Podcasts about oregon department

Oregon lawmakers recently unveiled a proposal to maintain the state’s roads and bridges. House Bill 2025 would raise the state’s gas tax by 15 cents, raise vehicle fees and add oversight to the Oregon Department of Transportation, according to OPB reporting. The bill could raise more than $2 billion annually by 2034, according to a revenue analysis. What does the proposal mean for cities and counties? Dan Dorran is a Umatilla County Commissioner. Jim McCauley is the legislative director for the League of Oregon Cities. They join us with more on the role that cities and counties play in Oregon’s transportation system and why funding is critical at the local level.

On today's episode of the Rokcast, Robby hosts Don Whittaker, Ungulate Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Don is on the forefront of redesigning Oregon's Wildlife Management Units to align with the latest research on Oregon mule deer herds.  These new "herd units" will replace the former unit boundaries and allow Oregon's wildlife professionals to better manage mule deer.  This is cutting-edge wildlife managament that other western states are likely to adopt as we learn more about mule deer and how they utilize a wide range of habitats across North America. A few of the talking points Don & Robby cover: Why is the change necessary? New naming system Larger hunt areas Fewer total hunts Tag adjustments Landowner preference tags Preference points Proposed hunts and tag numbers will be available online in July 2025 What about whitetails and elk—are there hunt areas changing? What about management objectives? MOs for population and buck:doe ratios were restructured to align with herd range Learn more on Oregon mule deer at Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife here https://myodfw.com/articles/eastern-oregon-deer-hunts Rokcast is powered by onX Hunt. For 20% off, use Promo Code “Rokcast” at onX Hunt here https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app You can also find Robby's books, Hunting Big Mule Deer and The Stories on Amazon here or signed copies from the Rokslide store here https://www.rokslide.com/product-category/mule-deer-books/     

In this edition, host Zach Urness focuses on how to fish the state's hike-in alpine lakes with expert angler and fish biologist Jeff Ziller with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Ziller has worked on stocking and surveying Oregon's mountain lakes since the 1980s. In the first half of the podcast, he talks about where to find fish in Oregon's mountain lakes, what type of fish can be had and how they got there in the first place. In the second half, Ziller breaks down the best methods to catch rainbow and brook trout, how to clean and eat them, and which taste best.

The Oregon legislature is about to pass Senate Bill 1182, which would authorize the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to give away the half-billion dollar, four-acre, I-5 lid over the Rose Quarter—plus all property and development rights and contracts—to a single black-owned nonprofit, the Albina Vision Trust or AVT.ODOT's Design Summary for the cover states that a “Black-led, community development corporation” would control the property and development. AVT's leader states that “the Black community should be able to have both the land on the freeway caps and the jobs that come with building them.”This would qualify as denying opportunities to those who aren't Black, based solely upon their race. The Supreme Court outlawed this practice two years ago in Fair Admissions v. Harvard when the majority wrote, “ameliorating societal discrimination does not constitute a compelling interest that justifies race-based state action.”In other words, SB1182 would support construction and ownership opportunities that violate state and federal laws prohibiting race-based discrimination. Handing over public assets to a private organization who plans to hire only Black contractors will simply invite litigation, and legislators should be ashamed of themselves for approving it.The Governor should veto SB1182.

Aaron Bott is the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Wolf Biologist. Joel and Aaron discuss the complexities of managing wolves on a landscape and the controversy that wolves cause. Aaron talks to the history, behavior, and characteristics of wolves and the ungulates they prey on. https://bushsurvivaltraining.com/ Visit Folsompointnutrition.com and use code INTHEBUSH on checkout to receive a 20% discount on 100% grass fed Bison supplements. Please support them to support us.

Last week, Oregon State Police, joined by multiple state and local agencies, completed a search of a roadside zoo in Bandon on the Southern Oregon Coast. More than 300 animals were seized and relocated to animal sanctuaries or rescue facilities. Three animals, including a camel, were euthanized because they were determined to be in such poor health they could not be transported or treated, according to OSP. The Oregon Humane Society, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife assisted OSP with the four-day search and criminal investigation, which is ongoing. The now-closed West Coast Game Park Safari opened in 1972 and lured visitors with a chance to encounter exotic animals like tigers, lions, chimpanzees and emus. Over the years, it had garnered numerous complaints from community members and organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals over suspected animal neglect and possible violations of state wildlife regulations. Inspectors at the Department of Agriculture cited the roadside zoo 78 times in the past year alone for animals that had gone missing, appeared underfed or were denied adequate veterinary care, among other violations of the Animal Welfare Act.  Jefferson Public Radio reporter Justin Higginbottom has been following this story and joins us with more details. 

David Hart isn’t necessarily one of the  people you’d expect to be critical of the $7.4 billion multi-state opioid settlement reached with drug company Purdue. For 25 years, he was the assistant attorney general at the Oregon Department of Justice until his retirement last month, and he headed the department’s opioid litigation and recovery/pharmaceutical fraud unit. One way or another, he’s represented the state in opioid litigation and negotiations since 2004. But since he’s now retired, he feels an obligation to speak out about a settlement that he says is far too lenient and favorable to the Sackler family and their company, Purdue. Hart describes their behavior in igniting and fueling the opioid crisis “the worst of the worst.” He spoke with our news partner The Lund Report about his concerns and wrote an op-ed in the Oregonian/Oregonlive. He joins us to detail his concerns and how he’s making his case to the attorneys general in Oregon and the other states involved.

