KGW’s Straight Talk with Laural Porter: Recent Episodes
Laural Porter/KGW
Portland's 2024 election is likely to be the busiest in recent memory. The city council is expanding from four commissioners to 12 councilors, and every one of those seats will be up for grabs at the same time. The mayor's office will be on the ballot as well, and whoever wins will become the first mayor under Portland's new system of government starting in January 2025. The first person to throw their hat into the ring for the mayor's race is current city commissioner Mingus Mapps, who was elected in 2020. Mapps was a guest on this week's episode of Straight Talk, and he stuck around for a bonus episode to talk about the city's efforts to combat climate change.
Portland's 2024 election is likely to be the busiest in recent memory. The city council is expanding from four commissioners to 12 councilors, and every one of those seats will be up for grabs at the same time. The mayor's office will be on the ballot as well, and whoever wins will become the first mayor under Portland's new system of government starting in January 2025. The first person to throw their hat into the ring for the mayor's race is current city commissioner Mingus Mapps, who was elected in 2020. Mapps was an early advocate for charter reform, but became a vocal critic of the final package of changes that was ultimately sent to voters last year. Nonetheless, he says the new mayor's role is going to be critical to addressing Portland's challenges, and he wants to be part of that change. Mapps was a guest on this week's episode of Straight Talk to discuss his reasons for running, his hopes and concerns for the new system of government and his plans to help Portland meet its many challenges.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden was a guest on this week's episode on Straight Talk to discuss the challenges facing Oregon, including his work on federal legislation to respond to wildfires and combat the spread of fentanyl, as well as his efforts to expand rural broadband internet access and boost opportunities for farmers in Eastern Oregon. Wyden also discussed how he expects the federal C.H.I.P.S. Act to boost Oregon's semiconductor industry, his efforts to bring a WNBA team to Portland and the future of the Trail Blazers without franchise superstar Damian Lillard. He also talked about the ongoing saga of the franchise's ownership and Nike co-founder Phil Knight's repeated — and so far, unsuccessful — offers to buy the team. Wyden said his top priority has been to avoid a scenario where the team gets purchased and then moved out of Oregon, like what happened to the former Seattle SuperSonics. "I've been very vigilant in terms of watching the process for dealing with Paul Allen's estate, staying in touch with the league," he said. "I just want Oregonians to know that as long as I'm the state's senior senator, we are not going to see a fiasco like what happened in Seattle."
Threats against the LGBTQ+ community have been increasing in recent years, both in the northwest and across the country. Law enforcement agencies are tracking a sharp increase in hate crimes, and meanwhile the Department of Homeland Security has issued warnings about the potential for attacks on LGBTQ-friendly events. And the recent Supreme Court decision has many worried about the potential for discrimination. The effects have been seen locally as well, with everything from hate speech to homicides. But LGBTQ+ people and their allies in Portland say they're not giving up on the fight for their rights. Basic Rights Oregon is an organization that works to ensure all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two spirit, intersex and asexual Oregonians experience equality. Basic Rights Oregon statewide engagement manager Gabby Gardiner and communications manager Blair Stenvick were guests on this week's episode of Straight Talk to discuss how the organization is pushing back against the wave of anti-gay laws and attacks that have been targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
Drivers crossing the Broadway Bridge have surely noticed it in the past few months: Nearly all of the former central post office area next to the bridge ramps has been demolished, wiping the 14-acre site clean and setting the stage for a massive redevelopment project right between downtown Portland's Pearl District and Old Town neighborhoods. The post office site is the centerpiece of the 34-acre Broadway Corridor, which primarily owned by the Portland Housing Bureau and the economic and urban development organization Prosper Portland. The long-imagined redevelopment aims to transform the site to provide high-density employment, mixed-income housing, new park space and signature city attractions and amenities. Prosper Portland Executive Director Kimberly Branam, Portland Housing Bureau Interim Director Molly Rogers and Twauna Hennessee, leader of outreach for the Carpenters Union, were all guests on this week's episode of Straight Talk to discuss the vision the future of the Broadway Corridor and what the project will mean for Portland.
Congressman Earl Blumenauer has represented Oregon's Third Congressional District since 1996, and he's become a fixture in Portland over the years, known both for his signature bowtie and for his passion for bikes and public transit in the Rose City. There's even a local bike and pedestrian bridge named after him. Rep. Blumenauer was a guest on this week's episode of Straight Talk to discuss the current challenges Portland faces with crime and homelessness, his vision for the future of the city and how his work in Congress will impact things back in Oregon. Asked about the current state of Portland, Blumenauer described the city's outlook as very mixed, with serious problems and community struggles contrasting with good moments. "If you go through the neighborhoods, as I do every week, you see people who take pride in their community, who haven't given up," he said. "They're fighting to move forward, to take advantage of opportunities, and to make sure that we're not going to be defeated by these circumstances."
Earlier this year, Mayor Ted Wheeler shook up the bureau assignments for city commissioners. Commissioner Carmen Rubio, then in charge of city parks, was placed across two of the city's most critical issues: building more affordable housing and helping Portland businesses to thrive. Rubio heads the city Housing Bureau, the Bureau of Development Services and the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. She also heads up Prosper Portland, the city's economic development agency. Gov. Tina Kotek has made it abundantly clear that the state needs more affordable housing, and she's looking for ways to speed up housing production. With that in mind, what is Commissioner Rubio's plan and does it, as some critics claim, come at an environmental cost? Straight Talk's Laurel Porter sat down with Rubio to talk about that and reflect on her nearly 2.5 years as city commissioner.
Portland business leaders said there are positive trends in downtown Portland's economic recovery but acknowledge it's a "work in progress" and won't happen overnight. In this episode of Straight Talk, representatives from the Portland Business Alliance, Prosper Portland and Travel Portland join Laural Porter to discuss the state of the city's downtown.
During the early days of the pandemic, reliable and fast internet connectivity became a lifeline for nearly everyone in some fashion, whether it was online school, working from home, ordering groceries, or telehealth doctors appointments. It meant that people who don't have that connection for one reason or another had an extra burden during an already difficult time. The City of Portland is working with Comcast and community groups to create multiple solutions to meet the needs of people without internet connection.
It was a historic election night in Oregon on Tuesday, with three women running for governor and more women candidates running for office up and down the ballot than ever before. KGW's election night analysts, Democrat Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal and Republican strategist Rebecca Tweed, reflected on the midterm election in Oregon during this week's episode of "Straight Talk." Jayapal said that leading up to election night, the 2022 midterms were popularly described as a referendum on both the party in power in the White House and in the Oregon governor's office. But rather than being a referendum, Jayapal said voters took a more nuanced approach for specific candidates. Democrats like Tina Kotek, who won the Oregon governor's race, were successful because they ran nuanced campaigns that touched on both issues and values, she said. Republican strategist Rebecca Tweed said that while it's disappointing that GOP candidate for governor Christine Drazan came up just short of winning the race, Republicans in Oregon can still point to some meaningful wins. It wasn't a runaway race for Democrats, she said, who have been in power in the Oregon governor's office for nearly 40 years, and Drazan brought a lot of energy to her campaign and messaging that resonated with a lot of Oregonians.
