Podcast appearances and mentions of tina kotek

A foster care bill in the Oregon legislature is controversial, but unlike other hotly contested issues, it’s not one that breaks along party lines. House Bill 3835 would allow kids in the child welfare system to be sent out of state to receive services —  a practice Oregon stopped several years ago after documented incidents of abuse. Democratic governor Tina Kotek has publicly spoken in favor of the bill, and it’s sponsored by Rep. Rob Nosse, D - Portland. But Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, D - Corvallis, is among those in her party who vehemently oppose it. We hear from both lawmakers to get their perspectives on how the bill would — or would not —  meet the needs of some of Oregon’s most vulnerable children. 

Tell us whatcha' think! Send a text to us, here! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on our podcast. BEST of the BEST!! July 14, 2023OREGON: GENDER TRANSITION CAPITALTell us whatcha' think! Send a text to us, here! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on our podcast.Longest Drag Show Ever!PORTLAND, Ore. — The City Council on Thursday unanimously approved the renaming of O'Bryant Square to Darcelle XV Plaza, located at Southwest Harvey Milk Street and Park Avenue.The change honors the life and legacy of Walter Cole, who dazzled people on stage for five decades as Darcelle.“By renaming O'Bryant Square to Darcelle Plaza, we send a resounding message of support and recognition to the LGBTQI+ community, reminding them that they are valued, and they are cherished members of our Portland family,” said City Commissioner Dan Ryan.Darcelle was the oldest working drag queen until her death this March at the age of 92.PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The bill that sparked the longest Oregon Senate walkout in state history were quietly signed by Gov. Tina Kotek on Thursday, officials say.The governor's office confirmed HB 2002  – was signed into law and will receive a ceremonial signing at a later date.Provides Dangerous Gender Affirming Counseling and Treatments Without Parents' Knowledge or Consent at Taxpayer Expense!The law guarantees Oregonians ages 15 or older can access reproductive health care, including abortion. It also allows people of the same age to access care without parental permission in some cases and protects healthcare providers from out-of-state investigations and legal action.The bill also backs more gender-affirming procedures in insurance coverage — including facial feminization surgery and hair removal treatments — and implements a fine of up to $6,250 and a prison sentence of up to 364 days for anyone who interferes with health care facilities.•          Eliminates any age of consent requirements for Gender-affirming treatment and procedures. •          Requires written permission from a child of any age for a parent to know what health services—including Gender-affirming treatment—are provided by a health care provider.•          Pharmacists will be authorized to provide Gender-Affirming Treatment medications without regard to the age of the patient.•          By mandating insurance coverage and protecting doctors, this bill sets Oregon up to provide treatments to patients from other states. Republicans returned to the Senate floor June 15 after a multi-week walkout that stalled dozens of bills and left at least nine RepubSupport the showIf you need assistance with a situation in your area, please fill out our free consultation form.DONATE TODAY!www.ParentsRightsInEducation.com

Portland Archbishop Alexander Sample condemned what he described as a “celebration of death” after Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed a proclamation to make March 10 an “appreciation day” for abortionists. “There are moments when words fail,” Sample wrote in a letter that also offered a pastoral teaching about the sanctity of human life. Deacon Harold expands this more today. Also looking into Soulf Psalm 78:49-51

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek stopped by the OPB studio this week for an extended interview with Think Out Loud. She talked about her housing policy, what she views as her role in responding to the Trump administration and much more. It was a meaty conversation. Here’s governor Kotek with OPB’s Dave Miller  

Since our last conversation with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, President Trump has enacted tariffs and mass layoffs that could significantly impact Oregon’s federal workforce and economy. The Oregon Legislature has also begun its biennial session, taking up issues around education, transportation and housing. Kotek joins us in the studio to talk about all of that and more.

