Pacific Northwest news: How smokejumpers, tribes and students are caring for Northwest ecosystems

Why higher-income housing remains scarce in Arcata

A freeway separates the university from the rest of downtown in the City of Arcata. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8932e9c/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1000x667+0+0/resize/792x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F85%2Fb2%2F0f3d64924a50bbb6cbda0660e0d1%2Farcata.jpeg] A freeway separates the university from the rest of downtown in the City of Arcata.( Cal Poly Humboldt) Arcata has fallen short of building enough housing for higher-income residents, according to the state's Regional Housing Needs Allocation [https://www.hcd.ca.gov/rhna], which sets housing production targets for cities every eight years. David Loya, the city's community development director, said Arcata has generally met its housing goals but has consistently lagged in the above-moderate income category. While the city has made significant progress meeting state housing targets for lower-income residents, officials say the shortage of market-rate housing has become an economic development challenge. They say the lack of homes makes it harder to recruit and retain physicians, university faculty and other professionals, even as Arcata works to encourage new development. According to Arcata's annual element progress report covering 2019 through 2027, the city has met its housing allocation for almost all levels, except for one low-income unit and 116 above-moderate income units Loya said several factors make higher-income housing difficult to build. "Housing in general in California is just really hard to make pencil," he said. He said grants have helped finance affordable housing developments, but similar funding is not available for market-rate projects. "There are no grants programs for above moderate-income housing," Loya said. "It's just left to the market." Limited land is another challenge. Arcata is bordered by forests, pastureland and Humboldt Bay. "You would think, 'Well, you can just annex and start building new housing tracts out there if you wanted to,'" he said. "We certainly could, but that kind of runs against the grain of our environmental values." Construction costs also remain a significant obstacle, even for housing that would sell at a higher price point. "The cost of materials, the cost of labor, the cost of land doesn't jibe with the income rates of the folks that live in our area, so it's just a really hard sector to build for," he said. Loya said state building codes also add to development costs. "[A] perfect example of that is all new housing now needs to have solar panels installed [https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/building-energy-efficiency-standards/energy-code-support-center/solar] at the initial build," he said. "Which is a great idea for energy resiliency, but it does make the cost of the housing more expensive." Much of the city's single-family housing has been converted into rental housing for students attending Cal Poly Humboldt, Loya said, going back to the 1980s and 1990s. "We're trying to reverse basically decades and decades of policy that led to the challenge that we're experiencing now," he said. The shortage of higher-income housing affects more than homebuyers, Loya said. Employers struggle to recruit professionals, including physicians and university faculty. "Obtaining any kind of medical services is really a challenge. In part, that challenge is exacerbated because we can't attract and retain physicians," he said. "Not having higher-income housing is a detriment to our residents because of those follow-on impacts." Loya said the city has tried to give developers more flexibility to incentivize building. "We've tried to eliminate requirements that could be costly to developers," he said. "We've eliminated any kind of parking requirements in the city of Arcata." Now, Loya said, the city will work to market itself to developers. "The onus is on us to find ways to produce that kind of housing and to make more options available," he said.

