Peter DeFazio is the longest serving House member in Oregon history and the 65th longest in U.S. history. He was a guest on this week's episode of Straight Talk to reflect on his congressional career and his plans for retirement.

KGW’s Straight Talk with Laural Porter

Straight Talk: Rep. Peter DeFazio reflects on 36 years in Congress

Long-term care executive Phil Fogg is calling on the U.S. to treat the workforce shortage in health care as a national crisis.

Long-term care facilities are facing a staffing crisis

Bloodworks Northwest is calling on Washington and Oregon residents to give blood this holiday season as the nationwide shortage continues. We also talk to Josh Schreck with the KGW Great Toy Drive about this year's effort to support the community. Investigative reporter Kyle Iboshi also joins to discuss holiday scams to watch out for. 

Ways to give back this holiday season

Portland Commissioner Dan Ryan joined Oregon Recovers co-founder and director Mike Marshall and Oregon State Representative Tawna Sanchez (D-District 43) on this week's episode to discuss behavioral health and homelessness in Oregon.

Behavioral health challenges and the homeless crisis

Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury joined Laural Porter on Straight Talk to discuss the city's homeless crisis and progress being made, thanks in part to Metro's supportive housing bond that passed in 2020. Homeless service providers Mercedes Elizalde from Central City Concern and Stacy Borke from Transition Projects were also guests on this week's episode.

Multnomah County Chair says progress is being made on homeless crisis

Congressman Earl Blumenauer says he's optimistic the planet can slow global warming. He recently attended the global climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland and joined Laural Porter on Straight Talk to discuss climate change and his new report on preparing for climate disaster, "From Ruin to Resilience." 

Rep. Earl Blumenauer talks COP26 climate summit in Glasgow

Gabe Newland with the Oregon Justice Resource Center and Marion County DA Paige Clarkson joined Laural Porter to discuss the pros and cons of clemency for offenders convicted as teens.

Juvenile offenders could be released early under retroactive youth sentencing reform

Political strategists Dan Lavey and Kevin Looper usually find themselves on opposing sides of an issue. Lavey served as strategist for former Republican U.S. Senator Gordon Smith, and advises Oregon business interests.  Looper is a long-time Democratic consultant. However, what they see as the decline and decay of their hometown, Portland, brought them together to launch the nonprofit advocacy group, People for Portland.  Lavey and Looper were guests on this week's episode of "Straight Talk" to discuss why they founded People for Portland, their objectives, and who is funding the $1.5 million campaign.

People for Portland is trying to hold elected officials accountable. Is it working?

Kim McCarty represents 6,000 low-income tenants across the state. As the executive director of the Community Alliance of Tenants, McCarty said their office receives hundreds of calls from tenants who have lost their employment benefits and are still not fully employed — now, they're afraid of being evicted. Oregon's statewide eviction moratorium expired at the end of June but state lawmakers passed a bill providing a 60-day grace period for those who applied for assistance — Multnomah County extended that grace period to 90 days. Deborah Imse is the executive director of Multifamily NW, a rental industry group representing a mix of large and small landlords and property managers. She said landlords are in the dark about how the rental assistance process works, where their tenants' applications are in that process and at what point they will get paid.  McCarty and Imse discussed their frustrations on this week's episode of "Straight Talk."

Landlords and tenants frustrated with rent assistance delays

Portland Police Sergeant Ken Duilio, Lakayana Drury, founder of the nonprofit Word Is Bond, and Multnomah County's Chief Deputy District Attorney Kirsten Snowden were guests on this week's episode of "Straight Talk" to discuss what's behind the gun violence and possible solutions.

How do we address the gun violence across Portland?

It was 1913 when Portland voters first decided the city would have a commission form of government with city council members elected at large. Now, 108 years later, Portland is the only large city in the U.S. to still have the unique system of government and residents have voted eight times to keep it that way. A twenty member Charter Review Commission is studying alternatives to the city's form of government and elections, and may refer their recommendations to the Nov. 2022 ballot.   In this episode of Straight Talk, Laural Porter talked to members of the commission about their task, why there's a charter review, what they're studying and how you can make your voice heard. 

Portland voters have a once in a decade opportunity to change how the city runs

Youth climate activists Adah Crandall and Cassie Wilson discuss the growing climate crisis and what they want Oregon leaders to do about it. Specifically, they talk about the recent climate protests and their objections to the I-5 Rose Quarter expansion project. 

Sunrise Movement PDX calls on Oregon leaders to take swift action on climate crisis

Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan discusses the new "Safe Rest Village" project, the surge in gun violence and his plan to run for re-election in 2022.

Commissioner Dan Ryan promises urgent action on two Portland crises — homelessness and gun violence

Blanchet House Director Scott Kerman is calling for innovation, bold action and teamwork as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens the crisis on Portland's streets. Also, Terry Leckron-Myers with the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO) joins to discuss how MHAAO has ramped up efforts to alleviate the ongoing crisis. 

Addressing the humanitarian crisis on Portland‘s streets

Greg Johnson, the leader of the Interstate Bridge Replacement project, and Joe Cortright, a Portland economist opposed to replacing the bridge, discuss the latest bridge project and concerns about the cost, tolling and congestion. 

Head of I-5 bridge replacement project says it‘s time to get it done, but critics remain

A weekly deep-dive into politics and social issues with KGW's Laural Porter

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KGW’s Straight Talk with Laural Porter

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