With just days before Election Day, Rene Gonzalez and Jo Ann Hardesty joined Straight Talk this week to talk about their vision for the city if they're elected to Portland City Council. Both were the top two finishers in the May primary election, setting up a November runoff after incumbent Hardesty fell short of the 50% threshold to win outright. The winner of the runoff will serve a four-year term starting in January.
With ballots mailed out and just over a week to go before Election Day on Tuesday, November 8th, voters in Washington's 3rd Congressional District are choosing a new face to represent them in Washington, D.C. Six-term incumbent Jaime Herrera Beutler lost in the top-two primary in August. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, the only Democrat on a crowded ballot, was the top vote-getter while Republican Joe Kent came in second. Herrera Beutler was one of 10 US House Republicans to vote to impeach former President Donald Trump, which Kent said motivated him to run against her. Neither he nor Gluesenkamp Perez have ever held elected office. Gluesenkamp Perez owns a Portland auto repair shop with her husband and lives in rural Skamania County. Kent is a former Green Beret who served 20 years in the military. He's endorsed by President Trump and lives in Yacolt, Washington. In this week's episode of Straight Talk, Kent and Gluesenkamp Perez sparred over their competing visions for Southwest Washington and the nation, including what they would do to bring down inflation and reduce crime, and their views on abortion rights and immigration. Following the taping of the regular edition of Straight Talk, the candidates took another 15 minutes to answer a bonus round of questions in which Kent and Gluesenkamp Perez debated what happened on January 6th during the US Capitol riot, how to make sure Social Security remains solvent, Second Amendment rights and how to reduce gun violence, and Kent's call to abolish Washington State's vote-by-mail system.
Wednesday night on KGW, the three candidates for Oregon governor met for their fourth and final debate before Election Day. Republican Christine Drazan, Democrat Tina Kotek and unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson got one last chance to make their case to Oregon voters. The candidates had an hour to tackle some of the biggest issues facing Oregonians: homelessness, mental health, addiction services, abortion rights, education and campaign funding, among others. "Straight Talk" host Laurel Porter moderated the debate, and now she explores some of the key takeaways as we quickly approach Election Day.
Oregon's congressional races are unusually tight in a typically blue state, and are drawing a lot of interest and money from both Republican and Democratic national party committees. One of the most competitive races is in Oregon's newly created sixth congressional district between Democrat Andrea Salinas and Republican Mike Erickson. The new district was created following the 2020 census and includes parts of southwest Portland, Salem, Woodburn, Yamhill County, and Lake Oswego in Clackamas County.
With the balance of power on the line in Congress, Oregon's hotly contested fifth Congressional district race is in the national spotlight. Neutral polls show it's a contest that is too close to call. Democrat Jamie McLeod-Skinner, who defeated incumbent Kurt Schrader in the primary, is going head to head with Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer. One certainty in the race is that Oregon will add another woman to its Congressional delegation to join Democrat Suzanne Bonamici, who represents the state's first district. McLeod-Skinner is a Terrebonne attorney and part-time emergency preparedness coordinator, as well as a board member of the Jefferson County Education District. Chavez-DeRemer served as mayor of Happy Valley from 2010 to 2018. She and her husband co-founded Anesthesia Associates Northwest, and own health and wellness clinics that treat drug resistant depression. The two candidates appeared separately on this week's edition of "Straight Talk" to make their case to voters on why they believe they are the best fit for the vast and diverse district.
Portlanders are less than two months away from voting on Measure 26-228, a proposal to radically reshape the city's form of government, and supporters and opponents of the charter reform package are both pressing their cases. Melanie Billings-Yun, who co-chaired the Charter Commission that developed the proposal, and Sol Mora, campaign manager for the reform proposal advocacy group Portland United for Change, were guests on Straight Talk this week to make their case for the ballot measure. Also appearing this week was Vadim Mozyrsky, who was one of three Charter Commission members who voted against the package, and is now campaigning in opposition to it as part of a group called the Partnership for Common Sense Government.
As CEO of the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Care Systems, Becky Hultberg has a close-up view of the crisis gripping the state's health care sector — and she spends sleepless nights thinking about what the future holds. More than two and a half years since the start of the pandemic, hospitals and skilled nursing homes continue to face historic staffing shortages, and it's left Oregon's hospitals and health care systems in deep financial turmoil. "Like many of you, I have family members whose lives have been saved in hospitals," Hultberg said. "And it feels really scary and desperate to me to think about living in a place or being in a time when there's not an emergency department bed that's open in a reasonable time, or there's not a hospital bed available when someone I love needs that care." Hultberg and Samaritan Hospital CEO Laura Hennum were guests on this week's episode of Straight Talk to discuss the hospital crisis, what caused it and possible solutions.
Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan had hoped to have six Safe Rest Villages, planned tiny home communities for residents without homes, open across the city by the end of 2021. That didn't happen. The process has been slower and harder than anticipated, but in this week's episode of Straight Talk, Ryan said the work has taken on new momentum and he hopes to have all the sites open by the end of this year. Mayor Ted Wheeler's emergency declaration in February was pivotal, Ryan said, because it gave him office emergency powers to expedite village locations. And even with only some of the villages open, Ryan said city staff and partners are already starting to see the results they were hoping for. In the past three months, 23 people who were once living on the streets have transitioned through existing Safe Rest Villages and into permanent housing.
Oregon's senior Senator Ron Wyden was at a pharmacy on West Main Street in Medford when President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law this week. "I was telling the seniors (at the Medford pharmacy) that there was a dose of good news," he said. "A big dose of good news for thousands of senior citizens in Oregon and hundreds of thousands across the state, because they were going to get a fair shake, finally, for their medicine." Wyden was a guest on this week's episode of "Straight Talk" to discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act will bring down costs for Oregonians, among other topics.
Congress passed a sweeping, $750 billion health care, tax and climate bill known as the Inflation Reduction Act this week, but the Senate vote on Sunday came only after an exhausting 16-hour marathon session. Senate Democrats stayed unified through the process, with all 50 members of their caucus voting in lockstep and Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tiebreaker vote in the evenly divided Senate. The House took the bill up Friday and passed it in a 220-207 vote, sending it on to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley hailed the passage of the bill "a very big deal." Merkley was a guest on this week's episode of Straight Talk to discuss how the bill will impact Americans and lower inflation.
The race for county elections clerk doesn't often get the attention it deserves. Voters frequently skip over the non-partisan race when marking their ballots. Clackamas County Clerk Sherry Hall has served as County Clerk for 20 years and is running for her sixth term in the November election on November 8th. Hall has an opponent in the November election who is making her first run for public office. Catherine McMullen is an elections administrator for Multnomah County with 15 years of public service and lives in West Linn.