Many Oregon students are struggling to pass tests and graduate. State lawmakers and Gov. Tina Kotek are trying to do something about it. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we talk about the state of Oregon schools and the policies proposed during this year’s legislative session. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Hour 2 Segment 1 Tony starts the second hour of the show talking more about the American and Canadian tariffs. Tony also talks about Oregon Governor, Tina Kotek, declaring March 10th Abortion Provider Appreciation Day. Hour 2 Segment 2 Tony plays the latest White House press briefing from Karoline Leavitt as she talks about Lori Chavez-DeRemer and pro-Hamas supporters. Hour 2 Segment 3 Tony continues to play Leavitt’s White House press briefing. Hour 2 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the second hour of the show talking about the massive cyber-attack from Dark Storm that took down X yesterday. Tony also talks more about Bill Burr going off on Elon Musk. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 Segment 1 Tony starts the show talking about President Donald Trump raising Canadian steel and aluminum tariffs to 50% as Ontario’s government put a 25% tax on electricity. Hour 1 Segment 2 Tony talks about Thomas Massie will be voting no on the continuing resolution. Hour 1 Segment 3 Tony talks about Dylan Mulvaney going on The View. Tony also talks about an article from National Review is President Trump can deport a green card holding, pro-Hamas Columbia grad. Hour 1 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the first hour of the show talking about Bill Burr going off on Elon Musk. Hour 2 Segment 1 Tony starts the second hour of the show talking more about the American and Canadian tariffs. Tony also talks about Oregon Governor, Tina Kotek, declaring March 10th Abortion Provider Appreciation Day. Hour 2 Segment 2 Tony plays the latest White House press briefing from Karoline Leavitt as she talks about Lori Chavez-DeRemer and pro-Hamas supporters. Hour 2 Segment 3 Tony continues to play Leavitt’s White House press briefing. Hour 2 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the second hour of the show talking about the massive cyber-attack from Dark Storm that took down X yesterday. Tony also talks more about Bill Burr going off on Elon Musk. Hour 3 Segment 1 Tony starts the final hour of the show joined with William Jacobson of the Cornell Law School, to talk about the green card holding, pro-Hamas Columbia grad. Hour 3 Segment 2 Tony talks about Pope Francis’ prognosis has been lifted on his 25th consecutive day in the hospital after overcoming bilateral pneumonia. Hour 3 Segment 3 Tony talks about Randi Weingarten saying she doesn’t want the department of education to be abolished Hour 3 Segment 4 Tony wraps up another edition of the show talking about Ukraine willing to accept a 30-day ceasefire with Russia as the U.S. lifts freeze on aid and intelligence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has been consistent about her priorities since entering the governor’s mansion: housing, homelessness and healthcare. That’s left some wondering where she stands on climate and environmental issues. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Monica Samayoa discuss Kotek’s priorities and vision on the climate beat. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

It's no secret that Oregon has an affordable housing problem. Gov. Tina Kotek has set an ambitious goal of building 36,000 units of housing a year, but so far, the state is nowhere close to hitting that target. Housing and real estate reporter Jonathan Bach recently went to Bend to spotlight a small but meaningful piece of the affordable housing puzzle: Community land trusts. He dissects them on this week's episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, and also checks in on other strategies the state is using to chip away at its housing backlog. And don't miss the end of the episode, where Bach discusses the commercial real estate projects that are set to break big in 2025, including the new James Beard Public Market in Portland. Pike Place, Portland's coming for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Camarillo, Executive Secretary of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss a recent executive order from Gov. Tina Kotek mandating Project Labor Agreements on certain state-funded construction projects. Tom Buffenbarger, former International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to share his insights on the evolving landscape of labor rights and the challenges posed by the new Trump administration.

Republican Cliff Bentz represents Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District in Congress. It’s the largest district in Oregon, and represents around two-thirds of the state. It encompasses the Owyhee Canyonlands, one of the state’s most-known but — as of yet — unprotected natural places. Conservationists and others, including Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, have called on President Joe Biden to create a national monument here but so far that hasn’t happened. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden has been working since 2019 on a bill to create a national monument on 1.1 million acres of land. The legislation was co-sponsored by Oregon’s other Democratic U.S. Senator, Jeff Merkley. The bill passed the Senate last year but died in the House. Bentz proposed his own version last fall, but says he’ll work with the senators on a new plan that can pass both chambers. We talk with Bentz about the way forward for Owyhee protection.

