KGW’s Straight Talk

Commissioner Vega Pederson and Director of Oregon's Early Learning System Miriam Calderon talk about Oregon's expensive childcare and preschool programs. A recent study recently found every Oregon county is considered a child care desert for newborns through 2-year-olds.

KGW's Kyle Iboshi explains how robocalls work and if there's anything we can do to stop them. He also goes over some tips for aging parents and grandparents to avoid impostor scams. More info on robocalls here Follow Laural Porter on Facebook

Child advocates say the state of Oregon is woefully under funding services to prevent and treat child abuse. We're joined by Becky Jones, the executive director of the Oregon Network of Child Abuse Intervention Centers and Ted Davis, the CEO of Airstream Adventures NW.

Three scientists from Portland State University along with KGW's Chief Meteorologist Matt Zaffino discussed the impact climate change is having on the Pacific Northwest.

Student loan debt in 2019 is at the highest points its ever been. Oregon Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and talks about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, and is joined by Kristen Fouts, currently working as a teacher who was one of the few to get her student loan forgiven through the program.

Lines for Life CEO Dwight Holton and Lines for Life YouthLine Crisis Line Director Emily Moser discuss the crisis, resources for prevention and erasing the stigma of suicide. This episode originally aired on KGW News on April 7, 2019.

For the first time in more than a decade, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and former Oregon Senator Gordon Smith made a join appearance. The Republican and Democrat were in town for the Gordon and Sharon Smith New Freedom Award dinner sponsored by the Oregon chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.