Think Out Loud

Oregon’s wildfires have now burned an estimated 1.8 million acres so far. Dozens of large fires are continuing to burn, many only partially contained. The Confederate Tribes of the Warm Springs reservation in North Central Oregon is at risk from the Bench fire in the area. The KWSO radio station located inside the reservation is playing a critical role in helping the community stay informed about fire risks and evacuation orders. Station Manager Sue Matters joins us with the latest.

Fog is a constant presence on the Oregon Coast, but it can be difficult to measure and track. In a recent study, researchers used webcams that are normally used to check surfing conditions to get a better picture of when and where fog forms and dissipates. 

The team analyzed images from six cameras stretching from Cannon Beach to Yaquina Head and compared them with data from a visibility sensor at the Newport Municipal Airport that measures fog. They found that while fog was often patchy and rapidly shifting between camera sites, the airport sensor still provided a reliable picture of average fog frequency along the coast.

Sonya Rauschenbach is a graduate student in atmospheric science at UC Davis and the lead author of the study. She joins us with more details.

Disability Rights Oregon filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging that Portland and Multnomah County “fail to protect people with disabilities before, during and after disasters.” It argues that the city and county’s emergency management systems — from alerts and warnings to evacuation assistance and shelter accommodations — are out of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

For more on the lawsuit, we’re joined by Jake Cornett, the executive director and CEO of Disability Rights Oregon, and Audra Pearson, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Earlier this month, the Pharmacy Foundation of Oregon announced it was awarded more than $5 million from the Oregon Health Authority to expand pharmacy access in rural and frontier communities.  

The need is particularly acute in Oregon. According to an analysis by AP in 2024 using data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs, Oregon has the second fewest retail pharmacies per capita in the nation. Pharmacy closures can be particularly hard for patients in rural areas who may have to drive hours to the next available pharmacy to fill their prescriptions. 

To help this population, PFO will use the OHA funds to install secure lockers in Burns, Baker City, Gold Beach and other locations for patients to pick up their prescriptions. The nonprofit will also roll out a prescription delivery service staffed with a community health worker who is also a bilingual pharmacy technician to serve customers in Heppner, John Day, La Grande and other locations. PFO is also hoping to launch a telepharmacy service where a pharmacist would be available for video consultations with patients and would be able to remotely supervise a technician as medications are dispensed.

Brian Mayo is the executive director of the Oregon State Pharmacy Association and the Pharmacy Foundation of Oregon. Ann Murray is a pharmacist and the co-owner of Murray’s Drug, an independent, family-owned pharmacy with locations in Heppner, Condon and Boardman. Murray and Mayo join us to discuss the OHA grant and the challenges facing pharmacies and the rural communities they serve.

Reed College recently settled a pair of complaints from former students who said they were targeted and harassed for being Jewish. The college agreed to update its discrimination policy, implement new training for students, faculty and staff and appoint a coordinator for Title VI civil rights complaints, among other changes. 

For a student perspective on the settlement, we’re joined by Reed Student Body President Andrew Happy.

By Monday, the Bench fire burning in Warm Springs grew to more than 40,000 acres after combining with the Beachcomb fire. At least six homes and five buildings have been lost, according to state fire officials. 

Hundreds of people are under Level 3 “Go Now!” evacuation orders, with more than a thousand others under lower evacuation levels. 

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Tribal Council Chair Dennis White III has issued a state of emergency declaration that authorizes coordination with and seeks assistance from state, local and federal agencies to fight the wildfires threatening the reservation and taking a toll on tribal services. Tribal officials have now issued a water conservation order and a boil water advisory while announcing the closure of government offices on Tuesday.   

Edward Henderson, Secretary-Treasurer/CEO of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, joins us to share more.

NBA reporters Mike Vorkunov and Yaron Weitzman join us to discuss further about the possibility of a Blazers relocation, and what cities may be attractive suitors for the franchise.

Firefighting crews are working around the clock to contain the dozens of wildfires burning across Central, Eastern and Southern Oregon. The Oregon Department of Forestry is coordinating with state, local and federal agencies to contain large wildfires that have triggered level 1, 2 and 3 evacuations and led to air quality advisories in more than a third of the counties in the state. 

The agency’s complex incident management teams have taken command of the Akawa Butte fire burning near Sisters and are assisting on several fires that are part of the Rowe Creek Complex. A state-to-state mutual aid agreement has allowed ODF to get help from Florida firefighters who took over command on Monday of the Evans Creek fire in Southern Oregon.

Kyle Williams, ODF’s Deputy Fire of Fire Operations, joins us for more details.

