The Oregonian Oregonlive Podcasts

Few living Oregonians can say they played a role in shaping one of the crown jewels of our state, enjoyed by millions each year. Stan Hinatsu is one of those Oregonians. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, travel and outdoors reporter Jamie Hale stops by to talk about Hinatsu, his career and his legacy along the trails of the Co…

After a very challenging year-and-a-half for home buyers there’s a glimmer of hope. Sort of. Interest rates have more than doubled in the past year-and-a -half. Sales are down for the first time in years and that is leading to openings for some buyers. Maybe. Jayati Ramakrishnan, covers housing and transportation issues for the Oregonian. She talke…

Another year another record-setting number of homicides in Portland. What is driving the violence? On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we chat with reporter Maxine Bernstein. We’ll talk about the lives lost, what we know about the factors at play and much more. Subscribe to Beat Check anywhere you listen to podcasts to get the l…

Last year was a brutal one for stock portfolios, retirement accounts and some local businesses. On the latest episode of Beat Check with the Oregonian, business and technology reporter Mike Rogoway chatted abou last year, this year and what to make of the economic climate. Related reading: Mike Rogoway's story archive Subscribe to Beat Check anywhe…

As we turn the page to 2023, we decided to look back at some of the biggest education stories of 2022. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we hear from three reporters covering three different age groups in our education system. Sit back and enjoy an informative chat with Rose Wong, Julia Silverman and Sami Edge. Rose covers ear…

It’s been years in the works, and it’s finally here. And if you’ve been there, it’s probably something you’ve talk to your friend and family about already. On the latest episode of Beat Check, we chat with restaurant critic Michael Russell. Yes -- We talked about Kann, the best new restaurants of the year in 2022, what the latest trends are in this…

As we round out 2022, there’s still plenty of time to help fellow Oregonians in need. Our annual Season of Sharing fundraiser is in full force, and we have detailed stories on 13 organizations that are helping people right now. On the latest episode of Beat Check with the Oregonian, we chat with Grant Butler, life and culture editor for the Oregoni…

Rosemary Anderson High school has experienced a tidal wave of trauma in the past two and a half years. Five students have died in shootings, another was stabbed to death and two more kids died in car crashes. My colleagues embedded in that alternative school for much of this year – the result of those months of stories is a series called “The Safes…

Salt & Straw isn’t often in the news for non-ice cream related reasons. But when an RV exploded out front of the funky dessert company’s headquarters in southeast Portland, it sparked something else – a broader discussion about property crime. On the latest episode of Beat Check with the Oregonian, we chat with public safety reporters Catalina Gait…

Walter Cole is perhaps the most prominent living Portlander, but many people likely don’t know him by that name. Instead, they know him by his stage name, Darcelle XV. The Oregonian's Beth Nakamura and Brooke Herbert talked about Cole's life and legacy and about their contributions to a recent video and profile. Subscribe to Beat Check anywhere you…

A massive new warehouse is coming to Northeast Portland in an area that is already choked with diesel pollution. It also happens to just across a major street from a high school with one of the most diverse student populations in the state. On the latest episode of Beat Check, we chat with Gosia Wozniacka, environmental justice reporter for The Ore…

What a week, eh? On this week’s episode of Beat Check, we're replaying a conversation Andrew had with Hillary Borrud and Shane Dixon Kavanugh last Friday. They took to Twitter Spaces to talk about the election, Governor-elect Tina Kotek, the Portland City Council race and the charter reform effort successfully passing. They chatted a few hours befo…

Intel’s race to recapture its throne atop the microchip industry continues to hit choppy waters. The tech giant announced layoffs are imminent, and Oregon employees will be included. On the latest episode of Beat Chec, we chat with business and technology reporter Mike Rogoway. We talked about the latest news surrounding Oregon’s largest corporate …

From its first days publishing as a daily in 1861 until well into the 20th century, The Oregonian existed as a newspaper by white men, for white men. The consequences were profound. Its white supremacist worldviews — excusing lynching, supporting segregation, stigmatizing people of color — helped shape the state today. This is Beat Check with The O…

Prompted by the 2020 murder of George Floyd and the nationwide protests that followed, The Oregonian/OregonLive chose to examine this newspaper’s racist history. The first installment of the new series looks at the two white men primarily responsible for The Oregonian throughout its first 60 years as a daily paper: Henry Pittock, the publisher and …

It’s finally time. Ballots will start arriving in mailboxes across Oregon in the coming days and weeks. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we chat with state politics reporter Hillary Borrud, who is covering the unprecedented three-woman governor’s race. We talked about Hillary’s profiles of each candidate, what their final pit…

