passed in 2024, but Mayor Keith Wilson said in February he would pause enforcement until the city could open more shelter beds.   Meanwhile, Portland voters had until Tuesday at 8 p.m. to decide on a controversial ballot measure to raise property taxes to fund a new city Parks Levy after the old one expired. Alex Zielinski covers Portland city government for OPB. She joins us to talk about election results, how camping enforcement is going so far and what the ban means for people living outside.

From 1819 through the 1970s, the U.S. government removed Native American children from their homes. Tens of thousands of kids, preschoolers to teenagers, from tribes across the country, grew up in boarding schools, including several in the Pacific Northwest. The institutions were part of a colonialist project of forced assimilation to white culture, where expressions of Indigeneity were forbidden and punished.   The true stories of these schools and what happened there have long been obscured. Klamath tribal member Gabriann “Abby” Hall is working hard to change that. As part of a yearslong research project about Oregon’s Native American boarding school history, she documented how generations of her own relatives, and more than 500 Klamath tribal members, had attended boarding schools. In collaboration with OPB’s “Oregon Experience” writer and producer Kami Horton, Hall uncovered dark histories of boarding school experiences that affected so many Native American families. Within them, she sees stories of strength, resistance and survival that she hopes can empower younger generations working to keep their Indigenous culture alive today.   Watch Kami Horton’s documentary for OPB’s “Oregon Experience,” “Uncovering Boarding Schools: Stories of Resistance and Resilience,” on the PBS app and website.   —-   For episodes of The Evergreen, and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage. Follow OPB on Instagram, and follow host Jenn Chávez too. You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.   Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps:HushTimber Wars Season 2: Salmon WarsPolitics NowThink Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.  

Eighteen-year-old Sarah Zuber was found dead in 2019 just 400 feet from her home in Rainier. The second season of OPB’s investigative podcast "Hush" focuses on her story and the ways that citizen sleuthing, declining local media, and a police department that can’t find answers led to serious rifts in rural Columbia County. We’ll listen to the first episode of the new season.

Joining the Exchange to offer more insight is Alejandro Figueroa an OPB reporter who co-authored a report on the issue.

Who was the badass woman who became the namesake for Portland’s only lesbian bar? Dr. Marie Equi was born in 1872 and came to Oregon at the age of 20. She became known as a radical and lived an extraordinary life. She was a fierce advocate for women’s rights and reproductive freedom as well as an activist for workers’ rights. She staged a one-woman anti-war protest during World War I. She was also a physician and lived openly as a lesbian.    You can watch the full Oregon Experience episode on Marie Equi on the PBS app.   For more Evergreen episodes and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage. Follow OPB on Instagram, and follow host Jenn Chávez too. You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.   Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps: Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars Politics Now Think Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.

In Oregon, employment in the newspaper industry has fallen nearly 80% since 2000, according to OPB reporting.    And when communities lose journalists, information gaps can be exploited. The Ashland Daily Tidings closed in 2023, and the newspaper’s website was later invaded by artificial intelligence.    When a community loses a local newsroom, residents have fewer places to turn to for regional news that keeps them informed. Report for America is a nonprofit that places journalists in newsrooms across the U.S. to cover under-reported issues in communities, especially in rural areas.     Danielle Dawson is a collaborative investigative reporter for InvestigateWest and she’s based in Bend. Simmerdeep Kaur reports for the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and covers the effects of federal policy on health and childcare access in southeast Washington. Alexander Banks reports for the Yakima Herald-Republic and covers education gaps in the Yakima Valley with a focus on solutions. And Alex Frick is a roving rural reporter covering peninsula communities for The Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader in Washington.    They join us with details of their reporting and how their work affects people living in the Pacific Northwest.  

Joining the Exchange are OPB producer Kami Horton along with Abby Hall of the Klamath Tribes.

