Think Out Loud

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek convened a task force in August to make concrete and actionable policy recommendations to revitalize downtown Portland. The task force issued its recommendations on Monday,including increasing  police presence in downtown Portland, outlawing public drug consumption, removing protective plywood from buildings, and increasing social services for those living on the streets. The governor also wants tax relief for downtown businesses and a 90-day state of emergency to address the fentanyl addiction crisis. We get more details from one of the task force committee chairs, Nolan Lienhart, principal and director of planning and urban design at ZGF Architects.

English holly certainly looks festive this time of year, with its dark, spiky leaves and bright red berries. But as recently reported in High Country News, the invasive plant poses a significant threat to Pacific Northwest forests. Much like English ivy, English holly is shade-tolerant, meaning it can thrive in the dense forests of western Washington and Oregon. It forms a dense undergrowth that can overtake native species, significantly changing forest composition and reducing biological diversity. David Stokes is a professor emeritus of ecology and conservation biology at the University of Washington Bothell. He joins us with more details about the spread of English holly in the Northwest and what’s being done to combat it. 

If you’re looking to check out some great new place the next time you go out for a meal, look no further than Eater Portland. It’s set the table with 2023 awards for the best new restaurant, bar, pop-up and food cart. Editor Brooke Jackson-Glidden joins us in studio to tell us about Xiao Ye, Astral at Duality Brewing, The Houston Blacklight, Frybaby and more. 

According to U.S. Census data, the average age of foreign-born workers is 41 years old. Earning roughly $15 an hour, on average, many cannot afford to retire, and Social Security benefits are unavailable for those who are undocumented. Miriam Jordan is the national immigration correspondent for the New York Times. She joins us to talk about her recent reporting on aging members of this workforce as they approach retirement age. 

Roz Chast's first New Yorker cartoon was published in 1978, and she has since published more than one thousand. Chast is the author of the graphic memoirs “Going Into Town” and “Can’t we Talk About Something More Pleasant.” Chast spoke about latest book, “I Must be Dreaming” with Dave Miller at the 2023 Portland Book Festival.

‘May December’ showcases riveting performances in film based on Northwest teacher convicted of child rape LONG SYNOPSIS: “May December,” by Portland director Todd Haynes, may be the most unsettling movie you’ll see all year. It’s set in Savannah, Georgia, with fictional characters, but the real-life scandal that it’s more than loosely based on unfolded near Seattle in the late '90s. Seattle-area second grade teacher Mary Kay Letourneau sexually abused Vili Fualaau, beginning just before his 13th birthday. She served time for child rape, and had two children while in custody, ultimately marrying Fualaau when he turned 18 after she had served her time. In “May December” an actress played by Natalie Portman is researching a role for an upcoming film that is based on the former teacher, played by Julianne Moore. In her pursuit of the “truth” of the character she’ll be playing, Portman’s character displays a kind of cold obsession that’s both dehumanizing and deeply — perhaps even shamefully — compelling. We talk with Haynes about the movie, which is streaming on Netflix, and how it’s been received by viewers and film critics.

During the pandemic, alcohol consumption increased more than it has in the last 50 years. Alcohol related deaths have also been increasing, according to the National Institute of Health.  In Oregon, six people die each day on average from alcohol related causes, according to the Oregon Health Authority. As the holiday season approaches, the state agency wants Oregonians to talk to their loved ones about excessive drinking. Tom Jeanne is the deputy state healthy officer and epidemiologist at the public health division of OHA. Mike Winer is the associate medical director at Hooper Detox Center in Portland and is an assistant professor in addiction medicine at OHSU. They both join us to share more on the increase in alcohol consumption in the state and share the best ways to navigate difficult conversations with loved ones about drinking. 

Charity Woodrum grew up in Oregon. While she first explored a career in nursing, she realized that she was meant to gaze at the stars. The University of Oregon alum has interned with NASA and is now working on obtaining a doctoral degree in astronomy and astrophysics from the University of Arizona. She’s also a member of the James Webb space telescope team and is researching galaxy evolution. Her journey is the focus of a documentary screening hosted by the Carlton Observatory at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville on Friday. Woodrum joins us to talk about her work and the people who inspired her along the way.

In a recent survey of Oregon parents, 40% responded that they or their partner had to quit, turn down or “greatly change” their job in the last year due to difficulty finding child care. It also found that families of color and those who speak a language other than English were more likely to be impacted. The findings reflect similar surveys from 2020 and 2019 which showed that the high cost and limited availability of child care slots in the state present major challenges for parents. Katherine Pears is a senior scientist and science director at the Oregon Social Learning Center, a nonprofit research organization that conducted the survey. She joins us to talk more about the challenges facing both families and child care providers.

 Thousands of Oregonians are dealing with having to pay back some unemployment benefits the state now says they shouldn't have received. The Oregon Law Center filed a lawsuit in 2022 arguing that the Oregon Employment Department is violating the due process clause of the constitution. The case is ongoing and represents the confusion around paying back benefits. Meanwhile the agency says it was overwhelmed by requests during the pandemic, and it’s possible that more than $5.5 million could be waived in overpaid benefits. Dianne Lugo is a reporter for the Statesman Journal and has covered these issues. She joins us with more on her reporting.