The pandemic’s effect on our healthcare system is still playing out in real time, and it goes beyond the burnout felt by frontline workers who’ve borne a heavy cost for years now. Hospitals say they are hurting financially, and that will invariably trickle down to affect patients. On the latest episode of Beat Check, we chat with investigative repo…

A good rule of thumb – it’s probably not great when a memo from a state high school soccer official makes headlines. But a letter with sexist language directing high school referees to treat girls soccer players differently than boys sent last month did just that. The memo infuriated coaches across the state. On the latest episode of Beat Check, we…

A few months ago, Portland seemed poised to finally change its unusual form of government. But now the reform effort headed to voters is anything but a slam dunk. On the latest episode of Beat Check, Portland City Hall reporter Shane Dixon Kavanaugh talked about what happened to all the positive vibes surrounding the charter reform movement, why on…

School is back in session – youngsters are already back and college students at Oregon’s public universities return in coming days. Where do things stand with, you know, everything? On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we chat with Sami Edge, higher education reporter for The Oregonian and OregonLive. First off we talked about th…

One of the more interesting stories in Oregon is playing out in Morrow County. It includes a nonprofit internet provider, a handful of local politicians and… Amazon – one of the world’s most powerful companies. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we chat with business and technology reporter Mike Rogoway. We talked about his thr…

Thousands of wind turbines soar toward the sky along the Columbia River gorge. Earlier this year, a blade came cascading down. No one was hurt, but the failure was more than just a one-off. As America increasingly moves to wind, solar and other renewable energies, who maintains that infrastructure and keeps it safe – and who holds the industry acco…

There’s something of a beer explosion going on in the Portland area. And I don't mean an over carbonated beer explosion – I'm talking about new and exciting breweries and taprooms opening left and right. On the latest episode of Beat Check, we chat with our beer writer and newsletter editor, Andre Meunier. We talked about this latest beer boom, wha…

Seemingly out of the blue, an obscure Oregon government agency was suddenly in the limelight for big issues and big drama. Never heard of the Office of Public Defense Services? You’re probably not alone. But it’s an agency with an important mission and many of its issues aren’t new. On the latest episode of Beat Check, investigative reporter Noelle…

Numbers – data – are vital to our understanding of our society. But they don’t make sense in a vacuum. That’s where reporters – and journalism come into play On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we chat with investigative editor Brad Schmidt. We talked about the past year of data-driven journalism Schmidt and others spearheaded –…

Another weekend in the books, another heat advisory for the Portland metro area. Census figures estimate that 78% of Portland metro residents have air conditioning, but that means 22% don’t. And those people are still suffering. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we chat with breaking news reporter Austin De Dios, who covers pu…

Last week was a momentous one for President Biden – a major bill moved through Congress that directed billions of dollars toward intel and other chip manufacturers. So why is Intel stock plummeting? On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we connect with Mike Rogoway, who covers business and technology for the Oregonian and OregonLi…

World records fell. American records fell. Legends grew bigger or were born in Eugene at the new Hayward Field. So how exactly did Eugene fare, and what was the reception locally and from TV sets and computer screens around the world? On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we chatted with sports editor Joel Odom about the World Ath…

A single block of NE Portland has, for years, been a microcosm for all the issues Portland and other cities face: homelessness, drug use, sex trafficking and rampant crime from homicides to property crime. It has seen the killings of four people in just eight months. People who live in and around the area are looking for answers, but no one seems t…

For the first time in two decades, the Oregonian has a new sports columnist. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we chat with Bill Oram. We talked about his extensive experience covering the Los Angeles Lakers, why he wanted to come home to Oregon, what he thinks of some of the major stories in the sports landscape today and muc…

No one wants to talk about gas prices but everyone is. This week on Beat Check with The Oregonian we talk to reporter Jayati Ramakrishnan who has been reporting on the record-high gas prices for the last couple of weeks. We talk about what’s causing the price hikes, how you can find the cheapest gas and more. Links: https://www.gasbuddy.com/ https:…

One year ago, Portland and much of the Pacific Northwest experienced an unprecedented and deadly heat wave. As many as a thousand people died across the pacific northwest and British Columbia. Multnomah County saw upwards of 100 die due to the heat. Was it a sign of things to come or a one-off event? On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Ore…

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has a new plan when it comes to addressing large homeless encampments – and it sure sounds much like the city’s old plan –– sweep the people out and remove all the tents and belongings. In many ways, it’s a return to an old policy. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we chat with Nicole Hayden, who cov…

A month from now, Track Town USA will officially be at the center of the track and field world. The World Athletics Championships will be held in the U.S. for the first time in history. Is Eugene ready the world's largest standalone track and field event, which will be broadcast to an audience across the globe? On the latest episode of Beat Check w…