Graphic design is a big part of communicating conservation, and even though it's a visual art, it often takes place behind the scenes in a busy communication team setting. Smokey Solis is the graphic designer for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and like many of us, he wears many hats and has other duties as assigned, but it all comes back to good design. Smokey talked with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Tim Akimoff, host of the Outdoor Communicators Podcast, about how he got started in graphic design for a conservation agency and about what good design means to a team of people working together to convey many complicated aspects of fish and wildlife management. They migtht also have touched on tinned fish and tea, as Smokey and Tim share many affinities for fine tasting things and great design.  Questions about graphic design in conservation communication? Please feel free to reach out directly to Smokey Solis about those.  Smokey Solis Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation - 1801 N. Lincoln Blvd.Oklahoma City, Oklahoma(405) 522-4028smokey.solis@odwc.ok.gov

Over-promising and under-delivering has been the habit of Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) for decades, with businesses and counties enduring financial hardships from ODF's inconsistent timber sales. House Bill 3103 with the -1 amendment seeks to address these concerns by requiring ODF to create five-year projections on Sustainable Harvest Levels (SHL) by December 31, 2026 and to offer one-fifth of this timber for sale annually.If there is a deficit in volume from the previous year, it will be added to the volume of the following year. The proposal also accounts for exceptions due to changing forest dynamics like wildfire, disease, and pests. HB 3103 also grants standing for those receiving funds from state timber sales to sue ODF if the SHLs are not published or met.In the 1940s, counties placed thousands of acres of forest land in a public trust with the state of Oregon. Millions of dollars were expected to be generated from this arrangement. But in recent decades, ODF has consistently failed at meeting sale projections.In a state with some of the most stringent timber harvest regulations worldwide, unpredictable harvest levels will cause end-users to import timber from less regulated regions. Oregon timber is harvested responsibly, but the only way to ensure that Oregon's environmental priorities are impactful is by creating a consistent supply of Oregon timber products.

Fay Stetz-Waters is the Civil Rights and Social Justice Director for the Oregon Department of Justice. As the Director of Civil Rights and Social Justice, she is committed to increasing the Department's impact on civil rights issues affecting marginalized and vulnerable Oregonians. Fay has been a strong advocate for justice her whole life. She enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at age 17, where she worked as a field radio operator. While working as a 911 dispatcher at night, Fay earned a bachelor's degree in history and graduated with honors from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. She attended Lewis and Clark Law School, where she wrote on constitutional issues like marriage equality, transgender rights, and crime victims' rights.Tune in to this episode of Black Beat Podcast with John Washington and Amber Ontiveros who speak with Stetz-Waters about:A broader 'culture war' that pits different communities against each otherEnsuring that the Bias Response Hotline respects free speech while addressing genuine cases of bias and hate crimesOther policy measures the Oregon DOJ is working on to ensure better protection for marginalized and vulnerable OregoniansThank you for being a part of our show where we take pride in improving people's perceptions of capability, significance and influence in their lives and in their communities.

In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Heidi Sipe, Superintendent of Umatilla School District in Oregon, a role she has held for a remarkable 17 years. Dr. Sipe previously served as  the district's Federal Programs Director and Assistant Superintendent for five years. She also has a higher education background: She is an Adjunct Professor at Lewis and Clark College in Oregon and was an Adjunct Professor at Concordia University in Chicago.  Dr. Sipe brings a government perspective as well, having served as an Assistant Superintendent in the Oregon Department of Education.Some Questions We Ask:What is the most rewarding aspect of serving as a superintendent? (01:24)What is your opinion about the 2023 RAND Study and how do you cope with stress in the superintendency? (02:06)How has scrutiny of the superintendency changed over the years? (03:26)What are your strategies for bringing the community together to see your vision as a superintendent? (06:51)How do you gauge the engagement level of your community?  (10:00)Do you think your stress level as a superintendent is representative of others across the nation? (11:30)What creative ways have you used storytelling and communication? (13:04)What's your advice to district leaders who are having difficulty building a community? (16:56)Why is it important to see superintendents as real people? (20:02)How can we better support superintendents in their roles? (21:39)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Rewarding aspects of the superintendency (01:33)Dr. Sipe's opinion on the 2023 RAND study and stress coping mechanisms (02:22)Scrutiny of the superintendency (03:31)Bringing the community together around one vision (07:01)Gauging community engagement levels (10:12)Stress level comparisons among superintendents (11:41)Creative ways of reaching out to the community (13:17)Advice for other district leaders (17:01)The importance of humanizing superintendents (20:28)Tips for advocating for superintendents (21:50)Quotes:“How I do parental involvement: I try to be places. I try to visit. I try to get to know people.”“We can't ever forget that we are given this incredible opportunity—but also responsibility—to be a partner in raising the next generation of leaders, and if we don't own that and recognize the significance of it, we're failing our communities. No one's going to trust someone to be a partner in raising their kid unless they know that person and they know what they stand for."Stay in touch with Dr. Heidi Sipe:LinkedIn Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:SWPR GROUP WebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Chad Bolser:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