Why higher-income housing remains scarce in Arcata

A freeway separates the university from the rest of downtown in the City of Arcata. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8932e9c/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1000x667+0+0/resize/792x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F85%2Fb2%2F0f3d64924a50bbb6cbda0660e0d1%2Farcata.jpeg] A freeway separates the university from the rest of downtown in the City of Arcata.( Cal Poly Humboldt) Arcata has fallen short of building enough housing for higher-income residents, according to the state's Regional Housing Needs Allocation [https://www.hcd.ca.gov/rhna], which sets housing production targets for cities every eight years. David Loya, the city's community development director, said Arcata has generally met its housing goals but has consistently lagged in the above-moderate income category. While the city has made significant progress meeting state housing targets for lower-income residents, officials say the shortage of market-rate housing has become an economic development challenge. They say the lack of homes makes it harder to recruit and retain physicians, university faculty and other professionals, even as Arcata works to encourage new development. According to Arcata's annual element progress report covering 2019 through 2027, the city has met its housing allocation for almost all levels, except for one low-income unit and 116 above-moderate income units Loya said several factors make higher-income housing difficult to build. "Housing in general in California is just really hard to make pencil," he said. He said grants have helped finance affordable housing developments, but similar funding is not available for market-rate projects. "There are no grants programs for above moderate-income housing," Loya said. "It's just left to the market." Limited land is another challenge. Arcata is bordered by forests, pastureland and Humboldt Bay. "You would think, 'Well, you can just annex and start building new housing tracts out there if you wanted to,'" he said. "We certainly could, but that kind of runs against the grain of our environmental values." A middle aged man with gray hair and a goatee is standing outside wearing a button-up shirt, jacket, and tie. There are trees behind him. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8f7ad19/2147483647/strip/false/crop/2353x2049+0+0/resize/606x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa7%2F60%2F567b69a1441caad636b66fc16813%2Fheadshot-david-web.jpg]Arcata Community Development Director David Loya(OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA / Courtesy) Construction costs also remain a significant obstacle, even for housing that would sell at a higher price point. "The cost of materials, the cost of labor, the cost of land doesn't jibe with the income rates of the folks that live in our area, so it's just a really hard sector to build for," he said. Loya said state building codes also add to development costs. "[A] perfect example of that is all new housing now needs to have solar panels installed [https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/building-energy-efficiency-standards/energy-code-support-center/solar] at the initial build," he said. "Which is a great idea for energy resiliency, but it does make the cost of the housing more expensive." Much of the city's single-family housing has been converted into rental housing for students attending Cal Poly Humboldt, Loya said, going back to the 1980s and 1990s. "We're trying to reverse basically decades and decades of policy that led to the challenge that we're experiencing now," he said. The shortage of higher-income housing affects more than homebuyers, Loya said. Employers struggle to recruit professionals, including physicians and university faculty. "Obtaining any kind of medical services is really a challenge. In part, that challenge is exacerbated because we can't attract and retain physicians," he said. "Not having higher-income housing is a detriment to our residents because of those follow-on impacts." Loya said the city has tried to give developers more flexibility to incentivize building. "We've tried to eliminate requirements that could be costly to developers," he said. "We've eliminated any kind of parking requirements in the city of Arcata." Now, Loya said, the city will work to market itself to developers. "The onus is on us to find ways to produce that kind of housing and to make more options available," he said.

Ashland author's unlikely path to publishing began after retirement

"Unknown & Other Stories" is the latest book by Ashland-based author Barry Vitcov. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/847b4be/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/792x446!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F52%2F6c%2F3be7edbe41cd85edf4aebdc0a6db%2Funtitled-january-06-2026-at-11-50-01-1.png]Unknown & Other Stories is the latest book by Ashland-based author Barry Vitcov.(https://finishinglinepress.com/?s=vitcov ) Barry Vitkov spent 45 years in education as a middle school English teacher, school administrator and adjunct professor. He began writing poetry as a teenager, and his father famously carried his poems in his wallet to share with clients. But the demands of an academic career pulled him away from writing. It wasn't until retirement that he returned to his creative roots, launching a prolific second act that has produced six books in less than a decade. Vitkov's publishing career began almost by accident. After retiring, he started writing poetry and short stories again. At 70, a friend encouraged him to submit a manuscript to a small press. "For me, publishing wasn't about having another career," Vitkov said. "It was just about publishing a book and saying I did it." Unlike many writers, Vitkov doesn't follow a strict routine. "I'm not a disciplined writer," he said. "I write in spurts." He often finds inspiration when he's bored or while attending theater performances in Ashland, where he carries a notepad to capture ideas. Vitkov described his creative process as a "strange kind of journey." His work, including the novella "The Boy with Six Fingers" and his latest collection, "Unknown and Other Stories," explores themes of individuality and the line between reality and imagination. He said maturity means accepting both the uniqueness of others and your own. His interest in magical realism has occasionally overlapped with real life. While writing the word "thunder" during a storm, lightning struck a house across the street. "My goodness! I have such power as a writer," he recalled joking before calling the fire department. Now 79 and preparing to publish his seventh book, Vitkov said he continues to write for the satisfaction of the work rather than financial success. Asked what motivates him if not money, he answered: "Pure ego." GUEST * Barry Vitcov [https://ashland.news/ashland-author-barry-vitcov-explores-reality-and-imagination-in-new-story-collection/], retired educator, author, poet

