OPB's Think Out Loud

OPB reporter Austin Jenkins fills us in on a lawsuit filed by 10 news organizations against the Washington State Legislature claiming multiple violations of the state’s Public Records Act. Editor’s note: Jenkins reports for the Northwest News Network, which is a collaboration between public radio stations including OPB. The Northwest News Network is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit

The Chetco Bar Fire rages on in Southwest Oregon, but some people are starting to come home as evacuation orders begin to be lifted. Lori Steele, a classified ad sales rep for the Curry Coastal Pilot, was one of thousands forced to leave their homes as the fire burned out of control. She joins us to talk about her experience leaving her home for the Chetco Bar Fire, and how it compared to a previous evacuation during the 2002 Biscuit Fire.

We hear from high school students on the constitution teams at Portland Public Schools about their thoughts on the legal and ethical issues surrounding the teenager suspected of starting the Eagle Creek Fire. The students joining us are Griffin Jourda from Cleveland High School, Natalie Wang from Lincoln High School, Lucy Shadburne from Franklin High School, and Fred Kerr from Grant High School.

“Go back to California!” is a refrain commonly heard in Portland, with Californian transplants often blamed for the city’s growing pains and rising costs. But Willamette Week contributor Crystal Contreras, in a series of columns, argues that Portland’s anti-California hate can be viewed as a kind of nativism and xenophobia.

Portland Stands United Against Hate (PSUAH) is a coalition of more than 80 community groups, both religious and secular, that has been organizing counter protests of Joey Gibson’s Patriot Prayer rallies in the Portland metro area. Spokesman Wael Elasady joins us to explain the intentions of PSUAH and his reaction to Gibson’s public comments this week on our show.

A new opera about the nature of wilderness will be performed outside this weekend at the Lewis and Clark Law School Amphitheater. Two Yosemites: An Environmental Opera, is being produced by Opera Theater Oregon. Justin Ralls, Co-Artistic Director, and composer of Two Yosemites, joins us.

Eve Epstein, Art Alexander and Jim Pasero join us on the news roundtable to discuss some of the big stories of the week.

Brynna Hurwitz grew up with a dad with type 1 diabetes, and now has a six-year-old son who has been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. She was recently diagnosed herself with late onset type 1 diabetes. She joins us, along with Providence endocrinologist Elizabeth Stephens, to talk about the constant vigilance it takes to manage her life day-to-day, and about some of the differences between type 1 and the much more common type 2.

OPB’s Oregon Field Guide has been on the air for over 28 years, and Steve Amen has been at the helm that entire time. He’s seen a lot of Oregon, and a lot of changes in this state. We sit down with Steve Amen before he retires tomorrow.

We talk with Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler about freeway widening and other transportation projects, why the city is courting Amazon, and the idea behind providing a pay bump to incentivize high-ranking police officers (including the new chief) to live in the city they serve.

Amazon announced that they’re searching for a second global headquarters and the New York Times has picked a spot for them. Portland makes the list of top four, but Denver is the ultimate choice. We talk to Emily Badger, the reporter for the NYT who made the choice.

OPB’s new podcast follows a class of Oregon students set to graduate in 2025. This year, they’re starting fifth grade. Today’s episode considers how schools can best serve students whose parents speak a language other than English at home.

The Eagle Creek Fire burned fast and hot through the normally damp forests of the Columbia River Gorge. Was this fire different from the fires we normally see in drier forests east of the Cascades? And how have forest management practices in the Gorge affected the character of this fire? Jerry Franklin, professor of Forest Ecosystems at the University of Washington gives us some insight.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray resigned after The Seattle Times reported on sex abuse allegations by his cousin, Joseph Dyer. The latest allegations follow others by previous accusers that have stepped forward, including Murray’s foster son in an early 1980s case in Oregon. The Seattle Times reporter Lewis Kamb joins us to discuss the story.

We talk with Joey Gibson about the Patriot Prayer rallies he’s organized around the country — most recently this past weekend in Vancouver, WA — the motivation behind his activism, and what he thinks about the violent clashes among members of his group and counter-protesters.