Starting in elementary school, students might begin learning about the epic expedition Lewis and Clark led 220 years ago to explore the newly acquired territory of the Louisiana Purchase, an 8,000-mile journey through present-day Oregon to the Pacific Ocean and back. While the names Lewis and Clark have been etched into history books, the name York is largely unknown. York , William Clark’s slave, was the only Black man on the expedition. A skilled hunter, naturalist and outdoorsman, York also helped Lewis and Clark during their negotiations and encounters with Native American tribes in the uncharted West. Yet, as a slave, York lacked the agency to tell his own story and was denied his freedom by Clark for nearly a decade after returning home.    Grammy Award-nominated Portland musician Aaron Nigel Smith is today helping bring York’s story to a wider audience in the form of an opera that blends different musical genres, from folk to classical and jazz to hip-hop. “York the Explorer” premieres this Friday at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton for a weekend of performances as part of “York Fest,” a 9-day celebration of the explorer organized by the Oregon Black Pioneers.    Smith produced, co-wrote and composed the music for “York the Explorer.” He also performs in it with his friend Cedric Berry, an artist with the L.A. Opera, who plays York. Jasmine Johnson, the civic engagement and partnerships manager at Portland Opera, plays Rose, York’s mother. They join us for a discussion and in-studio performance of several songs from the opera.  Disclosure: Patricia Reser Center for the Arts and Oregon Black Pioneers are OPB sponsors. OPB's newsroom maintains editorial independence and is not informed by financial support/individuals to the organization.

A panel of federal judges heard arguments Thursday over whether the Trump administration can send federal troops to Portland.    Last Saturday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the president from mobilizing 200 federalized Oregon National Guard troops. The same judge issued another order a day later barring the president from sending any federalized National Guard members to Portland after he signaled he would send troops from California and Texas.    The administration appealed the first decision to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. OPB legal affairs reporter Conrad Wilson watched the hearing and joins us with more details.  

An unprecedented weekend put Portland at the center of national headlines, as President Trump continued his push to deploy National Guard members into the city over the objections of city and state elected officials and a federal judge. After his order for an Oregon National Guard deployment was blocked, Trump turned to the National Guard in California and Texas for hundreds of federal troops he could send to Portland. Late Sunday, U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut again sided with the state of Oregon. OPB reporter Troy Brynelson joins us to catch us up.

At Fiesta Mexicana in Woodburn, joint Mexican and American flags fly in the air. Colorfully dressed Aztec dancers take the stage. And elote is everywhere.    It’s a celebration, but this year it’s become something more: an act of resistance.    “We have to continue to do this despite everything, despite the harm, despite the oppression, despite the discrimination. We must persevere because that’s la lucha (the fight), that’s what it's about,” said Juan Cervantes Morales, a Fiesta Mexicana Vendor, in Spanish.    Despite several cultural events being cancelled around the state and country, Fiesta Mexicana decided to carry on and provide a space for community members to be together and celebrate their culture.    “It is critical that our new generations learn about these cultural practices, because it is through these same practices that they will inherit so many of the cultural values that will strengthen their lives,” said Eduardo Cruz Torres Amictlan of Huehca Omeyocan in Spanish.    On this week’s episode, OPB’S Jenn Chávez and Alicia Avila share the story of Fiesta Mexicana — its history, how it represents cultura, resilencia y resistencia today, and what it means to Mexicans around Oregon.    A thank you to Alicia Avila, who produced a documentary for OPB Oregon Experience called “Fiesta y Resistencia.”    For more Evergreen episodes and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage. Follow OPB on Instagram, and follow host Jenn Chávez too. You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.   Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps: Hush  Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars Politics Now Think Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.  

In June, President Trump deployed thousands of National Guard members and hundreds of active duty Marines to Los Angeles to respond to largely peaceful protests over the administration’s immigration sweeps. A judge recently ruled that the use of federal troops in LA was illegal since they performed law enforcement duties the military are constitutionally prohibited from doing.   Now, Trump has mobilized 200 National Guard troops to Portland, saying they’re necessary to protect federal officials and property. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield has sued to block the deployment. Rebecca Ellis covers Los Angeles county government as a staff writer for the LA Times. She previously covered Portland city government for OPB. She joins us to talk about how Angelenos responded to the deployment in their city and what could be in store for Portland.

OPB reporter, Dirk Vanderhart, joins the Exchange to shed light from his reporting on the special session of the Oregon legislature.

OPB reporter, Dirk Vanderhart, joins the Exchange to shed light from his reporting on the special session of the Oregon legislature.