Beyond timber: Mayor Fred Fry’s vision for a research and tourism haven in Powers, Oregon

A view of downtown Powers, Oregon, with homes and businesses at the base of forested Coast Range hills that have long supported the area's timber industry. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3a7eed5/2147483647/strip/false/crop/3134x2351+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fda%2Fd1%2Fa5a127944ec69ac0b0d84fb94c10%2Fpowers-oregon-skyline2.JPG] The city of Powers, Oregon, sits in the Coast Range, where leaders are looking to diversify the local economy beyond timber through tourism, environmental restoration and scientific research.(Tedder / Wikimedia) Powers, Oregon [https://traveloregon.com/places-to-go/cities/powers/], long defined by its logging industry, is looking to diversify its economy through tourism, environmental restoration and scientific research. Mayor Fred Fry, serving his first term, said the city is adapting as the timber industry continues to change. "Timber's taken us as far as it can take us," Fry said. He said tourism is already growing, driven in part by the city's mild summer weather, the south fork of the Coquille River and nearby campgrounds. Fry's long-term vision includes creating a research center focused on archaeology, biology and geology. He hopes partnerships with Oregon State University and the Coquille Tribe could bring graduate students to study what he describes as the region's rich natural and cultural resources. "If we had a research institute, we thought we could maybe provide a service that costs way less and be able to respond sooner" to archaeological needs on public lands, Fry said. Environmental restoration is another priority. Fry said restoring salmon runs could strengthen the local economy by attracting anglers and other visitors. Despite its changing economy, Powers continues to celebrate its logging heritage. The town's high school teams are known as the Cruisers, named for timber cruisers, the forestry workers who survey and assess timber before it is harvested. Residents also gather each Fourth of July for the annual White Cedar Days celebration. GUEST * Fred Fry, mayor, Powers, Oregon

World Cup fever builds across the Pacific Northwest

Supporters of the Spokane Zephyr, the city’s pro women’s soccer team, watch the team’s final match on May 16, 2026. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1550102/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1291x860+0+0/resize/792x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7f%2F62%2Fcec4063a4683bfb3b37ed6eefa76%2Fspokane-zeyphyr-womnes-soccer-team.png]Supporters of the Spokane Zephyr, the city’s pro women’s soccer team, watch the team’s final match on May 16, 2026. (Eliza Billingham / https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/regional-news/2026-05-26/world-cup-coming-to-northwest-how-to-become-soccer-fan ) Seattle, Tacoma and communities across the Pacific Northwest are preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with events, public art, youth outreach and more. The World Cup is coming to the Northwest. Here’s how to become a soccer fan [https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/regional-news/2026-05-26/world-cup-coming-to-northwest-how-to-become-soccer-fan] Seattle will host six FIFA World Cup matches next year, bringing one of the world's biggest sporting events to the Pacific Northwest. For fans new to soccer, understanding ball control, strategy and the flow of play can make matches more enjoyable. Recognizing tactics such as diving helps explain some of the game's most debated moments. Every World Cup puts a new spin on the soccer ball [https://www.knkx.org/sports/2026-05-13/every-world-cup-puts-a-new-spin-on-the-soccer-ball] The official match ball for the 2026 FIFA World Cup features a rougher surface designed to produce more stable flight than some previous designs. Each tournament debuts a new ball, continuing a decades-long tradition of showcasing advances in soccer technology and design. One city in Washington is celebrating the World Cup with glass art [https://www.nwpb.org/local/2026-05-28/one-city-in-washington-is-celebrating-the-world-cup-with-glass-art] Tacoma is commemorating the World Cup by hiding 1,000 hand-stamped glass medallions throughout Pierce County. Each medallion incorporates the Puyallup Tribe's name for Tacoma, celebrating the city's Indigenous heritage as World Cup events come to the region. Seattle is providing over 1,400 free World Cup tickets for kids [https://www.knkx.org/sports/2026-06-07/seattle-is-providing-over-1-400-free-world-cup-tickets-for-kids] More than 1,400 free World Cup tickets will be distributed to young people and their caregivers through a privately funded program in Seattle. Organizers hope the initiative will introduce more families to the sport and inspire the next generation of soccer fans.