OPB Audio

As the school year for Oregon universities begins, some international students may not be able to start classes with their peers. As first reported in the Oregon Capital Chronicle, travel bans, changes to the length of stay for student visas and increased immigration enforcement have led to a 20% decline in international students choosing to study in the U.S. Even more so, students from foreign co...

In the event of a tsunami triggered by a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, residents of coastal communities in Oregon have less than 20 minutes from the time ground shaking starts to evacuate from Tsunami Hazard Zones. That’s according to a new report, published last week, by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. According to the report, for many residents and visitors in the area, tha...

If you live in the Portland-metro area, you might’ve heard about the plan to improve and expand I-5 through the Rose Quarter. On Friday night, that stretch of freeway through the Rose Quarter will be closed as the project begins in earnest for about 5 weeks. Rose Gerber is the Public Outreach and Media Manager for the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project with the Oregon Department of Transportatio...

Recent reporting from Investigate West shows that a disproportionate number of children in Oregon’s rural counties are more likely to enter the foster care system compared to those in urban areas. The reporting notes that wider barriers to health and social services in rural counties is often pointed out by providers and experts as a likely cause for this disparity. Danielle Dawson is a collaborat...

Northwest researchers develop vaccines to prevent opioid overdose and support addiction recovery

The Oregon governor is escalating her stance on the facilities as they emerge as a political hot potato.

OPB’s sister station KMHD has organized a month of events and programming this September celebrating the centennial birthday of of legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. The community events include a concert performance next Wednesday of Coltrane’s seminal album “Blue Train” at the Aladdin Theater in Portland. Hailey Niswanger, who grew up in West Linn and performs as the jazz-expansive saxoph...

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission distributes funding and sets policies for Oregon’s community colleges and public universities. As OPB reported, HECC’s Board approved last month a $4.7 billion budget request for the 2027-2029 biennium. Gov. Tina Kotek will consider the proposal as part of the overall state budget recommendations given to the state Legislature when it reconvenes next ye...

Large and super-hot wildfires have been increasing as global temperatures rise. So too have the phenomenon they create: “pyrocumulonimbus clouds," better known by their informal, easier-to-pronounce name, “fire clouds.” The large fires push air and particulates into the higher atmosphere where they can form thunderclouds that can produce electrical storms and tornadoes. The wind and lightning expa...

Authorities try to avoid ‘carmageddon’ during 5-week closure of I-5 southbound

With Dark Horse’s future in Milwaukie in doubt, founder Mike Richardson hopes to leave a final, lasting mark on his hometown.

Alex Tatarsky has always loved performing. From singing operas at the age of 3 to now blending clowning, physical performance and comedy for their latest project, “Sad Boys in Harpy Land,” a narrative exploration of anguish and humor. The New York Times describes it as “a thrilling and frenetic mental breakdown.” Tatarsky will be performing their piece at the Portland Institute For Contemporary Ar...

The number of high schools in the U.S. with school newspapers dropped nearly 20% from 2011 to 2021. But students in some districts are launching or reinventing newspapers and magazines, mostly online. Battle Ground Public Schools in Washington is one such district. Students at Prairie High School run the Falcon Flyer; Battle Ground High School has the Tiger Times; and at Tukes Valley Middle School...

The nonprofit Dream Big City aims to create safe, drug- and alcohol-free community events across Portland. Over the last six years, the organization has put on more than 170 events featuring live music, art, free meals and mentorship opportunities for youth. Its latest project is to turn a blighted street in Portland’s Central Eastside into a community plaza with skateboard ramps, basketball hoops...

With steep Medicaid cuts coming, austerity measures are well underway at Blue Mountain Health District.

Last week, officials in the Willamette Valley city of Independence closed its parks, the museum and threatened closure of the library, although state law forestalls that action. A $30,000 grant from a nonprofit, Friends of the Community Parks, has allowed two city parks to remain open through the end of the year. The closures come after voters shot down an operations levy in November 2024. In June...

“Think Out Loud” kicks off a series of monthly conversations with Meg Samples, general manager of member-supported KMHD jazz radio. Each month, we’ll hear about artists to add to your playlist, along with concerts and community events to attend. In September, that includes the annual Montavilla Jazz Festival. The three-day festival kicks off today and features performances by local artists, with a...

The University of Oregon Ducks will play their first game of the college football season against Boise State at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Saturday. The Ducks enter the season ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll – the highest ranking in their program’s history. Hopes are running high for Ducks fans that this just may be the season when they win their first national championship. Quar...

Amid all the challenges facing higher education, first-year students are excited and anxious about the new chapter of their lives.

Oregon is one of seven states that uses prison labor to fight wildfires. Incarcerated firefighters make significantly less money than other firefighters but face the same safety risks. Still, it's among the most sought-after jobs in prison.

The annual Oregon State Fair in Salem wraps up on Labor Day. The multi-day event features live music, food, demonstrations, carnival rides and competitions that showcase excellence in Oregon art, livestock, agriculture and more. From the tallest sunflower grown to blue ribbons awarded for beef and dairy cattle, the fair is also an opportunity to honor the hard work of future farmers, ranchers or h...

The weather pattern known as El Niño is still gathering strength, and climatologists say it could be one of the biggest on record. The phenomenon is caused by rising surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. The weather pattern is expected to bring big impacts to Oregon come winter. State Climatologist Larry O’Neill says that’s likely to mean warmer and wetter weather...

The Trump administration is trying to loosen regulations around development projects on historic and culturally significant land. Proposed changes to the National Historic Preservation Act would make it optional for federal agencies to consult with Native American nations about these projects, as reported locally in Underscore Native News. The proposal would also change the definition of a histori...

Oregon lawmakers passed the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) in 2021. It was the first law of its kind, putting much of the responsibility to reduce waste on producers and manufacturers. California, Washington, Colorado and a handful of other states have now passed similar laws. The Oregon law took effect July 1, 2025 and the state began collecting fees from producers to exp...

In 2021, the city of Portland officially legalized living in mobile dwelling units on private property. MDUs include recreational vehicles and tiny homes on wheels, which are different from accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. According to a recent survey reported in Sightline Institute, MDUs have been seeing an increase in popularity since 2020. Kol Peterson conducted the survey, owns Accessory Dwe...