At the end of September, when the federal government canceled Oregon's first-ever offshore wind lease sale, many people were left with questions about why and what's next. The announcement from the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management came after Gov. Tina Kotek sent a letter to the agency asking it to stop the Oct. 15 auction. Kotek cited tribal opposition and a tribal lawsuit among the reasons for halting the lease sale. That lawsuit was filed by the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, which has emerged over the past two years as one of the most vocal opponents of offshore wind, demanding the bureau conduct in-depth reviews of the impacts of floating turbines on marine life and fishing areas. Despite the lawsuit and the canceled auction, the tribal confederation has continued talks with the federal agency. Because the reality is that the turbines are badly needed to generate clean electricity and help achieve state and federal climate goals. The questions remain: how and where should these projects be built? Brad Kneaper, Tribal Council chair with the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians and Rick Eichstaedt, the tribes' attorney, talked on Beat Check about why his tribes decided to sue to halt the auction and what the path forward for Oregon's offshore wind is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than 70% of high school teachers in the U.S. say cell phones are a major classroom distraction, according to The Pew Research Center. Across the nation schools are adapting new bans on phones as they continue to cause issues in student learning. A number of Oregon schools have been adapting new practices to minimize the use of phones in class, ranging from cell phone pouches to new district wide policies. Before the school year began, Gov. Tina Kotek said this summer she’d like to see a statewide approach on the issue. Nick Lupo is the principal for Taft 7 - 12 Middle and High School in the Lincoln County School District. His school has been using Yondr pouches since last year. Gabe Pagano is a principal at Cascade Middle School in the Bend-La Pine School District, where a new “silent and away” policy has been put in place across the district. They join us  to share more on these policies and phone use has changed over the years in Oregon schools.

A lot has changed statewide since Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek last appeared on “Think Out Loud” in October 2023. Since then, the state’s three-year experiment with drug decriminalization has ended, a state of emergency was declared to address the fentanyl overdose crisis in Multnomah County, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on a homelessness case out of Grants Pass and the governor faced backlash for the prominent role her wife has played in her administration.We spent an hour in Salem recently to get an update from the governor on all of those developments and more.

We're taking a break from the normal pod this week, but with good reason. OPB's Think Out Loud host Dave Miller recently sat down with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek for a lengthy discussion that touches on cell phones in schools, the controversy over first lady Aimee Kotek Wilson and lots more. We'll be back with a new episode next week.

