Think Out Loud

Oregon Historical Society exhibit celebrates 100 years of Highway 101

If you’ve ever driven to the Oregon Coast, you’ve likely been on Highway 101. The scenic roadway was officially designated a federal highway 100 years ago in 1926. The highway changed how people across the state accessed the coast, bringing new opportunities for industry and tourism from Astoria to Brookings.  The Oregon Historical Society is celebrating the highway's 100th anniversary with an exhibit [https://www.ohs.org/museum/exhibits/101-at-100.cfm] that runs through Oct. 11. Megan Lallier-Barron, curator of exhibitions for OHS, joins us to share more about the history of Highway 101.

Lawsuit claims Oregon State Police shared data with ICE for years

According to a lawsuit filed by the nonprofit Rural Organizing Project, state police have allowed [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/06/oregon-state-police-violated-sanctuary-law-sharing-data-ice-lawsuit-claims/] federal immigration officials to access law enforcement databases to acquire Oregonians’ data.   The lawsuit, filed last Tuesday, claims that Oregon State Police has violated Oregon’s sanctuary laws by allowing federal immigration authorities to search state and national databases, including those containing drivers license information, including license photos, as well as Social Security numbers.    We’ll hear from Martha Verduzco Ortega, the director of Immigrant Help Centers at the Rural Organizing Project, with more details.

May primary ballot measure in Lane County would give legal rights to watersheds

Next Tuesday, voters in Lane County will decide the fate of Measure 20-373, also known as the “Watersheds Bill of Rights,” in the May primary election. Organizers of the measure say it is in response to years of aerial spraying of pesticides in the county they claim has polluted drinking water and sickened residents. The measure also appears to be inspired by a global rights of nature movement, [https://www.garn.org/rights-of-nature/] by claiming that watersheds –  including rivers, creeks and the lands they flow through –  possess “inalienable rights” [https://www.protectlanecountywatersheds.org/read_ordinance] that any resident in Lane County can sue on behalf of in order to protect those watersheds and their ecosystems from pollution by corporate, business or government activities.  Opposition to the measure is being led by Protect Our County [https://protectourcounty.org/], a coalition that includes current and former elected officials and Lane County business groups such the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. Brittany Quick-Warner, the chamber’s president and CEO, joins us for a debate with Rob Dickinson, a grassroots organizer of the Yes on Measure 20-373 [https://www.protectlanecountywatersheds.org/]campaign who helped draft the ballot measure.

Portland musician’s new album born out of loss

When local folk legend Michael Hurley died last spring, his friend Alela Diane was inspired to write “Spring Is A Fine Time (To Die)," an homage to her friend and his career. The song helped catalyze her new album, which was recorded live in the attic of her Portland home. Diane joins us in the studio, along with fellow musician Peter Lalish, for a conversation and live performance.

Oregon’s corporate medicine law put to test in settled PeaceHealth case

LAST YEAR, OREGON LAWMAKERS PASSED ONE OF THE TOUGHEST CORPORATE MEDICINE LAWS IN THE NATION AND A RECENT COURT CASE PUT THIS LAW TO THE TEST. SB 951 LIMITS CORPORATE INFLUENCE IN MEDICAL DECISIONS AND WAS AT THE CENTER OF A COURTROOM BATTLE BETWEEN APOLLO MD, PEACEHEALTH AND LOCAL PHYSICIANS IN EUGENE. THE ISSUE CAME UP WHEN PEACEHEALTH ANNOUNCED IT WOULD NOT RENEW ITS CONTRACT WITH EUGENE EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS AND INSTEAD WOULD INSTEAD CONTRACT WITH GEORGIA-BASED APOLLO MD. THE CASE TOOK A TURN WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN EEP AND PEACEHEALTH WAS MADE. ASHLI BLOW IS AN ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH CORRESPONDENT FOR LOOKOUT EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD [https://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/health/2026/05/06/peacehealth-er-case-shows-that-oregons-new-medical-law-has-teeth/]. SHE JOINS US TO SHARE MORE ON WHAT AGREEMENT WAS MADE AND WHAT THIS COURT BATTLE SAYS ABOUT OREGON’S CORPORATE MEDICINE LAW.