Portlander Aliyah Tan recently won first place at the National Yo-Yo Contest in Las Vegas. It was the first time Tan took the spot spot since she started competing at nationals in 2014. Tan’s winning routine, set to music by the British rock band The Last Dinner Party, featured three minutes of elaborate string tricks between two yo-yos. She now heads to the World Yo-Yo Contest in Himeji, Japan, next month. 

Tan joins us in the studio to talk about her elaborate yo-yo routines and what she loves about it.

On July 19, Portland celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Biketown bike-share and e-scooter rental program with a record-setting electric bike ride. 

With more than a thousand participants, Portland shattered the Guinness World Record  for largest e-bike ride, more than doubling the previous record set by Seattle.

Portland Bureau of Transportation Director Millicent Williams joins us to discuss the record-breaking e-bike ride and reflect on the 10-year anniversary of the Nike-sponsored micromobility

Nearly 30% of people who experienced homelessness in Clark County last year were children. That’s according to a recent report by the Council for Homelessness, which also found that the percentage of family households stabilized through rent assistance dropped by 5% last year. 

For families experiencing homelessness in Vancouver, they may have to wait months until a spot becomes available at the few shelters that allow families. The nonprofit Share operates two shelters in Vancouver for families, each with 14 rooms, on-site laundry, a communal kitchen and dining area, and indoor and outdoor play areas for children. As The Columbian recently reported, Share’s shelters have remained at or near capacity for years. Adrianna Kofoed, director of family shelters at Share, says she and her staff have seen increased demand in just the past year, with at least five or six calls a day from parents seeking help for their families. 

Kofoed joins us to share more details about Share’s family shelters. Also joining us is Gracie White, a mother who has been staying at Share’s Homestead shelter for roughly a month with four of her children.  

More than 500,000 acres have burned in Oregon from wildfires that were sparked last week by lightning storms. That includes the Rowe Creek Complex that has grown to roughly 150,000 acres and triggered level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation notices for residents in Wheeler and Wasco counties. The fires have also led to air quality advisories for more than a third of the counties in the state.

Rangeland Fire Protection Associations have been working with state and federal agencies to respond to the Rowe Creek Complex and other fires in remote, difficult terrain. There are currently 29 RFPAs in Oregon. Their members are ranchers and private landowners who volunteer to help fight wildfires on private rangelands in coordination with the Oregon Department of Forestry and other state and federal agencies.

Ted Netter is a rancher and chairman of the Oregon RFPA Advisory Committee and the fire supervisor of the Lower Bridge RFPA which serves Jefferson and Deschutes counties. Ross Ryno is a rancher and member of the Twickenham RFPA which serves parts of Wheeler county. They join us to talk about their efforts to protect their homes and communities from the Rowe Creek Complex and Akawa Butte fire burning near Sisters.

Glendon Smith is the inaugural tribal liaison for the Oregon State Police. Since 2023, he’s been responsible for establishing relationships with Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes and educating state troopers on how to interact with tribal citizens and other law enforcement agencies. He recently received a public service ambassador award from Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek for his work. 

Smith joins us to talk more about his role and the relationship between tribal and state law enforcement.

Adam Corkery is a guitarist and vocalist for Brown Stallion, a Ween tribute band based in Eugene and Portland. Renée Muzquiz is the lead vocalist and guitarist for Major Tomboys, an all-femme David Bowie tribute based in Portland. She also represents Linda Ronstadt in Stone Phoneys, a tribute to Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris.

They both join us to talk about the joys of performing familiar songs for die-hard fans.

The Trump administration is rewriting Bureau of Land Management rules to increase the number of cattle and other livestock that can graze on public lands. The rules affect 155 million acres in the West, an area more than two-and-a-half times the size of Oregon. 

The BLM says the proposal “reflects the Trump administration’s priority to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, promote productive working lands and strengthen local economies.” But environmental groups have raised concerns about the effect loosening these rules would have on wildlife. And Native American tribes that manage bison anticipate impacts on their herds as well. The public comment period on the proposal closed last week.

We talk with Mark Olalde, reporter for High Country News and Propublica, about the plan and how it would affect ranching as well as wildlife and Indigenous tribes.

An estimated 56% of people turning 65 will need long-term care in their lifetime, according to the AARP. On average, much of the care is done by unpaid caregivers and friends helping with day-to-day activities. But a program in Washington is designed to help provide seniors to get the care they need.

WA Cares Fund is the first state-run program for long-term care insurance. It is funded by a mandatory surcharge on payroll taxes in Washington state. After contributing for 10 years, Washington residents qualify for benefits, which could be used for various services including: home care, transportation, adult day programs, home modifications and compensation for family caretakers.

Paula Span writes the New Old Age column for the New York Times and KFF News and wrote about this program, which started offering benefits this month. She joins us to share more on why this program is needed and the impact it could have.