Rolando Hernandez

The Portland Trail Blazers for the first time in over a year are on a three-game win streak. Troy Brynelson / OPB

The Portland Bureau of Transportation is falling short of meeting some of its safety goals, according to a new city audit. Vision Zero is an international effort to completely eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The city of Portland adopted this philosophy in 2016, and while traffic deaths declined soon after, in 2021 they reached the highest they’ve been in the past three decades at 64. In 2023, those numbers are expected to be even higher, with early data standing at around 69 deaths. KC Jones is the audit services director for Portland. He joins us to share the details of the new audit. Dylan Rivera is the public information officer for PBOT. He also joins us to share the changes the agency will be making in response and the challenges of reaching Vision Zero.

Over the last eight years, Oregon has seen a growth of 22% in the number of practicing primary care physicians. But the state will need many more in the coming years to meet demand. We'll hear from physicians and advocates to learn more.

Donna’s Law is a voluntary registry that lets people flag themselves, prohibiting them from purchasing a firearm. The registry is meant to allow people who are concerned about their own mental health and safety to restrict their own gun rights. At least 20 states have considered the law, while three states have successfully passed the measure. Washington, Utah and Virginia all have Donna’s Law in place, but

Portland’s historic charter reform resulted in nearly 100 candidates running for a seat on the expanded city council and 19 Portlanders running for mayor. For those running for office, Portland’s Small Donor Election program promises to match funding to donations and provide their campaigns with taxpayer dollars.

File photo from Jan. 16, 2024. Ski patrollers do more then provide emergency aid on the slopes. They often are responsible for risk management on the mountain, looking at snow pack, documenting the scene of accidents and more. Conrad Wilson / OPB

From office settings to plastic recycling, workers were exposed to at least 14 chemicals in their daily lives, according to a new study from the International Pollutants Elimination Network. To measure exposures, participants in the study wore silicone bracelets which are able to mimic skin. This technology was invented at Oregon State University and has been used not only to measure human exposures to pollutants, but for animals such as cats and dogs as well. Kim Anderson is the director of

Willamette Springs Memory Care, a senior living facility in Corvallis, was under “enhanced supervision” by the state but continued to operate. As reported in Willamette Week, within the past two years the facility has been cited with upwards of 50 instances of abuse. In September, the Oregon Department of Human Services considered removing the facility’s license. However, last month the facility passed its latest inspection, removing admission restrictions and regulatory oversight. Lucas Manfield covers health care for Willamette Wek. He joins us to share more on the facility and the state’s regulatory power.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis found that Oregon's outdoor industry brings in billions to the stat's economy. We'll hear from OSU to break down the growth and the industry's future.

File photo from June 2020. The monarch butterfly may receive the threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. U.S. Fish and Wildlife is taking public comment until March on the proposed protections for the species. Nick Fisher, OPB.