On Sunday, the Trump administration sent a memo to Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek authorizing the deployment of 200 Oregon National Guard members in Portland immediately for 60 days. The memo says the troops will be deployed to protect federal property and personnel in Portland, which President Trump has called a “war-ravaged city.” Portland and state officials responded by filing a lawsuit and, on Monday, a temporary restraining order to block the Trump administration’s federalization of the Oregon National Guard.    Gov. Kotek, AG Rayfield and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson held a news conference on Sunday to announce the lawsuit and counter President Trump’s characterization of Portland. “To bring this narrative to Portland, to say that we are anything but a city on the rise, is counter what truth is,” Wilson said. Gov. Kotek said she had spoken with President Trump and told him that there was no public safety threat that required military intervention in Portland.    Several hundred people gathered outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland on Sunday afternoon and evening to protest the deployment of federal troops in the city. More than a dozen counterprotesters verbally clashed with protesters, several of whom were hit with pepper balls as ICE agents attempted to escort cars into the building. On Monday morning, Portland Police announced the arrest of two people on assault charges during the protest on Sunday evening.    OPB reporters Conrad Wilson and Troy Brynelson join us to discuss the latest developments.  

In October 1923, three brothers held up a train headed south from Ashland. Instead of making off with the loot, however, they killed four people and led police on a worldwide manhunt. Newspapers called it “the crime of the century.” It came to be known as “The Last Great American Train Robbery.” But it was actually a total failure. So why do people still talk and write songs about it? What was so great about this heist?   For more Evergreen episodes and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage. Follow OPB on Instagram, and follow host Jenn Chávez too. You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.   Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps: Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars Politics Now Think Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.

On September 5th, 2023, Jesse Johnson walked out of jail a free man. He’d spent a quarter century incarcerated, including 17 years on death row, for a crime he always insisted he didn’t commit: the 1998 murder of Harriet Thompson in Salem, Oregon.Two years after his release, Johnson is suing the state of Oregon and the Salem police detectives who locked him up for much of his life. The lawsuit argues that flagrant racism played a key role in the investigation into Johnson that led to his imprisonment.The case against Johnson was the focus of the first season of OPB’s investigative podcast series “Hush,” reported by Leah Sottile and Ryan Haas. Today, Ryan joins us for an update.

Portland City Councilor Mitch Green is introducing a proposal that would make it easier for sidewalk food vendors to operate in the city. The ordinance would remove city requirements that prevent vendors from operating outside similar businesses, such as restaurants, and without getting consent from adjacent property owners to operate on the sidewalk.   Green says easing the regulations could give small businesses a boost, but restaurant advocates say sidewalk vendors could hurt businesses that are still struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. OPB’s Portland city government reporter Alex Zielinski joins us to talk about the proposed ordinance and more.  

Portland may not be known as a hub of hip-hop on par with New York or Los Angeles, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been a hotbed for sonic experimentation and incredible talent for decades.    We had all the elements: historic Black neighborhoods in Northeast Portland, jazz dripping out of clubs, funk bands, block parties, dances, and plenty of good ol’ fashioned youthful angst. So why isn’t Portland hip-hop bigger?   Marlon “Vursatyl” Irving, a long-time Portland rapper and founding member of the Lifesavas hip-hop group, says local nightclubs and venues discriminated against artists, denying artists access to performance spaces   “It was hard for us to get into clubs,” he says. “I think had there been more racial diversity in Portland, and just more understanding about hip-hop culture at the time that the foundation was being laid, we would've got to hear some of the greatest, we would've had recordings from the greatest, we would've seen their careers blossom.”    On this week’s episode, we hear from pioneers and new wave artists about Portland hip-hop, why it isn’t bigger and what keeps it going.    A special thank you to J Jackson, who produced the documentary “Beyond the Beats” in collaboration with OPB’s Oregon Experience, KMHD Jazz Radio, and Albina Music Trust.    For more Evergreen episodes and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage. Follow OPB on Instagram, and follow host Jenn Chávez too. You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.   Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps: Hush  Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars Politics Now Think Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.  