Gregory Gourdet Chef and Founder - Kann and SousòlAuthor, Everyone's Table: Global Recipes for Modern Health - 2022 James Beard Foundation Award Winner2023 James Beard Foundation Award Winner for Best New Restaurant2024 James Beard Foundation Award Winner for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific RegionCulinary Director Printemps - New York Gregory Gourdet is a three-time James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef, best-selling author, and television personality. He is best known for his award-winning cuisine, bevy of TV appearances, and trendsetting role in the culinary boom of Portland, Oregon.A native of Queens, NY, Gregory attended the Culinary Institute of America, becoming the school's first student to land an internship with celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. For nearly seven years, Gregory honed his culinary skills at three of Jean-Georges' trailblazing restaurants, climbing the kitchen ranks to become one of his chef de cuisines. Gregory ran the kitchen at Portland's Departure Restaurant + Lounge for 10 years, leaving in 2019 to focus on opening Kann. An avid traveler and lifelong student of food and culture, Gregory has made a name for himself by infusing methods and ingredients from all over the world, balanced together with his Haitian heritage, and creating signature flavors adored for their seasonality, boldness, complexity, and spice. He was named “Chef of the Year” by both Eater Portland and the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and is a two-time Bravo Top Chef finalist.In 2021, Gregory released his first cookbook, Everyone's Table: Global Recipes for Modern Health, the ultimate guide to cooking globally-inspired dishes free of gluten, dairy, soy, legumes, and grains. The book is a national bestseller and a 2022 James Beard Award winner for Best General Cookbook. August 2022 brought about the opening of Kann, a live-fire dinner house that showcases traditional Haitian flavors alongside dishes inspired by the cuisines of the African and Caribbean diaspora. Kann was quickly recognized by Eater, The New York Times, and Robb Report as a “Best New Restaurant”; Esquire named Kann the #1 “Best New Restaurant in America.” Portland Monthly and The Oregonian also named it restaurant of the year. Kann was named the James Beard Foundation Awards 2023 “Best New Restaurant.”In September of 2022, Gregory opened Sousòl, Kann's subterranean sibling cocktail bar. Sousòl draws inspiration from the greater Pan-Caribbean for its food and drink menu. It also features a full zero-proof menu for an inclusive experience for drinkers and non-drinkers alike. In 2023, Sousòl was named one of Esquire's “Best Bars in America.”In 2024, Gregory's culinary career was recognized by the James Beard Foundation Awards, which named him “Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific.” The same year, Kann was featured on the inaugural “25 Best Restaurants in Portland, OR Right Now” list by The New York Times and was featured on La Liste's 2025 list of the world's best restaurants. In his role as Culinary Director of Printemps New York, opening March 2025, Gourdet will oversee five concepts, ranging from fine dining to a casual cafe—each a celebration of artistry, unparalleled quality, innovation, culture, and creativity.Gregory sees food as nourishment and is committed to moving the restaurant industry forward sustainably and equitably. He is a member of the US State Department's American Culinary Corp. He is also an ambassador for the Marine Stewardship Council.He spends his spare time trail-running in the woods for hours.Gregory is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and openly gay. He is a member of Alcoholics Anonymous and Ben's Friends, a national recovery group for the restaurant industry.

More than one in five bridges in Oregon was in “distressed” condition in 2024. That’s according to the Oregon Department of Transportation’s annual bridge condition report. Oregon also has the fewest number of bridges in “good” condition as determined by federal standards compared to six other Western states. Under ideal conditions, ODOT says it would be able to replace 27 of those bridges per year. But with its current resources, it’s only on pace to replace three.  Tova Peltz is a statewide capital program engineer at ODOT. She joins us with an update on how the state’s bridges are faring.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a class of synthetic chemicals that have been used since the 1940s to manufacture a wide range of products, from nonstick cookware to firefighting foam, clothes and electronics. PFAS have also been described as “forever chemicals” because they easily disperse and persist in the environment, where they’ve been found in drinking water, soil, air and even the food supply. This week, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality opened public comment on its proposed rulemaking to regulate six types of PFAS compounds, adding them to the list of more than 800 hazardous substances the agency already regulates. Exposure to certain levels of PFAS may increase the risk for some types of cancer, lead to developmental delays in children, among other adverse health effects, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Last April, the EPA designated two PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances and created the first-ever, national drinking water standard for six PFAS chemicals. Sarah Van Glubt is a cleanup project manager for the Oregon DEQ. She joins us to share what the proposed PFAS regulations would allow for, including testing and cleanup 

