Reporter And Producer

Molly Solomon

Molly Solomon is a reporter and producer covering Southwest Washington for Oregon Public Broadcasting.

She was previously a general assignment reporter for Hawaii Public Radio in Honolulu where she produced award-winning stories on a variety of topics, including homelessness, native Hawaiian issues and even an active lava flow. Her work has appeared on "Marketplace," NPR’s "Morning Edition," "All Things Considered," "Here and Now" and "Science Friday."

Molly has won three national Edward R. Murrow awards for her work along with awards from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists and PRNDI. Most recently, a series on the closure of Hawaii’s final sugar plantation won her a 2017 national award from the Asian American Journalists Association.

Willapa Bay Oyster Farmers Struggle As Shrimp Population Booms

The booming population of a native species of Northwest shrimp threatens the oyster beds of Washington's Willapa Bay and a coastal way of life.

local | News | Environment

Port Of Kalama: Methanol Refinery Can’t Export For Fuel

Port of Kalama commissioners unanimously passed a lease amendment with a controversial methanol facility Wednesday night that prohibits the company from exporting its product for fuel.

Politics | local | Nation | News

Southwest Washington Rep. Herrera Beutler Gives Birth To 3rd Child

U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., gave birth to her third child Tuesday, a baby girl named Isana Mae Beutler.

local | News

New Counts Show Major Homeless Population Spike In Southwest Washington

Annual homeless census results for Clark County released Friday suggest that homeless populations in southwest Washington grew considerably over the last year.

Education | local | News | Sports

Despite Criticism, Vancouver Students Vote To Keep Chieftain Mascot

A school in southwest Washington will remain the Chieftans. Students at Columbia River High School in Vancouver, Washington, voted 79% in favor of keeping the Native American mascot.

Health | local | News

New Washington Law Limits Exemptions For Measles Vaccine

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill Friday to limit exemptions to the measles vaccine. He signed it during a visit to Vancouver, the epicenter of an outbreak that sickened 71 people this year.

Politics | Energy | local | Environment | News

In Surprise Reversal, Inslee Opposes Washington Natural Gas Projects

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has changed his stance on two controversial natural gas plants, saying he now opposes the projects.

local | News

Judge Sets $1 Million Bail For Vancouver, Washington, Cold Case Suspect

Wearing shackles and a green suicide prevention smock, Richard Knapp made his first appearance in Clark County Superior Court on Wednesday.

local | News

Vancouver Police Make Arrest In 25-Year-Old Cold Case

Vancouver police turned to the same kind of DNA technology and genealogy databases that caught the Golden State Killer last year to arrest Richard Knapp for the alleged murder of Audrey Hoellein in 1994.

Health | Politics | local | News

New Washington Law Aims To Eliminate State's Untested Rape Kit Backlog

Currently, there are more than 10,000 untested sexual assault kits in Washington, according to the Washington State Patrol.

local | News | Environment

Controversial Kalama Methanol Plant May Be Misleading Public, Regulators

Backers of a controversial Kalama, Washington, methanol plant are selling the project as an opportunity to tap into China's fuel market — which is not what they're selling the public.

local | News

Suspect Identified In Killing Of SW Washington Sheriff's Deputy

On Monday, investigators identified the man who shot and killed a Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office deputy as 33-year-old Brian Butts.

local | News

Hart Parents Intentionally Killed Adopted Children, Jury Rules

A jury unanimously ruled the Hart parents from Southwest Washington intentionally killed their six adopted children when the parents drove off a California cliff.

Nation | News | Family

Coroner's Inquest Into Hart Family's Deaths Begins

Highway patrol officers, a forensic pathologist and others testified Wednesday in front of a jury on the findings from the Hart family death investigation.

local | Nation | News

1 Year After Deadly Crash, Officials Begin Inquest Into Hart Family

This week, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is holding an inquest into the deaths as a final step in determining what happened in the fatal crash.

local | News

After 4 Police Shootings, Vancouver Community Demands Answers

Anger and frustration over the recent string of Vancouver, Washington, police shootings came to a head at Monday night’s City Council meeting.

local | News

Vancouver Police Chief: Now Is An 'Opportune Time' To Consider Body Cameras

After a slew of recent police shootings, Vancouver’s police chief is reconsidering his department’s stance on body cameras.

Education | local | News

27 Students Suspended, 9 Arrested In Vancouver School Disturbance

27 students who were involved in a disruption that canceled Friday night's basketball tournament at Gaiser Middle School have been emergency expelled and nine have been arrested, according to Vancouver Public Schools.