OPB’s First Look: Supporting Spokane in Spanish

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Good morning, Northwest.

As wildfires ravaged Spokane, community groups, including a local radio station, were hard at work distributing vital information in Spanish.

OPB’s Monica Carrillo-Casas reports on the vitality of these resources as families whose homes were damaged if not destroyed pick up the pieces.

In other news, Portland City Council is set to vote Wednesday on a term sheet guiding negotiations with the Trail Blazers over the Moda Center.

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

— Bradley W. Parks

Top story

Spokane Latino-led groups rally disaster resources in Spanish

About 8% of Spokane County’s population speaks a language other than English at home. As the need for information grows, the city has translated emergency information on its website into Spanish and more than 100 other languages, updating those pages daily to keep residents informed as the situation changes.

Community organizations have played an essential role in reaching residents directly. Since the fires broke out, KYRS Thin Air Community Radio has tripled the airtime for its show “El Puente: La Voz Latina,” broadcasting critical updates in a language the audience understands.

Host Rafael Zamora has directed people to different resources from groups like Latinos en Spokane, Mujeres in Action and Nuestras Raíces Community Center. (Monica Carrillo-Casas)

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3 things to know

• Thousands packed the Lloyd Center Saturday to bid farewell to an icon of Portland’s urban core, as the building is slated for demolition later this year. (Joni Auden Land)
• On Wednesday, Portland city councilors are scheduled to cast their final vote on a term sheet laying out the city’s desired framework for negotiations with the Trail Blazers over renovations and maintenance of the Moda Center. (Alex Zielinski)
• Union Pacific said it would resume freight operations next to the Centennial Mills warehouse that burned in a massive fire earlier this month, but city officials are warning that a collapse of the building could injure people on a passing train and damage surrounding property. (Casey Frizzell)

Remembering the explorer named York

York was an enslaved Black man who was just as essential to the success of the expedition as anyone else, but didn’t receive any credit for his work afterwards. We dive into York’s story and remember one who may have been overlooked in American history. (Stephanie Hensley, Beth Harrington and Laurance Johnson)

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Northwest headlines

• Lane County may site its food diversion project at landfill after permitting trouble (Rebecca Hansen-White, KLCC)
• Ashland nonprofit working on plan to manage homeless campsite (Jane Vaughan, JPR)
• This Everett strip mall coffeehouse transforms into an intimate jazz club (Alexa Peters, KNKX)
• Port Orford seeks millions for overhaul of aging water system (Theo Greenly, JPR)
• Portland Thorns survive Boston Legacy rally behind Tordin’s hat trick in 4-3 win (Drew Renner, AP)
• Timbers lose 3-1 to Club América in second Leagues Cup game (OPB staff)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• Botulism outbreak threatens wild birds in Klamath Basin
• New leader of Multnomah County Homeless Services Department on heading up the agency
• The Hybrid Gallery creating safe space for queer and trans arts and greater Eugene community

One more look

IndyCar returns to PIR for OnlyBulls Grand Prix of Portland

The IndyCar series returned to Portland this weekend for the OnlyBulls Grand Prix.

Spanish driver Alex Palou racked up his sixth victory of the season to remain atop the IndyCar championship standings.

Open-wheel racing at Portland International Raceway dates back decades. The course has been the site of some of the closest finishes in the sport’s history. (Saj Sundaram)

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