Erik Neumann
@erikneumann.bsky.social
OPB Southwest Washington Bureau Chief
The price tag for the Interstate Bridge Replacement between Oregon and Washington is expected to jump on Monday. Here's why:
What to know about the Interstate Bridge Replacement’s rising price tag
Northwesterners will receive an update Monday on costs to replace the Interstate Bridge between Oregon and Washington. That new price tag could add billions.
www.opb.org
December 11, 2025 at 4:03 PM
The price tag for the Interstate Bridge Replacement between Oregon and Washington is expected to jump on Monday. Here's why:
Good news for schools and rural counties across the Pacific Northwest. Today's reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools act replaces money from lost timber revenue
Congress approves Secure Rural Schools funding critical to rural Northwest counties
For many rural counties with huge swaths of untaxable federal land in the Northwest, the bill will renew funding they’ve come to rely on to pay for sheriff’s departments and other essential needs.
www.opb.org
December 10, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Good news for schools and rural counties across the Pacific Northwest. Today's reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools act replaces money from lost timber revenue
The Vancouver man whose foot ICE agents allegedly drove over while arresting him spoke in a video call on Monday
Vancouver man speaks for first time since viral video of ICE arrest
Jose Paniagua Calderon spoke to reporters via video chat from the Tacoma ICE facility on Monday.
www.opb.org
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 AM
The Vancouver man whose foot ICE agents allegedly drove over while arresting him spoke in a video call on Monday
Reposted by Erik Neumann
The Crime Writers On crew listens to approximately 1 billion podcasts every year. I would trust their opinion more than almost anyone on what's good and what's not. Appreciate their support and kind words.
The unexplained death of an 18-year-old splinters a community, as parents, police, politicians and armchair sleuths blame each other for why the case remains unsolved.
Hear our review of season 2 of the Oregon Public Broadcasting podcast “Hush: Love Thy Neighbor.” 👉🏻 www.crimewriterson.com/episodes
Hear our review of season 2 of the Oregon Public Broadcasting podcast “Hush: Love Thy Neighbor.” 👉🏻 www.crimewriterson.com/episodes
December 4, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The Crime Writers On crew listens to approximately 1 billion podcasts every year. I would trust their opinion more than almost anyone on what's good and what's not. Appreciate their support and kind words.
After an incident over the summer where an excavator bucket fell on a construction worker, Rotschy Inc. has been fined $170K by Washington's L&I department
Rotschy gets $170K fine for accident involving worker crushed by excavator
The labor fine is one of the largest to date against the Southwest Washington construction firm.
www.opb.org
December 4, 2025 at 7:50 PM
After an incident over the summer where an excavator bucket fell on a construction worker, Rotschy Inc. has been fined $170K by Washington's L&I department
Headed out for Black Friday? One Vancouver small businesses owner said sales were like “a second COVID” from months of construction downtown
Vancouver’s Main Street redevelopment pauses during holidays to support small businesses
Many downtown businesses have taken a financial hit after months of limited access to Main Street.
www.opb.org
November 28, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Headed out for Black Friday? One Vancouver small businesses owner said sales were like “a second COVID” from months of construction downtown
Interested in getting started in public media? OPB has a few paid internship opportunities open now
Recruitment
workforcenow.adp.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Interested in getting started in public media? OPB has a few paid internship opportunities open now
Reposted by Erik Neumann
Willapa Bay in Southwest Washington is know around the world for its oysters, but every summer it also turns into a shark superhighway. Northwest researchers have been trying to figure out why, and they have some turned up some clues.
Why do sharks love Willapa Bay? Northwest scientists have some ideas
Scientists at Oregon State University are studying broadnose sevengill and other sharks to find out why so many of them migrate into Willapa Bay during the summer.
www.opb.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Willapa Bay in Southwest Washington is know around the world for its oysters, but every summer it also turns into a shark superhighway. Northwest researchers have been trying to figure out why, and they have some turned up some clues.
Sad news today about a community leader in Southwest Washington
City of Washougal announces death of councilor Molly Coston
Coston served as mayor, councilor and president of numerous civic organizations in Southwest Washington.
www.opb.org
November 19, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Sad news today about a community leader in Southwest Washington
Reposted by Erik Neumann
The bi-state effort to build a new bridge spanning the Columbia River reached a deal to pay four companies a combined $140 million, the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program announced Tuesday.
