Think Out Loud

 The largest healthcare strike in Oregon history is on the horizon. About 5,000 Providence doctors and nurses who work at 8 different hospitals around the state could strike at the end of this week. We’ll get an update from OPB healthcare reporter Amelia Templeton.    

Portlander Cameron Booth is mostly known for his blog Transit Maps, which reviews and showcases public transit maps from bygone eras to modern day systems. But for nearly a year now, Booth has been making sure one piece of Portland’s history is not forgotten: street cars. From its beginnings in 1872 to the modern system, Booth has been archiving and cataloging information he finds on his new website, Portland Streetcar History. We hear from Booth to learn more on why he started this project and the importance street cars had in shaping the city. 

Since the mid-1980s, Marion county has been sending its trash to an incinerator, now known as Reworld Marion Inc. It’s the only one in the state, and the county has partnered with it from the beginning. The company recently filed objections with Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality around environmental regulations the state passed aimed at improving human health by reducing toxic emissions from the facility. Several months ago Reworld announced it would be closing its Oregon facility and would not be accepting any more trash as of Dec. 31, 2024.  The county had to turn instead to the Coffin Butte Landfill in neighboring Benton County. But that landfill is filling up and has applied to expand its capacity. It’s also been under scrutiny for methane leaks that environmental groups, lawmakers and regulators say have not been adequately addressed. Joining us to discuss the problems inherent in current waste disposal methods are: Lisa Arkin, the executive director of Beyond Toxics, which is part of the state’s Clean Air Coalition; and Oregon State Senator Sara Gelser Blouin, a Democrat whose district covers South Salem and unincorporated parts of Linn, Benton and Marion Counties.

 The city of Bend is exploring how it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2050. The goals are outlined in the city’s Community Climate Action Plan, which it’s working on updating.  Officials are examining what strategies to prioritize and how future policies could affect Bend's businesses, affordable housing goals and economy. Recently, the city has considered how it could construct new  buildings that have electric appliances rather than fossil-fuel power sources like gas. While some climate activists applaud the efforts, others wonder how new regulations could affect the city financially and leave it vulnerable to costly lawsuits.   Cyrus Mooney is the business advocate for the city of Bend. Cassie Lacy is the senior management analyst for the city. They join us with details of the city’s plans.  

Valerie Jacques Lehman loves the Oregon Ducks. No matter their crushing defeat in the Rose Bowl. She says like many fans, she was devastated by that loss but says a real fan is loyal, win or lose. We talk with her about the big game and how she keeps on the sunny side even after the worst outcome. 

A new study, led by researchers at the University of Washington, has linked exposure to wildfire smoke with a higher risk of developing dementia. The study followed more than 1.2 million Kaiser Permanente Southern California members from 2008 to 2019. It also found that minority communities and those living in higher-poverty census tracts were more likely to be diagnosed with dementia than white or higher-income patients. Joan Casey is an associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at UW. She joins us with more details on how wildfire smoke can affect our brains and bodies.

The state of Washington owns land that rightfully belongs to the Yakama Nation. A treaty map that showed what land should be included in the Yakama reservation was lost for nearly 75 years since it was filed under "M" for Montana. Because the land ownership was long established and is being used as a revenue source for the state, Washington will likely want compensation before returning it. Maria Parazo Rose is a freelance journalist who covered this story for Grist. She joins us with details.

 In 2020, Oregonians voted to legalize the use of psilocybin mushrooms in therapeutic settings. This came as fresh research showed promising results of psychedelic therapy for depression, PTSD and substance use disorder. Now a new kind of patient is seeking out this care. As reported in the New York Times, some people are seeking psychedelics, such as ketamine and psychedelic mushrooms, for palliative care. Andrew Jacobs is a health and science reporter for the Times. He joins us to share more.

Historically, philosophers have studied ethical theories that focused on how we make decisions based on what is morally right or wrong. But a somewhat newer branch known as care ethics, approaches morality from a much broader context, which involves centering the individual's experience and their relationship to the people around them. Maurice Hamington is a philosophy professor at Portland State University and author of the book, “Revolutionary Care.” He argues that the world needs more care and compassion for others and also recently spoke to the Atlantic about incorporating care ethics into parenting approaches. Hamington joins us to share more on care ethics and how he thinks it could be incorporated into our daily lives.

White pelicans are distinctive. Their 9-foot white wings are black tipped, and can create a bit of a mirage when they fly, seemingly appearing and disappearing as they go. Some observers have mistakenly reported them as UFOs. The birds also have notable long orange beaks and the largest wingspan of any other bird in Oregon.     Their populations have increased considerably over the past few decades, and more recently, some pelicans have been spotted staying along the coast and in the Columbia River Basin for longer than expected. Scientists would like to know more about why and what the implications could be for the wider ecosystem. We learn more about white pelican colonies in the Pacific Northwest and how climate change may factor into the health of these birds from James Lawonn, an avian biologist at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.