Authorities in Oregon have known for over three decades that groundwater in the eastern part of the state, a rural region where many people rely on domestic wells for drinking water, is contaminated with high levels of nitrates and unsafe to drink – yet, until recently, have done little to address the problem. Until 2022, many people in the region had no idea they had been drinking contaminated water for years. Some still don't know it because the state has tested only about half the affected domestic wells despite a 2023 deadline to finish the testing. Research has linked high nitrate consumption over long periods to stomach, bladder and intestinal cancers, miscarriages, as well as thyroid issues. It is especially dangerous to infants who can quickly develop “blue baby syndrome,” a fatal illness. In May and again earlier this month, three dozen nonprofits and two retired Oregon Department of Environmental Quality administrators sent a letter to Gov. Tina Kotek asking her to make good on her promises to test all domestic wells in the region, find a permanent source of water for those forced to rely on bottled water and take action to clean up the groundwater. Kotek had visited the area after becoming governor.The letter called the nitrate contamination in the Lower Umatilla Basin “among the most pressing environmental justice issues in Oregon.” Most of the population in the region is poor, Latino or Indigenous. Late on Friday, Kotek sent a response. In her letter, the governor said she has directed the Oregon Health Authority to, among other actions, complete the testing of the remaining wells and the retesting of some households identified as being at high risk by June 30, 2025.Kristin Anderson Ostrom, the executive director of Oregon Rural Action, and Kaleb Lay, the group's director of policy and research, talked on Beat Check about why the contamination has taken so long to address, what can be done about it in the short and long term and what the crisis says about Oregon's approach to environmental justice. The eastern Oregon nonprofit, alongside the Morrow County public health department, has been instrumental in testing domestic wells in the region and pushing the state to do more testing and to limit nitrate pollution.Allowing another full year to test the remaining wells and setting the bar low on retesting is not an adequate response, Ostrom said. And the state needs to take substantive action to rein in the sources of pollution, she added. Much of the nitrate contamination comes from farm fertilizer, animal manure and wastewater that are constantly applied to farm fields. “This is an ongoing emergency and it needs to be recognized as one – the lives and health of thousands of our neighbors are at risk and it's the State's responsibility to protect them from further harm,” Ostrom told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Across Oregon, county and city leaders say they don't have the money to maintain their streets and sidewalks. In the Portland area, a pair of mega transportation projects years in the making remain unfinished and drastically underfunded. All the while, the Oregon Department of Transportation says will require an annual $1.8 billion boost to meet a growing list of transit needs throughout the state. The agency's director recently said the entire system is “hemorrhaging.” On the latest Beat Check, reporters Shane Dixon Kavanaugh and Carlos Fuentes discuss Oregon's transportation woes, attempts by state leaders to address them and the messy politics in the middle of it all. Read More: Oregon lawmakers want to fix roads and beef up transit. Where will they find the money? ODOT pumps brakes on two major freeway projects amid budget crisis, tolling pause Gov. Tina Kotek shelves plans for I-5, I-205 tolls in Portland area Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, we introduced you to OPB’s Class of 2025 project, where we are following a class of kindergarteners on their journey all the way through high school. The idea stems from a goal Oregon set more than a decade ago – a 100% high school graduation rate by 2025.    As the Class of 2025 has grown, so has Oregon. That once tall order of a 100% high school graduation rate is no longer the goal. Oregon’s new governor Tina Kotek has another goal in mind: 90% high school graduation rate by 2027.    This week, we want to ask some of the tough questions raised by the reporting OPB has done over the last decade with this project. The biggest ones: Why is Oregon's graduation rate still lower than other states, even after focusing on improving it all these years? And maybe more broadly - is trying to get to 100 percent even the right goal? If it's not, what is? Education reporter Elizabeth Miller is back with us this week to help answer these questions.   Check out OPB’s Class of 2025 podcast.   Check out OPB’s Class of 2025 reporting. 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 April, members of the Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers Association gave testimony at a Wasco County Commissioners meeting over potential rule changes to Oregon’s agricultural labor housing standards. The growers claim many of the changes are too costly to implement and unrelated to health and safety. Columbia Gorge News recently reported on the meeting amid the yearslong effort by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division to update agricultural labor housing rules, some of which haven’t changed in nearly four decades.  Also in April, a coalition of labor unions, racial justice and farmworker advocacy groups sent a letter to Gov. Tina Kotek and the Oregon OSHA administrator expressing their disappointment in what they characterized as a “lack of priority” given to improving the “alarmingly outdated” labor housing standards. Aileen Hymas, a freelance journalist based in Southern Oregon, joins us to share more

Earlier this year, Gov. Tina Kotek, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler declared a 90-day state of emergency to address what has become widely seen as a fentanyl crisis in downtown Portland. The idea was to bring more coordination and resources to bear on the crisis that is claiming lives through fatal drug overdoses and draining the resources of law enforcement, first responders, public health and medical professionals. The 90-day period ended April 29, and the official report on the progress that was made was released today. We talk with Multnomah County Health Officer Dr. Richard Bruno to get the details.  

Governor Tina Kotek apologized this week and said she would not create an office of the first spouse . But what does that actually mean, and did Kotek answer all the questions? On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we delve deep into that story and more.. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Earlier this month, Gov. Tina Kotek threatened to veto $14 million in state funding for seven local infrastructure projects across Oregon unless they could clearly show they would result in new housing development. Last week, she announced that no line-item vetoes would be made to the projects state lawmakers had already approved funding for during this year’s short legislative session. Shady Cove, a city of roughly 3,200 residents in Jackson County, was one of the municipalities the governor’s office requested additional information from. According to Mayor John Ball, the city wants to use the $1.5 million it was awarded to develop a municipal water system, which he says is essential for new housing development. Mayor Ball joins us to talk about the status of the project, and to reveal the challenges rural communities in Oregon face to build more housing.  