Southwest Washington voters will decide this year whether to reelect Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler to represent the state's 3rd Congressional District or to send one of her eight challengers to Washington D.C. instead, and they'll get their first chance to weight in on Tuesday. Her three leading opponents are Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republicans Joe Kent and Heidi St. John, both of whom are running to Herrera Beutler's right. The top two vote-getters in the Aug. 2 primary will advance to a runoff in the general election, regardless of party affiliation. That means the two names on the ballot in November could be two Republicans, two Democrats, or one of each. It's also possible Herrera Beutler could be edged out of the race on Tuesday if she fails to win one of the top two slots. Political observes say this year could be her toughest electoral challenge since first winning office in 2010.
More than 3,000 people in the Pacific Northwest are waiting for lifesaving organ transplants. The nonprofit Donate Life Northwest has registered nearly three million Oregonians to be organ, eye and tissue donors, but a lot of people still haven't had the conversation about being a donor. A powerful new documentary called "A Donation Conversation" aims to reach a wider audience and spur more people to enroll as organ donors. The film centers on the story of a Forest Grove family, the Dieter-Robinsons. Six-year-old Ana and 11-year-old Abigail were killed when a car ran over them while they played in a pile of leaves in 2013. In the documentary, their parents talk about how their legacy lives on through organ donation.
Grayson Dempsey with Lilith Clinic, Oregon's only independent abortion clinic, joined University of Oregon Assistant Professor Alison Gash, a specialist in constitutional rights, and OHSU's Dr. Paula Amato on this week's episode of Straight Talk to discuss what happens next following the Supreme Court's abortion decision.
Oregon is just one week away from hosting the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, marking the first time the event has been held in a U.S. city.
It's been more than two years since Washington State enacted the "Tiffany Hill Act," named in memory of a young mother gunned down by her estranged abusive husband. The law allows courts to order offenders to wear a GPS ankle bracelet which would be monitored and linked to an app on the victim's phone, alerting them when their abuser was nearby. State Sen. Lynda Wilson (R-Vancouver), one of the authors of the law, said the technology could have saved Hill's life. The bill was signed into law in 2020, but few Washington counties are utilizing the monitoring technology. Wilson has been advocating for wider adoption within the state and for other states to adopt their own versions of the law.
As the transgender community faces threats on multiple fronts, local advocates pledged to fight back and offer support to transgender individuals and families. Jess Guerriero, a social worker at OHSU's Transgender Health Program, and Seth Johnstone of Basic Rights Oregon were guests on this week's episode of "Straight Talk" to discuss the threats facing transgender people and the resources and support available to help. KGW's Ashley Korslien and Vancouver-based trans activist Linden Walls also joined the show to discuss the KGW original podcast "Should Be Alive," which explores the murder of transgender teen, Nikki Kuhnhausen.
Over the years, when people would encourage then-Oregon state Sen. Betsy Johnson of Scappoose to run for governor, she says her comeback line was always, "I'd rather throw myself in a wood chipper." It's not the wood chipper, but Johnson has thrown herself into the ring in the three-way race for Oregon governor. Johnson was a guest on this week's episode of Straight Talk to discuss why she's running for governor and her position on issues important to Oregonians, including gun safety measures.
Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty is a combat veteran who served in Iraq, married to another combat veteran. They are gun owners — but Beaty believes it's time for the nation to pass what she called "reasonable gun control measures." Beaty said following the mass shooting at a Uvalde, Texas elementary school where a gunman used an AR-15 rifle to kill 19 children and two teachers, she felt unsafe in America for the first time since serving in Iraq.
Following Oregon's primary election on May 17, the state's general election in November is shaping up to be historic and expensive. For the first time in state history, all the major candidates for Oregon governor are women. Former House Speaker Tina Kotek secured the Democratic nomination, former Republican House leader Christine Drazan won the GOP nomination, and it's expected former longtime Democratic lawmaker Betsy Johnson will qualify to be on the ballot as an unaffiliated candidate. The governor's race is also expected to be the most expensive when it comes to campaign spending in state history. KGW political analyst Len Bergstein and Republican strategist Rebecca Tweed discuss their takeaways on the election results and their thoughts about the general election in November.
Dan Ryan was first elected in 2020 in a special election to serve the last two years of the late Commissioner Nick Fish's term. Now, he is running for a full four year term, but faces a challenge from several candidates, including the leading opponent Alanna Joy "AJ" McCreary. In their pitch to Portland voters, Ryan pointed to his experience and said now is not the time to elect a newcomer to politics, while McCreary said Portland needs change and new leaders.
Most Oregon voters have their ballots and Election Day is just weeks away for the May Primary. Democratic Gov. Kate Brown is term-limited and cannot run again, and for the first time in decades it appears possible a Republican candidate could win election to the governor's office. In a debate hosted by Portland City Club and moderated by KGW's Laural Porter and David Molko, candidates Bridget Barton, Jessica Gomez, Bud Pierce and Stan Pulliam answered questions on the issues of homelessness, crime, education and more.
Oregon's primary election is May 17th and ballots are beginning to hit mailboxes throughout the state. At the top of the ticket, the Governor's race which is wide open this election since incumbent Gov. Kate Brown can't run again because of term limits. KGW and The City Club of Portland partnered for a debate between the leading Democratic candidates, former House Speaker Tina Kotek and State Treasurer Tobias Read. A debate between five Republican candidates is set for Tuesday, May 3rd at noon. This episode of "Straight Talk" includes excerpts from Kotek and Read as they debated how to tackle homelessness and gun violence, what they would do for rural Oregon, and how they would have handled the pandemic.
Shortly after receiving the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award, KGW alum Ann Curry sat down with Laural Porter at Portland's Behind the Museum Café for a wide-ranging conversation about her reflections on her career, the most powerful stories she's covered, restoring trust in journalism, the importance of local journalism and why Oregon still holds a special place in her heart.
Oregon's primary election is about a month away on May 17, with ballots going out in less than two weeks. Secretary of State Shemia Fagan wants Oregonians to feel confident in the security of the state's election process. Appearing on KGW's Straight Talk with Laural Porter, Fagan was emphatic in saying the 2020 election results were accurate. Her office is on the offensive in an effort to reassure Oregonians they can feel confident in the safety and security of Oregon elections and to clear up any confusion voters may have about the process.
Oregon lawmakers passed massive back-to-back investment packages in the state's mental and behavioral health system in the 2021 and 2022 legislative session, leveraging state general funds and federal dollars for a combined total of $1.25 billion. Lawmakers have described the investments as "historic" and the beginning of an effort to turn around a neglected system. Oregon state Senator Kate Lieber, D-Portland, and Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Portland, are co-leaders of the Oregon Legislature's Joint Budget Committee, and they helped lead the way to pass both packages. The two lawmakers joined this week's episode of KGW's Straight Talk to discuss how the money will be invested and the difference they think it could make for Oregonians struggling with mental health and addiction issues.
