Think Out Loud Oregon Public Broadcasting

Hayward Field is once again hosting the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene which end on Sunday. The nation’s best sprinters, hurdlers, javelin throwers and more are competing for a shot to qualify for the summer games which kick off next month in Paris. Among those who’ve already punched their tickets is Ryan Crouser, an Oregonian and two-time gold medalist who finished first in the men’s shot put final on Saturday night. Also competing is fellow Oregonian Jaida Ross, a University of Oregon junior who was named the 2024 National Women’s Field Athlete of the Year earlier this month after she became the first collegiate woman to throw the shot put more than 20 meters. Joining us to discuss the key developments so far at Hayward Field is Sarah Lorge Butler, a contributing writer for Runner’s World who is based in Eugene.  

Summer is here, and people are kicking it off by getting out into nature. But those in communities of color can often feel excluded from natural spaces and from participating in activities like hiking and camping. People of Color Outdoors (POCO) is a local nonprofit that works to build community in the Portland area through outdoor excursions. It’s recently received multiple grants to continue this work and is kicking off birding programs with the Bird Alliance of Oregon. POCO is also featured in a film that’s part of an exhibit at the Tillamook Forest Center and an upcoming Oregon Field Guide piece. Pamela Slaughter is the executive director and founder of POCO. She joins us to talk more about the organization’s mission and recent initiatives.

Washington is just one of many states that makes an assault on a health care worker a felony offense, but recent reporting from the Marshall Project and the Seattle Times found that this law is disproportionately affecting those in a mental crisis. From 2018 to 2022, there were 151 cases of felony assault on a health care worker in King County. A little more than three-quarters of those cases involved someone experiencing symptoms of a mental illness. Oregon has tried to pass a similar law, but these attempts have failed. Christie Thompson is a staff writer for the Marshall Project. She joins us to share more.

Although the City of Portland passed a fireworks ban in March of 2022, Portland Fire & Rescue is preparing for a potential increase in fires started by personal fireworks this Fourth of July. Reporting by Willamette Week found that although the number of fires caused by fireworks dipped during the year the ban was enacted, the number of fireworks-related fires increased by 33% in 2023 compared with 2022. The fire department continues to urge people to obey the ban and celebrate the holiday in alternative ways. Rick Graves, a firefighter and spokesperson for Portland Fire & Rescue joins us to share more about the risks of using personal fireworks on the Fourth of July.

Fire departments across Oregon are facing staffing shortages as veteran firefighters retire and volunteer numbers drop. But the Oregon Fire Apprenticeship program has been helping departments bring in more candidates with diverse backgrounds. The apprenticeship pays a minimum salary of $3,800 a month and covers the cost of the five community college classes required for training. The program has been running in Eugene-Springfield and Clackamas, Jackson and Klamath counties. With a new round of state funding, it recently expanded to Corvallis, Coos Bay and Umatilla County.

Karl Koenig is president of the Oregon State Fire Fighters Council. Ari Bakoss is a former apprentice and current firefighter and EMT at Clackamas Fire. They both join us to talk about the program and the difference it’s making for aspiring firefighters.

Outdoor recreation generates around $7.5 billion in Oregon, according to the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. Some of our most popular industries include boating, tent camping, hiking and climbing. But while the industry generates more than 70,000 jobs in the state, some of these workers face dangers that go beyond just natural elements. 

As reported in the New York Times, women are reporting more abuse and sexual harassment in climbing. In 2018, a survey of over 5,000 climbers found that 47% of women and 16% of men faced unwanted sexual behavior while climbing. Respect Outside was founded in 2019 by Gina McClard and Jim Miller in Bend. Together they help provide trainigs, policies and procedures to help prevent sexual harassment and discrimination in outdoor spaces. They join us to share more.