For more than 40 years, Economist Ernie Niemi has investigated and described the relationship between the natural environment and local economies, in Oregon and elsewhere. Niemi, President of Natural Resource Economics, spoke before North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection recently about some of the economics of logging in Oregon. He discussed logging profits, taxes, jobs,...

The subject of this Human Beat is a new exhibit at the Heritage Museum called “Away from Home.”  It’s quite a coup for them to have it since it’s booked out for five years, largely to major metropolitan museums like the Autry in L.A. The exhibit tells the story of the Indian schools that were...

When Duncan Law was a baby, his aunt and his single mother launched their beauty parlor by serving as beauticians to Astoria’s bordellos.  He worked his way through school in Astoria’s canneries under the old Chinese Contract Labor system.   The Chinese lived at the cannery bunk house, and in the cannery dorms he learned...

An interview with Clatsop Community College President Chris Breitmeyer about adapting to the effects of the pandemic on the college, about plans for new courses of study and about support from the community.

Roger talks about next week’s reopening of the Astoria Warming Center in the face of COVID-19, with Executive Director Kathleen Sullivan, Center Manager Cheryl Paul, and board president Rick Bowers.

Candy Yiu is a software engineer for Intel in Portland.  She’s also a partner in a Portland restaurant called Malka.  After falling in love with Astoria, she became the owner of a boutique hotel called Near the Pier, the former Franklin Street Station.  And she has launched a pilot project in Astoria and Warrenton to...

Today’s program focuses on Consejo Hispano, formerly the Lower Columbia Hispanic Council. In a wide ranging conversation – edited here for time – we talked about the one stop, range of help provided through Consejo Hispano, which has expanded services in Clatsop, Tillamook, Columbia and Pacific counties. But our conversation also led us to immigration, to hate and...

Astor Street Opry Company will be doing a tribute to Shanghaied in Astoria… outdoors this Friday in the parking lot of its playhouse.  The idea is to provide some theatrical fun, safe from COVID-19.  You’ll find details on the Facebook page for Astor Street Opry Company.   This would have been Shanghaied’s 36th year.  In...

The Human Beat, with your host Roger Rocka.

Host Roger Rocka features Astoria City Planner, Barbara Fryer.