Tell us whatcha' think! Send a text to us, here! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on our podcast. This episode features Suzanne Gallagher breaking down the changes in Oregon's sexuality education, focusing on recent updates from the Oregon Department of Education that push support for student identities and peer relationships in the new Sexuality and Education Newsletter. She critiques the promotion of certain health standards, like the HPV vaccine, and talks about how new policies impact minors. Gallagher also dives into the politics behind these changes, the funding driving them, and the lack of conservative voices in the discussion.Support the showIf you need assistance with a situation in your area, please fill out our free consultation form.DONATE TODAY!www.ParentsRightsInEducation.com

April is Earth Month, and what a perfect time to celebrate as the onset of spring brings the first glimpse of nature's fresh vibrancy! While every day could technically be considered Earth Day, April 22 bears the official moniker and is a call to action. With a theme of “Our Power, Our Planet,” each of us is encouraged to determine what this means to us and how we will put our ideas into action. The possibilities are endless and each action toward environmental stewardship makes a difference. HSD embraces and demonstrates conservation practices throughout the year. In the month of April, the days get longer, the grass is greener, and temperatures are more moderate. Earth Month is a perfect time for buildings to take advantage of these conditions to conserve natural resources through efforts like water management, daylight harvesting, and bringing outside air into buildings. This year, HSD is also running a Resource Conservation Challenge that is open to all teachers and administrators, which encourages conservation while at school, work, home, or traveling. Students - ask your teachers about this challenge! For those who are motivated by gamification, try the Earth Month BINGO card! This activity is designed to bring awareness and prompts for more sustainable practices. Print it out and post it on a refrigerator or classroom bulletin board for full family and/or classroom participation, or take the conservation one step further and keep it handy on a phone or computer. The topics listed on the card are simply a guide. The most effective actions - and the ones you're likely to stick with - come from topics that interest you. Have fun!For more ideas and inspiration, visit our Resource Conservation webpage and earthday.org. Our featured event is Liberty's HVAC and boiler replacement project. Even though Liberty High School was just 21 years old in 2024, its proprietary and unique-to-that-building HVAC direct digital control - or DDC - system was at the end of its life. Additionally, three of the school's five boilers had either already failed or were failing. These factors were contributing to poor system performance, high energy usage, and occupant discomfort. The time had come to replace the failing equipment, but with an overall price tag of $2.2 million the District was left wondering how the project could be completed. Energy Services Company. Willdan was hired to assist. Willdan's team worked with the Energy Trust of Oregon and the Oregon Department of Energy to find funding opportunities. With tremendous success, the total Energy Trust incentive awarded was $636,000, which is the largest ever awarded for a single HVAC project. The balance of the project cost was covered by the Department of Energy's SB 1149 Public Purchase Charge program. We now have upgraded DDCs for Liberty's HVAC system, and four new high-efficiency boilers instead of five, which are anticipated to result in an annual energy savings of $140,000. A representative from Willdan presented the School Board with a ceremonial check for the Energy Trust incentive at the February 25 Board meeting. Many thanks to our Facilities team and Resource Conservation Manager Mia Hocking for all of their hard work and dedication to seeing this important project through to its completion. Hot News is produced and emailed to HSD families and staff each week school is in session. Please add the address to your “safe sender” list to make sure you always receive the latest issue. Please also bookmark our district website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hsd.k12.or.us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay informed about what's happening in our district and schools.

In Wallowa County, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has led collaborative research on golden eagles. The pilot project aims to study the survival, movement and reproductive success of the birds. ODFW worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nature Conservancy to capture data.  The golden eagle uses a variety of habitats and seeks rocky cliffs or large trees. It can dive at a speed of 120 miles per hour and preys on animals including squirrels and foxes. Humans are largely responsible for their decline. The birds collide with wind turbines, face habitat loss and are killed illegally.  Holly Tuers Lance is the acting district wildlife biologist for the ODFW field office based in Enterprise. She joins us with more about the raptors and the work being done locally. 

Earlier this month, Oregon joined nine other states in meeting a goal to get 3.3 million electric vehicles on the road by 2025. That number is set to grow under a rule that requires all new passenger cars, SUVs and pickup trucks sold in Oregon to either be fully electric or plug-in hybrid electric by 2035.  But adopting cleaner, more fuel efficient vehicles also means that Oregon and other states are grappling with reduced revenues from gas taxes. Electric vehicle owners also don’t pay any gas tax, which have led states like Oregon to explore launching programs which charge motorists a fee based on how much they travel instead of how often they refill at the pump. The Oregon Department of Transportation has operated a voluntary, pay-by-mile program since 2015. Roughly 800 people are currently enrolled in OReGO, which charges participants 2 cents for every mile driven in Oregon. Joining us to talk about what’s been learned after a decade of this pilot program is Travis Brouwer, assistant director for revenue, finance and compliance at ODOT.  

A once popular teacher at St. Helens High School pivoted his career to communications, becoming a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Education and the Department of Human Services. In now-public allegations, two former students say he sexually abused them when he was a teacher. OPB reporter Joni Auden Land joins us to lay out the investigation.