Interstate Bridge Replacement announces $140 million payout to 4 Columbia River users
The deal was struck to compensate companies upriver of the I-5 bridge whose businesses could be affected by a 116-foot, fixed-span bridge.
www.opb.org
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 PM
The bi-state effort to build a new bridge spanning the Columbia River reached a deal to pay four companies a combined $140 million, the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program announced Tuesday.
In lighter news to start to your week, I spent some time recently with athletes at the Washington State School for the Blind learning about goalball, a sport based around sound
Washington School for the Blind goalball players gear up for national competition
The Vancouver school recently held the Junior Cascade Classic tournament, where blind and low vision students competed in the Paralympic sport.
www.opb.org
November 17, 2025 at 4:32 PM
In lighter news to start to your week, I spent some time recently with athletes at the Washington State School for the Blind learning about goalball, a sport based around sound
Reposted by Erik Neumann
The ruling last week from U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, followed a three-day trial in which both sides argued over whether protests at the city’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building met the conditions for using the military domestically under federal law.
Trump administration appeals judge’s ruling barring troop deployment in Portland
The administration criticized the decision and said the troops were needed to protect federal personnel and property in a city that Trump has described as “war ravaged.”
www.opb.org
November 15, 2025 at 2:00 AM
The ruling last week from U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, followed a three-day trial in which both sides argued over whether protests at the city’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building met the conditions for using the military domestically under federal law.
A truly amazing work by OPB's @lmiller12.bsky.social and Rob Manning is out today. They followed Oregon students FOR 13 YEARS!!! to document their lives from kindergarten through high school to track the goal of 100% graduation rates
Class of 2025: Growing up in Oregon schools
OPB's hourlong documentary, Class of 2025: Growing Up In Oregon Schools, tells the story of 7 students as they move through the state's public education system.
www.opb.org
November 7, 2025 at 4:25 PM
A truly amazing work by OPB's @lmiller12.bsky.social and Rob Manning is out today. They followed Oregon students FOR 13 YEARS!!! to document their lives from kindergarten through high school to track the goal of 100% graduation rates
Reposted by Erik Neumann
Anne McEnerny-Ogle won a third term as mayor of Vancouver on Tuesday night, beating her opponent Justin Forsman by a wide margin. Voters in Vancouver also appeared to be approving Proposition 5, based on early results.
Vancouver voters re-elect Mayor McEnerny-Ogle, show strong support for levy increasing police
The Southwest Washington mayor won a third term on Tuesday and voters appeared to be passing Proposition 5.
www.opb.org
November 5, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Anne McEnerny-Ogle won a third term as mayor of Vancouver on Tuesday night, beating her opponent Justin Forsman by a wide margin. Voters in Vancouver also appeared to be approving Proposition 5, based on early results.
A lot has been said about Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez's wins in Southwest Washington. Some are now trying to copy that success to flip the U.S. House in 2026
National groups are betting on blue-collar Democrats following Gluesenkamp Perez’s success
Southwest Washington Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez’s centrist politics are being seen as a template for the 2026 mid-terms.
www.opb.org
November 3, 2025 at 4:04 PM
A lot has been said about Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez's wins in Southwest Washington. Some are now trying to copy that success to flip the U.S. House in 2026
Reposted by Erik Neumann
Crosscut is dead. Long live Crosscut. Today’s the official last day for me and my Cascade PBS newsroom colleagues. We did good work over the decades and it is supremely sad to see it shut down.
October 31, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Crosscut is dead. Long live Crosscut. Today’s the official last day for me and my Cascade PBS newsroom colleagues. We did good work over the decades and it is supremely sad to see it shut down.
“We’ll talk later about whether that’s contempt,” the judge responded"
National Guard troops briefly deployed to Portland despite judge’s order, federal trial reveals
The revelation came to light today in federal court in Portland, where U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut will decide if President Trump acted lawfully or violated the state’s rights by trying t...
www.opb.org
October 30, 2025 at 12:26 AM
“We’ll talk later about whether that’s contempt,” the judge responded"
On top of cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, some families are now contending with closures of low-income child care www.opb.org/article/2025...
