KGW’s Straight Talk

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 t...

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.  More info on robocalls here Follow Laural Porter on Facebook  

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.