The new Speaker of the Oregon House, Rep. Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis), said he would give the recently completed 2022 short legislative session an A-minus grade, because there's always room for improvement. Republican House leaders would agree there's room for improvement — a lot of it. They said they would grade the session a D. House Republican Leader Rep. Vikki Breese Iverson (R-Prineville) and Deputy Republican Leader Kim Wallan (R-Medford) join Laural Porter to share their thoughts on how the session went.
Political insiders are predicting the race to represent Oregon's newly redrawn 5th Congressional district could become the nation's marquee Democratic House primary to watch. That's according to an article in Politico. Seven-term incumbent Kurt Schrader, a moderate, is being challenged from the left by former congressional candidate Jamie McLeod-Skinner from central Oregon. They're running in a newly formed district. The boundaries were reshaped by the Oregon Legislature last fall and now include most of Clackamas and Marion Counties, but not Salem.
Intel is Oregon's largest corporate employer with 22,000 employees. It's at the heart of Oregon's "Silicon Forest" in Washington County, but when Intel announced it was making a $20 billion investment in a massive chip manufacturing facility, that investment went to Ohio, not Oregon. How did Oregon miss out? Monique Claiborne, CEO of Greater Portland Inc., along with Oregon state Representative Janelle Bynum (D-Happy Valley) and Jennifer Baker, President of the Columbia River Economic Development Council in Clark County, join Laural Porter to discuss how Oregon can work to attract new investment in the state.
When the new Oregon Speaker of the House Rep. Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis) gaveled out the 2022 Oregon legislative session on March 4th, his 10-year-old son Adam was by his side. It was the conclusion of Rayfield's first legislative session as Speaker of the House after being elected to replace former Speaker Tina Kotek, who resigned to focus on her campaign for governor. Rayfield called the 31-day session a success. Speaker Rayfield was a guest on this week's episode of Straight Talk to discuss what was accomplished, what is left to be done next session, and shared his personal life experience that has helped to inform the kind of leader he is today.
For the first time since 1986, Portland has a contested race to see who will be the next city auditor. Current auditor Mary Hull Caballero decided not to run for re-election, and for a while it looked like no one wanted to take the job next. But now there are two candidates vying to replace Hull Caballero; Simone Rede, who works as a senior management auditor at Metro, and Brian Setzler, a certified public accountant. Rede and Setzler were guests on Straight Talk to make their case for election to voters.
CEO of the Portland Business Alliance Andrew Hoan joined John Tapogna of ECONorthwest and Michelle Neiss from DHM Research as guests on this week's episode of "Straight Talk" to discuss the 2022 State of the Economy report.
Peter DeFazio is the longest serving House member in Oregon history and the 65th longest in U.S. history. He was a guest on this week's episode of Straight Talk to reflect on his congressional career and his plans for retirement.
Long-term care executive Phil Fogg is calling on the U.S. to treat the workforce shortage in health care as a national crisis.
Bloodworks Northwest is calling on Washington and Oregon residents to give blood this holiday season as the nationwide shortage continues. We also talk to Josh Schreck with the KGW Great Toy Drive about this year's effort to support the community. Investigative reporter Kyle Iboshi also joins to discuss holiday scams to watch out for.
Portland Commissioner Dan Ryan joined Oregon Recovers co-founder and director Mike Marshall and Oregon State Representative Tawna Sanchez (D-District 43) on this week's episode to discuss behavioral health and homelessness in Oregon.
Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury joined Laural Porter on Straight Talk to discuss the city's homeless crisis and progress being made, thanks in part to Metro's supportive housing bond that passed in 2020. Homeless service providers Mercedes Elizalde from Central City Concern and Stacy Borke from Transition Projects were also guests on this week's episode.
Congressman Earl Blumenauer says he's optimistic the planet can slow global warming. He recently attended the global climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland and joined Laural Porter on Straight Talk to discuss climate change and his new report on preparing for climate disaster, "From Ruin to Resilience."
Gabe Newland with the Oregon Justice Resource Center and Marion County DA Paige Clarkson joined Laural Porter to discuss the pros and cons of clemency for offenders convicted as teens.
Political strategists Dan Lavey and Kevin Looper usually find themselves on opposing sides of an issue.
Lavey served as strategist for former Republican U.S. Senator Gordon Smith, and advises Oregon business interests.
Looper is a long-time Democratic consultant. However, what they see as the decline and decay of their hometown, Portland, brought them together to launch the nonprofit advocacy group, People for Portland.
Lavey and Looper were guests on this week's episode of "Straight Talk" to discuss why they founded People for Portland, their objectives, and who is funding the $1.5 million campaign.
Kim McCarty represents 6,000 low-income tenants across the state. As the executive director of the Community Alliance of Tenants, McCarty said their office receives hundreds of calls from tenants who have lost their employment benefits and are still not fully employed — now, they're afraid of being evicted.
Oregon's statewide eviction moratorium expired at the end of June but state lawmakers passed a bill providing a 60-day grace period for those who applied for assistance — Multnomah County extended that grace period to 90 days.
Deborah Imse is the executive director of Multifamily NW, a rental industry group representing a mix of large and small landlords and property managers. She said landlords are in the dark about how the rental assistance process works, where their tenants' applications are in that process and at what point they will get paid.
McCarty and Imse discussed their frustrations on this week's episode of "Straight Talk."
Portland Police Sergeant Ken Duilio, Lakayana Drury, founder of the nonprofit Word Is Bond, and Multnomah County's Chief Deputy District Attorney Kirsten Snowden were guests on this week's episode of "Straight Talk" to discuss what's behind the gun violence and possible solutions.
It was 1913 when Portland voters first decided the city would have a commission form of government with city council members elected at large. Now, 108 years later, Portland is the only large city in the U.S. to still have the unique system of government and residents have voted eight times to keep it that way.
A twenty member Charter Review Commission is studying alternatives to the city's form of government and elections, and may refer their recommendations to the Nov. 2022 ballot.
In this episode of Straight Talk, Laural Porter talked to members of the commission about their task, why there's a charter review, what they're studying and how you can make your voice heard.
Youth climate activists Adah Crandall and Cassie Wilson discuss the growing climate crisis and what they want Oregon leaders to do about it. Specifically, they talk about the recent climate protests and their objections to the I-5 Rose Quarter expansion project.
Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan discusses the new "Safe Rest Village" project, the surge in gun violence and his plan to run for re-election in 2022.
Blanchet House Director Scott Kerman is calling for innovation, bold action and teamwork as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens the crisis on Portland's streets. Also, Terry Leckron-Myers with the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO) joins to discuss how MHAAO has ramped up efforts to alleviate the ongoing crisis.
Greg Johnson, the leader of the Interstate Bridge Replacement project, and Joe Cortright, a Portland economist opposed to replacing the bridge, discuss the latest bridge project and concerns about the cost, tolling and congestion.
In a wide-ranging interview, Sen. Ron Wyden discusses a number of issues like the Afghanistan withdrawal, the COVID-19 pandemic and legislation he authored to eliminate dozens of current tax credits and replace them with provisions that would move the country toward achieving its carbon emission reduction goals.
