Beat Check with The Oregonian

In September 1979, two hikers discovered human remains on a rocky slope above a little-used trail near Multnomah Falls. They found bones, a skull and a few personal belongings: gold-rimmed aviator glasses, a yellow cap with black felt letters reading “NT” and a chewed-up checkbook from First National Bank of Oregon. But there was no wallet or other identifying information. Based on the bones and h...

On August 2, 1986, two U.S. Forest Service workers were out collecting timber data on a remote logging road in the Mt. Hood National Forest near Government Camp when they stumbled upon a human skull, bone fragments, and a single tooth. Investigators took photos of the scene and the remains were transported and inventoried at the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. The coroner estimated that the sku...

In the first two episodes of The Unidentifieds, we explored two decades-old cold cases involving remains found in southern Oregon. We learned how DNA and genealogical sleuthing gave a little boy and a young woman their names back. But what is genetic genealogy? It goes far beyond the 23andMe gift card you received a few holidays ago from a relative. In Episode 3, hosts Regan Mertz and Dave Killen...

On the morning of July 11, 1963, a fisherman made a horrifying discovery: He stumbled across the concealed remains of a 2-year-old boy. The tiny body was wrapped in blankets, tied with wire and held down by iron weights in the Keene Creek Reservoir along Oregon 66 east of Ashland, Oregon. Officials moved the body to a cemetery where his tombstone read, “Unknown Baby Boy 1961-1963.″ The investigati...

There are so many unidentified human remains in the United States that the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System calls it “the nation’s silent mass disaster.” Roughly 4,400 human remains are found every year, and nearly one-quarter of those remain unidentified after one year. Some people were never reported missing. Some went missing decades ago. Some remains are incomplete, parts of th...

We’re taking a short break from Beat Check while we prepare to bring you a new six-part limited series called The Unidentifieds. You can listen to the first episode of The Unidentifieds right here in the Beat Check feed soon. Or search for The Unidentifieds wherever you listen to podcasts. Here's a little more on what it's about: There are 120 unidentified human remains in Oregon – cases exist in...

In an unprecedented move, the Oregon House of Representatives approved a $200 million funding package to address the state’s housing shortage and homelessness crisis. On the latest Beat Check, The Oregonian/OregonLive’s homelessness reporter, Nicole Hayden, explains where the funds will go if the bill is signed into law as expected. Related reading: ‘Unprecedented:’ Legislature expected to OK $200...

Last month, Eugene became the first city in Oregon to ban natural gas appliances in new homes. Within days, the utility company NW Natural launched a campaign to overturn the ban. On the latest Beat Check, The Oregonian/OregonLive’s environmental justice reporter, Gosia Wozniacka, talks about her recent reporting into NW Natural, and what its fate might be as cities throughout the state and countr...

For years, staff, volunteers, and auditors have sounded the alarm about conditions at the Multnomah County animal shelter. Finally, it will undergo a 5-month review. On this week’s Beat Check, The Oregonian/OregonLive’s deputy politics editor, Jamie Goldberg, explains what exactly went wrong at the shelter and what the county plans to do to fix the problem. -- Elena Neale-Sacks Subscribe to Beat C...

Oregon’s beer landscape is constantly shifting. On the latest Beat Check, The Oregonian/OregonLive’s beer reporter and newsletter writer Andre Meunier sits down with Andrew and Elena to talk about the latest trends. Hear why huge festivals like Oregon Brewers Festival are making way for smaller ones, low ABV and nonalcoholic beers are taking off, and more. -- Elena Neale-Sacks and Andrew Theen Sub...

If you’ve been following the news at all, you’ve probably heard about the bourbon scandal plaguing the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. For years, top OLCC officials diverted some of the most sought-after bourbon away from customers and kept it for themselves. On this week’s Beat Check, producer and guest host Elena Neale-Sacks talks with enterprise reporter Noelle Crombie about her recent r...

Content warning: Episode briefly mentions sexual assault. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s controversial plan to temper the city’s homelessness crisis includes the creation of six large encampment sites. They would each house 150 people to start, and Portland officials are hoping the sites will be open by 2024. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, homelessness reporter Nicole Hayden...

