Think Out Loud

The Oregon Secretary of State’s office is investigating the Umpqua Public Transportation District in Douglas County over its response to the May election. The district’s CEO is refusing to accept the results of one of the races for a board seat and refusing to pay for the district’s share of running the election. The first meeting of the new board ended abruptly after an argument between board members and the CEO.   Nigel Jaquiss has been covering this issue for the Oregon Journalism Project. He joins us with more details.  

From small fishing boats littered across state ports to a massive 384-foot ship rusting in the Columbia River, Oregon’s waterways continue to be dotted with abandoned and derelict vessels. Now, a first-of-its-kind partnership between the BoatUS Foundation and NOAA is bringing fresh funding to tackle the problem. The effort aims to remove more than 300 abandoned and derelict vessels from local waters across six states — with Oregon set to clear dozens of its highest-risk boats over the next two years.   Josh Mulhollem, who manages the state’s Waterways Stewardship Program, joins us to discuss how the funding will be utilized and how this effort could make a difference for Oregon’s coastal and river communities.  

For decades, scientists have been trying to develop a male contraceptive similar to the birth control pill that can be taken orally and is reversible, with minimal side effects. An oral male contraceptive could also be a more effective alternative to using a condom or undergoing surgery for a vasectomy, while helping to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies which account for nearly half of all pregnancies worldwide.    Wei Yan is a professor and director of the Center for Reproductive Biology and the School of Molecular Biosciences at Washington State University who has spent two decades in the quest to develop a male contraceptive pill. His current investigation involves a compound derived from an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine that is showing encouraging lab results. In a commentary he recently wrote for an academic journal, he argues that the development of a new male contraceptive needs to be reframed as a “women’s health priority” that would allow reproductive responsibility to be more equitably shared.    Yan joins us to share his perspective, the status of his own research efforts and the funding landscape to advance this work.   

Around one in 10 youth enrolled in Medicaid spent days stuck in the emergency room after being admitted for a mental health crisis. That’s according to a new study from Oregon Health and Science University. John McConnell is a professor in emergency medicine and the director of the center for health systems at OHSU. Rebecca Marshall is a professor in child and adult psychiatry with OHSU. She is also a practicing psychiatrist at Doernbecher Children's Hospital and Doernbecher emergency department. They both join us to share more on the study and what it means for the kids waiting to be admitted.

The biggest impact of the $15 billion in federal cuts faced by the state of Oregon will fall on food assistance and medicaid. But these cuts will also affect the State Library of Oregon, who could lose 25% of its budget. The state library is responsible for providing accessible reading materials for people with disabilities and helping provide guidance and support for local, academic and public school libraries. Wendy Cornelisen is the state librarian. She joins us to share more on what federal cuts to the department would mean for Oregonians.

“Them,” written by Palestinian playwright Samah Sabawi, focuses on a young couple in a war zone as they debate whether to stay or leave. It captures the wrenching choices people are forced to make in wartime, as well as the humorous, joyful and mundane moments of everyday life that persist despite the violence. A production of the play will run through Aug. 23 at Portland Center Stage’s Ellyn Bye Studio.   Malek Najjar, professor of theater arts at the University of Oregon, received special permission from Sabawi to stage “Them” in Eugene and Portland. He joins us with more details about the play and its relevance today.  

A new study by researchers at the University of Washington shows support for an integrated model of health care that could be especially effective in improving access to care for people experiencing homelessness and their pets. One Health Clinic opened in 2018 in Seattle as part of UW’s  Center for One Health Research. The center, which was created in collaboration with Washington State University, explores the connections between the health of humans and animals within their shared environments.    The One Health Clinic aims to remove barriers to medical and veterinary care for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness and their pets by providing that care and other services under one roof. The study found that from 2019 to 2022, 80% of all clients who visited the clinic for their pets’ veterinary care also received care for themselves, and nearly half of the clients established care for themselves for the first time in at least two years.    Natalie Rejto is the lead author of the study, a patient navigator at One Health Clinic and a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for One Health Research. Vickie Ramirez is a co-author of the study and program manager at COHR. They join us to share their findings and thoughts on expanding the clinic’s model to improve health outcomes for both people and their pets.   

Under the Death in Custody Reporting Act, states who receive certain federal funds are required to report any death of someone who is detained, under arrest, in custody or incarcerated to the attorney general. The data is available to the public, but new reporting from The Marshall Project shows that this data is plagued with inaccuracies. Anna Flagg is a data reporter and helped cover this story. She joins us to share more on what is wrong with the data and some of the inaccuracies the publication found.

Oregon just launched a new program that aims to hold businesses accountable for the packaging waste they create. The Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act charges businesses that produce or distribute paper, packaging and food serviceware based on the weight and sustainability of their materials.   The act applies to companies that generate $5 million or more in revenue. The goal is to fund recycling services in small communities through the fees that businesses pay into the program. But the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors says the act is illegal and unfairly impacts its members.  Karen Harned is the organization’s director of litigation and legal policy. She joins us with more details about the NAW’s lawsuit against the state.

A new study from Portland State University completes a three-year project looking at the impacts of several drug policy shifts - including Measure 110 - which decriminalized drug possession in Oregon. Among other things, this final study concluded that decriminalization had little to do with rising crime and overdose deaths. Instead, the study found that the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread emergence of fentanyl were the primary drivers behind a surge in drug-related deaths. Brian Renauer, a professor in the Criminology & Criminal Justice Department at PSU, joins us to explain.