Think Out Loud Oregon Public Broadcasting
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- News
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OPB's daily conversation covering news, politics, culture and the arts. Hosted By Dave Miller.
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REBROADCAST: Author Erica Hayasaki on nature vs. nurture
Erika Hayasaki’s book “Somewhere Sisters: a story of adoption, identity, and the meaning of family” explores a very complicated multi-family, multinational story. At the heart of the book are sisters: identical twins born in Vietnam. One was adopted by a wealthy family in the U.S., one was raised in rural Vietnam. We spoke to Hayasaki in 2022 in front of an audience at the Portland Book Festival.
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REBROADCAST: 'The Dreamers'
: In her novel "The Dreamers," Portland writer Karen Thompson Walker explores the terrifying possibility of a world altered by a highly contagious disease. The disease causes people to fall into a seemingly endless sleep. We'll talk to Thompson Walker about her book, "The Dreamers."
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Umatilla County Planning Commission OKs animal density proposal
In a 5-3 vote, the Umatilla County Planning Commission has recommended changes on the number of livestock residents can have. Under the proposed rules, single family dwellings are now allowed to have four small livestock animals per acre of property. The commission in a 7-1 vote also decided not to recommend proposed changes that would limit the number of fowl on a property. Both recommendations will now go to the county’s board of commissioners who will vote on the proposed changes at a June 5 meeting. Berit Thorson is a reporter for the East Oregonian covering this issue. She joins us to share more on the proposals and the community feedback the changes have received so far.
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Sunnyside Shower Project for Portlanders living on the street expands to two southwest neighborhoods
When SE Portland resident Hannah Wallace went out with members of her neighborhood association in December of 2020 and asked people living on the streets what they needed most, the two things they heard most were: showers and laundry facilities. Wallace started the Sunnyside Shower project in response. The project began at Sunnyside Methodist Church with Wallace and a handful of volunteer offering showers twice a week. It now has dozens of volunteers and people can come 3 days a week to get a shower and other resources when available, like free toiletries, laundry cards and help connecting with other services, like the Oregon Health Plan and drug treatment.
Since it began, a Multnomah Village’s volunteer group Southwest Outreach began their own version at Riversgate Church. And in February, a new Shower Project opened at the 13 Salmon shelter at the First Unitarian Church. Kelly Clendenon began volunteering several years ago, helped launch the project with some guidance from Wallace and others, and is now the project’s coordinator. He says as a person who lived on the streets for many years himself, his current work is especially meaningful. Clendenon and Wallace join us to tell us more about what it takes to run these projects and what difference one shower can make for someone who would otherwise have no access.
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Offshore wind energy in Southern Oregon moving forward
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, an agency within the U.S. Department of Interior, recently announced next steps for developing floating wind facilities off the coast of Coos Bay and Brookings. These Oregon offshore wind turbines could power more than one million homes with renewable energy, according to the agency. Still, tribal leaders and commercial fishing groups remain concerned about how the projects could affect the ecosystem. We hear more about the latest developments from OPB climate reporter Monica Samayoa.
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Oregon’s groundwater is declining
Oregon's groundwater is being used faster than it’s being replenished, and the state’s aquifers are declining. The Oregon Water Resources Department is proposing new rules in response. The agency would change the way it decides if groundwater will be available for new users. Justin Iverson is the groundwater section manager for OWRD. He joins us to explain what we know about Oregon’s groundwater and what can be done to regulate its use.
Customer Reviews
Vaccine Skeptics
I love your podcast. You ask great probing questions of your guests. I also have a great deal of respect for Dr Hassan, but as an Oregon pediatrician who specializes in caring for children with autism, the thoroughly debunked association between vaccines and autism is still very much alive. As you know, a Democratic Presidential candidate RFK Jr is STILL spreading that disinformation. And a recent survey of dog owners showed 50% believed rabies vaccine causes doggie autism! The anti-vaccine, anti-science, “do your own research and believe your own facts” mentality is VERY much alive in Oregon.
Dave Miller is the best!
We’re so lucky to have Dave Miller at OPB. His way of speaking to the guests, the choice of topics, the depth, the variety- it’s all top notch. No part of the state is ignored; so many communities are included. Thanks Dave and team!
Great local coverage of topics that matter
This is a stellar program and I promote it every time I get a chance. Having local Oregon journalism is important and Dave Miller and the “think out load” team do an incredible job. My only complaint is there aren’t more oregon news podcasts.