Oregon Solutions

At the start of 2023, OPB began taking a deep look at the biggest social and economic challenges facing Oregon today — their origins, their impacts and possible solutions.


composite image of school photos from all children in the project, showing their kindergarten photo next to their current photo.

For more than a decade, OPB's Class Of 2025 project has been documenting the growth of 27 students who started school together in Southeast Portland.

Class Of 2025

Oregon leaders have promised to ensure that every child graduates on time by 2025. OPB has followed a group of students from kindergarten as they start their educational journey toward high school. These are some of their stories.


Deep wells lead a race to the bottom for Oregon's groundwater.

Race to the bottom

Oregon regulators are supposed to safeguard sustainable water supplies, but instead officials managing groundwater have fueled crises and inequities, leaving the state ill-prepared to meet the growing challenges of human-caused climate change and drought. Is it too late to stop a race to the bottom?


An aerial view of steep hills shows some areas where trees have been logged and others where there is a dark green tree canopy.

By the late 1980s, between 3% and 7% of old growth remained in the region’s 56.8 million acres of forest in a mosaic of clearcuts and second-growth timber.

Timber Wars: 30 years of conflict

OPB explores our region's relationship with its forests. That relationship has been evolving for 30 years — ever since a mild-mannered bird called the northern spotted owl landed on the endangered species list.


graphic

The COVID-19 virus.

Coronavirus

OPB's coverage of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.


Federal officers deploy gas to disperse crowds of protesters near the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse in Portland, Ore., July 20, 2020.

Federal officers deploy gas to disperse crowds of protesters near the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse in Portland, Ore., July 20, 2020.

Portland protests

The Trump administration describes Portland as “city under siege.” Protesters and journalists who regularly show up at the nightly demonstrations agree a siege is happening. But over 14 days, federal law enforcement has increasingly become the occupying force.


Chemawa Indian School is the oldest continuously running off-reservation Indian boarding school.

Chemawa Indian School is the oldest continuously running off-reservation Indian boarding school.

Chemawa Indian School

Chemawa is supposed to offer an academic home preparing students for college or careers in a safe and stable place. But an OPB investigation found the school is breaking its promise.


Move To Include

In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), OPB is joining with other public media partners around the country to promote inclusion for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.


Sunnyside Road on the Warm Springs Reservation

Sunnyside Road on the Warm Springs Reservation

On The Road

On The Road is "Think Out Loud’s" radio road trip series: conversations with wanderers, tourists, and residents along Oregon’s and Washington's backroads and highways.


Duane Ehmer patrols the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge complex with his horse Hell Boy during the occupation of the refuge in early 2016.

Duane Ehmer patrols the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge complex with his horse Hell Boy during the occupation of the refuge in early 2016.

Race in the Northwest

People in the Pacific Northwest talk about the role race plays in their daily lives.


This month, OPB will premiere a new Oregon Experience documentary “Broken Treaties,” which examines the history of the native people of Oregon, and how they went from possessing 100 percent of the state’s land to nearly none of it.

This month, OPB will premiere a new Oregon Experience documentary “Broken Treaties,” which examines the history of the native people of Oregon, and how they went from possessing 100 percent of the state’s land to nearly none of it.

Broken Treaties

The history of the native people of Oregon and how they went from possessing 100 percent of the state’s land to nearly none of it.  


Vietnam

Nearly 50 years after the end of combat operations in Vietnam, Oregonians remain deeply affected by the events of those times. OPB and PBS explore the war with two new documentaries. 


The 5,000th B-17 plane was autographed by the Boeing Seattle workers. It completed 78 bombing missions in Europe before being scrapped in 1946.

The 5,000th B-17 plane was autographed by the Boeing Seattle workers. It completed 78 bombing missions in Europe before being scrapped in 1946.

Battle Ready

The secret history of the U.S. military’s environmental legacy in the Northwest.


Beverly Cleary has written more than 40 books.

Beverly Cleary has written more than 40 books.

Beverly Cleary

Beverly Cleary is an award-winning author whose books for children have become classics.


Unprepared

A magnitude 9.0 earthquake off the Northwest coast could hit at any time. How can we prepare for this impending and unpredictable disaster?


Valhalla

OPB's Oregon Field Guide" led an expedition into the heart of an uncharted gorge.


Race In The Northwest: People in the Pacific Northwest talk about the role race plays in their daily lives.

Race In The Northwest: People in the Pacific Northwest talk about the role race plays in their daily lives.

Race NW

People in the Pacific Northwest talk about the role race plays in their daily lives.


Eclipse watchers stand in awe of a rare moment of cosmic alignment

Eclipse watchers stand in awe of a rare moment of cosmic alignment

Solar eclipse

Get ready, Oregon. A total eclipse on Aug. 21 is expected to bring upward of a million people to the state.