For decades, rural Oregon counties that contain large swaths of federally owned forest land have depended on a share of timber revenues from federal logging to fund schools, law enforcement and other essential public services. These payments were originally meant to offset the loss of property tax revenue that counties could not collect on federal lands. But when logging on these lands slowed drastically in the 1990s due to new environmental protections — like the Endangered Species Act — those payments plummeted.    In response, Congress stepped in with a temporary fix: the Secure Rural Schools Program. First passed in 2000, Congress reauthorized it multiple times over the years until it allowed it to expire in 2023. Congress which it enacted in 2000 and reauthorized multiple times until it expired in 2023. The lapse in the SRS reauthorization has triggered the default distribution of the significantly reduced timber revenue to counties.    The federal budget process has introduced new complications as well. President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law in July, requires federal agencies to ramp up logging. But it also includes a provision redirecting all proceeds from timber sales on lands in counties to the federal government — threatening one of the last fiscal lifelines for rural governments to fund its core services.   With counties facing budgeting shortfalls that carry big consequences, questions about how to create a long-term sustainable path forward have taken on new urgency. Lane County Commissioner Heather Buch and Klamath County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot — whose counties receive the second- and third-highest federal payments in Oregon after Douglas County — join us, along with Mark Haggerty, a senior fellow at the liberal-leaning thinktank Center for American Progress to talk about the challenges Oregon’s rural counties face and what a stable funding model for these counties might look like.   Curry County Commissioner Jay Trost declined to participate in the conversation but provided OPB with a statement:  Curry County has the second lowest property tax rate in Oregon at .59 per thousand of assessed value and like most Oregon Counties, we have not been able to keep up with the inflation over the past 4 years.  We had to endure a 31% reduction in the county budget for the 24/25 fiscal year, we were able to maintain that with no further budget reductions in the 25/26 budget because of timber revenues that came in and covered the annual employee role up costs.  These O&C timber funds allowed us to remain fairly status quo in terms of service delivery.  Going forward if those funds are not made available to us, we will most likely see more reductions in county services.  We are working diligently to think outside the box, identify alternative solutions that will maximize each dollar and become more efficient. These efforts will help and are necessary, however the reality remains the same, if we don’t receive timber revenues, and or PILT (payment in lieu of taxes)  payments we will have to make cuts.  We remain confident that the federal legislature will correct the language needed to ensure that counties like ours that rely on natural resources revenue will not be negatively impacted.    

In the U.S., there are about 100,000 monkeys, baboons, and other primates living in captivity to support scientific research. About 5,000 of them are at OHSU’s Oregon National Primate Research Center. That’s where researchers do experiments on monkeys to try to get clear data about things like cannabis use during pregnancy, and to find cures for diseases like HIV. Animal rights activists have argued for decades that the center should be closed. And they’re gaining momentum with support from Oregon’s governor and some lawmakers. In addition, scientists who oppose using animals in research argue that the practice has become obsolete and is hindering, not helping the effort to find cures.    OPB health reporter Amelia Templeton recently visited the Oregon National Primate Research Center and talked to a lot of smart people on all sides of this complex topic. She joins us to share her reporting.    Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps: Hush Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars Politics Now Think Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.

The cities of Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village are rethinking what fire service might look like in East Multnomah County. For decades, Gresham’s fire department has contracted with the other cities to provide service. But the cities have grown, and funds for firefighters have not kept up. Now, the cities are considering a new option: a fire district. Instead of Gresham having primary control of services, the municipalities would work together to offer fire support for the area. Holly Bartholomew is an OPB reporter covering Portland’s suburban communities as a Report for America Corps member. She joins us with more on how the cities plan to move forward.

Class is now back in session for students across Oregon. Schools are navigating a new statewide ban on cellphones in the classroom, as well as the growing use of artificial intelligence among both students and educators. Meanwhile, aggressive federal immigration enforcement tactics have raised fears in some communities that schools could become hotspots for arrests. Natalie Pate covers K-12 education for OPB. She joins us to talk about these issues and more.

Last Friday, Oregon lawmakers convened in Salem for a special legislative session called by Gov. Tina Kotek to pass a transportation funding bill. The special session will now likely not end until later this month to allow Democrats to muster the necessary votes to pass the bill in the Oregon Senate. On Monday, the House passed a bill that would raise gas taxes by 6 cents per gallon, hike vehicle registration and titling fees, raise costs for drivers of EVs, and temporarily double a payroll tax that funds public transit. The bill contains many elements of one introduced earlier this year by Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Gresham, who is currently recovering from surgery and is seen as a critical vote for the passage of the new transportation funding bill to avert mass layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation and cuts in the agency’s services. That earlier bill failed during the regularly scheduled legislative session which ended in June.   OPB political reporter Dirk VanderHart joins us for the latest developments about the special legislative session and the political rifts that have emerged as it nears conclusion.  