Oregon’s typically smooth vote by mail system saw its biggest mistake in history last month. A defective barcode on the printed ballots meant tens of thousands of votes would need to be duplicated by hand, and the top official overseeing Clackamas County’s election knew about it at least a week earlier. But for Sherry Hall, the woman at the center …

One of the most unusual murder trials in recent Portland history wrapped last week. Nancy Crampton Brophy, the self-published romance novelist, was found guilty of killing her husband. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, breaking news reporter Zane Sparling, who covers Multnomah County courts, talks about the unusual case and th…

The school year comes to an end next month, COVID-19 isn’t going away, and a new investigation from The Oregonian/OregonLive found many public schools aren’t doing enough to ensure the air students, staff and teachers breathe is as clean as possible. And that’s not just a COVID problem. On the latest episode of Beat Check, investigative reporter Ai…

Tina Kotek cruised to the Democratic party's nomination. Christine Drazan appeared to lock up the Republican nomination. Betsy Johnson, the former Democratic state lawmaker-turned-unaffiliated-candidate awaits. On this instant reaction episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, politics reporter Hillary Borrud looks ahead to the three-way race for g…

Stand-up comedy is in the midst of a cultural resurgence – with new specials available seemingly on every streaming service on a weekly basis. A new book from a Portland author goes deep on the trail blazing women who burst onto the scene, grabbed the mic and changed the medium for the better. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian,…

The Portland metro is in the midst of an ongoing gun violence crisis – and homicides are already on pace to eclipse last year’s record in the city. But there’s another crisis that claimed more lives in Portland and Multnomah county last year that doesn’t get as much attention: fentanyl overdoses. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregoni…

It’s election time again and this year Oregonians have a ton on their minds – and not all of it is positive. How will that affect the Democrats who hold power in the governor’s mansion and beyond? On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we chat with politics reporters Hillary Borrud and Chris Lehman. Chris and Hillary break down som…

Perhaps you’ve missed the memo, but Beaverton is where it’s at. Yes, Beaverton -- the previously sleepy suburb in Washington County, smaller than its neighbor Hillsboro -- is suddenly home to a slew of new bars and restaurants. Oh, and a performing arts center. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we go deep on Beaverton. We invi…

It’s been a bit of an anxious time for Oregon’s largest employer. A change at the top. A gargantuan new campus in suburban Ohio. Stocks took a big hit. But last week Intel celebrated the completion of a massive expansion in Hillsboro, and the tech giant effectively reaffirmed Oregon’s importance to its present and future. On the latest episode of B…

For more than a century, Portland’s been keeping its form of government weird. Portland's government was always odd but now it's an outlier. No large city has a government like Portland. Eight times in the last century, voters have had the chance to ditch Portland’s commission form of government. Eight times they said no. Could the ninth time be di…

Maybe you’ve seen messages about it on NextDoor, or on Facebook, or heard from a friend. Maybe it’s happened to you. People are stealing Catalytic converters at unprecedented rates from vehicles across Portland. And for many residents, the property crime goes beyond mere inconvenience. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, we talk…

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues into a second month, Ukrainians and Ukrainian Americans in Oregon are still having trouble wrapping their minds around what they’re seeing and hearing on the news. Russia and Ukraine have a long history as “brotherly nations,” explains Oregonian/OregonLive reporter Fedor Zarkhin, who speaks Russian and h…

Portland is still struggling to help people into safe housing – and street camping, trash and other visible signs of the crisis continue to be big issues inside City Hall and across the Rose City On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, reporter Nicole Hayden discusses the latest developments on her beat. Hayden covers homelessness. …

Portland needed a win, and it came in the form of a $425 million donation to the University of Oregon from Connie and Steve Ballmer. UO wants to buy the former Concordia University campus in Northeast Portland for $60.5 million. But it’s far from a done deal -- that school’s old ghosts continue to complicate the present and future of the former Lut…

Oregon and the nation are at another COVID crossroads – And this time things look more optimistic But that doesn’t mean everyone is in the same proverbial boat. Up next, Aimee Green and Fedor Zarkhin, two of my colleagues who’ve reported on the pandemic extensively, in Fedor’s case, before we knew COVID was in Oregon. We talked about this moment in…

Portland has rarely seen a deadlier weekend. A mass shooting at Normandale Park left one dead. A drive by shooter killed a mother and wounded her 1 and 5 year old. Portland police fatally shot a man while responding to a disturbance call. On the latest episode of Beat Check, we chat with Maxine Bernstein and Shane Dixon Kavanaugh. Max has covered p…