In 2023, Oregon was awarded more than $58 million in federal grants from the Inflation Reduction Act to plant and maintain trees. The availability of much of those funds remains uncertain.  Earlier this month, the Oregon Department of Forestry, city agencies and nonprofits told Inside Climate News that at least $40 million dollars in grant reimbursements to boost urban tree canopies in Oregon remain unpaid.  Last week, several U.S. farmers and nonprofits sued the Trump administration for withholding grants funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.   Vivek Shandas is a professor of geography at Portland State University and a member of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council. He joins us with more on the future of the state’s tree canopies and what they mean for Oregonians.

Oregon Department of Education releases adolescent literacy framework.

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy had the opportunity to record a podcast in front of a live audience with the new Director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Debbie Colbert. The conversation covers a wide range of topics - wolves, deer, elk, fish, endangered species, and more. Debbie talks about some of ODFW's achievements as well as the reality of how their work is constrained by Federal regulations, lawsuits, and other factors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2017, Oregon lawmakers passed a transportation package that was expected to generate $5.3 billion. Eight years later, revenue forecasts show funding has fallen short of projections, leaving the Oregon Department of Transportation with an ongoing budget crisis. Audits have revealed that ODOT is failing to meet accountability measures set up in the legislation, and many of its projects are behind schedule and over budget. Anastasia Mason recently investigated the 2017 package for the Statesman Journal. She joins us to talk about what the findings could mean for ODOT as it prepares to make another big funding ask this legislative session.

In Oregon's salmon-rich Tualatin River, a water quality trading credit program is being implemented to address the river's Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for temperature impairment. Hear about why this unique approach was selected and how it works, as well as how trading provides broader ecological benefits. About our guests: Brian Creutzburg is the alternative compliance specialist at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Jamie Hughes serves as the program manager in the Regulatory Affairs Department at Clean Water Services.

Tell us whatcha' think! Send a text to us, here! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on our podcast. This episode features Suzanne Gallagher breaking down the changes in Oregon's sexuality education, focusing on recent updates from the Oregon Department of Education that push support for student identities and peer relationships in the new Sexuality and Education Newsletter. She critiques the promotion of certain health standards, like the HPV vaccine, and talks about how new policies impact minors. Gallagher also dives into the politics behind these changes, the funding driving them, and the lack of conservative voices in the discussion.Support the showIf you need assistance with a situation in your area, please fill out our free consultation form.DONATE TODAY!www.ParentsRightsInEducation.com

Tell us whatcha' think! Send a text to us, here! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on our podcast. This episode dives into the big shifts in education policy under the Trump administration, especially the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. It also covers the Oregon Department of Education's push for more aggressive sexuality education and the struggles parental rights efforts are facing in Washington state. The main takeaway? Community involvement and political action are more important than ever.Support the showIf you need assistance with a situation in your area, please fill out our free consultation form.DONATE TODAY!www.ParentsRightsInEducation.com

 Insurers across the country are leaving high-risk areas that are affected by disasters like wildfires. Some Oregonians are experiencing insurance rate increases and are struggling with a shifting insurance market. In Deschutes County, homeowners in fire-prone areas are facing higher insurance premiums, according to The Source Weekly.  And residents in Southern Oregon are seeing similar issues. Earlier this month, Democratic Senator Jeff Golden of Ashland held a town hall in Medford. He spoke with frustrated residents who were concerned about the state’s final wildfire hazard map, according to NBC5 News. Oregon law prohibits insurers from using the map to adjust rates. Mitigating risks through fire-wise communities and creating defensible space are some of the ways residents can show insurers they are taking action.  We hear more about these concerns from Golden and Andrew Stolfi, the state’s insurance commissioner and the director of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business services.    1/31 Insurers across the country are leaving high-risk areas that are affected by disasters like wildfires. Some Oregonians are experiencing insurance rate increases and are struggling with a shifting insurance market. We learn more about the challenges residents are facing in fire-prone areas.

What are suppressed memories, and how can they help heal PTSD? Guest: Deepu Murty, Principle investigator, Adaptive Memory Lab, University of Oregon Department of Psychology Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the ground in LA Guest: Annemarie Wiley, Lives in LA Why our kids need to learn Cursive Guest: Kathleen arnold, associate professor, Dept of Psychology, Radford University What are suppressed memories, and how can they help heal PTSD? Guest: Deepu Murty, Principle investigator, Adaptive Memory Lab, University of Oregon Department of Psychology Does Canada need new leaders, or new parties? Guest: Dominic Cardy, Leader of the Canada future party What's the latest in the search for a new Liberal party leader? Guest: Mackenzie Gray, Global National Reporter How has climate change contributed to the LA Fires? Guest: Adam Rose, Research Professor in the University of Southern California and Senior Research Fellow of USC's Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Threats and Emergencies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

White pelicans are distinctive. Their 9-foot white wings are black tipped, and can create a bit of a mirage when they fly, seemingly appearing and disappearing as they go. Some observers have mistakenly reported them as UFOs. The birds also have notable long orange beaks and the largest wingspan of any other bird in Oregon.     Their populations have increased considerably over the past few decades, and more recently, some pelicans have been spotted staying along the coast and in the Columbia River Basin for longer than expected. Scientists would like to know more about why and what the implications could be for the wider ecosystem. We learn more about white pelican colonies in the Pacific Northwest and how climate change may factor into the health of these birds from James Lawonn, an avian biologist at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

J.H. Baxter & Co. has faced numerous fines from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for violating state environmental regulations. The Eugene plant treated wood products with creosote and other chemicals from the 1940s until it closed in 2022. Now, the company and its owner are facing federal criminal charges for allegedly boiling off 1.7 million gallons of toxic waste and venting the fumes into the surrounding air.  Christian Wihtol covered the federal charges for Eugene Weekly. He joins us with more details.

