Ranchers and private landowners are helping respond to wildfires in Central Oregon

Opera in the Park aims to bring love of opera to more Oregonians

LAST YEAR OVER 7,000 PEOPLE GATHERED ON CAMP CHAIRS AND PICNIC BLANKETS TO HEAR THE OPERA “CARMEN” AT PENINSULA PARK IN PORTLAND. IT WAS A PERFORMANCE STAGED BY THE ORGANIZATION OPERA IN THE PARK, WHICH AIMS TO SHARE THE LOVE OF OPERA WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. THIS YEAR THE ORGANIZATION WILL BRING THE OREGON PREMIERE OF THE WORLD'S FIRST MARIACHI OPERA, “CRUZAR LA CARA DE LA LUNA,” TO BOTH PORTLAND AND HILLSBORO. ASHLEY CLARK, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERA IN THE PARK, AND NICHOLAS FOX, THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE.

Families experiencing homelessness in Vancouver face lengthy waits, limited options for shelter space

NEARLY 30% OF PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS IN CLARK COUNTY LAST YEAR WERE CHILDREN. THAT’S ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT BY THE COUNCIL FOR HOMELESSNESS [https://www.councilforthehomeless.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2025-Annual-System-Numbers-Report.pdf], WHICH ALSO FOUND THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS STABILIZED THROUGH RENT ASSISTANCE DROPPED BY 5% LAST YEAR.    For families experiencing homelessness in Vancouver, they may have to wait months until a spot becomes available at the few shelters that allow families. The nonprofit Share [https://sharevancouver.org/programs/share-shelter-system/] operates two shelters in Vancouver for families, each with 14 rooms, on-site laundry, a communal kitchen and dining area, and indoor and outdoor play areas for children. As The Columbian [https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/jul/14/data-nearly-1-in-3-homeless-people-in-clark-county-are-children/] recently reported, Share’s shelters have remained at or near capacity for years. Adrianna Kofoed, director of family shelters at Share, says she and her staff have seen increased demand in just the past year, with at least five or six calls a day from parents seeking help for their families.    Kofoed joins us to share more details about Share’s family shelters. Also joining us is Gracie White, a mother who has been staying at Share’s Homestead shelter for roughly a month with four of her children.

Ranchers and private landowners are helping respond to wildfires in Central Oregon

MORE THAN 500,000 ACRES HAVE BURNED IN OREGON FROM WILDFIRES THAT WERE SPARKED LAST WEEK BY LIGHTNING STORMS. THAT INCLUDES THE ROWE CREEK COMPLEX [https://apps.oregon.gov/oregon-newsroom/OR/OSFM/Posts/Post/rowe-creek-722] THAT HAS GROWN TO ROUGHLY 150,000 ACRES AND TRIGGERED LEVEL 1, 2 AND 3 EVACUATION NOTICES FOR RESIDENTS IN WHEELER AND WASCO COUNTIES. THE FIRES HAVE ALSO LED TO AIR QUALITY ADVISORIES FOR MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE COUNTIES IN THE STATE.   Rangeland Fire Protection Associations [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/30/rangeland-fire-protection-association-oregon/]have been working with state and federal agencies to respond to the Rowe Creek Complex and other fires in remote, difficult terrain. There are currently 29 RFPAs in Oregon. Their members are ranchers and private landowners who volunteer to help fight wildfires on private rangelands in coordination with the Oregon Department of Forestry and other state and federal agencies.   Ted Netter is a rancher and chairman of the Oregon RFPA Advisory Committee and the fire supervisor of the Lower Bridge RFPA which serves Jefferson and Deschutes counties. Ross Ryno is a rancher and member of the Twickenham RFPA which serves parts of Wheeler county. They join us to talk about their efforts to protect their homes and communities from the Rowe Creek Complex and Akawa Butte fire [https://apps.oregon.gov/oregon-newsroom/OR/OSFM/Posts/Post/akawa-brewer-722] burning near Sisters.

Willamette and Pacific Universities say merger will save money, serve students

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES ALIKE ARE FACING INCREASING FINANCIAL STRAIN WITH RISING COSTS, LIMITED FUNDING AND TUITION ALREADY UNAFFORDABLE FOR MANY. NOW TWO OF OREGON’S PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES HAVE DECIDED TO MERGE, IN LARGE PART TO SAVE MONEY. WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY AND PACIFIC UNIVERSITY ARE THE OLDEST COLLEGES IN OREGON AND THE ENTIRE WESTERN U.S., PREDATING OREGON STATEHOOD. LEADERS OF BOTH UNIVERSITIES SAY THEIR INSTITUTIONS’ MISSION AND VALUES ARE ALIGNED. THEY ALSO SAY THE MERGER WON’T JUST SAVE MONEY BUT WILL “EXPAND ACADEMIC OFFERINGS, BROADEN ACCESS, AND DEEPEN THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS ACROSS THE REGION.”    THE STRUCTURE WILLAMETTE AND PACIFIC ARE PURSUING IS WHAT’S KNOWN AS A COLLEGIATE MODEL, WHERE MULTIPLE UNIVERSITIES EXIST AS PART OF A LARGER INSTITUTION. THE TWO UNIVERSITIES WILL RETAIN THEIR NAMES AND CAMPUSES AS PART OF WHAT WILL LIKELY BE NAMED THE UNIVERSITY OF THE NORTHWEST. PACIFIC UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT JENNY COYLE AND WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT STEVE THORSETT JOIN US TO DISCUSS THE MERGER AND

OSP Tribal Liaison Glendon Smith on bridging the gap between tribal and state law enforcement

GLENDON SMITH IS THE INAUGURAL TRIBAL LIAISON FOR THE OREGON STATE POLICE. SINCE 2023, HE’S BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OREGON’S NINE FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES AND EDUCATING STATE TROOPERS ON HOW TO INTERACT WITH TRIBAL CITIZENS AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. HE RECENTLY RECEIVED [https://www.underscore.news/justice/oregon-state-police-tribal-liaison-talks-priorities/] A PUBLIC SERVICE AMBASSADOR AWARD FROM OREGON GOV. TINA KOTEK FOR HIS WORK.    Smith joins us to talk more about his role and the relationship between tribal and state law enforcement.