Last week, Gov. Tina Kotek signed into law HB 4002 which effectively ends Oregon’s experiment with drug decriminalization under Measure 110. As of Sept. 1, the possession of hard drugs like fentanyl and meth will be a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail. But the law also sets aside nearly $21 million to incentivize counties and Tribal governments to deflect drug users from jail time by connecting them to treatment and recovery service providers. Twenty-three counties in the state, including Washington County, have signed letters committing to prioritize deflection over incarceration. The details of those programs, however, are left up to each participating county. Joining us to talk about what deflection could look like in Washington County, and its impact on law enforcement and treatment providers are District Attorney Kevin Barton and Alison Noice, the executive director of Coda Inc., a substance use disorder treatment provider serving the tri-county region.  

Data released by the Oregon Department of Education in the fall showed that student proficiency rates for mathematics dropped to about 30%. At the same time, investments championed by Gov. Tina Kotek will bring $100 million to schools to address literacy and early-learning reading. But should the same investments be made into other subjects like math? What needs to be done to help kids catch up? To answer these questions and more, we’re joined by Brenda Lindsay, the K-6 math facilitator for the Forest Grove School District. Allison Samuel is the 7-12th grade math facilitator there. We’ll also hear from Nicole Rigelman, a math education professor at Portland State University

Oregon has legislatively completed its U-turn on a short-lived liberal policy that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of certain drugs. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, on Monday signed into law a bill that reverses Measure 110, a 2020 law that voters approved to decriminalize most illegal possession of controlled substance offenses and redirect much of the state's marijuana tax revenue to fund grants for addiction services. Around 58% of Oregon residents approved the initial measure but since then, addiction and overdose deaths have skyrocketed in Oregon and nationwide as fentanyl swept across the country. In August, 56% of Oregonians said they disapproved of the pioneering drug law and both Republicans and Democrats introduced legislation to roll back the controversial measure. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darien-dunstan3/message

Our colleague Fred Lucas reports that newly released records offer a glimpse of how federal public health officials reacted when questioned by Congress about an illegal, China-tied biolab in California. https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/04/01/how-cdc-handled-congress-probe-of-china-tied-lab-in-california/ Democratic Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed legislation on Monday that reverses a law known as Measure 110. In world news, seven aid workers have […]

Our colleague Fred Lucas reports that newly released records offer a glimpse of how federal public health officials reacted when questioned by Congress about an illegal, China-tied biolab in California. https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/04/01/how-cdc-handled-congress-probe-of-china-tied-lab-in-california/ Democratic Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed legislation on Monday that reverses a law known as Measure 110. In world news, seven aid workers have been killed by an Israeli airstrike. The Florida Supreme Court handed down a decision on Monday to uphold the state's 15-week abortion ban. The ruling also allows for the state's 6 week abortion ban to also take effect. Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcastsSign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, on Monday signed into law a bill that reverses Measure 110. The 2020 law decriminalized possession and personal use of all drugs, including small amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, oxycodone and othersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s wife Aimee wants a larger role in state politics. What should Oregonians think of that? Does it matter? On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, we discuss why several top staffers left Kotek’s office and what other state’s do when it comes to first spouses. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Nick Saban evolves in retirement; People have Caleb Willams opinions; In The News featuring whatever is washing up on the Oregon Coast, plus Tina Kotek's new bill passed into law

Last week, three of Gov. Tina Kotek’s top aides announced their departure from the Governor’s Office. Sources with knowledge of the matter told OPB that the shakeup could have come from personality conflicts between staff and the governor's wife, Aimee Kotek Wilson. Now, Kotek is considering establishing an Office of the First Spouse and has already hired two state-funded staffers to accompany First Lady Kotek Wilson to an out-of-state conference in Salt Lake City. Dirk VanderHart is OPB’s political reporter. He joins us to share more on recent news.   