MDJ Script/ Top Stories for January 2nd Publish Date:  January 2nd    Commercial: From the BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.    Today is Thursday, January 2nd and Happy Birthday to Cuba Gooding Jr ***01.02.25 - BIRTHDAY – CUBA GOODING JR*** I’m Dan Radcliffe and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia.  Former President, Georgia Governor, Noted Humanitarian Jimmy Carter Dies at 100 Cobb School Board Chairman Looks Back on Term Pet Food Co. Recalls Cat Food Contaminated with Bird Flu Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on budget shopping All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  BREAK: CU of GA (06.26.24 CU OF GA FREE CHECKING_REV_FINAL) STORY 1: Former President, Georgia Governor, Noted Humanitarian Jimmy Carter Dies at 100 Jimmy Carter, the longest-living former U.S. president, passed away at 100. His presidency was marked by challenges like the Iran hostage crisis and inflation, but he later built a humanitarian legacy, earning a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. A Georgia native and former peanut farmer, Carter rose from obscurity to become the 39th president, focusing on energy efficiency and international diplomacy. After leaving office, he founded the Carter Center, promoting human rights and democracy. Carter was also a prolific author and active with Habitat for Humanity. He is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. STORY 2: Cobb School Board Chairman Looks Back on Term Randy Scamihorn, serving his fourth term as chairman of the Cobb County Board of Education, navigated a year marked by both controversy and success. The board faced ongoing debates over book removals and transparency, while celebrating achievements like rising test scores and the expansion of the Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy. Scamihorn emphasized fiscal responsibility, notably in the decision to halt a $50 million event center project. The district also focused on safety, partnering with Servius Group for threat assessments. Despite partisan tensions, Scamihorn remains committed to prioritizing student success and maintaining Republican leadership on the board. STORY 3: Pet Food Co. Recalls Cat Food Contaminated with Bird Flu Northwest Naturals, an Oregon-based pet food company, has recalled its raw frozen turkey cat food after it tested positive for bird flu, linked to a cat's death in Oregon. The recall affects two-pound bags of Feline Turkey Recipe sold in multiple states, including Georgia, with "best if used by" dates from May 21 to June 23, 2026. The H5N1 strain was found in both the product and the infected cat. Consumers are advised to discard the product and seek refunds. The Oregon Department of Agriculture emphasizes precautions like avoiding raw meat and reporting sick birds. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.  We’ll be right back  Break: DRAKE (Drake Realty (Cobb County) STORY 4: $10K Lotto Ticket Purchased in Marietta During the holiday season, five Georgians won in the Dec. 24 Mega Millions lottery. Four players matched four numbers and the Mega Ball, winning $10,000 each, while a fifth player used the Megaplier to triple their prize to $30,000. One winning ticket was bought at a Shell Food Mart in Marietta. The winning numbers were 11-14-38-45-46, with the Mega Ball 3 and Megaplier 3X. Winners have 180 days to claim their prizes, and proceeds support education in Georgia. Mega Millions is a multi-state game with drawings every Tuesday and Friday. STORY 5: Judge rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Willis A judge has allowed the Georgia state Senate to subpoena Fulton County DA Fani Willis in its probe of her role in the election interference case against Donald Trump. Willis has until Jan. 13 to contest the subpoenas, which she claims are overly broad. The subpoenas were issued by a Senate committee investigating alleged misconduct. The Georgia Court of Appeals recently disqualified Willis from the case due to a conflict of interest. Despite this, state Sen. Greg Dolezal plans to reestablish the committee to address concerns about Willis' conduct and decision-making. We’ll be back in a moment Break: And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on budget shopping *** INGLES ASK LEAH 3 BUDGETING*** We’ll have closing comments after this. Break: Ingles Markets 8 Signoff-   Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com www.cuofga.org www.drakerealty.com #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public concern over crime in Oregon has intensified, with a significant majority of residents expressing dissatisfaction with local government responses. A May 2024 poll revealed that 78% of Portland-area voters disapprove of how local authorities are handling crime, reflecting widespread unease across various demographics. This sentiment is further underscored by a December 2023 survey, where 74% of respondents expressed worry about becoming crime victims, and 90% were dissatisfied with public safety.  These concerns are substantiated by recent crime statistics. Between 2019 and 2023, Oregon experienced a 10% increase in violent crime, contrasting with a 4% national decline. Notably, the state's murder rate surged by 53%, more than double the national increase of 22%. Aggravated assaults rose by 23% in Oregon, surpassing the national uptick of 10%. While property crimes in Oregon decreased by 11%, this reduction lags behind the national decline of 23%. Motor vehicle thefts in the state escalated by 28%, outpacing the national rise of 15%. You can read our full report on the issue here. Host and Chairman Earl Wright welcomes Mark McMullen, Vice President of Research and Policy for CSI Oregon, and Max Williams, former State Representative, former Director of Oregon Department of Corrections, and Past President and Senior Advisor of the Oregon Community Foundation to discuss the report, its findings, recommendations for a path forward and much more.  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.