Head Start programs in Southwest Washington start to shrink as federal funding dries up
Grant funding for the low-income early learning program will expire for some programs starting on Saturday. Oregon Head Start is still funded for two more months.
www.opb.org
October 30, 2025 at 12:19 AM
On top of cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, some families are now contending with closures of low-income child care www.opb.org/article/2025...
Remember to vote! There are some important and contested races in Southwest Washington. Here are a few that stand out
In Oregon, voters in just 17 of the state’s 36 counties are casting ballots by Nov. 4 in special elections. Each of Washington’s 39 counties will have an election, due to the statewide constitutional amendment that would allow the state’s long-term care fund to be invested.
Oregon, Washington voters have one week to get their ballots in
Oregon and Washington voters have a few more days to fill out their ballots. Here’s what you need to know.
www.opb.org
October 28, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Remember to vote! There are some important and contested races in Southwest Washington. Here are a few that stand out
Reposted by Erik Neumann
A controversial billboard on I-5 between Seattle and Portland has a new owner, the Chehalis Tribe, and a simple message: “Native land.”
Uncle Sam billboard on I-5 goes from right-wing zingers to a statement of Native rights
The 70-year saga of the Uncle Sam billboard on I-5 south of Chehalis and its provocative, right-wing messaging took an abrupt turn this summer when the billboard and the 3.5 acres on which it sits was...
www.kuow.org
October 27, 2025 at 10:56 PM
A controversial billboard on I-5 between Seattle and Portland has a new owner, the Chehalis Tribe, and a simple message: “Native land.”
Hard to explain the significance of salmon being recorded in Upper Klamath Lake, beyond all the river’s dams. Another example of the success of the largest dam removal in U.S. history
Salmon clear last Klamath dams, reaching Williamson and Sprague rivers
Just a year after four dams were removed, a group of fall Chinook have migrated nearly 300 miles into the Upper Klamath Basin.
www.opb.org
October 19, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Hard to explain the significance of salmon being recorded in Upper Klamath Lake, beyond all the river’s dams. Another example of the success of the largest dam removal in U.S. history
An ethics complaint was filed against a Vancouver city councilor. The allegations have mostly been dismissed but it was filed curiously close to her re-election bid on Nov. 4.
Vancouver City Councilor Kim Harless fends off ethics complaint ahead of general election
City officials on Monday said an investigation is expected to conclude in early December.
www.opb.org
October 15, 2025 at 3:20 PM
An ethics complaint was filed against a Vancouver city councilor. The allegations have mostly been dismissed but it was filed curiously close to her re-election bid on Nov. 4.
The small protests at Portland's ICE building are filled with a whole variety of social media influencers and online streamers.
As one researcher described it to me: "they start out with an ideological vision of the world and then narrate what they see in a way that fits that vision."
As one researcher described it to me: "they start out with an ideological vision of the world and then narrate what they see in a way that fits that vision."
Right-wing influencers shape nation and Trump’s understanding of Portland protests
Social media personalities, conservative media outlets and the Trump administration itself are blending online content to serve the administration’s policies.
www.opb.org
October 11, 2025 at 5:06 PM
The small protests at Portland's ICE building are filled with a whole variety of social media influencers and online streamers.
As one researcher described it to me: "they start out with an ideological vision of the world and then narrate what they see in a way that fits that vision."
As one researcher described it to me: "they start out with an ideological vision of the world and then narrate what they see in a way that fits that vision."
Loved this snapshot of life in rural California from @romanbattaglia.com. A much-needed break from the news
Please give me more dog related stories to do because this one was so much fun 🐶🐑 @jpradio.bsky.social #publicradio #sheepdogs #bordercollie #journalism www.ijpr.org/outdoors-lei...
In rural California, the best sheepdogs compete to be North America's top dog
The top 150 sheepdogs in the U.S. and Canada gathered in rural Modoc County, California, this month for the national sheepdog finals.
www.ijpr.org
October 9, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Loved this snapshot of life in rural California from @romanbattaglia.com. A much-needed break from the news
Reposted by Erik Neumann
Lots of federal workers are going without pay right now. Washington and Oregon want you to know stopgap benefits are available
Washington and Oregon employment offices announce benefits for furloughed federal workers
Workers laid off because of the government shutdown may be eligible for state employment benefits.
www.opb.org
October 2, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Lots of federal workers are going without pay right now. Washington and Oregon want you to know stopgap benefits are available