Think Out Loud

Oregon musicians on why they perform in tribute bands

From Journey and the Grateful Dead, to The Strokes and Depeche Mode, Oregon has no shortage of tribute bands. But why perform the music of another artist?    Adam Corkery is a guitarist and vocalist for Brown Stallion [https://www.brownstallion.band/], a Ween tribute band based in Eugene and Portland. Renée Muzquiz is the lead vocalist and guitarist for Major Tomboys [http://www.majortomboys.com/], an all-femme David Bowie tribute based in Portland. She also represents Linda Ronstadt in Stone Phoneys [https://stonephoneys.com/], a tribute to Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris.   They both join us to talk about the joys of performing familiar songs for die-hard fans.

Ladies Up Project announces expansion of community art program

Whether you like it or not, street art is a defining component of a city. However, street art has historically been a male-dominated field, which inspired the Portland Street Art Alliance’s Ladies Up Project. With allocated space and canvases, Ladies Up is rooted in empowering the creative expression of female street artists. We’ll hear from Executive Director Tiffany Conklin and artist Kyra Watkins about the program’s impact and recent expansion.

BLM rule changes to allow more cattle grazing on public lands in Oregon and the West

The Trump administration is rewriting Bureau of Land Management rules [https://www.hcn.org/articles/the-rules-for-grazing-on-155-million-acres-of-public-lands-are-getting-overhauled/] to increase the number of cattle and other livestock that can graze on public lands. The rules affect 155 million acres in the West, an area more than two-and-a-half times the size of Oregon.    The BLM says the proposal [https://www.blm.gov/press-release/department-interior-proposes-modernizing-grazing-regulations-support-ranchers-and] “reflects the Trump administration’s priority to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, promote productive working lands and strengthen local economies.” But environmental groups have raised concerns about the effect loosening these rules would have on wildlife. And Native American tribes that manage bison anticipate impacts on their herds as well. The public comment period on the proposal closed last week.   We talk with Mark Olalde [https://www.hcn.org/author/mark-olalde/], reporter for High Country News and Propublica, about the plan and how it would affect ranching as well as wildlife and Indigenous tribes.

Citizen-scientists photograph 50 years of melting glaciers

FOR 52 YEARS, CITIZEN-SCIENTISTS HAVE DOCUMENTED MT. SHASTA’S MELTING GLACIERS AS THE PLANET WARMS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE. THEY’VE TAKEN A SERIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS OVER DECADES THAT SHOWS THESE GLACIERS SHRINKING.   THESE CITIZEN-SCIENTISTS SAY THEY’RE HOPING TO REDUCE “ENVIRONMENTAL AMNESIA” BY PRESENTING THIS VISUAL EVIDENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.   WASHINGTON JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR OF “THE EARTH SAID REMEMBER ME,” JASON DOVE MARK, JOINS US TO DISCUSS HIS EXPERIENCE ON MT. SHASTA, AND ITS BROADER IMPLICATIONS.

First-in-the-nation program in WA state now providing long-term care benefits

AN ESTIMATED 56% OF PEOPLE TURNING 65 WILL NEED LONG-TERM CARE IN THEIR LIFETIME, ACCORDING TO THE AARP [https://ltsschoices.aarp.org/blog/americans-need-ltss-will-face-hardships]. ON AVERAGE, MUCH OF THE CARE IS DONE BY UNPAID CAREGIVERS AND FRIENDS HELPING WITH DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES. BUT A PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON IS DESIGNED TO HELP PROVIDE SENIORS TO GET THE CARE THEY NEED.   WA CARES FUND [https://wacaresfund.wa.gov/] IS THE FIRST STATE-RUN PROGRAM FOR LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE. IT IS FUNDED BY A MANDATORY SURCHARGE ON PAYROLL TAXES IN WASHINGTON STATE. AFTER CONTRIBUTING FOR 10 YEARS, WASHINGTON RESIDENTS QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS, WHICH COULD BE USED FOR VARIOUS SERVICES INCLUDING: HOME CARE, TRANSPORTATION, ADULT DAY PROGRAMS, HOME MODIFICATIONS AND COMPENSATION FOR FAMILY CARETAKERS.   PAULA SPAN WRITES THE NEW OLD AGE COLUMN FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES AND KFF NEWS AND WROTE ABOUT [https://kffhealthnews.org/syndicate/long-term-care-costs-washington-state-payroll-option/] THIS PROGRAM, WHICH STARTED OFFERING BENEFITS THIS MONTH. SHE JOINS US TO SHARE MORE ON WHY THIS PROGRAM IS NEEDED AND THE IMPACT IT COULD HAVE.