Southern Oregon University researchers lead statewide training effort to boost accessible tourism

Southern Oregon University researchers lead statewide training effort to boost accessible tourism

In September 2025, Oregon became the first state in the nation to be verified for its accessibility [https://wheeltheworld.com/accessible-travel/usa/oregon] for travelers with disabilities by the travel website Wheel the World. The company worked with Travel Oregon to assess hundreds of hotels, restaurants, tourism providers and state parks in seven regions across the state for their accessibility [https://traveloregon.com/accessible-travel/]. That includes features like step-free entrances at museums or specialized wheelchairs available to venture onto a beach on the Oregon Coast.    But the state’s efforts to promote its accessibility doesn’t mean that barriers don’t still exist for travelers with physical or neurocognitive disabilities. Small hotel owners and tourism operators may also lack awareness about best practices to engage with these travelers or struggle with how to become more accessible online and in person.    To address these gaps, researchers at Southern Oregon University [https://news.sou.edu/2025/08/sou-receives-grant-to-develop-accessible-tourism/]received a grant from Travel Oregon to develop and roll out training workshops at 12 locations across the state for travel industry professionals and other stakeholders. The training includes guidance on best practices and role-playing exercises where participants can experience, for example, what it’s like to navigate a carpeted hotel lobby in a wheelchair or to receive information during an emergency as a person who is hard of hearing.    Pavlina McGrady, an associate professor in the school of business at Southern Oregon University and Rebecca Williams, an assistant professor in the school of business at SOU, joined us on Oct. 2, 2025, to discuss the project. We also heard from Ulysses McCready, a junior at SOU who is blind and assisted with this effort.

Hacky sack returns to its Oregon roots with national tournament in West Linn

Hacky sack, otherwise known as “footbag,” is a collaborative game of dexterity, where players kick a small, round, pellet-filled bag back and forth between players.  The sport is typically affiliated with images of college quads in the ‘80s and ‘90s, but it’s experiencing a resurgence — so much so that there’s even a current hacky sack shortage [https://www.npr.org/2026/05/24/nx-s1-5822633-e1/hacky-sack-is-the-latest-trend-but-its-increased-popularity-is-causing-a-shortage].  The U.S. Open Footbag tournament [https://footbagspot.com/usopen2026] is taking place in West Linn, Oregon, this weekend, just across the river from Hacky Sack’s birthplace of Oregon City.  The game is characterized by its laid-back nature, but this weekend, hacky sackers will compete in several different events, including “freestyle battles” and “Net,” a volleyball-style event where competitors have to kick the bag over a 5-foot-tall net. They can even show off their tricks and compete with planned hacky sack routines. Oregon is not only the birthplace of modern hacky sacking, but as it turns out, the birthplace of several professional hacky sack athletes.  One of those athletes is Tricia George [https://www.footbaghalloffame.net/our-members/tricia-george], who’s considered one of the best players of all time, according to her entry in the Footbag Hall of Fame [https://www.footbaghalloffame.net/].  She holds several Guinness World Records in hacky-sacking and has been playing since 1980. She’ll join us on the show, along with a newer player, Brennan Reim, a soon-to-be 9th grader who’s competing in this weekend’s competition.  He’s been hacky sacking since 2024.

University of Portland educators convene for conference on use of AI in higher ed

Educators and faculty at the University of Portland held a three-day conference last week to explore the use of Artificial Intelligence in Catholic higher education and the ethics of AI in educational settings.  Speakers and facilitators presented a host of topics, including the ability of AI tools to streamline people’s workflow, but also to stifle critical thinking.  We hear from Natalie Nelson-Marsh, an associate professor of Communication & Media at the University of Portland, and Naveen Gudigantala, a professor at the University of Portland’s School of Business, for more on the conference and their view of AI’s role in higher education.

Despite high wool prices, it’s difficult to sustain fiber production in the Pacific Northwest

If you're not well-versed in the natural fiber economy, Kristen Buchanan wants to help with that. Buchanan manages a small family farm in Southwest Washington, and she’s the co-founder of PNW Fiber Connect, an organization that wants to create a support network of different players in the regional fiber industry.   The organization aims to educate consumers and share resources from shepherds to mill owners to yarn stores. Buchanan wants consumers to make intentional choices about where their wool and textiles come from and hopes that the Pacific Northwest can one day sustain a more robust fiber economy.   Kirsten Holbo is a shepherd at Iron Water Ranch in Albany, Oregon. She’s been in the fiber industry since 1984 when her family took over Iron Water Ranch. She and Buchanan join us to share more about the current state of the wool industry in Oregon

How dredging has changed the Columbia River’s ecological, economic functions

THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAS DREDGED THE LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER SINCE THE 1860S TO CREATE A DEEPER SHIPPING CHANNEL BETWEEN PORTLAND AND THE PACIFIC OCEAN.    THE AGENCY SAYS THE PRACTICE IS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE, BUT VERY FEW STUDIES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED ON ITS ECOLOGICAL IMPACT. TRIBAL LEADERS SAY DREDGING HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE DECLINE OF LAMPREY, STEELHEAD AND OTHER CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT SPECIES THAT RELY ON THE COLUMBIA ESTUARY. MEANWHILE, HYDROPOWER DAMS HAVE CAUSED A PILEUP OF SEDIMENT IN THE MID-COLUMBIA, SLOWING THE RIVER’S FLOW AND RAISING WATER TEMPERATURES TO DANGEROUS LEVELS.