Think Out Loud

From humpbacks to orcas, whales and dolphins are renowned for their underwater vocalizations, whether it’s to impress a mate, find prey or strengthen social bonds. But beluga whales are especially vocal, with a complex language of whistles, chirps and rhythmic calls that have led to them being called the “canaries of the sea.”  For the first time, a team of scientists has documented the unique vocalizations of Cook Inlet belugas, a critically endangered population native to Alaska. The roughly 300 of them remaining live year-round in the cold, cloudy waters surrounding both a military base and the port of Anchorage, the busiest shipping port in the state. The scientists found that the low, rumbling noise of commercial ships either partially or completely masked the seven most common calls the whales made when passing through their habitat multiple times a week. Arial Brewer is a PhD student at the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington and the lead author of the recently published study. She joins us to share the findings and how noise from human activity is threatening the survival of Cook Inlet belugas.

Lane County was hit particularly hard by the recent winter storms that left many areas of western Oregon without transportation or power. Ice and snow led to downed trees, closed roads and extensive power outages in the county. Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency on Tuesday to help county officials access “critical federal resources to aid in reconstruction and recovery efforts.” That’s after the county Board of Commissioners declared its own state of emergency earlier that day. Laurie Trieger is the chair of the Lane County Board of Commissioners. She joins us with more details on the storm’s impacts and the county’s recovery efforts.

Doctor Carlos Sanchez has an unusual and challenging caseload of patients. For one thing, they have scales, feathers, horns and fur, and can’t really say where it hurts. But it’s his job to oversee the medical care and treatment of more than a thousand animals (not including fish) as the head veterinarian at Portland’s Oregon Zoo. In our latest installment in our series on professions, we accompany Dr. Sanchez as he makes his daily rounds to check up on some of his favorite patients. He shares with us the special bond he has with them, the invaluable role zoo keepers play in their wellbeing and the fateful encounter he had as a young boy in Mexico City that would forever change his life. 

Oregon’s storied craft brewing industry suffered one of its worst years in 2023, with depressed draft beer sales and rising costs creating more pressure than some of the state’s businesses could bear. According to the Oregon Brewers Guild, the state is home to about 400 breweries, brewpubs and taprooms, with 50,000 jobs and generates nearly $9 billion in economic output. But the state lost around 30 of those businesses last year and even more have contracted or are seriously struggling. We’re joined by Sonia Marie Leikam, the co-owner of Leikam Brewing and vice president of the Oregon Brewers Guild, and Laurelwood Brewing Company owner Mike De Kalb, who closed down his last retail location last year. 

In a recent state report card, 3.9% of students in Oregon are experiencing homelessness. There are a number of challenges facing these students, including meeting their basic needs. According to the report card, a little more than 80% of Oregon students graduate in four years, for students who are unhoused that number drops down to 58.6%. Mark Osburn is the McKinney-Vento liaison for the Oakridge School District as well as their Youth and Transition Coordinator. Jamie Klebe is the McKinney-Vento liaison for Warrenton-Hammond School District and a counselor at Warrenton High School. Both of their districts have some of the highest percentage of their students experiencing homelessness in the state. They join us now to discuss what youth homelessness looks like in their communities and how their districts tackle the issue.

Tens of thousands of Oregon homes and businesses were still without electricity early Tuesday, as the National Weather Service warned of more challenging conditions to come. Portland Public Schools, Salem-Keizer, Eugene 4J and many other districts canceled classes on Tuesday. Portland warned that its sewer system is strained, and the MAX service remains shut down. At least four deaths may be linked to the weather. The National Weather Service is forecasting freezing rain across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington starting late Tuesday morning. State agencies are warning Oregonians to stay off roads and prepare for additional tree damage and power outages.

From the Black Panthers to hip hop, the Shakur family stands out as leaders of Black political thought and activism in this country. Journalist Santi Elijah Holley chronicles the history of this family in his new  book “An Amerikan Family: The Shakurs and the Nation.” Holley describes a group of people committed to resisting the exploitation and persecution of Black people, and creating a space of self-determination through activism, care, violence, and art. OPB’s Prakruti Bhatt talks to Holley at the 2023 Portland Book Festival.    From Dennis Rodman’s hair colors to Michael Jordan’s sneakers to LeBron James’s Thom Browne suits, the NBA has long been a place where players’ style off the courts is talked about nearly as much as their style on the courts. Mitchell Jackson’s latest book, “Fly: The Big Book of Basketball Fashion,” chronicles the relationship between basketball, fashion, politics and hip hop. OPB’s Paul Marshall talks to Jackson at the 2023 Portland Book Festival.

Oregon State University, the University of Oregon and Portland State University have come together to form the Oregon Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. The center was created by the state Legislature last year, as data breaches of the Oregon Health Plan and Department of Motor Vehicles exposed millions of Oregonians’ information, and ransomware attacks shut down the Curry County government. The center will help local governments, state agencies, tribal governments, libraries and school districts address their cybersecurity needs. It will also work to coordinate workforce development initiatives and boost public awareness efforts across the state.  Birol Yeşilada, a professor in PSU’s Hatfield School of Government, will serve as director of the new center. He joins us to talk about the biggest cybersecurity threats facing Oregonians and how the center plans to address them.

Throughout Oregon, cities are dealing with budget deficits. And for some, the new year has meant cuts to services. Libraries are facing cuts in multiple cities, including Salem. And officials elsewhere are scrambling to cobble together funds to keep some services afloat. Melanie Kebler is the mayor of Bend, and Chris Hoy is the mayor of Salem. They join us with details on what their cities are facing and what the new year means for services.  

Inclement weather is in the forecast for much of Oregon this weekend, with almost all counties under a winter storm watch or warning. The Oregon Department of Transportation has been clearing roads and responding to closures since late Monday, when the first round of storms hit the state. ODOT received $19 million last month from the Legislature to shore up winter maintenance services in the wake of its budget shortfall. The money will allow the agency to remove overtime restrictions on road maintenance staff and to purchase deicing chemicals and trucks used for snow plowing. ODOT Communications Director Kevin Glenn joins us with more details about the agency's priorities this winter and how it's preparing for the incoming weather.