Multnomah County Chair Kafoury, Multnomah County Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Vines and Deputy Chief of Multnomah County Emergency Management Alice Busch were guests on this week's episode of Straight Talk to reflect on the deadly heat wave and explore ways to address future heat emergencies.
Oregon state Sen. Lew Frederick, Cameron Whitten, co-founder of the Black Resilience Fund and founder of the nonprofit Brown Hope, and Dr. Carmen Thompson, a historian and visiting scholar in the Black studies department at Portland State University, discuss the prospect of reparations and what they should look like with KGW's Laural Porter.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited Eugene, Springfield, and Corvallis this week to highlight how the president's vision would improve traffic safety, make historic investments to help cut carbon pollution and make everyday Americans' lives better. Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana and a 2020 presidential candidate was a guest on this week's episode of Straight Talk.
Pacific University political science professor and Olympics expert Jules Boykoff was also a guest on this week's episode of Straight Talk. Boykoff discussed the politics leading up to the Tokyo Olympics, athlete activism, and Northwest athletes to watch.
The Centers for Disease Control reported a record number of overdose related deaths during the pandemic and several studies showed binge drinking increased during that same time.
This week, Straight Talk covered addiction and the impact the pandemic has had on those struggling. Two employees at the De Paul Treatment Centers joined to talk about the challenges doctors and their patients have navigated over the past year. They also shared advice for those who think they or a loved one may need help to deal with substance abuse.
Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) has said he has waited his entire congressional career for an opportunity to participate in a sweeping infrastructure plan like the one President Biden has proposed.
Blumenauer was a guest this week on Straight Talk, and applauded Biden's announcement this week that he's reached a bipartisan deal on a pared down version of his American Jobs Plan.
Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof writes about human rights, women's rights, and global affairs. He also has a unique perspective on his home state of Oregon and in Portland. In this episode of Straight Talk, Laural Porter went to Kristof Family Farms in Yamhill to talk to Kristof about his views of Portland, city leadership, and what he thinks the city needs to do to rebound.
New York Times columnist and author Nicholas Kristof has been called the "Indiana Jones of journalists" for the dangerous places he's reported from around the world; genocide in Darfur, the massacre in China's Tiananmen Square, and war and human suffering in Yemen. But Kristof says some of the most painful and heart wrenching reporting he's done has been on the struggles and despair right in his own backyard. In this episode of "Straight Talk", KGW's Laural Porter went to the Kristof Family Farms in Yamhill to talk to Kristof about what's happening in what he calls "the other America," and where he sees hope for the future.
When the pandemic forced Portland Parks and Recreation to close community centers, swimming pools, and recreation programming, that also meant a hit to revenues. Portland voters came to the rescue in November 2020, passing a five-year operating levy. Portland Parks and Recreation Director Adena Long and Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio join Laural Porter to discuss what the levy means for the bureau, and what Portland residents will see from Parks & Rec this summer. Commissioner Rubio also discusses the spike in gun violence in Portland, and a new plan for homeless campers.
Three generations living together in a connected community, peers helping others experiencing homelessness, and grandmothers trained to offer counseling to people suffering from depression: from Portland to Zimbabwe nonprofits are innovating ways to deliver holistic health care.
Dr. Derenda Schubert, the executive director of Bridge Meadows, Dr. Rachel Solotaroff, the president and CEO of Central City Concern, and Dr. Dixon Chibanda, the founder and CEO of Zimbabwe's Friendship Bench were guests on this week's episode of Straight Talk.
Tax Day comes a month later than usual in 2021. The IRS extended the filing and payment deadline to May 17 to allow people more time because of difficulties posed by the pandemic. On Straight Talk, former Portland City Commissioner Steve Novick, economist Dr. Eric Fruits with the Cascade Policy Institute, and DHM Research pollster John Horvick join Laural Porter to discuss where Americans' taxes go, how much is wasted, and what poll numbers say about Oregonians' opinions on taxes.
Before 2001, a diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia was almost certainly terminal. But a breakthrough drug pioneered by a doctor at OHSU changed that and made the rare cancer treatable, saving thousands of lives.
Dr. Brian Druker, chairman of OHSU's Knight Cancer Institute, and Rob Shick, a CML survivor and chair of the Knight Cancer Council, join Laural Porter to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Gleevec's FDA approval, look back on the impact it has had on cancer care, and discuss what's next in the fight to cure cancer.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners has declared racism as a public health crisis, in an attempt to rebuild the county using a racial equity lens.
Chair Deborah Kafoury and Multnomah County Interim Health Director Ebony Clarke were guests on this week's episode of Straight Talk. They discussed how the county plans to tackle racism as a public health crisis and how it will make a difference.
Even as Oregon and Washington have expanded vaccine eligibility to everyone older than 16, the number of COVID cases and hospitalizations are going up. The Oregon Health Authority said this week, those numbers in some counties are beginning to look like they did last fall when they started to peak.
The KGW Vaccine Team's Cristin Severance and Pat Dooris were guests this week on Straight Talk to pull the curtain back on how they work to get answers from state health officials and gather the latest information on the COVID vaccine.
Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio is king of the hill, at least Capitol Hill, when it comes to all things transportation and infrastructure. As the Chairman of the powerful House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, DeFazio is considered the expert on the issue. The 17-term congressman from Oregon's fourth district will be point-person in the House for President Biden's $2 trillion "American Jobs Plan." DeFazio was a guest on this week's episode of Straight Talk to discuss what's in the plan and how it could benefit Oregon and Southwest Washington.
A human rights expert for the United Nations has said anti-Muslim hatred has reached epidemic proportions. Now as Ramadan begins, Portland Muslim community leaders are calling for unity against Islamophobia and all forms of hate.
Four Asian American women who are community leaders in Oregon discuss recent anti-Asian violence and how to stop it on this week's episode of "Straight Talk."
Three women who helped lead Oregon through the COVID-19 pandemic reflect on the past year, lessons learned and what’s ahead.
The Portland Street Response Team, a non-police response to assist people in a behavioral or mental health crisis or experiencing homelessness, officially launched last month. Here's a look at how the program is going.
This week's Straight Talk episode takes a look back at the winter storm in February that left many without power for more than a week, and takes a look ahead to see how we can keep ourselves safe when natural disasters strike in the future. KGW’s Dan Haggerty fills in for Laural Porter.
The Port of Portland brings in nearly $6.5 billion a year to the region. Now, it’s looking to do some major overhauling through selling and repurposing properties to spread the wealth with people of color, the poor and marginalized. In this episode of Straight Talk, we look into how the Port plans to accomplish those goals. We also look at how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Portland International Airport and what’s ahead for the Port. KGW’s Dan Haggerty fills in for Laural Porter
Now in office for six months, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt discusses his criminal justice policies, how they’ve been applied during the Portland protests and riots in 2020, why he supports getting rid of mandatory minimum sentences and his goals moving forward.