*Content warning: distressing topics, death, child abuse, child sex abuse, psychological and physical violence, cultic abuse, torture, addiction, humiliation, systemic abuse, religious abuse.  Maia Szalavitz's website:  maiasz.com/ Help at Any Cost: How the Troubled-Teen Industry Cons Parents and Hurts Kids here: maiasz.com/books/help-at-any-cost/  *Sources: Asheville Academy faces $45,000 in fines after state investigation into child safety violations, Spectrum Local News spectrumlocalnews.com/charlotte/supreme-court/news/2025/06/18/asheville-academy-violations  Asheville Academy Gives Up Its License Following Two Suicides in May, Asheville News asheville.com/news/2025/06/asheville-academy-gives-up-its-license-following-two-suicides-in-may/ Asheville Academy violated NC law, will face fines after child suicides report says, Yahoo News .yahoo.com/news/asheville-academy-violated-nc-law-184725552.html  BHAD BHABIE - Breaking Code Silence - Turn About Ranch abuse Dr. Phil | Danielle Bregoli youtube.com/watch?v=GteqbsYGv1I  Bhad Bhabie Says She Was Abused at Troubled-Teen Camp She Was Sent to by Dr. Phil: 'No Sympathy', People people.com/music/bhad-bhabie-says-she-was-abused-camp-she-was-sent-to-dr-phil  Breaking Code Silence Takes On the Troubled Teen Industry, Treatment Magazine treatmentmagazine.com/breaking-code-silence-takes-on-the-troubled-teen-industry/  A Death in the Desert, Los Angeles Times latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-15-tm-20285-story.html  Dr. Phil Has Responded To Bhad Bhabie's Allegations Of Abuse And Then She Replied With Another Video, BuzzFeed buzzfeed.com/ryanschocket2/dr-phil-responds-to-bhad-bhabie-allegations  Dr. Phil responds to 'Bhad Bhabie' claims of abuse at troubled teen camp, News Nation facebook.com/watch/?v=2501186526842381  Cults and the Law, ICSA articles3.icsahome.com/articles/cults-and-the-law The Cult that Spawned the Tough-Love Teen Industry, Mother Jones motherjones.com/politics/2007/08/cult-spawned-tough-love-teen-industry/ Ex-Counselor Convicted of Neglect, Desert News deseret.com/1996/11/7/19275546/ex-counselor-convicted-of-neglect/ Father Sues Challenger Over Daughter's Death, Desert News deseret.com/1991/7/24/18932325/father-sues-challenger-over-daughter-s-death/  Five Facts About the Troubled Teen Industry, American Bar Association  americanbar.org/groups/litigation/resources/newsletters/childrens-rights/five-facts-about-troubled-teen-industry/  Former North Star Counselor Sentences to a Year in Jail, Desert News deseret.com/1996/12/21/19284306/former-north-star-counselor-sentenced-to-a-year-in-jail/  Here's what Paris Hilton says about Utah in her new memoir, ‘Paris', The Salt Lake Tribune sltrib.com/news/2023/03/14/heres-what-paris-hilton-says-about/  House passes bill backed by Paris Hilton to reform youth treatment facilities, AP News apnews.com/article/paris-hilton-child-abuse-youth-facilities-congress-8729a53bbf17b25ae2726040ce3cc203  Jury Acquits Cartisano of All Charges, Desert News deseret.com/1992/5/28/18986401/jury-acquits-cartisano-of-all-charges-br/  Keeping 'Cult' Out of the Case, Cult Education Institute  culteducation.com/group/1274-straight-inc/19713-keeping-cult-out-of-the-case.html  KIDS Centers of America, Breaking Code Silence breakingcodesilence.org/kids-centers-of-america/ Lawsuit claims staff at former St. George youth center abused, impregnated teenage girls, KUTV kutv.com/news/local/lawsuit-claims-staff-at-former-st-george-youth-center-abused-impregnated-teenage-girls  Nine charged after teen's camp death, Tampa Bay Times tampabay.com/archive/1994/10/20/nine-charged-after-teen-s-camp-death/  One school with an alarming death rate has its alumni fighting for answers, The Independent the-independent.com/news/long_reads/new-york-hancock-school-overdose-death-suicide-education-america-a8531006.html   Paris Hilton's Powerful Speech in DC: Ending Abuse in the Troubled Teen Industry, Paris Hilton youtube.com/watch?v=HcHXWc7N2xc    