Philip Carrasco and his wife Jessica Allphin both have part-time jobs and this past winter, they didn't have paid sick time. "It really is a major stressor for a family," he says. "We have a six-year-old and a 15-month-old and if one got sick, then it made the rounds...Sometimes we would still go to work despite being sick." Philip's employer, Catholic Community Services, recently announced that employees will get paid sick time starting this summer. Philip also works as a community organizer for Oregon AFL-CIO.

Philip Carrasco and his wife Jessica Allphin both have part-time jobs and this past winter, they didn't have paid sick time. "It really is a major stressor for a family," he says. "We have a six-year-old and a 15-month-old and if one got sick, then it made the rounds...Sometimes we would still go to work despite being sick." Philip's employer, Catholic Community Services, recently announced that employees will get paid sick time starting this summer. Philip also works as a community organizer for Oregon AFL-CIO.

Represented

"Think Out Loud" travels to cities and towns across the state to hear about how policy issues affect Oregonians at home.


"Curious Northwest"

"Curious Northwest"

Curious Northwest

The world is a fascinating place — and in many ways, the most interesting aspects of it are often in our backyards. In the Pacific Northwest, this is especially true. We’re a land of oddities and weirdness. Join us as we explore the people, places and backstories that make the Northwest what it is.


The water in the Oregon Capitol building has tested positive for elevated lead levels.

The water in the Oregon Capitol building has tested positive for elevated lead levels.

Lead in the water

Communities across the Northwest were shocked recently to discover dangerously high lead levels in their water. How did this happen, and what’s being done to fix the problem?


Crews worked throughout the weekend to respond to the accident, which damaged Mosier’s waste water treatment plant and sewer lines.  At least 100 people were evacuated from the tiny town along the Columbia River. Schools were also closed as a result of the accident.

Crews worked throughout the weekend to respond to the accident, which damaged Mosier’s waste water treatment plant and sewer lines. At least 100 people were evacuated from the tiny town along the Columbia River. Schools were also closed as a result of the accident.

Oil trains

OPB's coverage on the transportation of oil by rail in the Northwest.


Last month Paul Knauls was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame for his role as owner of the legendary jazz venue The Cotton Club.

Last month Paul Knauls was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame for his role as owner of the legendary jazz venue The Cotton Club.

Jazz Town

Explore the neighborhood, politics and music behind Portland's brief, brilliant jazz age.


Amir and his husband, Ilan, came to Oregon from Israel last month to collect twins from a surrogate in Bend. Many gay couples opt to do the conversion in Oregon — away from their home and families — because most synagogues in Israel won’t perform the ceremony for them.

Amir and his husband, Ilan, came to Oregon from Israel last month to collect twins from a surrogate in Bend. Many gay couples opt to do the conversion in Oregon — away from their home and families — because most synagogues in Israel won’t perform the ceremony for them.

Surrogacy

Oregon has become something of an international center for surrogacy. In this five-part series, OPB's Kristian Foden-Vencil explores why this is the case, especially for gay Israeli couples.


“When you're harvesting geoducks, it's like picking up $20 bills,” says Bob Sizemore, WDFW geoduck research scientist.

“When you're harvesting geoducks, it's like picking up $20 bills,” says Bob Sizemore, WDFW geoduck research scientist.

Wildlife detectives

Wrongdoers are profiting from their deadly exploitation of Northwest wildlife, from elk and deer to sturgeon and shellfish. But law enforcement and private citizens are out to stop these crimes against nature.


Tyler TerMeer, the CEO of the Cascade AIDS Project, helps prepare food donations for at-risk patients.

Tyler TerMeer, the CEO of the Cascade AIDS Project, helps prepare food donations for at-risk patients.

Oregon hunger

Nearly 15 years ago, Oregon had the highest rate of hunger in the nation. Today, the percentage of people facing hunger is nearly as high as it was in 2000.


A vital signs monitor sits on top of an anesthesiology cart. The cart offers several different gasses. So an anesthesiologist can change gases relatively easily.

A vital signs monitor sits on top of an anesthesiology cart. The cart offers several different gasses. So an anesthesiologist can change gases relatively easily.

Vital Signs

Oregon is at the forefront of the nation's health care reform. OPB's Kristian Foden-Vencil looks at how those changes are affecting Oregonians.


'Think Out Loud' visited the town of Monument for its 'Our Town' series.

'Think Out Loud' visited the town of Monument for its 'Our Town' series.

Our Town

Once a month, "Think Out Loud" heads to a different town in Oregon or Southwest Washington to find stories that go beyond the daily news.


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