SB 1537, which Gov. Tina Kotek asked lawmakers to introduce, will make advances for more housing by allowing cities to expand their urban growth boundaries. An earlier version of this bill that failed last year would have given developers automatic exceptions for various zoning rules, including things like parking requirements for apartment complexes. Michael Andersen, the director of cities and towns at the Sightline Institute, wrote about this “missing piece” of the current bill. He joins us with more details.

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about the state of our restaurant industry, Gov. Tina Kotek's $376 million housing package that lawmakers approved, and how much housing prices in Portland have jumped in the last four years. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's Friday news roundup are Portland Business Journal reporter Malia Spencer and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Stories Discussed in Today's Episode:  Expanded Ticket To Dine Launched To Bring Portlanders Out To Eat [Portland Business Journal

Our city isn't meeting Gov. Tina Kotek's ambitious housing goals. And some city leaders and developers blame strict building codes for the delay in new housing construction. But aren't building codes there to keep us safe? So today on City Cast Portland, we're talking with Portland Mercury reporter Taylor Griggs about what this push to build more and faster means for the long-term safety and future of our city. More on the topic: Portland's Plan To Spur Housing Development by Relaxing Regulations Has Political Implications Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oregon lawmakers already had a big agenda to tackle in the short legislative session, but a surprise wrinkle entered the fray. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss the session’s first two weeks, Gov. Tina Kotek’s housing bill and its changes and why there’s a sudden bipartisan effort to finally address campaign finance limits statewide. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.  

Oregon's 2024 legislative session got underway last Monday, tackling big state challenges like housing, homelessness and the drug crisis. On this week's episode of Straight Talk, Gov. Tina Kotek stopped by to discuss her own bill that she hopes will make big gains on Oregon's critical housing shortage, plus what she would like to see come out of talks to amend Measure 110, a voter-approved bill that decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs.

Oregon's 2024 legislative session got underway last Monday, tackling big state challenges like housing, homelessness and the drug crisis. On this week's episode of Straight Talk, Gov. Tina Kotek stopped by to discuss her own bill that she hopes will make big gains on Oregon's critical housing shortage, plus what she would like to see come out of talks to amend Measure 110, a voter-approved bill that decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s office said this week that the state has exceeded its goals for the 2023 homelessness state of emergency. Over the last year/since the emergency was declared, more than 1,000 new low-barrier shelter beds were added, nearly 2,000 people were housed and almost 9,000 households were given aid to prevent them from becoming homeless. Andera Bell is the executive director of Oregon Housing and Community Services. She joins us to share more about these goals, the state’s progress on increasing housing production and a recent audit of the agency’s emergency rental assistance program.

It’s been a few weeks since cold, ice and wind battered Oregon, killing at least 15 people and bringing much of the state to a grinding halt. The region has weathered many storms but this one prompted Gov. Tina Kotek to declare an emergency, enabling the possibility of federal funding and reimbursement to clean up the damages. We’re joined by Rachel Pearl and Chris Voss with Multnomah County, Drew Hanson with PGE, Jody Yates with PBOT, and Eve Gray with Lane County. We talk with them about the lessons they learned from the storm, and how they’ll apply them to the next natural disaster.

For some downtown Portland business leaders, the new year is a time for optimism. Some say government attention on the area, like an emphasis on the region through the Central City Task Force convened by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, could mean positive changes for downtown. Jonathan Bach is a real estate and finance reporter for the Portland Business Journal. He recently wrote about the outlook for downtown business leaders and joins us to share what he’s been hearing from them.

Gov. Tina Kotek will once again push for a bill to make it easier for cities to add land for housing. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss the bill, how it was derailed in the Legislature and why the governor thinks this time may be different. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Lane County was hit particularly hard by the recent winter storms that left many areas of western Oregon without transportation or power. Ice and snow led to downed trees, closed roads and extensive power outages in the county. Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency on Tuesday to help county officials access “critical federal resources to aid in reconstruction and recovery efforts.” That’s after the county Board of Commissioners declared its own state of emergency earlier that day. Laurie Trieger is the chair of the Lane County Board of Commissioners. She joins us with more details on the storm’s impacts and the county’s recovery efforts.