This week's episode of "Straight Talk" examines the 2021 "State of the Economy" report with guests, Andrew Hoan, CEO of the Portland Business Alliance, John Tapogna, president of ECONorthwest, and Michelle Neiss, president of DHM research. "I would phrase this really simply as 'fire and ice,'" said Andrew Hoan. "We have had historic wildfires. We just went through historic snow and ice storms. In between it all, the pandemic, ongoing political violence, a layering of crises that has impacted the region much differently than the rest of the nation," he said. ECONorthwest's John Tapogna described the decline in the regional economy. "We're down 15% and it's a very unusual recession caused by something outside the economy, a public health crisis that has created tremendous inequities," he said. "It's very disproportionately impacting lower income households, small businesses and leaving other parts of the economy untouched."
The pandemic has been difficult on everyone, but it has had a disproportionate impact on older adults. They're the most likely to contract COVID-19, to be hospitalized and to die. According to the health policy group, KFF, adults 65 and older account for 16% of the U.S. population, but 80% of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. Not only that, the isolation caused by the pandemic has taken a steep toll on seniors.
Spokesperson for AARP Oregon, Joyce DeMonnin, said the impact is 10-20 times worse for older adults living alone.
"We are seeing a lot of anxiety, frustration, and frankly, a lot of fear because it is this age group that is getting the sickest and passing away," she said.
DeMonnin and Portland geriatric psychiatrists, Dr. Maureen Nash and Dr. Vimal Aga, were guests on this week's episode of "Straight Talk" to discuss how the pandemic has affected older adults and to give them information on resources that can help.
More: https://www.kgw.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/straight-talk/oregon-seniors-pandemic-mental-health-anxiety-concerns/283-672c9d06-1e4e-42a6-86e3-24cfdd2d7341
The mayors of Gresham, Beaverton and West Linn all have something in common. They are first-term mayors who took office in January and are breaking barriers. Mayor Travis Stovall is the first Black mayor of Gresham, Oregon's fourth largest city. Mayor Lacey Beaty is the first woman to be mayor of Beaverton, the state's sixth largest city. Beaty and the new mayor of West Linn, Jules Walters, are among just four women in the Metropolitan Mayors Consortium, which represents 26 cities in the Portland-Vancouver region.
They also see opportunities to work together on issues of common interest. The three mayors were guests on this week's episode of KGW's Straight Talk with Laural Porter.
In the bonus podcast episode, KGW's Dan Haggerty sits down for a one-on-one with Republican congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, who represents Southwest Washington, to talk about the impeachment of President Trump, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene being removed from her House committees and the future of the Republican party.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of life. In the first segment this week, Jeff Carr, CEO of Albertina Kerr, discusses the impact the pandemic has had on youth mental health. In the second segment (14:30), Susannah Morgan, the CEO of the Oregon Food Bank, explains how the pandemic has impacted food insecurity in the state.
While many in Oregon and Washington eagerly await getting the COVID-19 vaccine, school leaders in both states are charting a course for schools to reopen even before everyone is vaccinated.
The heads of public schools in Oregon and Washington believe it's critically important to get students back in class, and believe they can do it safely if health safety protocols are followed. The director of the Oregon Department of Education, Colt Gill, and Washington's Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Reykdal, were guests on this week's episode of "Straight Talk."
Portland's two newest city commissioners, Mingus Mapps and Carmen Rubio, were sworn into office on Jan. 1 with big plans to move the city ahead in 2021. They discuss what they're working on and what they're hope to accomplish.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) was on the Senate floor when members of a violent pro-Trump mob broke into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Wyden talked about the incident and called for President Donald Trump to be removed from office on this week's episode of KGW's Straight Talk with Laural Porter.
Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon is Laural Porter's guest on this week's episode of KGW's Straight Talk. Merkley discusses how Congress is working on potentially passing a COVID-19 relief bill that many Americans are desperate for. He also reacts to the 2020 election and looks ahead to 2021. This episode was taped on Dec. 17, 2020.
On this week's episode, Laural Porter takes a look at the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon. She's joined by the CEO of the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS), Becky Hultberg, and the chief executive of Providence Portland Medical Center, Krista Farnham. They discuss the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, the concern for another post-holiday case spike and more.
In this week's episode of Straight Talk with Laural Porter, she talks with Street Roots executive director Kaia Sand and staff members Raven Drake and Gary Barker about how the nonprofit, which supports the homeless, has been getting by during the pandemic and how people can support them during the holiday season. Laural also talks with Andrew Hoan, the CEO of the Portland Business Alliance, and Kristin Van Buskirk, owner of the small business Woonwinkel, about the impact 2020 has had businesses.
The first Black member and first Muslim member of the Washington County Commission and Mayors-elect of West Linn and Beaverton went through Emerge Oregon training.
Emerge Oregon counts among its successful graduates, Oregon Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle, and Secretary of State-elect Shemia Fagan, as well as Beaverton Mayor-elect Lacey Beaty, and West Linn Mayor-Elect Jules Walters. The organization supported over 70 women up for election in the 2020 May primary and November general elections.
FULL STORY: https://www.kgw.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/straight-talk/emerge-oregon-historic-wins-women-election/283-7792f870-881a-445e-ad77-d13210090d1b
On this week's episode of Straight Talk, Laural Porter is joined by Portland Commissioner-elect Mingus Mapps, who talks about his victory and what he hopes city council can achieve moving forward. Laural is also joined by Travis Stovall and Eddy Morales, who are battling in a tight race to be Gresham's next mayor as the votes continue to be counted.
Longtime Democratic Congressman Peter DeFazio is facing Republican challenger Alek Skarlatos in a race that has received national attention.
Southwest Washington's 3rd Congressional District holds the unique distinction of being the only district touching the Pacific Ocean that is held by a Republican. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler has served the district since 2010 and is hoping to win a sixth term as she faces one of her toughest political challenges yet. For the second time, Democrat Carolyn Long is hoping to convince voters it's time for a change. Long is a political science professor at Washington State University-Vancouver. The race is a rematch from 2018 when Long came within about five percentage points of Herrera Beutler. In previous elections, the congresswoman had beaten her opponents by double-digits.
In a Portland mayoral debate hosted by KGW and the Oregonian, incumbent Ted Wheeler tried to make his case to voters to let him lead the city for four more years, while challenger Sarah Iannarone pushed for progressive policies and a fresh start in local government.
Both candidates appeared from remote locations to ensure the debate was as safe as possible. Wheeler was at the offices of the local firefighters union, while Iannarone appeared from the office of a supporter in Southeast Portland. We taped the debate in advance to minimize the risk of any technical difficulties that would distract from the messages from the candidates.
The debate was moderated by KGW's Laural Porter and The Oregonian's Everton Bailey, and the candidates discussed everything from nightly protests, climate change, to homelessness, the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery.
For Portlanders, one of the most important issues on the ballot is the runoff election for city council between incumbent Chloe Eudaly and challenger Mingus Mapps. We talk with both candidates about how they can help tackle Portland's biggest issues.
