Some loggers headed in to cut down trees in the Blue Mountains will be prioritizing habitat over board feet. That’s because Blue Mountain Forest Partners, a group of stakeholders including loggers, environmentalists, ranchers, landowners, timber industry representatives, elected officials and federal land managers, has just finalized what’s called a wildlife habitat zone of agreement. The plan takes a wildlife-centric perspective to forest management, trying to address habitat needs of species when considering which trees to cut. Mark Webb, the executive director of Blue Mountain Forest Project, takes us on a tour of forest lands that have been managed with woodpeckers in mind.

Last month, Grant County Court held the first of three scheduled conversations about the idea of becoming part of Idaho. The conversations are required by a ballot measure passed two years ago with 62% of the vote. Some residents came to the meeting dressed in matching green T-shirts that read “Just Say No to Idaho.” We talk to Shelley Wyllie, who is one of the leaders of a movement members are calling Oregon Together, about why she thinks Grant County should remain a part of Oregon.

Cattle ranching is a nearly $20 million industry in Grant County. But it can take a serious environmental toll on the region’s land and waterways. Jack Southworth, a fourth-generation rancher in Seneca, has been practicing holistic land management since the 1980s. He’s planted willows to restore the streams on his property and worked with the Forest Service to sustainably graze his cattle in the summers, among other measures. Southworth joins to give us a tour of his land and talk about what he sees as the future of cattle ranching.

Curry County in Southern Oregon is still recovering from a ransomware attack in late April that left it unable to access any of its digital information. County officials say the ability to dispatch 911 calls and run the local special district election last week were unaffected. Commissioner Brad Alcorn says it’s impossible to put a definite timetable on getting the county's systems up and running again, but he’s hopeful that will happen in the next few weeks. He says the FBI is investigating the entity known as Royal, which is responsible for the attack on Curry County and other local and county governments, including one which targeted Dallas, Texas. Alcorn joins us to tell us what he can about the effects of the attack and how the county is moving forward.

German scientist Peter Wohlleben captured global attention when he wrote “The Secret Life of Trees.” Now, he’s followed up with a new book, "The Power of Trees: How Ancient Forests Can Save Us if We Let Them," that essentially argues that we should leave forests alone, because trees are very good at adapting to whatever comes their way. We spoke to Wohlleben in front of an audience at Powell’s Books.

The close-knit culture of small towns can help foster a strong sense of community. But it can also make it difficult to come forward in sensitive situations — particularly in cases of domestic violence and sexual assault. Heart of Grant County formed in 2008 to provide support services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in John Day and the surrounding county. The organization recently opened a new shelter that aims to maximize client privacy and comfort.

Rayme Lacey is an advocate at Heart of Grant County, and Beth Simonsen is its executive director. They join us to talk about the importance – and challenges – of providing survivor support services in rural communities.

Malheur Lumber Company in John Day used to be one of many mills in Grant County. By 2012, though, it was the last one, and came very close to closing its doors for good. Then, the U. S. Forest Service agreed to increase restoration logging in Malheur National Forest, and that contract kept the mill going. Now, Malheur Lumber is one of three mills in Grant County. We talk about the ups and downs of the timber industry with Rich Fulton, General Manager of Malheur Lumber Company, and Wanda Rassmussen, Chief Operating Officer for Ochoco Lumber, which owns Malheur Lumber Company.

The Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests, collectively known as the Blue Mountains, have been operating on a forest management plan developed in the 1990s. Two different attempts to revise that plan have failed, the latest one in 2018. Now, the Forest Service is restarting the process. Darcy Weseman, a Public Affairs officer for the U.S. Forest Service, and Eric Watrud, Umatilla National Forest Supervisor, join us to talk about what this process for revising the Blue Mountain Forest Plan will look like and whether the third time’s a charm.

The Painted Sky Center for the Arts opened in 2018 as a way for artists in Grant County to connect and collaborate. Five years later, the center now offers public classes in ceramics, leatherworking, painting and more. It also features after-school youth programming and workshops with visiting artists and teachers.

Kim Randleas is the visual arts department lead at the center, and Genevieve Paddock is a ceramics instructor. They join us to talk about how Painted Sky has helped create a place for Grant County residents to connect through the arts.

Two years ago, Grant County residents passed a ballot measure that requires the county court to discuss the idea of becoming part of Idaho. The measure passed with 62% of the vote. Granty County Court officials will next take up discussion of the idea in August and December. Sandie Gilsan is the Grant County captain of Citizens of Greater Idaho, the group that has championed this cause across eastern Oregon. Gilsan joins us to talk through the reasons why this move might be appealing to some Grant County residents.