OPB’s First Look: Ham it up on airwaves

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Good morning, Northwest.

Ever chatted with someone across town — or across the globe — using amateur radio, better known as (and much more fun to say) ham radio? OPB’s Kristian Foden-Vencil dropped by a Field Day event in late June to see how radio buffs in Clark County, Washington, are ready to save the day with ham radio if disaster knocks out the usual way of communicating.

And with about a week left until the FIFA World Cup final, how many snacks have disappeared during your watch parties? If you’re looking to score extra points with your game-day spread, how about labneh balls shaped like tiny soccer balls? OPB’s Superabundant newsletter writer Heather Arndt Anderson has the recipe to keep your fans cheering.

Here’s your First Look at Saturday’s news.

— Winston Szeto

Top story

Retired attorney John Bachofner works his ham radio at home in Vancouver, Wash., June 24, 2026. He's a member of the Clark County Amateur Radio Club.
*Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB*

Youth needed to ensure future PNW ham radio emergency coverage

At the annual ARRL National Association for Amateur Radio Field Day last month, retired attorney John Bachofner and the Clark County Amateur Radio Club contacted more than 1,700 stations over 24 hours, demonstrating how they can provide emergency communications when disasters disrupt traditional networks.

Bachofner laughs at one school of thought that says amateur radio is called ham radio because enthusiasts like to “ham it up” on the airwaves. He said ham radio is about public service and connecting with people worldwide under FCC rules that prohibit commercial use.

While participants skew older, club members say attracting young people is essential to preserving the ham radio’s role in emergency communication. (Kristian Foden-Vencil)

Learn More

3 things to know

Smoke rises from the Evans Creek Road Fire northeast of Rogue River on Friday, July 10, 2026.
*Courtesy of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife*

The Evans Creek Road Fire northeast of Rogue River grew rapidly last evening to more than 1,500 acres, prompting evacuations as firefighters worked to slow its spread under extreme fire conditions. (Maria Carter, JPR)
Interstate 5 will be closed overnight through Portland’s Rose Quarter starting tonight at 10 p.m., as Oregon Department of Transportation crews are installing a new overhead sign near the Oregon Convention Center this weekend. They warn the I-5 closure could last through tomorrow afternoon. (OPB staff)
A Portland hearings officer yesterday upheld a city land use violation issued against the owner of the building currently occupied by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The ruling allows the city to begin issuing fines against the property owners, starting at $934 monthly. (Alex Zielinski)

Northwest headlines

Early signs suggest Oregon governor’s race is competitive (Dirk VanderHart)
Portland Mayor Wilson violated campaign finance rules in 2024, auditor finds (Alex Zielinski)
Inside TriMet: How Portland area’s bus routes are planned, tested and changed (Lillian Karabaic)
Federal judge orders Tacoma ICE center to allow health and safety inspections (Sarah Mizes-Tan, KUOW)
Hundreds of children ordered to appear at new ‘mega’ immigration hearings in Seattle (Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez, KUOW)
Crowd assembles in downtown Eugene to mourn latest death during ICE operations (Brian Bull, KLCC)
Ashland School District committee creating proposal to cut budget (Jane Vaughan, JPR)
Emergency response into Longview disaster ends, but investigations continue (Bellamy Pailthorp, KNKX)

One more look

Labneh balls are a deceptively simple way to work through a glut of yogurt
*Heather Arndt Anderson / OPB*

Superabundant recipe: These easy labneh balls are your new World Cup snack #goals

Labneh balls are kind of the perfect snack for watching soccer — first of all, they’re ball-shaped.

When it comes to foods associated with sports, you might think of nachos, wings or hot dogs, depending. But global sporting events like the FIFA World Cup beg an international approach.

Soccer in general has its own food culture, and footy scran goes way beyond the usual stadium fare of the United States. That’s why labneh balls aren’t totally out of left field (get it, a sports reference). (Heather Arndt Anderson)