This week on Straight Talk, three associate professors at Portland State University, Paul Loikith, Max Nielson-Pincus and Andres Holz, analyze the historic wildfires that devastated parts of Oregon, climate change’s role in the fires and what can be done moving forward. Maggie Vespa fills in for Laural Porter.
Two men. One dream. Their partnership could mean a new beginning for hundreds of people living on the streets of Portland. Jordan Schnitzer and Alan Evans, the CEO of the nonprofit Helping Hands, are about to do something most everyone else had given up on. They’re on the brink of opening the never-used Wapato Jail facility in North Portland as a homeless shelter newly branded as the Bybee Lakes Hope Center. Schnitzer and Evans shared their story this week on KGW’s Straight Talk.
In this week’s episode of Straight Talk with Laural Porter, Portland activist Cameron Whitten says Portlanders should be asking when the suffering of their Black neighbors will end. Also, Reed College professor Paul Gronke says to get ready for a long election night that could potentially extend into days.
As the pandemic stretches into six months, more than two-thirds of employees working from home are experiencing symptoms of burnout, according to a survey from online employment platform Monster. The problem seems to be growing. The number of people reporting signs of burnout is up 20% from a similar survey in May. On this week's episode of "Straight Talk," a Providence psychologist and a sports medicine specialist offered advice on how to battle burnout and succeed in a work-from-home and remote learning environment.
This week's guests include Dan Ryan, who this week won a special election to fill the late Nick Fish's seat on Portland City Council. He discusses the ongoing protests and what he hopes to bring to the council. Also, Portland businessman and philanthropist, Jordan Schnitzer, talks about his foundation’s $150,000 Black Lives Matter artists grant program.
Portland mayoral candidate Sarah Iannarone positions herself as a more progressive alternative to incumbent Mayor Ted Wheeler, who is seeking his second term. She's made police accountability a major part of her platform, and has joined protesters on numerous occasions calling for racial justice and an end to police brutality. Iannarone joined KGW for a taping of this week's episode of Straight Talk.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler was once overheard saying he couldn't wait for the next 24 months to be over, and the end of his first term as mayor. That was in November 2018 after a health coalition forum where he was heckled.
Fast forward to today and being disrupted during a speech seems minor. Wheeler faces a global pandemic, an economic crisis rivaled only by the Great Depression, and nightly civil unrest on the streets following the killing of George Floyd. But now, he said he has no doubt he wants to be Portland's mayor for another four years.
"This is a leadership moment," Wheeler said. "This is a very tough time, being the mayor of the city of Portland is never particularly easy, but it is a privilege.
Being the mayor of this city has meaning." Wheeler joined host Laural Porter on this this week's episode of KGW's Straight Talk. He acknowledged the myriad of challenges facing the city, but called it a transformational period in history.
"We have an opportunity as a community and as individuals to write that history that decades from now, people will look back on as being a really important inflection period in our city and nation's history," he said.
Portland voters will decide between longtime political insider Loretta Smith and political newcomer Dan Ryan, who calls himself a change agent, as the next commissioner on Portland City Council. The winner in the Aug. 11 special election will take the late Nick Fish's council seat, Commissioner Position 2. Fish died in January after a two-year battle with stomach cancer. Smith, a former Multnomah County commissioner, and Ryan, the former executive director of the educational nonprofit All Hands Raised, were the top two vote-getters in the May primary between 18 candidates. Smith and Ryan joined KGW Straight Talk host Laural Porter for a modified debate as they pointed out differences they feel make them the better choice.
For the first time, Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty said she is open to heading up the Portland Police Bureau.
Traditionally, the mayor has taken on that role, and Mayor Ted Wheeler currently heads the bureau. Hardesty, who is pushing for police reform, had said in recent interviews she had no interest in being police commissioner.
However, during this week's taping of "Straight Talk," Hardesty told KGW's Laural Porter she's warming to the idea of having the police bureau in her portfolio. She currently oversees three first responder bureaus: Portland Fire & Rescue, the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management and the Bureau of Emergency Communications.
All of Oregon has begun gradual reopening over the last month. At the same time, cases of COVID-19 have also increased to their highest levels during the months-long pandemic. Dr. Dean Sidelinger from the Oregon Health Authority analyzes where Oregon is right now, the challenges facing the state and what may lie ahead. Maggie Vespa fills in for Laural Porter.
In this week’s episode of Straight Talk, we examine the impact COVID-19 is having on Oregon’s prisons, and calls to release inmates to reduce the risk of transmission. We also take a look at how the pandemic is affecting food insecurity. KGW anchor Maggie Vespa fills in for Laural Porter.
No child care. No economic recovery. That's the bottom line for Oregon first district Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici when it comes to reopening the economy and recovering from the pandemic.
Bonamici was a guest this week on KGW's current affairs show, "Straight Talk," along with pre-school teacher, Caitlin Curtis.
Bonamici told show host, Laural Porter, access to high quality affordable child care is essential as counties reopen.
"Parents are stressed and struggling. They can't go back to work with confidence and dedicate themselves to work, if they can't find child care," she said.
In this week's Straight Talk with Laural Porter, Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley addresses George Floyd's death, the protests across the country and the coronavirus pandemic. He's proposing a bill that would create a national database to keep track of police officers for misconduct.
On this week’s Straight Talk with Laural Porter, Multnomah County District Attorney-elect Mike Schmidt discusses reform he would like to see in the criminal justice system and reacts to the death of George Floyd. Then, Laural shifts to the passage of a homeless services tax in the Portland metro area. She is joined by Angela Martin, the interim executive director of Here Together, the coalition that crafted the measure, and Katrina Holland, the executive director of JOIN, a nonprofit that supports efforts of individuals and families experiencing homelessness to transition into permanent housing.
Oregon's primary is on May 19. One of the big races is the Democratic primary for Oregon's fifth congressional district. Rep. Kurt Schrader is seeking reelection but faces challenger Milwaukie Mayor Mark Gamba. The two make their case to voters on this week's Straight Talk with Laural Porter.
The non-profit, Prevent Child Abuse Oregon, a chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, is working to try to help stabilize and support Oregon families, and protect children at risk for abuse and neglect during the coronavirus pandemic.
The PCAO executive director, Pamela Heisler, and board member, Karmen Fore, joined KGW Straight Talk host, Laural Porter, to talk about ways the community can help.
This week, former congressional candidate Jamie McLeod Skinner joins host Laural Porter to talk about her qualifications for Oregon Secretary of State, which is next in succession to the governor. McLeod Skinner is one of three democrats vying for the position. The others, Shemia Fagan and Mark Hass, joined Straight Talk last week.
One of the most competitive races in Oregon’s May 19 primary is the Democratic race for secretary of state. Three candidates are vying for the chance to take on the winner of the Republican primary in this November’s general election. State Sen. Shemia Fagan and state Sen. Mark Hass are this week’s guests on Straight Talk with Laural Porter as they make their pitch to voters. The third Democratic candidate, Jamie McLeod Skinner, will be a guest on the show next week.
