Allison Frost

Sara Kennedy is the CEO of Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette and also an OBGYN. They join us to discuss the implications of this case—and the impact of the law signed this week by Gov. Tina Kotek to restore Planned Parenthood’s medicaid funding.

OPB political reporter Lauren Dake covers the child welfare system. She joins us to share more about the latest numbers and what state officials say they’re going to do about it.

Brian Lindstrom was a Portland filmmaker who focused on telling the stories of people who he said society "put an X through," including people who are incarcerated, homeless or struggling with substance use disorder. Undated photo provided by Jennie Baker, with permission from Lindstrom's wife, Cheryl Strayed.

Lisa Mensah is the President and CEO of the Foundation. She joins us to explain how she sees the loan program working and how it fits into their extensive and longstanding granting program for housing and other community needs throughout the state.

The inside of Lost & Bound Books, a mobile bookstore owned by Desirai Vuylsteke and Sidnee Andreychenko, on June 4, 2026, the day of the "Think Out Loud" interview about Portland Book Week. The mobile bookstore is one of more than 80 independent bookshops participating in the third annual event.

Civic leaders and community members in North Plains are in the midst of envisioning the future of their town with a population of about 3,500. The most contentious element in this Washington county town is over the size and shape of the urban growth boundary to plan for population and economic growth and expand its tax base. Downtown North Plains is the town's main commercial center, beginning at the intersection of Glencoe Road and Commercial Street, seen here on May 19, 2026.

The National Civic League honors 10 U.S. cities that demonstrate innovation, civic engagement and inclusive collaboration.

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Five years ago, the Oregon legislature declared that racism is a public health crisis. A year later, lawmakers told the Oregon Advocacy Commission’s office to come up with recommendations for how to respond to the crisis. The final report detailing that work was just released. It has information about the status of 100 recommendations, ranging from community safety and social services to education and healthcare. We get the details from Kaj Jensen, the author of the new report and the operations and policy analyst with the Oregon Advocacy Commission’s office.

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read recently called for the United States Postal Service to look at its policies around mail pick up on Election Day, after officials in Benton County found some voters’ ballots were left in mailboxes. The postal service has said they prioritize package delivery when staffing is short.