Think Out Loud

Patrick Radden Keefe discusses his new book “London Falling” at Lincoln High School in Portland

Patrick Radden Keefe discusses his new book “London Falling” at Lincoln High School in Portland LONG SYNOPSIS: In 2019, a 19-year-old man named Zac Brettler died after jumping off the balcony of a luxury apartment in London near the River Thames. Police never came to a conclusion about what led to Brettler’s death. But soon after, it was revealed that Brettler was living a double-life, filled with lies and organized crime in a city changed by extreme wealth. Patrick Radden Keefe dives into this story in his newest book, “London Falling,” focused on Brettler’s death and the people around him. He joins us in front of a live audience of students at Portland's Lincoln High School in Portland to share more on his newest book.

Portland nonprofit engages with Black voters through community events

WITH BALLOTS FOR OREGON’S PRIMARY ELECTIONS SCHEDULED TO GO OUT NEXT WEEK [https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/current-election.aspx], CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORKING TO GET OUT THE VOTE. IMAGINE BLACK [https://www.imagineblack.org/vote], BASED IN PORTLAND, AIMS TO ENGAGE VOTERS THROUGH COMMUNITY EVENTS, RATHER THAN MAILERS OR DOOR-TO-DOOR CANVASSING. THE NONPROFIT IS HOLDING A BASKETBALL BENEFIT [https://events.humanitix.com/alley-oop-the-vote] NEXT MONTH WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AHEAD OF PRIMARY ELECTION DAY, MAY 19.   JOY ALISE DAVIS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IMAGINE BLACK. SHE JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT VOTER BURNOUT IN PORTLAND’S BLACK COMMUNITIES AND HOW HER ORGANIZATION HOPES TO MAKE VOTING EXCITING AGAIN.

OHSU cancer researcher’s work offers glimpse into future of cancer detection, possible new treatments

SCIENTISTS AT OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY’S KNIGHT CANCER INSTITUTE ARE PIONEERING A NEW WAY TO STUDY CANCER THAT COULD LEAD TO FASTER CANCER DETECTION AND MORE TARGETED TREATMENT. IT INVOLVES 3D PRINTING CANCER CELLS FROM A PATIENT AND MINIATURE VERSIONS OF ORGANS LIKE BONES AND LUNGS. THE HEALTHY TISSUE AND CANCER CELLS ARE PLACED TOGETHER INSIDE A TINY DEVICE THAT’S ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF A THUMBDRIVE. SCIENTISTS CAN THEN OBSERVE IN REAL TIME HOW THEY INTERACT AND DISCOVER WAYS TO HALT THE CANCER’S SPREAD INTO THE HEALTHY TISSUE.    LUIZ BERTASSONI IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE’S PRECISION BIOFABRICATION HUB [https://www.ohsu.edu/knight-cancer-institute/precision-biofabrication-hub], WHICH HE HELPED LAUNCH IN 2023, AND A PROFESSOR OF ONCOLOGY AT OHSU. SINCE LAST YEAR, HE AND HIS TEAM HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN $9 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH [https://news.ohsu.edu/2026/04/13/ohsu-secures-9-2-million-to-build-next-generation-organs-on-chips-for-bone-related-cancers] TO ADVANCE THE POTENTIAL OF THESE SO-CALLED ORGAN-ON-A-CHIP DEVICES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER. THE LATEST GRANTS TARGET AN AGGRESSIVE FORM OF PROSTATE CANCER THAT SPREADS TO BONES AND A CANCER OF THE BONE THAT SPREADS TO LUNGS. BERTASSONI JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY AND THE PROMISE HE THINKS IT HOLDS FOR THE ROUGHLY 40% OF ADULTS IN THE U.S. WHO WILL LIKELY DEVELOP CANCER AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES.

Health officials warn Oregon measles outbreak is growing

AS OF LAST WEEK, OREGON HAD REPORTED 20 MEASLES CASES [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/17/oregon-measles-outbreak-grows/] SINCE THE START OF 2026. MEASLES WAS DECLARED ERADICATED IN THE U.S. IN 2000, BUT FALLING VACCINATION RATES HAVE DRIVEN OUTBREAKS IN MORE THAN HALF OF U.S. STATES [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/03/measles-oregon-cases-what-to-know/] SO FAR THIS YEAR. HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN THAT COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION IN OREGON IS BEGINNING TO GROW AND HAVE ASKED FOR THE PUBLIC’S HELP [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q19VKha0Wo] IN CURBING THE SPREAD.   DEAN SIDELINGER IS A HEALTH OFFICER AND STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST FOR THE OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY. HE JOINS US WITH MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHERE THE OUTBREAK STANDS AND HOW PEOPLE CAN STAY SAFE.

New film showcases 3 Bend athletes’ commitment to outdoor sports after life-changing spinal cord injuries

Josh Hancock, Danielle Doelling and Anna Soens are all athletes based in Bend who suffered life-changing accidents, leaving them with varied levels of spinal cord injury. All three of these athletes spent their lives before injury participating in extreme outdoor sports. The film “Adapted” follows these athletes on their journeys to get back to the activities they love, and finding new accessible ways to access the outdoors.  Paul Bikis, the director of the film, noticed the threads through all of their stories, and created a feature-length film showcasing the Hancock, Doellning and Soens’ unique journeys through their respective outdoor feats. “Adapted” premieres in Bend on April 23rd, and in Portland on April 30th. “Think Out Loud” spoke with Anna Soens [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/02/24/think-out-loud-paraplegic-skier-paralympic-winter-games/] ahead of her Paralympic debut in Milan-Cortina earlier this year. We’re joined by director Paul Bikis, and athletes Josh Hancock and Danielle Doelling to talk about the new film.