Content warning: Episode briefly mentions sexual assault. By this point, it’s no secret that the pandemic severely stunted learning outcomes for children and teens. But COVID-19 didn’t just impact learning in the classroom — it also had a serious effect on how students behaved and interacted with one another. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, education reporter Julia Silverma...

Few living Oregonians can say they played a role in shaping one of the crown jewels of our state, enjoyed by millions each year. Stan Hinatsu is one of those Oregonians. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, travel and outdoors reporter Jamie Hale stops by to talk about Hinatsu, his career and his legacy along the trails of the Columbia River Gorge. Related reading: The forester...

After a very challenging year-and-a-half for home buyers there’s a glimmer of hope. Sort of. Interest rates have more than doubled in the past year-and-a -half. Sales are down for the first time in years and that is leading to openings for some buyers. Maybe. Jayati Ramakrishnan, covers housing and transportation issues for the Oregonian. She talked about the trend on the latest episode of Beat Ch...

Another year another record-setting number of homicides in Portland. What is driving the violence? On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we chat with reporter Maxine Bernstein. We’ll talk about the lives lost, what we know about the factors at play and much more. Subscribe to Beat Check anywhere you listen to podcasts to get the latest episodes each week. Learn more about your ad...

Last year was a brutal one for stock portfolios, retirement accounts and some local businesses. On the latest episode of Beat Check with the Oregonian, business and technology reporter Mike Rogoway chatted abou last year, this year and what to make of the economic climate. Related reading: Mike Rogoway's story archive Subscribe to Beat Check anywhere you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad...

As we turn the page to 2023, we decided to look back at some of the biggest education stories of 2022. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we hear from three reporters covering three different age groups in our education system. Sit back and enjoy an informative chat with Rose Wong, Julia Silverman and Sami Edge. Rose covers early childhood education, Julia covers primary educa...

It’s been years in the works, and it’s finally here. And if you’ve been there, it’s probably something you’ve talk to your friend and family about already. On the latest episode of Beat Check, we chat with restaurant critic Michael Russell. Yes -- We talked about Kann, the best new restaurants of the year in 2022, what the latest trends are in this battered and recovering agency and what may be to...

As we round out 2022, there’s still plenty of time to help fellow Oregonians in need. Our annual Season of Sharing fundraiser is in full force, and we have detailed stories on 13 organizations that are helping people right now. On the latest episode of Beat Check with the Oregonian, we chat with Grant Butler, life and culture editor for the Oregonian and OregonLive. We talked about the history of...

Rosemary Anderson High school has experienced a tidal wave of trauma in the past two and a half years. Five students have died in shootings, another was stabbed to death and two more kids died in car crashes. My colleagues embedded in that alternative school for much of this year – the result of those months of stories is a series called “The Safest Place.” On the latest Beat Check with the Oregon...

Salt & Straw isn’t often in the news for non-ice cream related reasons. But when an RV exploded out front of the funky dessert company’s headquarters in southeast Portland, it sparked something else – a broader discussion about property crime. On the latest episode of Beat Check with the Oregonian, we chat with public safety reporters Catalina Gaitán and Savannah Eadens. We talked about Salt & Str...

Walter Cole is perhaps the most prominent living Portlander, but many people likely don’t know him by that name. Instead, they know him by his stage name, Darcelle XV. The Oregonian's Beth Nakamura and Brooke Herbert talked about Cole's life and legacy and about their contributions to a recent video and profile. Subscribe to Beat Check anywhere you get your podcasts [This episode first aired in De...

A massive new warehouse is coming to Northeast Portland in an area that is already choked with diesel pollution. It also happens to just across a major street from a high school with one of the most diverse student populations in the state. On the latest episode of Beat Check, we chat with Gosia Wozniacka, environmental justice reporter for The Oregonian and OregonLive. Gosia joined the paper in r...

What a week, eh? On this week’s episode of Beat Check, we're replaying a conversation Andrew had with Hillary Borrud and Shane Dixon Kavanugh last Friday. They took to Twitter Spaces to talk about the election, Governor-elect Tina Kotek, the Portland City Council race and the charter reform effort successfully passing. They chatted a few hours before Christine Drazan formally conceded the race to...