In August, the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife division named Alexander Hayes, a deputy district attorney in Clackamas County, its “Prosecutor of the Year.” Hayes has been with the district attorney’s office for nearly four years, specializing in prosecuting cases involving illegal hunting and poaching. In one of his first cases with the county, he secured convictions against three individuals who had illegally baited and killed bears in eastern Clackamas County. In 2019, he worked with law enforcement investigators to stop a poaching operation involving sturgeon that was being illegally fished from the Willamette River and sold to local restaurants. Hayes joins us to talk about the challenges and rewards of prosecuting wildlife crimes.

Next month, Portlanders will vote on a ballot measure that affects the city's charter. Supporters say the proposal will make city government more representative. But the measure is complex, and opponents say it tries to change too much. Joining us to explain the key changes proposed in the measure is Chris Hughes, policy director and counsel at the Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center. We’ll also hear from Sol Mora, campaign manager for Portland United for Change – which supports the charter measure – and Alisa Pyszka, a member of the Partnership for Common Sense Government, which opposes it.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation recently announced the names of 25 people who won an annual fellowship. The highly selective and prestigious award, which has also been described as a “genius grant,” comes with a no-strings-attached stipend of $800,000, which the foundation describes as "an investment in their potential.” The fellowships are given each year to a diverse array of artists, academics, activists and other pioneers in their fields. Yejin Choi is a 2022 MacArthur Fellow and a computer science professor at the University of Washington. She joins us to talk to us about her efforts to make artificial intelligence capable of common sense reasoning, ethical decision-making and recognizing intent behind human language.

This November, Oregon voters will decide the fate of four statewide ballot measures, including Measure 113. If passed, the measure would bar state lawmakers from holding office after their current term expires if they have 10 or more unexcused absences from legislative sessions in the House or Senate. The measure would restrict the ability of lawmakers to stage walkouts to delay or block the passage of bills they oppose since the state constitution requires two-thirds of a chamber’s lawmakers to be present to conduct business.

Joining us for a debate on Measure 113 are Oregon Representative Anna Scharf, a Republican lawmaker from House District 23 which covers parts of Benton, Polk, Marion and Yamhill Counties; and Hanna Love, a political consultant and strategist on the Yes on 113 campaign.

Measure 114 will be on the ballot for voters this November. If passed, it would require Oregonians to purchase a permit to own a firearm and attend a mandatory safety firearm training. The measure would also ban the sale or transfer of gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. Overall, Measure 114 would slow down the timeline for buying and obtaining a gun. Paul Donheffner is the legislative committee chairman for the Oregon Hunters Association. Anthony Broadman is the Bend mayor pro tem. They join us to make their case for why voters should or should not pass Measure 114.

Following trades, injuries and issues with team management, the Portland Trail Blazers have had an eventful season last year. To break down what happened, share how preseason went and give some insight on what’s in store for the Blazers this year, we hear from Mike Richman, host of the Locked on Blazers podcast.

Next month, Portlanders will be casting their ballots and decide who should be one of the city’s next commissioners. Jo Ann Hardesty is the Portland City Council Commissioner Position 3 incumbent. Rene Gonzalez is a lawyer and owner of Eastbank Artifex, a technology consulting company. They both join us to make their case and share why Portlanders should vote for them.

OPB has been following a group of students from the class of 2025 since they entered kindergarten. Now we join them for their freshman year of high school. OPB’s education report Elizabeth Miller joins us with an update on the project, and how close the class of 2025 is to the goal of a 100% graduation rate.

In her new novel, Portland writer Karen Thompson Walker explores the terrifying possibility of a world altered by a highly contagious disease. The disease causes people to fall into a seemingly endless sleep. We'll talk to Thompson Walker about her book, "The Dreamers."

The Oregon Humane Society will be opening a new community veterinary hospital in Portland. It will offer accessible and affordable pet care, according to the organization. Nationwide, veterinary practices continue to face staffing shortages and burnout. And some pet owners are having a hard time keeping up with the cost of services. We hear more about the hospital from Sharon Harmon, the president and CEO of the Oregon Humane Society and Stephen Kochis, the chief medical officer of the organization.