This week’s guests with Laural Porter are Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden and Oregon Education head Colt Gill. Wyden talks about what he and Congress are doing to help people and businesses get through this economic downfall, and why he thinks it’s time for the US to “COVID-proof” its election system. Gill praises the efforts school districts have gone to make distance learning productive and defends the pass/incomplete grading system.
The leaders of the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Association of Hospitals are pleading with Oregonians to continue to stay home and social distance. Pat Allen of OHA and Becky Hultberg, CEO of the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems discuss the continued challenges facing Oregon and what is necessary for businesses to be reopened.
In this week's Straight Talk with Laural Porter, House Speaker Tina Kotek reassures Oregonians that state lawmakers are listening to their concerns and fears about the future created by the coronavirus crisis. Also, representatives from Hazelden Betty Ford treatment centers talk about how the pandemic is breeding ground for addictions and the resources that are available for people to overcome their addictions.
This week's guests on Straight Talk with Laural Porter are Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury and Oregon Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle. They talk about how the agencies they oversee are handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
On this week’s episode, Laural Porter talks with Andrew Hoan, the executive director of the Portland Business Alliance, about the impact the coronavirus has had on Portland’s economy. Laural also speaks with an organizer from Street Roots and a woman who is homeless in Portland to find out how the public health crisis is affecting them.
The coronavirus outbreak is sending far-reaching shockwaves through our communities. But the CEO of the Oregon Food Bank said the organization is determined it will meet the need of those hurting in this crisis. Also, we get an update on U.S. census collection. Since field operations have been suspended, crews are using social media, texting, and phone calls to contact people now, with hopes they'll be able to get out in the field later.
Jules Boykoff, a political scientist who studies the Olympics, wrote an op-ed in the New York Times in March 2020 about why the Summer Games should be canceled amid a coronavirus pandemic.
The full economic impact of COVID-19 is still unknown, but the executive director of the Portland Business Alliance, Andrew Hoan, said it's already had significant impact on the traded sector, the hospitality industry, and everything in between. Those ominous headwinds come at a time the region has been surging economically.
Hoan said the Portland metro area has been in uncharted waters with an 11-year economic expansion, the longest in history. But no one knows what lies ahead.
Congressman Kurt Schrader (D), who is being challenged by Milwaukie Mayor Mark Gamba in the Democratic primary, talks about why he should continue to represent the 5th District. He also discussed a coronavirus case reported in his district, climate change and health care.
According to the Oregon Food Bank, one in nine people in Oregon and Washington face food insecurity. Oregon Food Bank CEO Susannah Morgan hopes there comes a time when her job is no longer necessary.
Local experts explain how trees can help us prepare for a warming climate. Laural Porter is joined by KGW Meteorologist Matt Zaffino, Reed College Professor Dr. Aaron Ramirez, and Portland State University associate professors Dr. Paul Loikith and Dr. Todd Rosenstiel.
Investigative reporter Cristin Severance, and photojournalists Gene Cotton and Kurt Austin, are spending the school year telling stories about Woodlawn Elementary's students, staff and parents. It's a project providing insight into not only education in Portland, but also the community's history and a glimpse at where it might be headed.
Tiffany Hill was shot and killed by her estranged husband in front of her children in November 2019. Now, Washington lawmakers and victims’ advocates are working together to stop what happened to Hill from happening to anyone else. Laural Porter is joined by Vancouver Police detective Tanya Wollstein, Washington State Rep. Sharon Wylie (D-Vancouver) and victims advocate Michelle Bart.
Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick and Senate Minority Leader Herman Baertschiger Jr. join Laural Porter to discuss the upcoming legislative session, and why Democrats think their new version of the Cap and Trade Bill could pass this session.
Laural Porter is joined by Becky Jones, the executive director of the Oregon Network of Child Abuse Intervention Centers, Rep. Anna Williams (D-52), and Hood County Sheriff Matt English. The experts discuss how children's advocacy centers are changing the way we respond to abuse, and what laws the Oregon legislature is considering to offer more support to victims.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown talked with Laural about reviving the cap-and-trade bill, the possibility of another Republican walkout and goals for the upcoming legislative session.
Portland Commissioner Nick Fish passed away after a battle with abdominal cancer on Jan. 2, 2020. He was a frequent guest on Straight Talk, and a long-time public servant. Laural Porter is joined by guests: Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury, the executive director of the Latino Network Carmen Rubio, and KGW political analyst Len Bergstein.
We're joined by Eco Northwest President John Tapogna, Executive Director of PNW International Trade Association Maria Isabel Ellis, and Executive Director of Port of Portland Curtis Robinhold to talk about the health of imports/exports in Oregon, including agriculture and the industry-leading companies like Intel.
Heidi Wallace and Carrie Bates from the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation join Laural Porter to talk about addiction and recovery. The holidays can be a difficult time for people who struggle with substance abuse. Heidi and Carrie talk about the importance of treatment and offer resources for those who need help. Carrie also discusses her own personal journey from gold medal-winning Olympic swimmer to alcoholic, and how treatment and recovery has changed her life.
Laural Porter is joined by Oregon State Rep. Tiffany Mitchell, a living kidney donor, and Leslie Brock, executive director of Donate Life Northwest. They discussed Mitchell's donation, as well as how a new law in Oregon could make it easier for others to become living donors.
Ebony Clarke, the new director of Multnomah County's Mental Health and Addiction Services Division, says her goal, as she takes over leadership of the department, is to rebuild trust, morale and transparency.
Commissioner Vega Pederson and Director of Oregon's Early Learning System Miriam Calderon talk about Oregon's expensive childcare and preschool programs. A recent study recently found every Oregon county is considered a child care desert for newborns through 2-year-olds.
KGW's Kyle Iboshi explains how robocalls work and if there's anything we can do to stop them. He also goes over some tips for aging parents and grandparents to avoid impostor scams.
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Child advocates say the state of Oregon is woefully under funding services to prevent and treat child abuse. We're joined by Becky Jones, the executive director of the Oregon Network of Child Abuse Intervention Centers and Ted Davis, the CEO of Airstream Adventures NW.
Three scientists from Portland State University along with KGW's Chief Meteorologist Matt Zaffino discussed the impact climate change is having on the Pacific Northwest.
Student loan debt in 2019 is at the highest points its ever been. Oregon Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and talks about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, and is joined by Kristen Fouts, currently working as a teacher who was one of the few to get her student loan forgiven through the program.
Lines for Life CEO Dwight Holton and Lines for Life YouthLine Crisis Line Director Emily Moser discuss the crisis, resources for prevention and erasing the stigma of suicide. This episode originally aired on KGW News on April 7, 2019.
For the first time in more than a decade, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and former Oregon Senator Gordon Smith made a join appearance. The Republican and Democrat were in town for the Gordon and Sharon Smith New Freedom Award dinner sponsored by the Oregon chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.