Rate of abuse of Oregon foster kids is at a record high

Late Portland documentary filmmaker Brian Lindstrom focused on people society ‘put an X through’

Portland filmmaker Brian Lindstrom died last Friday, May 15, 2026 at age 65.  He was diagnosed with the rare brain disease Progressive Supranuclear Palsy only last month.  “He was a stellar husband. He was the most magnificent dad,” wrote his wife author Cheryl Strayed on Instagram Friday. “He was a man whose every word and deed was driven by kindness, compassion, and generosity. He saw the goodness in everyone. He believed that we are all sacred and redeemable.” Lindstrom was a guest on “Think Out Loud" in 2015 to talk about his film “Mothering Inside,” a program that aimed to keep families intact after mothers are sent to prison.  He said the film was the third in a trilogy, after “Finding Normal” and “Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse," all centered around one thing:  “Really trying to shine a light on people that we, as society, usually put an X through, and try to reveal their humanity and strength. And I feel so privileged to have been let into the program and to really see these women, not only nurture and develop bonds with their children, but really work on themselves and change. Their kind of life story in a sense, to change the way they thought of themselves and to put their experiences in a different context: one based on strength … I found that wonderful spiritual humility that comes about when someone takes a hard look at their life, admits that it's not working, and will do anything to change it.”  It was Lindstrom’s wish that any donations made in his memory go to the  Family Preservation Project [https://family-preservation-project.org/], the organization that runs the “Mothering Inside” program. To hear a longer excerpt that includes a participant in the program who was in conversation with Lindstrom and “Think Out Loud” host Dave Miller, click the arrow below.

Portland celebration honors trumpeter Miles Davis on what would have been his 100th birthday

One of the most popular jazz albums of all time is still “Kind of Blue”, from trumpeter Miles Davis. Over the course of his career, Davis was pioneering in almost every major form of jazz, from be-bop to fusion. Early in his career, he recorded the compilation “Birth of the Cool” with nine other musicians, which is considered seminal to the era of cool jazz. KMHD [https://www.kmhd.org/live-events/] and Portland trumpeter Noah Simpson [https://www.reed.edu/music/instructors/noah-simpson.html]will celebrate Miles Davis’ 100th birthday later this month with a performance [https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/35221873/birth-of-the-cool-portland-aladdin-theater?_gl=1*1wpvr2p*_gcl_au*NDQyNDk1MDk2LjE3Nzg4Njk4MTc.*_ga*MTc3NjQ3NjA5MS4xNzc4ODY5ODE4*_ga_PL0N2H17N6*czE3Nzg4Njk4MTckbzEkZzAkdDE3Nzg4Njk4MTckajYwJGwwJGg2MTg5NzEyNzc.&_ga=2.85440285.565833434.1778869818-1776476091.1778869818] of the classic 1957 album in its entirety.

Rate of abuse of Oregon foster kids is at a record high

CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM ARE AMONG THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OREGON. THEIR MISTREATMENT WAS ONE OF THE KEY REASONS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS BROUGHT AGAINST THE STATE. THE 2024 SETTLEMENT [https://www.opb.org/article/2024/05/29/what-an-oregon-class-action-foster-care-settlement-means-for-children-and-youth-in-care/] INCLUDED A NUMBER OF REQUIRED ACTIONS TO DECREASE THE RATE OF ABUSE AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN IN THE STATE’S CUSTODY. THE STATE RECENTLY SUBMITTED ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT-MANDATED REPORT OF ITS PROGRESS [https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2026/05/oregon-shows-notable-progress-for-foster-kids-after-class-action-lawsuit-exposed-horrors.html], INCLUDING INCREASING THE NUMBER OF KIDS PLACED WITH A MEMBER OF THEIR FAMILY. BUT THE INCREASE IN ABUSE CASES [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/13/oregon-foster-care-abuse-highest-rate-harm/] IS NOTEWORTHY, SAYS OPB REPORTER LAUREN DAKE [https://www.opb.org/contributor/lauren-dake/], GIVEN THE POLICY PRIORITIES OF THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AFTER THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. DAKE JOINS US TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THE LATEST NUMBERS AND WHAT STATE OFFICIALS SAY THEY’RE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT.

A look at Oregon’s wildfire funding ahead of possibly historic fire season

AS WILDFIRES GROW LARGER AND MORE DESTRUCTIVE ACROSS THE WEST, STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME PAYING [https://www.hcn.org/articles/wildfires-are-torching-state-budgets/] FOR RESPONSE AND PREVENTION. OREGON LAWMAKERS WERE CALLED INTO AN EMERGENCY SESSION [https://www.opb.org/article/2024/12/12/oregon-lawmakers-rush-wildfire-funds-emergency-session/] IN DECEMBER 2024 AFTER THE STATE’S MOST EXPENSIVE FIRE SEASON LEFT THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY WITH NEARLY $100 MILLION IN UNPAID BILLS. THEY ALSO CREATED A NEW TAX [https://www.opb.org/article/2025/07/31/oregon-wildfire-bill-landowner-costs-funds-fighting-fires/] IN THE 2025 SESSION ON NICOTINE POUCHES, SUCH AS ZYN, TO FUND WILDFIRE PREVENTION.   KYLE WILLIAMS IS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FIRE OPERATIONS FOR ODF. HE JOINS US WITH MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE STATE’S WILDFIRE FUNDING [https://www.opb.org/article/2024/12/12/oregon-wildfire-fire-forest-politics-lawmakers-emergency-session-funding-forestry/] AHEAD OF WHAT COULD BE A HISTORIC FIRE SEASON.

Portland-based nonprofit aims to support underrepresented independent filmmakers

Last December, Kareem Alston-Rosales launched the nonprofit “Film 4 Good Fund.” Alston-Rosales noticed gaps in access to funding for independent filmmakers after years of work in philanthropy. The nonprofit, which aims to make it easier for independent filmmakers to receive direct grant funding for projects that are nearing the finish line, just gave out its first grant last week to Portland-based filmmaker Ime N. Etuk.  Alston-Rosales and Etuk join us to discuss the Film 4 Good Fund’s work, and what these pathways to grant funding can mean for independent filmmakers.