Think Out Loud

Oregon Public Broadcasting
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OPB's daily conversation covering news, politics, culture and the arts. Hosted By Dave Miller.

  1. 10 hr ago

    Southern Oregon University researchers lead statewide training effort to boost accessible tourism

    In September 2025, Oregon became the first state in the nation to be verified for its accessibility for travelers with disabilities by the travel website Wheel the World. The company worked with Travel Oregon to assess hundreds of hotels, restaurants, tourism providers and state parks in seven regions across the state for their accessibility. That includes features like step-free entrances at museums or specialized wheelchairs available to venture onto a beach on the Oregon Coast.    But the state’s efforts to promote its accessibility doesn’t mean that barriers don’t still exist for travelers with physical or neurocognitive disabilities. Small hotel owners and tourism operators may also lack awareness about best practices to engage with these travelers or struggle with how to become more accessible online and in person.    To address these gaps, researchers at Southern Oregon University received a grant from Travel Oregon to develop and roll out training workshops at 12 locations across the state for travel industry professionals and other stakeholders. The training includes guidance on best practices and role-playing exercises where participants can experience, for example, what it’s like to navigate a carpeted hotel lobby in a wheelchair or to receive information during an emergency as a person who is hard of hearing.    Pavlina McGrady, an associate professor in the school of business at Southern Oregon University and Rebecca Williams, an assistant professor in the school of business at SOU, joined us on Oct. 2, 2025, to discuss the project. We also heard from Ulysses McCready, a junior at SOU who is blind and assisted with this effort.

    18 min

  2. 10 hr ago

    Hacky sack returns to its Oregon roots with national tournament in West Linn

    Hacky sack, otherwise known as “footbag,” is a collaborative game of dexterity, where players kick a small, round, pellet-filled bag back and forth between players.  The sport is typically affiliated with images of college quads in the ‘80s and ‘90s, but it’s experiencing a resurgence — so much so that there’s even a current hacky sack shortage.  The U.S. Open Footbag tournament is taking place in West Linn, Oregon, this weekend, just across the river from Hacky Sack’s birthplace of Oregon City.  The game is characterized by its laid-back nature, but this weekend, hacky sackers will compete in several different events, including “freestyle battles” and “Net,” a volleyball-style event where competitors have to kick the bag over a 5-foot-tall net. They can even show off their tricks and compete with planned hacky sack routines. Oregon is not only the birthplace of modern hacky sacking, but as it turns out, the birthplace of several professional hacky sack athletes.  One of those athletes is Tricia George, who’s considered one of the best players of all time, according to her entry in the Footbag Hall of Fame.  She holds several Guinness World Records in hacky-sacking and has been playing since 1980. She’ll join us on the show, along with a newer player, Brennan Reim, a soon-to-be 9th grader who’s competing in this weekend’s competition.  He’s been hacky sacking since 2024.

    15 min

  3. 10 hr ago

    University of Portland educators convene for conference on use of AI in higher ed

    Educators and faculty at the University of Portland held a three-day conference last week to explore the use of Artificial Intelligence in Catholic higher education and the ethics of AI in educational settings.  Speakers and facilitators presented a host of topics, including the ability of AI tools to streamline people’s workflow, but also to stifle critical thinking.  We hear from Natalie Nelson-Marsh, an associate professor of Communication & Media at the University of Portland, and Naveen Gudigantala, a professor at the University of Portland’s School of Business, for more on the conference and their view of AI’s role in higher education.

    19 min

  4. 1 day ago

    Despite high wool prices, it’s difficult to sustain fiber production in the Pacific Northwest

    If you're not well-versed in the natural fiber economy, Kristen Buchanan wants to help with that. Buchanan manages a small family farm in Southwest Washington, and she’s the co-founder of PNW Fiber Connect, an organization that wants to create a support network of different players in the regional fiber industry.   The organization aims to educate consumers and share resources from shepherds to mill owners to yarn stores. Buchanan wants consumers to make intentional choices about where their wool and textiles come from and hopes that the Pacific Northwest can one day sustain a more robust fiber economy.   Kirsten Holbo is a shepherd at Iron Water Ranch in Albany, Oregon. She’s been in the fiber industry since 1984 when her family took over Iron Water Ranch. She and Buchanan join us to share more about the current state of the wool industry in Oregon

    17 min

  5. 1 day ago

    How dredging has changed the Columbia River’s ecological, economic functions

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has dredged the lower Columbia River since the 1860s to create a deeper shipping channel between Portland and the Pacific Ocean.    The agency says the practice is necessary to support international commerce, but very few studies have been conducted on its ecological impact. Tribal leaders say dredging has contributed to the decline of lamprey, steelhead and other culturally significant species that rely on the Columbia estuary. Meanwhile, hydropower dams have caused a pileup of sediment in the mid-Columbia, slowing the river’s flow and raising water temperatures to dangerous levels.

    15 min

  6. 1 day ago

    New president of Metro says Portland’s regional government must plan for the future, prioritize housing and jobs

    Juan Carlos González was elected president of Metro in May, and then appointed to serve out the remainder of the previous president’s term. He made history in 2018 becoming the youngest member and first Latino to serve on the Metro council. His priorities for the council are creating more affordable housing and jobs in the region. Metro has begun what it calls Future 50, a planning process designed to shape the metro area through 2077. We sit down with González to hear more about his priorities and vision for the next 50 years.

    21 min

  7. 2 days ago

    Portland City Councilors discuss recently passed arts tax increase

    In late May, Portland City Councilors voted 7-5 to increase the city’s arts tax to $50. The tax, which previously was a $35 fee on individuals making more than $1,000 a year goes toward funding art programs for public schools and nonprofits. The proposal also now exempts individuals making less than $20,000 a year, meaning roughly 214,000 Portlanders are now exempt from paying.   City Council President Jamie Dunphy introduced the proposal and voted in favor of it. Councilor Steve Novick voted against it. We’ll hear from both councilors to get their thoughts on the tax and the new proposal.

    23 min

  8. 2 days ago

    Illnesses from extreme heat events could double by 2040, Portland State University study predicts

    It’s been nearly five years since a deadly heat dome gripped the Pacific Northwest. Many hundreds of people died — including 69 in Multnomah County alone — from the extreme heat event that sent the temperature soaring to 116 degrees in Portland and broke other temperature records in the region.    As climate change makes extreme heat events more frequent and longer-lasting, a new Portland State University study predicts that heat-related illnesses could double by 2040 across more than 50 of the largest metro areas in the U.S., including Seattle and Portland. The cost of treating heat-related illnesses is also expected to double, according to the study, likely further straining healthcare systems and vulnerable populations.    The study’s authors developed a model integrating multiple variables, including demographic information about age, race and health; climate data; visits to hospitals and emergency rooms for heat-related illnesses; and access to air-conditioning or other cooling infrastructure. The study reveals that cities in the Pacific Northwest could bear an especially high public health burden with their aging populations and lack of cooling infrastructure.   Vivek Shandas is a professor of earth, environment and society at PSU and co-author of the study. He joins us to share more details.

    16 min
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About

OPB's daily conversation covering news, politics, culture and the arts. Hosted By Dave Miller.

Information

  • Creator
    Oregon Public Broadcasting
  • Years Active
    2008 - 2026
  • Episodes
    2k
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Oregon Public Broadcasting
  • Show Website
    Think Out Loud

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