Podcast
Think Out Loud
Hosted by Oregon Public Broadcasting · EN
OPB's daily conversation covering news, politics, culture and the arts. Hosted By Dave Miller.
95episodes
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Opera in the Park aims to bring love of opera to more Oregonians
3d ago00:18:07Tap to summarizeLast year over 7,000 people gathered on camp chairs and picnic blankets to hear the opera “Carmen” at Peninsula Park in Portland. It was a performance staged by the organization Opera in the Park, which aims to share the love of opera with as many people as possible. This year the organization will bring the Oregon premiere of the world's first Mariachi opera, “Cruzar la Cara de la Luna,” to both Portland and Hillsboro. Ashley Clark, the executive director of Opera in the Park, and Nicholas Fox, the artistic director, join us to talk about the performance.
Transcribe →Families experiencing homelessness in Vancouver face lengthy waits, limited options for shelter space
3d ago00:18:25Tap to summarizeNearly 30% of people who experienced homelessness in Clark County last year were children. That’s according to a recent report by the Council for Homelessness, which also found that the percentage of family households stabilized through rent assistance dropped by 5% last year. For families experiencing homelessness in Vancouver, they may have to wait months until a spot becomes available at the few shelters that allow families. The nonprofit Share operates two shelters in Vancouver for families, each with 14 rooms, on-site laundry, a communal kitchen and dining area, and indoor and outdoor play areas for children. As The Columbian recently reported, Share’s shelters have remained at or near capacity for years. Adrianna Kofoed, director of family shelters at Share, says she and her staff have seen increased demand in just the past year, with at least five or six calls a day from parents seeking help for their families. Kofoed joins us to share more details about Share’s family shelters. Also joining us is Gracie White, a mother who has been staying at Share’s Homestead shelter for roughly a month with four of her children.
Transcribe →Ranchers and private landowners are helping respond to wildfires in Central Oregon
3d ago00:17:11Tap to summarizeMore than 500,000 acres have burned in Oregon from wildfires that were sparked last week by lightning storms. That includes the Rowe Creek Complex that has grown to roughly 150,000 acres and triggered level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation notices for residents in Wheeler and Wasco counties. The fires have also led to air quality advisories for more than a third of the counties in the state. Rangeland Fire Protection Associations have been working with state and federal agencies to respond to the Rowe Creek Complex and other fires in remote, difficult terrain. There are currently 29 RFPAs in Oregon. Their members are ranchers and private landowners who volunteer to help fight wildfires on private rangelands in coordination with the Oregon Department of Forestry and other state and federal agencies. Ted Netter is a rancher and chairman of the Oregon RFPA Advisory Committee and the fire supervisor of the Lower Bridge RFPA which serves Jefferson and Deschutes counties. Ross Ryno is a rancher and member of the Twickenham RFPA which serves parts of Wheeler county. They join us to talk about their efforts to protect their homes and communities from the Rowe Creek Complex and Akawa Butte fire burning near Sisters.
Transcribe →Willamette and Pacific Universities say merger will save money, serve students
4d ago00:15:51Tap to summarize Public and private universities alike are facing increasing financial strain with rising costs, limited funding and tuition already unaffordable for many. Now two of Oregon’s private universities have decided to merge, in large part to save money. Willamette University and Pacific University are the oldest colleges in Oregon and the entire Western U.S., predating Oregon statehood. Leaders of both universities say their institutions’ mission and values are aligned. They also say the merger won’t just save money but will “expand academic offerings, broaden access, and deepen the opportunities for students across the region.” The structure Willamette and Pacific are pursuing is what’s known as a collegiate model, where multiple universities exist as part of a larger institution. The two universities will retain their names and campuses as part of what will likely be named the University of the Northwest. Pacific University President Jenny Coyle and Willamette University President Steve Thorsett join us to discuss the merger and
Transcribe →OSP Tribal Liaison Glendon Smith on bridging the gap between tribal and state law enforcement
4d ago00:22:34Tap to summarizeGlendon Smith is the inaugural tribal liaison for the Oregon State Police. Since 2023, he’s been responsible for establishing relationships with Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes and educating state troopers on how to interact with tribal citizens and other law enforcement agencies. He recently received a public service ambassador award from Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek for his work. Smith joins us to talk more about his role and the relationship between tribal and state law enforcement.
Transcribe →Oregon awarded $160M to expand the semiconductor industry and boost economic development
4d ago00:13:52Tap to summarizeAbout 100 different industry, government and academic organizations are part of the consortium that will spend 160 million over the next 10 years to increase research on and production of semiconductors. These components are vital to virtually every electronic device you are likely to use, from mobile phones to home appliances. Industry and government leaders say it’s vital that the U.S. keep up with demand and support its semiconductor research, development and production. That’s the intention behind the Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology, or FAST, grant. Oregon State University is coordinating the consortium’s efforts. Rob Stone is a Professor of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at OSU, and the interim CEO and principal investigator of FAST. He joins us to share more about how the money will be used and its effect on Oregon’s economy.
Transcribe →Oregon musicians on why they perform in tribute bands
5d ago00:17:31Tap to summarize From Journey and the Grateful Dead, to The Strokes and Depeche Mode, Oregon has no shortage of tribute bands. But why perform the music of another artist? Adam Corkery is a guitarist and vocalist for Brown Stallion, a Ween tribute band based in Eugene and Portland. Renée Muzquiz is the lead vocalist and guitarist for Major Tomboys, an all-femme David Bowie tribute based in Portland. She also represents Linda Ronstadt in Stone Phoneys, a tribute to Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris. They both join us to talk about the joys of performing familiar songs for die-hard fans.
Transcribe →Ladies Up Project announces expansion of community art program
5d ago00:15:49Tap to summarizeWhether you like it or not, street art is a defining component of a city. However, street art has historically been a male-dominated field, which inspired the Portland Street Art Alliance’s Ladies Up Project. With allocated space and canvases, Ladies Up is rooted in empowering the creative expression of female street artists. We’ll hear from Executive Director Tiffany Conklin and artist Kyra Watkins about the program’s impact and recent expansion.
Transcribe →BLM rule changes to allow more cattle grazing on public lands in Oregon and the West
5d ago00:19:36Tap to summarizeThe Trump administration is rewriting Bureau of Land Management rules to increase the number of cattle and other livestock that can graze on public lands. The rules affect 155 million acres in the West, an area more than two-and-a-half times the size of Oregon. The BLM says the proposal “reflects the Trump administration’s priority to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, promote productive working lands and strengthen local economies.” But environmental groups have raised concerns about the effect loosening these rules would have on wildlife. And Native American tribes that manage bison anticipate impacts on their herds as well. The public comment period on the proposal closed last week. We talk with Mark Olalde, reporter for High Country News and Propublica, about the plan and how it would affect ranching as well as wildlife and Indigenous tribes.
Transcribe →Citizen-scientists photograph 50 years of melting glaciers
6d ago00:15:42Tap to summarizeFor 52 years, citizen-scientists have documented Mt. Shasta’s melting glaciers as the planet warms from climate change. They’ve taken a series of photographs over decades that shows these glaciers shrinking. These citizen-scientists say they’re hoping to reduce “environmental amnesia” by presenting this visual evidence of climate change. Washington journalist and author of “The Earth Said Remember Me,” Jason Dove Mark, joins us to discuss his experience on Mt. Shasta, and its broader implications.
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