NOV. 28, 2021 contribute now In The News Omicron variant Ducks beat Beavers Afghan refugees in Oregon Oregon wine Charles Moose 'Love letter’ ban lawsuit Kathy Gleason / Oregon State University SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT Post-fire recovery depends on Cascade snow cover, study says Vegetation bounces back significantly better in areas that receive good snow cover after wildfires, according to a new study. Snowpack is like a frozen, above-ground reservoir. Drier parts of Oregon and Washington are heavily dependent on winter snowpack that melts slowly and evenly throughout the spring and summer. RELATED Fall rains can’t undo pains of drought in Oregon and Washington Cascades heading toward a future with little to no snowpack, new analysis suggests THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR: Become a Sponsor Lawsuit claims Oregon’s real estate ‘love letter’ ban stifles free speech Free speech advocates have filed a preliminary injunction against Oregon’s new law, banning love letters from prospective home buyers. Offensive place names in Oregon have been slow to change. Here’s why Interior Secretary Deb Haaland issued orders earlier this month declaring the word “squaw” derogatory and establishing a faster way to change offensive place names. Oregon has had a similar rule since 2001, but over 50 features in the state still use the word. No. 11 Oregon beats Oregon State, will play for Pac-12 title Anthony Brown Jr. threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns while running for another score, and No. 11 Oregon won the Pac-12 North Division and claimed a spot in the league’s championship game. Oregon lawmakers request $18 million to support the resettlement of refugees The state is preparing to take in approximately 1,200 people in the next 12 months, of which 570 are expected to arrive by the end of February. Restored wetland could become a place for tribes to harvest wapato The largest wetland restoration project on the lower Columbia River is reconstructing 965 acres of floodplain habitat and re-establishing native plants like wapato, a prized Native American first food that tastes like potato. A new Oregon law will soon protect Black people against discrimination for their hairstyles Volunteers around the state have been working to spread the word about the CROWN Act and what it means for students and schools. RELATED Oregon lawmakers pass CROWN Act, banning discrimination based on hairstyles Researchers to study decline in kelp and sea stars along Oregon Coast The populations of sunflower sea stars, bull kelp and abalone have all been declining across the Southern Oregon coast. A recent $250,000 federal grant has been awarded to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to study the decline. Portland’s first Black police chief, Charles Moose, has died at age 68 Portland’s first Black police chief — an early supporter of community policing who went on to be the police chief in Montgomery County, Maryland, and to lead the 2002 investigation into the Beltway sniper — died at home, watching football in his recliner. Smaller fish tags to help sockeye studies above Grand Coulee Dam New battery technology developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will allow researchers to better study small fish, such as juvenile sockeye salmon and Pacific lamprey. Oregon COVID-19 cases Source for all charts: Oregon Health Authority Created by Jacob Fenton Oregon hospital usage Depending on staffing, Oregon has between 600 and 800 adult ICU beds and between 4,000 and 7,000 regular beds. Labeled percentages are for COVID cases. Oregon vaccinations Line does not distinguish between first and second doses. Researchers estimate Oregon will reach herd immunity when around 6 million doses have been distributed. More omicron cases pop up as world rushes to learn more Cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus popped up in countries on opposite sides of the world Sunday and many governments rushed to close their borders. Supreme Court set to take up all-or-nothing abortion fight Both sides are telling the Supreme Court there’s no middle ground in Wednesday’s showdown over abortion. Iran nuclear talks are starting again. A lot has changed, and here’s what’s at stake The deal provided Iran sanctions relief for limits on its nuclear program. But now there's new Iranian leadership and more uranium in their stockpile than when Trump abandoned the agreement. How understaffed are stores? Smaller retailers feel the holiday-shopping strain Large retailers have spent billions of dollars to woo workers. Smaller stores that can't do that expect staff shortages will lead to lost sales. They're asking shoppers to be patient. Some states dropping ‘dehumanizing’ terms for immigrants California and Colorado this year banned state agencies from using the word “alien” to refer to immigrants who entered the U.S. without permission. File / AP 50 years later, the mystery of D.B. Cooper still intrigues D.B. Cooper has been an infamous name in Pacific Northwest crime history for five decades. Will the case of the country’s most notorious skyjacker ever be solved? From the court to the vineyard: CJ McCollum talks wine Your browser does not support the audio element. You're probably familiar with CJ McCollum the basketball star, but what about CJ McCollum the winemaker? We spoke with the Portland Trail Blazer about the similarities between wine and basketball, bringing bottles into the bubble, and how winemakers from different backgrounds can help diversify the wine industry. THINK OUT LOUD Schools all over Oregon face behavioral challenges Your browser does not support the audio element. Reynolds Middle School is not alone in facing challenges related to student behavior and delays in social-emotional learning after more than a year of online school. OPB's First Look newsletter Sign up to get important news and culture from around the Northwest, delivered to your inbox six days a week. EMAIL Sign Up Most Recent Iran nuclear talks are starting again. A lot has changed, and here’s what’s at stake Supreme Court set to take up all-or-nothing abortion fight More omicron cases pop up as world rushes to learn more Smaller fish tags to help sockeye studies above Grand Coulee Dam Offensive place names in Oregon have been slow to change. Here’s why Post-fire recovery depends on Cascade snow cover, study says No. 11 Oregon beats Oregon State, will play for Pac-12 title How understaffed are stores? Smaller retailers feel the holiday-shopping strain Omicron variant spreads across Europe as new travel bans take effect Researchers to study decline in kelp and sea stars along Oregon Coast Politics Offensive place names in Oregon have been slow to change. Here’s why Some states dropping ‘dehumanizing’ terms for immigrants Blaming COVID: Biden sees common culprit for country’s woes Biden sets out oil, gas leasing reform, stops short of ban Vancouver City Council race officially heading for recount Judicial panel upholds Oregon Democrats’ new US congressional districts Sweden’s first female prime minister quits hours later House Republican Leader Christine Drazan to launch bid for Oregon governor Arts & Culture Stephen Sondheim, the Broadway legend, has died at 91 From the court to the vineyard: CJ McCollum talks wine Monday Mix: The Body and BIG|BRAVE, Nilüfer Yanya, Hurray for the Riff Raff Portland musician Dave Frishberg, who wrote ‘I’m Just a Bill,’ dies at 88 Portland Playhouse aims for ‘a space for us to be together’ on and off the stage Monday Mix: Jamestown Revival, Wynne and Christo, The Dodos Portland rapper Wynne continues her climb to the top Monday Mix: Andy Shauf, Loyal Lobos, Marissa Nadler Science & Environment Post-fire recovery depends on Cascade snow cover, study says Researchers to study decline in kelp and sea stars along Oregon Coast Restored wetland could become a place for tribes to harvest wapato Australia’s Barrier Reef erupts in color as corals spawn Oregon trees cooked during summer heat waves Researchers want you to add green crabs to your menu to help combat this invasive species Tribes ask for more support for salmon reintroduction to the Upper Columbia Turning a CBD farming byproduct into feed for cows, chickens and sheep OPB’s critical reporting and inspiring programs are made possible by the power of member support. 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