Think Out Loud

Oregon Supreme Court upholds Washington County’s flavored tobacco ban

The Oregon Supreme Court unanimously ruled [https://law.justia.com/cases/oregon/supreme-court/2026/s071235.html] last week that Washington County can ban the sale of flavored tobacco products [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/07/oregon-supreme-courst-tobacco-flavored-vape/], including vapes and hookah. County commissioners passed the ban in 2021, but it’s been tied up in court since retailers sued to stop it in 2022. The decision came just days after the federal Food and Drug Administration, for the first time, authorized the sale [https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-expands-market-access-authorizes-new-ends-products] of some fruit-flavored vape pods.   Gwyn Ashcom is a senior program coordinator at Washington County Public Health. She joins us to share more about the county’s plans now that the ban can go forward.

Portland-based nonprofit aims to support underrepresented independent filmmakers

Last December, Kareem Alson-Rosales launched the nonprofit “Film 4 Good Fund.” Alson-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.  Alson-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.

Providers of medication abortion for Oregon patients say access to this care remains unchanged

Medication abortions now comprise up to an estimated two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S., and about a quarter of the mifepristone-misoprostol combination are prescribed via telehealth. Medication abortions are safe and effective when used within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy [https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/the-abortion-pill]. Forty percent of all abortions occur at 6 weeks or less, another 38% between 7 - 9 weeks, and 14% between 10 - 13 weeks, according to the Guttmacher Institute. [http://guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-united-states]    Not having to visit a doctor in person to get the medication can make all the difference for access, particularly for those who are low-income or live in rural areas. Telehealth access to mifepristone was briefly paused after the state of Louisiana sued the FDA, saying its rules violated its total abortion ban.  On May 1, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals granted Louisiana's request for a stay, which meant doctors could not prescribe the drugs via telehealth. But the U.S. Supreme Court blocked that stay, restoring the FDA’s rules while the Louisiana lawsuit continues.    Sara Kennedy the CEO of Planned Parenthood Columbia Willadrmette and an OBGYN, and Amy Handler is the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon. 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.

First Schnitzer Prize of the West awarded to Native American leader of restoration project on Idaho, Utah border

THIS SATURDAY, THE INAUGURAL SCHNITZER PRIZE OF THE WEST [https://highdesertmuseum.org/schnitzer-prize/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23586169430&gbraid=0AAAABC7jD6uCB_d4WbT_KQfZfgzfsJ5Rr&gclid=CjwKCAjwn4vQBhBsEiwAq3hhN1fnyDcyXjnOhmtvMQhz7kmu6D4Rq-2VLKK6BpLwjonQ-gPTLTxZ6xoCRZQQAvD_BwE] WILL BE AWARDED TO BRAD PARRY, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE NORTHWESTERN BAND OF THE SHOSHONE NATION, AT A CEREMONY AT THE PORTLAND ART MUSEUM. PARRY WAS ONE OF NEARLY 100 PEOPLE FROM 12 STATES NOMINATED FOR THE NEW AWARD, WHICH INCLUDES $50,000 AND WILL BE GIVEN ANNUALLY BY THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM IN BEND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JORDAN D. SCHNITZER AND THE HAROLD & ARLENE SCHNITZER CARE FOUNDATION.    PARRY IS RECEIVING THE AWARD BECAUSE OF HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE WUDA OGWA CULTURAL AND LAND RESTORATION PROJECT [https://nwbshoshone.com/wudaogwa/], LOCATED ON THE SITE OF THE WORST MASSACRE OF NATIVE AMERICANS BY THE U.S. MILITARY. IN 1863, A U.S. ARMY COLONEL LED AN ATTACK ON A CAMPSITE NEAR THE BEAR RIVER ON THE IDAHO AND UTAH BORDER WHERE THE ANCESTORS OF THE NORTHWESTERN SHOSHONE WOULD GATHER IN THE WINTER. AN ESTIMATED 400 PEOPLE WERE MURDERED, INCLUDING DOZENS OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND INFANTS [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/search-site-worst-indian-massacre-us-history-180959091/].    IN 2018, THE NORTHWESTERN SHOSHONE PURCHASED THE 350-ACRE PROPERTY FROM PRIVATE OWNERS AND BEGAN THE PAINSTAKING PROCESS OF RESTORING THE SITE TO WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE BEFORE THE MASSACRE. THAT INCLUDES REPLACING ROUGHLY 400,000 INVASIVE RUSSIAN OLIVE TREES WITH WILLOWS AND NATIVE PLANTS; CREATING 15 ACRES OF WETLANDS; BRINGING BACK BEAVERS, TROUT AND OTHER NATIVE WILDLIFE; AND RESTORING A TRIBUTARY OF THE BEAR RIVER TO SEND AN EXPECTED 10,000 ACRE-FEET OF WATER ANNUALLY TO THE GREAT SALT LAKE.     PARRY JOINS US TO SHARE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WINNING THIS AWARD AND THE LESSONS HE’S LEARNED THAT COULD APPLY TO OTHER CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN THE WEST.

Mining operation could be coming to Baker County

A mining operation that will create close to 100 jobs and cost upwards of $60 million to build could be coming to Baker County. As first reporter in the Baker City Herald, Sumpter Development LLC is planning to reopen four historic mines near Bourne. The company is currently meeting with the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries to see if it can get permission and permits from the state agency to use the mines. Jayson Jacoby is the editor of the publication and reported on this story. He joins us to share more.