Send us a textThe US Fish and Wildlife Service decided to "manage" barred owls by shooting half a million of them over the next three decades. Jason, Rob, and Asher (along with the postal workers at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry) are upset about this plan for addressing the predicament of invasive species. Surely there's a finer tool than a double-barreled shotgun for conserving ecosystems and protecting the species that inhabit them.Warning: This podcast occasionally uses spicy language.Sources/Links/Notes:Bill Lucia, "Plan Finalized to Kill Thousands of Barred Owls around Northwest," Washington State Standard, August 28, 2024.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Final Barred Owl Management Strategy, August 2024."Killing barred owls to save northern spotted owls: Rethinking American wildlife conservation," On Point, WBUR, 9/5/2024.Avram Hiller, Jay Odenbaugh, and Yasha Rohwer, "A Dystopian Effort Is Underway in the Pacific Northwest to Pick Ecological Winners and Losers," New York Times, August 8, 2024.Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, "Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Program."Robert Dietz and Brian Czech, "Conservation Deficits for the Continental United States: an Ecosystem Gap Analysis," Conservation Biology, August 16, 2005.Tom Murphy, "Metastatic Modernity #12: Human Supremacy," Metastatic Modernity Video Series, August 9, 2024.Support the show

Bryan and Reagan are joined by Rep. Vikki Breese Iverson to discuss the special session on wildfire funding, legislative days, and the lack of Christmas decorations at the Capitol. Bryan and Reagan create the ultimate roster of committees for the 2025 legislative session. * Oregon Department of Forestry Asks Treasury for $60 Million Loan* State Treasury Rejects Oregon Department of Forestry's Request for $60 Million Loan This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.crosstabs.studio

Show 14-50 Summary: Too big to fail? Too green to fail? For an agency designed to fund itself and some 200 other public agencies and services, like rural schools, counties, roads, police, and fire, the new “thinking” at the Oregon Department of Forestry just ran out of sustainability. It is now insolvent. And required a … Read More Read More The post 14-50 Bailout: Oregon Department of Forestry Chooses to Be Insolvent appeared first on The I Spy Radio Show.

Willamette Springs Memory Care, a senior living facility in Corvallis, was under 'enhanced supervision' by the state, but continued to operate. As reported in Willamette Week, within the past two years the facility has been cited with upwards of 50 instances of abuse. In September, the Oregon Department of Human Services considered removing the facility's license. However, last month the facility passed its latest inspection, removing admission restrictions and regulatory oversight. Lucas Manfield covers health care for WW. He joins us to share more on the facility and the regulatory power the state has.

Dams, climate change, habitat loss, predation, anglers. Wild salmon must contend with all of these challenges during some point in their lifetimes. But an additional challenge may be having a negative impact on wild salmon that we don't yet quite understand: hatchery salmon. Investigating the impacts of hatchery salmon on wild salmon is no easy feat, and it's not made easier when you're trying to do it in possibly one of the most remote and wild places in Oregon…But that's exactly what our guest this week is doing! Emily Treadway is a first year Master's student advised by Dr. Seth White in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences at OSU. On top of being a graduate student, Emily is also an employee at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife working within the East Region Fish Research Office. Hosted by Lisa Hildebrand.

Oregon recently launched a pilot program to provide liability coverage for prescribed burns that don’t go as intended. The program covers up to $1 million in damages per burn. It’s being managed in tandem with the state’s certified burn manager program, which provides training on how to safely and effectively use prescribed fire on a variety of landscapes. Taken together, the two programs are meant to make it easier and less risky for businesses and contractors to conduct prescribed burns in the state. Amanda Rau is the statewide prescribed fire coordinator for the Oregon Department of Forestry. She joins us to talk more about the programs and how she hopes they’ll increase the use of prescribed fire in Oregon.

The Oregon State Land Board recently approved a plan to enroll the Elliott State Forest in the voluntary carbon credit market.  The forest spans more than 80,000 acres in southwestern Oregon near Coos Bay. Oregon is the second state behind Michigan to dedicate an entire state forest to storing harmful carbon emissions and selling the credits. State officials say the plan will help the state meet its conservation and carbon emission goals, but it isn’t without controversy. Critics say the voluntary market lacks sufficient government oversight and regulation, and Oregon State University and the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians dropped out of the project late last year. Brett Brownscombe is the Elliott State Research Forest transition director at the Oregon Department of State Lands. He joins us with more details about the plan. 

The Elliott State Forest will be preserved by the Oregon Department of State Lands for carbon capture.