Paris Hilton testifying today in Sacramento for bill aimed at ‘troubled teen industry', Los Angeles Times latimes.com/california/story/2024-04-04/paris-hilton-sacramento-california-bill-troubled-teen-industry-residential-treatment  The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping https://www.netflix.com/title/81579761 Rebecca Ehrlich vs. Kids of North Jersey, Inc., et al law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-published/2001/a4975-99-opn.html Residential treatment school closes in NC after deaths of 2 girls, AP News apnews.com/article/therapy-school-closes-north-carolina-asheville-academy-9854c3ca7cda11cc06f05d9fccef4112  Romney Cans Golden Goose Over Abuse, Radar Online radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/10/mitt-romney-robert-lichfield-php   Romney, Torture, and Teens, Reason Foundation reason.com/2007/06/27/romney-torture-and-teens  Senate report says US taxpayers help fund residential treatment facilities that put vulnerable kids at risk, OPB opb.org/article/2024/06/12/senate-report-us-taxpayers-fund-residential-treatment-facilities-that-put-vulnerable-kids-at-risk/  State investigation finds licensing violations at Asheville Academy amid student suicides, ABC 13 News wlos.com/news/local/asheville-academy-state-licensing-violations-student-suicides-north-carolina-department-health-human-services-mental-health-certification-section-report-letter-buncombe-county-weaverville  Survival program charged in death of Fla. teen-ager, Tampa Bay Times tampabay.com/archive/1990/08/15/survival-program-charged-in-death-of-fla-teen-ager The Synanon Case, IRS.gov https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopicb90.pdf    Teen Torture Inc. Is the Latest Documentary to Explore Abuses at Youth Treatment Centers, Time time.com/6997172/teen-torture-max-abuse-documentary  This 1970s Cult Inspired Abusive Teen Rehabilitation Methods Still Used Today, Teen Vogue teenvogue.com/story/this-1970s-cult-inspired-abusive-teen-rehabilitation-methods-still-used-today   How the Brainwashing Label Threatened and Enabled the Troubled-Teen Industry, Journal of American Studies researchgate.net/publication/379883774_To_Use_This_Word_Would_Be_Absurd_How_the_Brainwashing_Label_Threatened_and_Enabled_the_Troubled-Teen_Industry  Troubled-teen industry oversight bill sails through Congress, NBC News yahoo.com/news/troubled-teen-industry-oversight-bill-222536418.html   The Troubled Teen Industry's Troubling Lack of Oversight, Penn Carey Law law.upenn.edu/live/news/15963-the-troubled-teen-industrys-troubling-lack-of  The Troubled Teen Industry Timeline unsilenced.org/troubled-teen-industry-timeline/ Virgil Miller Newton, Surviving Straight Inc. survivingstraightinc.com/MillerNewton/MillerNewtonTimeline.pdf  Unexpected Turn Of Events With Teen After Appearance On ‘Dr. Phil' youtube.com/watch?v=L_kiav0p5Iw  Utah Criminal Code le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter5/76-5-S206.html What You Need to Know About the Troubled Teen Industry, The Law Offices of Lisa Kane Brown lisakanebrown.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-troubled-teen-industry  WWASP, Unsilenced https://www.unsilenced.org/timeline/wwasp/  Why has the USA not ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?, medRxiv medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.09.05.24312304v2.full  Wyden Investigation Exposes Systemic Taxpayer-Funded Child Abuse and Neglect in Youth Residential Treatment Facilities, United States Senate Committee on Finance  finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/wyden-investigation-exposes-systemic-taxpayer-funded-child-abuse-and-neglect-in-youth-residential-treatment-facilities  3 Plead Guilty to Negligence in Teen's Death, Desert News deseret.com/1996/9/28/19268520/3-plead-guilty-to-negligence-in-teen-s-death/  *SWW S24 Theme Song - U Think U by Glad Rags: https://www.gladragsmusic.com/  The S24 cover art is by the Amazing Sara Stewart