Think Out Loud

As most beer enthusiasts know, hops play a vital role in the brewing process. The cone-shaped flowers impart distinct aromas that help distinguish, say, a pilsner from a pale ale. Oregon is one of only three states, along with Washington and Idaho, that commercially grows hops. Oregon and Washington are also the only two states that have their own USDA-supported breeding programs to develop new varieties of hops. But only Oregon can lay claim to the Strata hop, a variety that was bred at Oregon State University and released in 2018. Nearly all Strata hops today are being grown at just nine family farms in the Willamette Valley.

But this quintessentially Oregon hop is about to get a lot more exposure thanks to Oregon Homegrown, a statewide beer collaboration launching on May 23. For two weeks, more than 20 Oregon breweries will showcase the flavor versatility of Strata to create an array of beers, from a Vienna lager to a hazy IPA to a fruited ale. Jeff Alworth is a journalist, author of several books on beer and the executive director of Celebrate Oregon Beer, a nonprofit he created last year that’s organizing the event. Gayle Goschie is a third-generation hop farmer and the co-owner of Goschie Farms in Silverton. They join us to share more details about Oregon Homegrown and what makes Strata hops so special. 

Congress is considering cuts to Medicaid that would affect millions of Americans. Under a current proposal, nearly half of the Oregonians enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan would be required to prove they’re working or volunteering 80 hours a month to keep their coverage. In Oregon, some fear changes to Medicaid could hit healthcare in rural communities especially hard.

Evan Saulino is a family physician providing clinical care in the Columbia River Gorge. His commentary on possible cuts to Medicaid was recently featured in the Oregon Capital Chronicle. He joins us with details of his concerns and how federal changes to Medicaid would affect rural healthcare.

Oregon kindergarteners are opting out of vaccinations at increasingly higher rates over the last four years. And public health officials are growing increasingly concerned. Oregon is one of just 15 states that allow parents to opt out of childhood vaccinations for nonreligious, nonmedical reasons. The current opt-out rate of 9.7% is the highest recorded in state history. Health officials say the measles and pertussis outbreaks in the state are an indication more work is needed to boost vaccination rates more broadly.
We get more details from Stacy de Assis Matthews, the immunization coordinator at Oregon Health Authority, and Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for the Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention Section and the Oregon Immunization Program at OHA.      

Street Soccer Portland is part of a national organization that aims to expand access to playing soccer by providing a free alternative to the pay-to-play model of club soccer. The local chapter primarily serves elementary and middle school-aged children through afterschool programs currently being offered at 20 schools and community centers in Portland, Tigard, Gresham and Vancouver. Partnerships and donations from companies like Adidas and Nike help provide free uniforms and equipment to participants, most of whom are low-income and would otherwise not be able to afford the hundreds of dollars a youth club soccer team would likely charge to join. 

Since joining Street Soccer Portland two years ago, Program Director Julian Alexander has expanded participation in the organization by more than 140%, from roughly 1,000 to nearly 2,400 participants last year. Program Coordinator Saul Meneses Zurita is now helping coach the next generation of players after first playing in one of Street Soccer Portland’s afterschool programs 11 years ago. Alexander and Zurita join us to share the impact Street Soccer Portland is having on and off the field. They’ll also share details about the annual spring tournament that hundreds of fourth and fifth graders will compete in next Friday at Davis Elementary School in Gresham.  
 

When someone accused of a crime is found unable to aid and assist in their own defense, they are sent to the Oregon State Hospital for an evaluation. After that, they often need to spend time at a residential treatment center until they are fit to stand trial. A new rule from the Oregon Health Authority requires residential treatment facilities in the state to accept those patients ahead of any who might be on their waiting list, setting aside their normal admissions standards. Attorneys for the Oregon Council for Behavioral Health and six residential treatment providers filed a petition with the Oregon Court of Appeals to block that rule. 

We hear from Heather Jefferis, executive director of the Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, about the challenges faced by behavioral health providers in Oregon.

More than half of all counties in Oregon are facing budget shortfalls and cuts to programs and services. In Washington County, officials are proposing more than $25 million in reductions to the $2 billion budget that would include eliminating jobs and services.

In Coos County, the sheriff’s department released some of those serving time in its jail last year. In 2024, county voters turned down two different tax levies to fund government services. Even after making cuts, Coos County still faces a gap of about $1.8 million.

John Sweet is one of the three commissioners that govern Coos County. Kathryn Harrington is the chair of the Washington County Commission. They both join us to share more about the budget challenges and how they’re thinking about potential cuts to programs and services for their residents.

Prairie High School in the Battle Ground School District is headed to a statewide tournament this weekend. But it's not for a traditional sport like soccer, baseball or football — it's for esports. Esports, like many other sports, have players compete as individuals or in a team in a video game against others. Prairie High School took home first prize in a statewide championship last fall in “Overwatch 2,” a team-based hero shooter game. On Sunday, one of the teams will head to Lynnwood to compete again for another statewide title. 

Simeon Redberg is a science teacher at the school and the coach of the team. Cody Sigler is a senior and team captain who was recently awarded an esports scholarship to attend Winthrop University in the fall. They both join us to share more on the world of esports at the high school level.

Some of Oregon’s largest school districts are facing cuts this year, including Portland Public Schools, Eugene 4J School District and the Beaverton School District. However, Oregon’s second-largest school district, Salem-Keizer Public Schools, is looking to spend more. Superintendent Andrea Castañeda shared a proposal last week that aims to increase the budget to invest more in mental health and special education. This comes after last year’s dramatic cuts that led to nearly 100 layoffs. Castañeda joins us to share more about her budget proposal and what the district's budget could look like in the future.

Oregon lawmakers will have roughly $500 million less to work with for the next two-year budget cycle, according to the state’s latest economic and revenues forecast unveiled Wednesday in Salem. The uncertainty sparked by tariffs, slashed federal spending and immigration issues are clouding the state’s economic outlook, according to Oregon Chief Economist Carl Riccadonna. Also on Wednesday, the state released its latest jobs report. It showed that unemployment in Oregon rose to 4.7% in April, which is higher than the national average and marks a gradual increase over the past year. 

Oregon Chief Economist Carl Riccadonna joins us for more details about the state’s economic outlook and the challenges ahead.  
 

The National Endowment for the Arts has withdrawn more than half a million dollars worth of grants that arts organizations all over Oregon were relying on. Portland Playhouse got a letter that said it would not get $25,000 meant for its production of August Wilson’s and Joe Turner’s "Come and Gone" that was to open the next day. Other organizations that saw their funding pulled include All Classical Portland, Oregon Children’s Theatre, NW Children’s Theatre, Passinart: A Theatre Company, and Profile Theatre. Portland Playhouse donors quickly made up the theatre’s lost $25,000 grant, but future federal funding is looking bleak to many Oregon arts organizations. Many of them met this week with Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, who vowed to do everything in her power to get federal funding restored.

Claire Willett is a Portland-based playwright, artist and grant writer. She’s been following the NEA funding cuts for Oregon Arts Watch and joins us to share the latest developments.