The Evergreen

After decades of advocating, tribal members cheered as a blast at JC Boyle Dam this year kicked off the process of drawing down the reservoirs behind three Klamath River dams.  The removal is expected to restore the river and reopen spawning habitat that salmon haven’t been able to reach for more than a century. OPB science reporter and editor Cassandra Profita brings us the perspective...

On the Oregon-California border, four Klamath River dams are coming out in the country’s largest dam removal project. It will reopen hundreds of miles of salmon habitat and restore  thousands of acres of land, some of which could be returned to Native American tribes. It’s giving some along the river new hope - and leaving others, like farmers, uncertain about their future. ...

Oregon onced required counties to take care of their unhoused residents. The relief institutions, known as “poor farms,” provided food, medical care, even burial services for those without a home. How does that compare to today's support for people living in poverty? We take a deep dive into the history of poor farms, and also try to understand the complex systems in place to support p...

The Portland Art Museum is highlighting Black Artists of Oregon collectively for the first time. The exhibition captures Black diasporic experiences in the Pacific Northwest, dating back from the 19th century to present day. That means stories full of love, joy, anger and darkness from almost 70 Black artists. The exhibition is up until March 31.  Featuring:  Intisar Abioto,  artist...

Oregon voters passed Measure 110 in 2020, decriminalizing the possession of specific amounts of illegal drugs and directing more money towards drug treatment. This new law coincided with a sharp rise in overdose deaths linked to illegal fentanyl. Now, many people are questioning the efficacy of Measure 110 and Oregon lawmakers are considering major changes to the law. OPB reporter Conrad Wilson sp...

Drag has a rich history in the Pacific Northwest. We hear about the legendary drag queen Darcelle XV, who had been an entertainer for more than five decades when she died last year at the age of 92, and the queens who are carrying on her legacy of love and laughter. We round out the episode with two Pacific Northwest queens who have competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and say that the culture of...

Introducing: The Evergreen! We’re a brand new podcast from OPB about the beautiful and complex place you call home. Each week, we’ll paint audio portraits of the Pacific Northwest, through the stories of the people who live here. For our first episode, we’re thinking about the idea of home itself. What makes where you live your home? What is it that makes us feel at home here? Is...

Every Week The Evergreen will bring listeners a story about The Pacific Northwest.