The importance of getting more Oregon children learning more languages is what the U.S. Secretary of Education is scheduled to talk about on his trip to Woodburn this week. Meanwhile, the National Association of Bilingual Education is meeting in Portland for its annual conference. And the Beaverton School District is actively looking for input from parents on how to expand its dual language program. Toshiko Maurizio is the administrator for the district's multilingual programs and she says with more than 100 languages spoken in the district, it’s critical to hear from K-4th grade parents in particular where they would like to see the district invest their dual language dollars. We talk with Maurizio about the district's plan and what the research shows about how bilingual students compare academically with those who only speak English.

Western Oregon was blanketed Wednesday with nearly 11 inches of snow, which disrupted commutes and activities across the region. The heavy snow was the second biggest in Portland history and came as a surprise to forecasters who had predicted a much lighter dusting. We talk with National Weather Service meteorologist Colby Neuman, and get reactions from Rachel Pearl with Multnomah County’s department of human services and Newport Mayor Dean Sawyer.

Patrick Radden Keefe has made a career of finding out about people who don’t want to talk to him. In 2021 he published “Empire of Pain,” a nonfiction account of the Sackler family, noted philanthropists and purveyors of the opioid OxyContin. He has also taken on the Troubles in Ireland in his book “Say Nothing,” and CIA maneuvering during the Cold War in his podcast “Wind of Change.” Patrick Radden Keefe joins us in front of an audience of high school students at Lincoln High.

There are almost 200 school districts in Oregon, and each one is responsible for selecting its own curriculum. Oregon has a list of pre-approved curricula districts can choose from, but that means some schools are using discredited systems for teaching reading. Now, advocates, researchers and teachers are trying to incorporate new ways of teaching that focus on the science behind learning to read. Ronda Fritz is an associate professor in Eastern Oregon University's College of Education and is the director of the Reading Clinic there. Amanda Francois is a 4th grade teacher at Gilbert Heights Elementary in the David Douglas School District and has recently brought what she’s learned from LETRS, a science of reading course, into her classroom. They join us to share what makes the science of reading work and the challenges some teachers are now seeing.

Despite protections for wildlife in marine gardens along Oregon’s coast, officials at Haystack Rock are seeing bald spots. As The Astorian reports, locals are suspected to have been poaching mussels in the area. These incidents are not new, but officials are growing more concerned as these invertebrates play a vital role in sea star recovery efforts. Kelli Ennis is the director of the Haystack Rock Awareness Program. She joins us to share where poaching is occurring and how it may indirectly affect Oregon’s sea stars.

Fuels reduction, which includes tools like prescribed fires and thinning, can help maintain a healthy forest. As wildfires grow more severe, scientists and experts continue to explore what should be done to protect fragile ecosystems. Freelance writer and editor Emily Shepherd dug into these issues for High Country News. She joins us with more on what methods can help preserve forests.

We listen back to a conversation with writer Jill Lepore, author of “These Truths” and “The Secret History of Wonder Woman,” in front of a live audience at Literary Arts in downtown Portland from 2018.

When journalist Hua Hsu was in college, his best friend Ken was murdered in a bizarre turn of events. The next day, Hsu started writing about his friendship with Ken to try to wrap his head around the enormous loss. Over the next 20 years, that writing eventually turned into his latest book, “Stay True.” OPB’s Jenn Chavez talks to Hsu about his childhood growing up as a second-generation immigrant in California, and how that, and the death of his friend Ken, shaped who he is today.

When Melissa Febos was about twelve years old, her body changed, and so did her relationship with the world. Or actually, the world’s relationship with her. The way that society views - and uses and abuses - young women’s bodies is one of the many themes explored in Febos’ new book, “Girlhood.” Febos talks with OPB’s Tiffany Camhi about bodies, consent, mothers, cuddle parties and more.

According to the Oregon Health Authority, more than 13,500 Oregonians suffered a brain injury in 2020. But advocates say the number of people living with the chronic effects of those injuries is much higher. The long-term effects of a brain injury can range from confusion and short-term memory loss to depression, anger issues and lack of impulse control. Depending on the severity of the injury, patients may need access to things like employment and housing assistance in addition to medical and therapeutic services.

Oregon is one of 11 states that doesn’t have an established office to coordinate those services and help patients and their caregivers navigate the system. As Willamette Week reported recently, the state also lacks inpatient rehab beds for brain injury patients.

Joining us is David Kracke, Oregon’s Brain Injury Advocate/Coordinator. We talk with him about support services for brain injury patients and their loved ones and efforts to coordinate those services in the state.

he National Nuclear Security Administration has awarded $25 million to 16 universities across the state to help cultivate and bring more students into nuclear forensics - the science of investigating nuclear materials for evidence regarding the materials’ source. Oregon State University is one of the several schools that are a part of the consortium and will receive $2.5 million over the next five years. Camille Palmer is an associate professor in OSU’s school of Nuclear Science and Engineering. She will also serve as the deputy director and help lead the program. She joins us to explain why nuclear forensics is important and to share her hopes for the future of the industry.