Days after the State Department of Cannabis Control removed a regulatory hurdle that was restricting hundreds of Mendocino cannabis farmers to provisional licenses, the board of supervisors discussed revisiting cannabis regulations.Image by the Oregon Department of Agriculture, licensed under Creative Commons 

Daniel Bolen, an agricultural science and technology instructor in Elgin, has advocated for his program. His district received $250,000 from the Oregon Department of Education’s Career and Technical Education Revitalization Grant. Bolen has brought in additional funding to strengthen his district’s program and help kids receive more hands-on learning in livestock management.   Bolen was also named the Oregon Agriculture Teachers' Association Outstanding Teacher this year. We hear more from Bolen on Elgin’s agriculture program and why he hopes to create more opportunities for his students.  

Kezia Wanner is a lifelong Democrat who is running for Portland City Council in District 3. Kezia's experience in public service and public safety is extensive. She has served as the: grants coordinator for Portland Police Bureau; budget and policy analyst for the City of Portland; program manager for Portland Police Bureau; parking enforcement and transportation division manager for Portland Bureau of Transportation; deputy director for the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office; Assistant City Manager for the City of Newberg; deputy director for Portland Fire and Rescue; and business and compliance director for the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.https://www.keziaforportland.comhttps://www.instagram.com/keziaforportland?igsh=MWV6NHR1MzFsZXRtNg==The City Is Inching Toward a New Carbon Tax Even as the Portland Clean Energy Fund Is Awash in Cash

New data from the Oregon Department of Education show that students in the state are still struggling with reading, math and science as they still have not bounced back to pre-pandemic levels. Test results show that less than half of students tested are proficient in English language arts and less than a third are proficient in math. Charlene Williams is the director of ODE. She joins us to share more on the results and what can be done at the state level.

In this episode, host Zach Urness goes deep on the record coho salmon runs in the Upper Willamette Basin. Urness talks with Chris Kern, the west region manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, about what makes coho unique, why their numbers have been skyrocketing and how anglers can catch them.

This week we hear about Oregon's Farm to School program and how it helps make the connection between Oregon agriculture and pollinators in the classroom.  We are joined by Rick Sherman (Farm to Child Nutrition Program Manager at the Oregon Department of Education) and Michelle Markesteyn (Farm to School Specialist at Oregon State University Extension), who also host a great podcast (available on YouTube, Spotify and iTunes).  

In this episode of Mapping Bigfoot, host Scott Tompkins sits down with Tanner Hoskins, a dedicated explorer from Oregon, to discuss the unique overlap between Bigfoot research and missing persons recovery. Tanner, who co-founded the Pacific Northwest Bigfoot Search and the Pacific Northwest Missing Persons Project (PNWMPP), shares how his fascination with Sasquatch led him to create a nonprofit focused on cold cases in rural areas. Together, they dive into Tanner's investigative methods, which blend his experience in the outdoors and years of security work, including how his evidence-based searches for missing persons parallel the search for Sasquatch.Listeners will hear Tanner's inspiring story, from his early days exploring Bigfoot sightings with friends to his current role helping families find closure in the wilderness. They also discuss the challenges of navigating vast, remote terrains and how modern tools like LiDAR and mapping technologies are shaping both Bigfoot investigations and missing persons searches. Whether you're intrigued by Bigfoot or fascinated by cold cases, this episode offers a unique blend of adventure, technology, and heartwarming dedication to solving mysteries in the Pacific Northwest.Check out the links mentioned in this episode:The Pacific Northwest Missing Persons Project (PNWMPP): pnwmpp.orgLiDAR mapping data from Oregon Department of Geology: oregongeology.orgBook recommendation: Lost Person Behavior on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Person-Behavior-search-rescue/dp/1879471396The Bigfoot Mapping Project: bigfootmap.comDon't miss out on these great resources to learn more and get involved!

On Monday, the Oregon Department of Forestry confirmed that the emerald ash borer has been discovered in three new counties in the Willamette Valley. In the past month, the invasive pest was caught in traps set in Marion and Yamhill counties, and is also suspected of being in neighboring Clackamas County, pending confirmation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The highly destructive beetle, which is native to Asia, has killed over 100 million ash trees nationwide since it first appeared in the U.S. over 20 years ago. The state’s agriculture and forestry departments quickly mobilized to contain it when it was first spotted in Oregon in Forest Grove in Washington County two years ago. Those efforts included issuing a quarantine that’s now permanent to prevent the movement of firewood and other plant materials out of the county made from ash, white fringe and olive trees. State crews have also removed infested ash trees and have been treating healthy trees with insecticide near infestation sites. Lilah Gonen is a community assistance forester and the emerald ash borer coordinator for ODF. They join us to talk about the state’s efforts to slow the spread of emerald ash borer and the threat it poses to native Oregon ash trees.  

Since the Grants Pass v. Johnson ruling in late June, which ruled that cities are now able to ban camping or sleeping in public spaces, local governments have been navigating how to handle this new power. For years, Deschutes County has battled with the Oregon Department of State Lands on a pending land swap between county-owned lands and the state. In 2022, the state required that the county clear homeless encampments on county property before making any deals. Now, as Clayton Franke from the Bend Bulletin reports, Deschutes County commissioners are in disagreement about how to address homelessness and these encampments after the Supreme Court ruling. Franke joins to share more.