Jenn Chávez

Reflecting a national trend, communities in the Northwest are seeing a wave of proposed bans or limits on books in schools or local libraries. Two students in the region share their perspectives on the importance of literary access, libraries as community spaces for everyone, and more.

Over 9,000 Oregonians have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Hospitals are currently crowded with patients suffering from the "tripledemic" of RSV, flu and COVID. And a new variant of COVID known as “kraken” has come to the forefront. What should we expect from the global pandemic in 2023?

The end of the year gives us the opportunity to look back at events and experiences from the region. As we draw a close on a year of both hardship and joy, let’s remember some of the stories that made us smile.

Teachers in Ridgefield, Washington, are on strike. And Ridgefield teachers aren't alone. Educators in Seattle went on strike earlier this month, and only returned to classrooms on Wednesday. Teachers across the country in places like Columbus, Sacramento and Minneapolis have walked out this year, too.

The Portland Art Museum's Center for an Untold Tomorrow rents out virtual reality headsets, preloaded with 10 curated immersive VR pieces from around the world, for viewers to try out for a few days at home.

Fiesta Mexicana has been an annual summer tradition in Woodburn since the 1960s. The weekend of festivities in August brings community members together for plenty of food, music, dance, a parade, a car show and more in celebration of Woodburn's vibrant Mexican community.

Dr. Tim Menza, a senior adviser with the Oregon Health Authority, spoke with OPB about the prevention and treatment of hMPXV and the complications of communicating about it.

In recent years, a growing number of public libraries have been building entire collections of unconventional items: Libraries of Things. One of the first of its kind in the U.S. got its start in Hillsboro, Oregon, where the local library offers kitchenware, musical instruments, board games and more.

OPB Music Director Jerad Walker has recommendations for bands and artists featured at summer music festivals, some of which are returning for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

Tony DeFalco, executive director of the Latino Network, said the request was prompted by this year’s deadly mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. The white gunman in Buffalo killed 10 Black people in an attack the president has called “hate-filled domestic terrorism” and a “racially motived hate crime.”