Donald Orr

For the last three years, Rachael Banks has served as public health director for Multnomah County. Now, she’s about to take her skills statewide at the Oregon Health Authority. We talk with Banks about her new role as director of OHA’s public health division, what she's planning to address in the pandemic,= and how she hopes to do that.

This week, we're talking with voters in Washington and Clackamas counties before Nov. 3, Election Day. They share their perspectives and how those inform the issues most important to them ahead of the election. Today we're joined by Jesse Townsend, an independent voter who lives in Beaverton.

When coronavirus restrictions began to ease earlier this summer, some restaurants and bars were able to use Portland streets for outdoor dining. But as Oregonians brace for the winter, restaurants will have to adapt to the bad weather, or make do with limited indoor seating. We check in with Naomi Pomeroy, chef and owner of Beast and Expatriate, and Tom O’Leary, owner of T.C. O’Leary’s. They tell us how business has been so far, and what restaurants still need to survive.

When Emily Halnon’s mother died of cancer earlier this year, she wanted to honor her with something big. Last month, Halnon set the overall speed record for the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail — over 450 miles in nearly 8 days. In the process, she raised over $33,000 toward cancer research. We talk with Halnon about her trek through the Oregon PCT, and what the run means to her.

Many Oregonians are in dire need following the Almeda Fire, the catastrophic blaze that burned down much of Phoenix and Talent in Southern Oregon. Community members throughout the state have formed a network of volunteers to meet the need. We talk with organizer Jesse Azzopardi of the Southern Oregon Relief Team about delivering supplies amid devastating wildfires.

As Portland protesters demand change within city law enforcement, Portland Street Response has been touted as an alternative way to respond to crisis without involving police. But with coronavirus shutdowns and repeated delays, the program has been set back nearly a year. We speak with Portland Street Response project manager Robyn Burek and paramedic Tremaine Clayton about the future of the pilot program.

The University of Oregon is launching a Black studies program this fall. We hear from Avinnash Tiwari, the program’s acting director, about bringing the program into fruition.

Bend’s new police chief started the job last week amid a global pandemic, a societal reckoning about police killings of Black people, and a local community blockade of Immigration and Customs Enforcement buses. Mike Krantz was an assistant chief for the Portland Police Bureau before taking the job in Bend.

Fire crews are battling a new wildfire near Sevenmile Hill, west of The Dalles. The fire had burned 25 acres as of Wednesday night.

A Southwest Portland Jewish community center was severely damaged in a two-alarm fire early Wednesday — the second fire there within a week.