Think Out Loud
Audit finds Multnomah County has work to do on equity initiatives
Unlike some other counties in Oregon and across the country, Multnomah County has remained committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts. However, a recent audit found that the county has some work to do on its DEI initiatives. Across the county Asian employees are less likely to be supervisors, Black or African American employees are less likely to pass the trial service period and are more likely to be fired, and LGBTQIA employees are more likely to quit. Multnomah County Auditor Jennifer McGuirk joins us to discuss the audit findings.
Today's show
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Featured stories
How Oregon scientists and oyster farmers are responding to ocean acidification
Every summer, CO₂-rich waters rise along the Oregon coast. This year, scientists are watching the effects live and oyster growers are feeling them.
Eugene’s Lucky Enough Social Club creating community, boosting mental health through murals
We hear more from founder Rodger Deevers about the creation of the club and how he hopes to see it grow in the future.
Community media organizations and rural serving stations in the Northwest reeling from federal cuts
Our guests are KMUN Station Manager Susan Peterson in Astoria; Northwest Public Broadcasting’s Director of Audience and Programming Sueann Ramella in Pullman, WA; KWSO‘s Sue Matters on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation; and KLCC reporter Zac Ziegler in Eugene.
Unhoused patients recovering from surgery in Eugene now have a place to go
Everyone Village is partnering with PeaceHealth to open 10 tiny homes where unhoused patients can safely recover from surgery.
14-year-old Portlander competes to be ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’
A 14-year-old Portland student was recently named as one of 10 finalists in a national science competition for middle school students. We'll hear about her competition entry, which aims to address the environmental toll of fast fashion.
Problem of overtourism comes into focus for Portland travel book shop owner
Throngs of tourists visiting popular destinations are fueling a rise in overtourism and a backlash to it from locals and government officials. We'll hear from a Portland owner of a travel book store who's been thinking about overtourism and how to be an ethical tourist today.
Workers complain of bad management, poor conditions at Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire
We'll learn more from a reporter who looked into these complaints.
New law to bring climate education to classrooms across Oregon
Oregon has passed a new law requiring climate change to be taught across core K-12 subjects.
Cannabis testing in Oregon shows inflated THC numbers
An investigation from Undark found that some labs were providing fudged results to cannabis growers. We'll hear from a reporter to learn more.
Mass Intel layoffs will hit Oregon economy hard
OPB business reporter Kyra Buckley has been following this story, and she joins us to bring us the latest.
Gov. Tina Kotek calls for special session, delays ODOT layoffs
Gov. Kotek has called for a special session in late August to address transportation funding. We'll hear from OPB politics reporter Dirk Vanderhart to learn more.
What a housing accountability office means for Oregon
We learn more about the agency and what it means for Oregon's housing crisis.
Clatsop County considers program to convert vacant second homes into long-term rentals
The program would offer cash incentives for property owners to lease out their vacation homes for a year or more.
Oregon wildfire season prompts state emergency declaration
We hear from the Oregon State Fire Marshal and the deputy director of fire operations at the Oregon Department of Forestry about the resources being mobilized to fight the wildfires burning across the state.
OSU researchers are working to make wood stoves burn more cleanly
We'll hear about efforts to make residential wood stoves burn more cleanly and efficiently.
How Oregon’s forests are tied to the Roadless Rule
The Roadless Rule is a U.S. Forest Service regulation that protects inventoried roadless areas.
Budget airline to end service at Salem airport next month
Avelo, the only commercial airline operating out of the Salem airport, announced it would end service in August. Salem Statesman Journal city reporter Whitney Woodworth joins us to share her reporting on this story.
Washington County revises DEI policies for new federal requirements
Washington County is revising its approach to diversity, equity and inclusion to comply with new federal grant requirements.
Bend Bulletin newspaper union fights Carpenter Media Group layoffs
Morgan Owen is a crime and public safety reporter for the Bend Bulletin. She joins us to share the latest in the story that’s unfolding at her paper.
Oregon crime victims services organizations face deep cuts after losing federal funding
Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth joins us, along with two victims services advocates, to tell us more about the consequences of the funding shortfall.
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At Home With James Yamazaki
James Yamazaki talking in his kitchen with Think Out Loud host, Dave Miller, before sitting down for an hour-long interview.
