KGW’s Straight Talk

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 Ta...

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 civ...

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...

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,"...

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...

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 th...

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...

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 th...

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 the...

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'...

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...

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.