Think Out Loud

Certain foods are often marketed in ways that reinforce gender stereotypes. Think, for example, of the deep, masculine voice who proclaims “We have the meats!” as the tagline from a popular fast food chain, or advertisements aimed at women that tout the low-calorie appeal of a brand of yogurt. A new study from researchers at University of Oregon suggests that these gender stereotypes around food can also influence kids and the kinds of foods they choose to eat. Nichole Kelly is the Evergreen associate professor in counseling psychology and human services at University of Oregon, and one of the study’s authors. She joins us to talk about the findings and how placing value judgments on certain foods may affect future eating behaviors. 

Voters in the Portland metro region passed a tax in 2020 to fund homeless services. But Multnomah County is far behind in spending the hundreds of millions of dollars that tax has generated. Clackamas and Washington counties also have unspent tax money. Now, the Metro regional government wants to divert some of those dollars to build more affordable housing. We'll talk with Willamette Week reporter Nigel Jaquiss who’s been following the developments.

On Friday, the Oregon Senate passed House Bill 4002, which now heads to Governor Tina Kotek. Under the proposal, people caught with small amounts of illicit drugs like fentanyl could face jail time. HB 4002 also creates new addiction service facilities. OPB political reporter Dirk VanderHart joins us with details.   

Behind the laughter and bright lights of sitcoms, some of America’s favorite shows featured queer storylines – whether viewers realized it or not. From Bewitched to the Golden Girls, “Hi Honey, I’m Homo!: Sitcoms, Specials and the Queering of American Culture” explores how sitcoms played a role in the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights by embracing queer culture. Matt Baume is a Seattle-based podcaster, Youtuber and author of the new book. He joins us to share some of the most impactful shows in gay history and the greater role they played in society.

Charles Yu has written a lot about the nature of reality, how we understand what is real, and the assumptions we make about each other and the universe we live in. Yu’s first novel, “How to live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe,” follows a time machine repairman who is searching for his father who is lost in time and memory. His latest book, National Book Award winning “Interior Chinatown,” takes place in a Chinese restaurant that’s also the set for a police procedural TV show and a sendup of stereotypes of Asian American characters. Yu talks to us in front of an audience of students from Ida B. Wells High School. 

For many, the name Audubon conjures up images of birds or birdwatchers venturing into nature with a pair of binoculars to catch a glimpse of a beloved warbler or bird of prey. But for some, the name can evoke a painful reminder of the legacy of John James Audubon – an artist, self-taught ornithologist and naturalist who owned slaves, opposed abolition and stole human remains from Native American graves. Acknowledging that painful history, the Portland chapter of the National Audubon Society recently changed its name to Bird Alliance of Oregon. The group joins other chapters in Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco and elsewhere that have either adopted a new name or committed to doing so, despite the national organization’s decision to stick with the Audubon name. We hear from Stuart Wells, the executive director of Bird Alliance of Oregon, about the significance of its new name, especially for people of color and other marginalized groups who continue to face barriers to recreate in nature.    

This school year, Oregon received more than $17 million to fund and strengthen career and technical education. Right now there are more than 1,000 CTE programs offered throughout the state and many schools continue to expand their offerings. The Oregon Department of Education is in the process of creating its latest strategic CTE plan. But what does demand look like at schools right now? To help answer this question and more we’ll hear from Stephen DuVal, the director of college and career readiness for the Bend-La Pine School District, and Rhonda Rhodes, the principal at the Career Technical Education Center at the Salem-Keizer School District.

Last Saturday marked the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and more than 6 million refugees have fled the fighting since the war began. Yulia Brockdorf is a Ukrainian American psychotherapist who lives in Hillsboro. She is also the co-founder and president of DAWN, a nonprofit that has been sending medical supplies, water filtration equipment and other humanitarian aid to Ukraine. She made four trips last year, including one in November when she traveled to the frontlines in Eastern Ukraine to provide counseling to troops and former POWs. Brockdorf shares her perspective on the mental health toll the fighting is taking on civilians turned soldiers, as well as the ongoing need for military aid to Ukraine. 

The Oregon Public Use of Land Act protects local governments from lawsuits if someone is injured while recreating on public land. But a 2019 lawsuit threw the “recreational immunity” law into question when a judge sided with a Newport woman who sued the city after slipping on a wet footbridge. Since walking, running and bicycling aren’t explicitly included in the recreational activities protected by the law, cities and counties across the state have closed trails and bike paths to avoid liability. Senate Bill 1576-3 would fill the gaps in the law’s language to keep public spaces open.  Rep. David Gomberg, a Democratic state lawmaker whose district covers Lincoln County and parts of western Lane and Benton County, joins us with more details on the bill and what it could mean for Oregon’s public lands. STATEMENT FROM OREGON TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION: “Recreational immunity further reduces the financial incentive for cities, counties and the state to keep our families and communities safe. They will now have no responsibility to maintain safe trails, bike lanes and parks. This ultimately benefits insurance companies who don’t want to pay claims. For example, children harmed by poorly maintained playground equipment or bike riders injured on hazardous pathways will now have no way to be compensated for their medical bills or injuries due to shoddy maintenance or neglect. This bill is just another example of government shirking its duty to its citizens. Oregonians deserve better.”

Oregon lawmakers are considering a bipartisan bill that would create some of the strictest limits in the nation on corporate ownership of primary care and specialty medical clinics. The bill has passed the House already, and senators on the health care committee voted Tuesday to pass it on to the full Senate for consideration. Some of the bill’s toughest provisions would not apply to hospitals, health systems, and nursing homes, which are already largely exempt from Oregon’s restrictions on the corporate practice of medicine. We hear more details from OPB health reporter Amelia Templeton.