Think Out Loud

Kwame Alexander has written many books and picture books for children, tackling a range of different topics. His newest book, “The Door of No Return,” is the first in a trilogy starting in Ghana in the 1800’s when white colonizers began the slave trade. The book is written as a series of poems, following a young boy, Kofi, who is captured and sold into the slave trade. Kwame Alexander joins us to talk about the 10-year process of working on this book.

Barry Lopez, a celebrated Oregon writer known for his profound exploration of nature and human impact, shares insights from his new memoir, "Horizon." He discusses deep observation and the value of mindfulness in connecting with nature. The conversation delves into the paradox of human actions, like clear-cutting, and the urgent need for solutions. Personal stories illustrate his bond with home and the beauty of exploration. Lopez also reflects on the emotional ties between music and nature, emphasizing respect for cultural heritage in the environmental narrative.

The Portland-based Northwest Classical Theatre Collaborative has a mission of bringing the art to underserved communities and performing in nontraditional spaces — like prisons and homeless shelters. And it’s deliberately financially accessible as well, with $10 ticket prices well below most admission prices for similar kinds of productions. Its new show “Happy Days” is a 1961 classic by Samuel Beckett, the late playwright best known for “Waiting for Godot.” Northwest Classical’s production is in a space that was once a Victoria’s Secret at Portland’s Lloyd Center shopping mall. Director Patrick Walsh joins us to talk about the production and the theatre’s mission, along with lead actress Diane Kondrat, who’s on stage for the entire 90-minute play.

California firefighters have come to Oregon to help battle blazes. The Bedrock Fire continues to burn in the Willamette National Forest and evacuation orders are in place. The governor has declared an emergency conflagration over the Lookout Fire in Lane County which allowed resources to be quickly dispatched to affected areas. Meanwhile, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office released a report detailing the progress it’s made with wildfire funding from SB 762. We check in with Alison Green, the Oregon State Fire Marshal public affairs director.   

The wildfires that rampaged through Maui began last week, killing more than 100 people and destroying over 2,500 acres on the island, including homes and businesses of the historic town of Lahaina. Ka’Aha Lahui O’Olekona Hawaiian Civic Club of Oregon and SW Washington has been taking donations to aid in relief efforts. Currently they are only accepting gift cards to Safeway, Costco and Target. Leialoha Ka’ula is the executive director of KALOHCC. She joins us to share more on the efforts being made so far and how Oregonians can help. 

The Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission recently sent a letter to Gov. Tina Kotek asking her to issue a State Disaster declaration for the cherry industry. The commission’s request for assistance follows a similar appeal made by a state lawmaker on behalf of growers in Hood River and Wasco Counties, as reported earlier by the Oregon Capital Chronicle. A wet, cold spring impacted cherry growers not only in Oregon but throughout the West, and led to a glut of cherries from California, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia reaching the market at the same time. According to the Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission, some farmers in Wasco and Hood River Counties decided to forego harvesting as much as 40% of their crop because of plummeting cherry prices. Ian Chandler is the Chair of the Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission and a cherry farmer in The Dalles. Mike Omeg is a cherry farmer and the director of operations at Orchard View in The Dalles. They share details about this year’s harvest and how a disaster declaration could help the industry cope with recent challenges.

Our Children’s Trust got its first definitive win in court this week in one of the many climate change lawsuits it's filed in state courts and federal jurisdictions all over the country. The group was challenging a law involving carbon emissions in Montana on the grounds that it violated environmental protections enshrined in the state's own constitution. And while Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen called the ruling “absurd” and promised to appeal, the case’s significance cannot be overstated. It’s the first OCT case to be allowed to go to trial, be litigated and have the judgment favor the plaintiffs. The best known challenge to the country’s fossil fuel energy system is Juliana v. U.S., named for the lead plaintiff in Eugene, where the group is based. The case has been held up with legal maneuvering for eight years. A ruling in June cleared the way for the case to go finally go to trial, but the U.S. government is trying to prevent it from moving forward. Our Children’s Trust managing attorney Mat dos Santos joins us to share more about the recent win in Montana, the ongoing strategy in the federal challenge and other cases that are making their way through state court systems.

A new Oregon law will allow health facilities to return amputated body parts to patients for cultural, traditional and spiritual reasons. For some members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and others, the practice is necessary to ensure a smooth transition to the spirit world. Shilo Tippett is the manager of caregiver inclusion and experience at St. Charles Health System. Wilson Wewa is an oral historian and spiritual leader with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. They join us with more details on the new law and what it will mean for patient care.

Charlene Williams was appointed to head the Oregon Department of Education earlier this year by Gov. Tina Kotek. She is the first Black woman to lead the department. As the past principal of Portland’s Roosevelt High School, she used a $7.7 million grant to support students, boosting graduation rates and overall academic performance. She also served as principal of the district’s alternative high school, Rosemary Anderson, and helped lead the Evergreen and Camus public school districts in Washington. As the new year begins, Williams plans to visit schools all over Oregon to observe and listen to families, educators and students of all ages. She also plans to create a student advisory group to better understand what children and teens want from their education. Williams joins us to share more about her educational priorities and her hopes for the next academic year.

Extreme heat has again reached the Pacific Northwest. Portland temperatures have surpassed 100 degrees, and the dangerous heat continues today. What does that mean for important infrastructure like utilities? How are state agencies responding to the relentless weather? Larry Bekkedahl is the senior vice president of advanced energy delivery for Portland General Electric. Matt Marheine is the deputy director for the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. They join us with details of how Oregon is responding to the high temperatures.