Tina Kotek is no stranger to Oregon politics, but her perception inside and outside Salem may have changed as she traded in the speaker’s gavel for the governor’s office. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, political reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss their deep dive into Kotek’s first year. They discussed how the progressive has shifted to the middle, what her political opponents have to say and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.

Drivers license suspensions for unpaid traffic fines is an issue that affects millions of Americans across the country. An Oregon law that went into effect in 2020 halted the practice of automatically suspending driver’s licenses for people who failed to pay traffic fines on time. But the law wasn’t retroactive, so thousands of Oregonians are without licenses for exactly that reason. Last year, then-governor Kate brown made it possible for about 8,000 people to get their licenses back.Last week, Gov. Tina Kotek expanded that list to include 10,000 more Oregonians. We listen back to our 2021 conversations with Kelsey Heilman, a staff attorney with the Oregon Law Center’s Portland regional office and Tracy Chavez, a grandmother with court debt living in Bend.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek convened a task force in August to make concrete and actionable policy recommendations to revitalize downtown Portland. The task force issued its recommendations on Monday,including increasing  police presence in downtown Portland, outlawing public drug consumption, removing protective plywood from buildings, and increasing social services for those living on the streets. The governor also wants tax relief for downtown businesses and a 90-day state of emergency to address the fentanyl addiction crisis. We get more details from one of the task force committee chairs, Nolan Lienhart, principal and director of planning and urban design at ZGF Architects.

Today on our weekly news roundup we're talking about the legislative hearings on Measure 110, Gov. Tina Kotek forgiving uncollected traffic fines, and the federal civil rights lawsuit filed against Portland and Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Host Claudia Meza is joined by Willamette Week's “Dive” podcast host and Potlander column author Brianna Wheeler and our executive producer, John Notarianni. Stories discussed in today's episode: Legislative Hearing on Measure 110 Draws Enormous Outpouring of Public Comment [Willamette Week] Oregon Governor Forgives Uncollected Traffic Fines and Fees [OPB] How To Check Your Eligibility for License Reinstatement Displaced Albina Descendants' Suit Against City of Portland, Legacy Hospital Can Proceed, Judge Rules [Oregonian

Since our last conversation with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Republicans lawmakers staged a historically long walkout, a state task force convened to address serious problems in Portland’s central city, and a coalition of prominent leaders have begun calling for an overhaul of Measure 110, Oregon's drug decriminalization law. We spent an hour in Salem with the governor to talk about all those things and more.

Late this summer, Gov. Tina Kotek announced a new task force aimed at addressing the challenges of Portland’s downtown. City mayor Ted Wheeler told OPB last month that if Portland’s downtown fails, it could have consequences for the rest of the state. But what are downtowns facing in other parts of Oregon? Natascha Adams is the co-chair of the Independence Downtown Association. Jen Bell is the former co-president of Downtown Eugene Merchants. They both join us to share what’s working and what isn’t in their communities.

A few months ago, Emily shared the stories of Tiffany and Danielle, survivors of the Jogger Rapist, Richard Gilmore, who has since been released to a halfway home in downtown Portland. We, along with so many of you listeners were rightfully outraged. We've yet to hear from newly crowned Gov. Tina Kotek whether she plans to change his low-level status. Sadly, a case like his, where the judicial system signs a piece of paper that releases someone that could put the public at risk happens daily. And in the case of Russell Obremski, it happened twice. In today's episode, I'll be sharing the case of Russell Obremski, LaVerna Lowe, Betty Ritchie, and the systemic failures that added to Russel's list of victims. For photos and sources for today's episode, check out the Murder in the Rain Episode Blog.Episode Host: Alisha HollandIf you'd like more episodes of Murder in the Rain, Patreon members at the $5/mo+ level, gain access to exclusive episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more.Follow us on:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/murderintherain/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mintherain/ Twitter  https://twitter.com/murderintherain TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@em_murderintherain Website https://www.murderintherain.com/ Email murderintherain@gmail.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Factor 75 and use my code rain50 for a great deal: https://www.factor75.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/murder-in-the-rain/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands