Think Out Loud

In Oregon, about 44% of households struggled to make ends meet by the end of 2021. That’s according to a report released by United Ways of the Pacific Northwest and partner organization United For ALICE. People who earn above the federal poverty level but less than what they need to financially survive day-to-day are described by the report as "asset limited, income constrained, employed." We hear more about the issue and what this means for Oregonians from Jim Cooper, the president and CEO of United Ways of the Pacific Northwest.

It’s been more than a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Shortly after the invasion, we spoke with Tatiana Terdal, a board member of the Ukrainian-American Cultural Association of Oregon and Southwest Washington. We’ll check in with her about how the local community has been affected over the last year. We’ll also hear from Erik Heinonen, an Oregonian aid worker who recently returned to his home in Ukraine after fleeing to Romania last year with his family.

For some, the pandemic lockdowns may seem like a distant memory they would prefer not to revisit. But for parents and students, even though school has been back for more than a year, some effects linger. The educational, social and emotional effects are still not fully understood. Jonicia June Shelton is a mother, a therapist and an assistant principal at HB Lee Middle School. She joins us to share her experiences. And we want to know how the pandemic has affected you and your kids and changed the way you parent, 888-665-5TOL.

Portland cartoonist Jonathan Case has illustrated Batman comics for DC and illustrated a graphic novel about the Green River Killer. His newest book is somehow both lighter and darker at the same time. “Little Monarchs” is an upbeat post-apocalyptic adventure tale for kids. Case joins us to talk about the book.

Many churches have long been involved in providing support for people who are living on the streets. Some institutions had to scale back their soup kitchens or other efforts during the pandemic. Others stepped forward in new and creative ways. We talk to three faith leaders about how their congregations are grappling with one of the biggest challenges of our time: Brigitta Remole, pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ in downtown Portland, Bernie Lindley, Vicar of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Brookings, and the reverend Sara Fischer at Saints Peter & Paul Episcopal Church in the Montavilla neighborhood of Portland.

Forty certified firefighting professionals from the U.S. and Canada are participating in a two week-long program to carefully ignite fires and burn roughly 1,000 acres of the forested understory in the Deschutes National Forest in Central Oregon. Since its launch 15 years ago by the U.S. Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy, The Prescribed Fire Exchange Training Program, or TREX, has taken place in more than a dozen states and grown to include international participants and the involvement of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Tribal nations, state and local agencies, universities and NGOs. After more than a century of fire suppression activities, prescribed burning is increasingly being used as a fire management tool to improve forest ecosystems and protect communities in an era of catastrophic wildfires driven by climate change. Joining us to talk about prescribed fires and the training program is Thomas Stokely, a forest ecologist with The Nature Conservancy in Central Oregon, and Kaci Radcliffe, the Northeastern Oregon forest restoration project manager for The Nature Conservancy.

The Portland Trail Blazers recently announced that they're going to start a new NBA G-league team for young players. The minor league affiliate team will play at the University of Portland's Chiles Center. We'll sit down with Dewayne Hankins, the President of Business Operations for the Blazers, to talk about the new team and the future of the franchise as a whole.

The house that served as the focal point of the 1985 movie “The Goonies” is perhaps Astoria’s best known landmark. It’s certainly been a draw for fans and tourists who come to pay homage. Since the house was sold in January, conflict about the increased traffic in the neighborhood has been renewed. It’s a story that’s far short of the epic adventure the middle school characters embark on in the movie to save the house from being demolished, but it is one that never seems to ‘say die.’ Recently, David Reid of the Astoria Warrenton Chamber of Commerce convened a neighborhood meeting to air concerns and try to come up with some agreement on the best way to simultaneously support both livability and tourism. He joins us to share some of what he’s heard, and his ideas for how to move forward.

Workforce development initiatives can be difficult to arrange for communities in remote parts of Oregon. It can be expensive to hire outside providers for job training or career exploration opportunities, and time-consuming to send employees to outside training. One way to bridge the gap could be virtual reality headsets. Equipped with training simulations for industries like manufacturing, skilled trades and hospitality and tourism, the portable headsets could provide hands-on opportunities to more people at a lower cost over time.

Patti Hyatt is the school to careers counselor for the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce and Justin Chin is the dean of workforce development at Lane Community College. They join us to talk about how they’re using VR to bring career opportunities to rural areas near them.

Tax burdens are piling up for small business owners in Portland as they face fees from the city, county and state. Some owners say they regret investing in Portland and wish they had set up shop in Washington instead. For those who choose to stay in Oregon, tax burdens are smaller in Lake Oswego and Beaverton. And in Multnomah County, a May ballot measure could mean more taxes for businesses. Pete Danko reported on these issues for the Portland Business Journal. He joins us with details.