Communities in remote towns along upper Lake Chelan [shuh-LAN, rhymes with man] — like Stehekin [STUH-he-kin] — are beginning the slow work of recovery after flooding and landslides. N-W-P-B’s Murrow Fellow Renee Diaz spoke to local residents.

A provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill requires that the Bureau of Land Management increase its production of timber by 20 million board-feet nationwide each year through 2034. KLCC’s Zac Ziegler reports that the bureau exceeded that amount this year in Oregon alone.

For Western Washington’s most frail and medically fragile seniors – and their caregivers -- the recent floods and evacuations pose special challenges. Some residents of skilled nursing facilities and adult family homes have had to transfer abruptly – or they’re sheltering in hotels, and hoping to return home soon.

Washington officials say new proposals from the U-S Department of Health and Human Services to block access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth are “cruel and unnecessary.”

Heavy rain forced the Clackamas River to flood into some homes overnight as an atmospheric river makes its way through Oregon.

20251220_OPB_Rail Speeders

TRT: 3:49 + intro

Railroad speeders get a unique view of the scenic Oregon Coast on a holiday run

Host Intro:

You’ve probably seen those pickup trucks that can drive on railroad tracks with little metal wheels in order to do maintenance. But did you know that before them, there were small motorized railroad cars that cruised down the tracks, like little box-shaped golf carts? They’re called railroad speeders. And now, they’re collected by hobbyists who drive them down freight rails in big group rides. OPB producer Ian McCluskey went along on Oregon’s largest run last year — one with a holiday twist.

Host Outro:

That was Ian McCluskey. Want to see the rail speeders in action? You can watch a full video he filmed for “Oregon Field Guide” at opb.org/fieldguide.

[NOTE: Kill this after December 28. This includes two cuts.]

Some regional theatres say the holiday season typically brings new theater-goers. They're hoping to turn them into repeat customers.

[NOTE: This story includes a time reference to December 26th. It should air on that date only.]

The Village Theatre says *single* ticket sales at its Issaquah and Everett venues are above pre-pandemic levels. But more work needs to be done to attract annual ticket holders.

More from KNKX Arts and Culture reporter Freddy Monares.

[C&C: Washington wants to get rid of “forever chemicals” in firefighting foam. So it’s shipping the foam to an incinerator in Utah 121925CF_PFAsdisposal_CC.wav 0:06 12/19/25 Courtney Flatt/JD]

Fire departments in Washington now have help getting rid of a toxic foam. The foam extinguishes things like gas or solvent fires. This foam contains PFAs [PEE-fahs], or “forever chemicals.”

[WRAP: Washington wants to get rid of “forever chemicals” in firefighting foam. So it’s shipping the foam to an incinerator in Utah 121925CF_PFAsdisposal_WRAP.wav 0:50 12/19/25 Courtney Flatt/JD]

HOST LEDE: A new program from Washington’s Department of Ecology is helping get rid of firefighting foam that could be toxic. The foam contains what are commonly called “forever chemicals.” [N-W-P-B’s senior environmental correspondent Courtney Flatt has more.] [SOQ 0:50]