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Thanks for reading the Pacific Northwest’s tastiest selection of news, culture, and thought-provoking writing. Each weekday, we hand-pick an assortment of stories relevant to life in the Cascadia region (encompassing Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and parts of Idaho and Northern California). Every day you’ll find a selection of links to news stories, essays, fiction, poetry, and art — spanning the wide diversity of cultures and people in Cascadia.
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Online at Cascadia Magazine: Multimedia art by Dao Strom
Portland’s Dao Strom is a fantastically talented artist on many levels. In a new collection of work called “On an Open Field” now online at Cascadia Magazine, Strom combines photos, music, and text in an exploration of what it means to live between the cultures of Vietnam and America. You’ll also find an interview with Strom by Portland journalist and musician Lauren Kershner. Read more here.
The roots of BC’s anti-vaccine movement
CBC reports that the Cascadia measles outbreak has spread to Vancouver BC, with 15 cases reported. CBC looks at the roots of BC’s anti-vax movement, which is rooted in parents’ anxiety about the medical establishment. Meanwhile, KUOW looks at whether the latest measles outbreak will convince more parents to vaccinate.
How to reduce homelessness among former foster kids in WA?
The Seattle Times has a thorough report on the problem of homelessness among former foster kids in Washington— and looks at how a program in Tennessee that increases the ratio of case workers to kids has shown dramatic reduction in rates of homelessness. In related new Real Change reports that young people in and out of Washington’s in-patient mental health system also have high rates of homelessness. And the Oregonian reports that many people with mental health issues in Oregon are languishing in jails because facilities are in short supply.
Vancouver MP’s revelations may bring down Trudeau
Canada’s government is suddenly in crisis over a scandal over favorable treatment of a corporation accused of paying bribes. At the heart of the controversy is the country’s former attorney general, Vancouver MP Jody Wilson-Raybould who’s a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation. Wilson-Raybould testified yesterday that prime minister Justin Trudeau pressured her to stop investigating SNC-Lavalin, which is embroiled in a bribery scandal connected to Libya. The Tyee looks at her connections to Indigenous traditions, and the Georgia Straight sees her case as classic case of trying to silence a whistleblower.
Climate change will hit Cascadia hard
Seattle Weekly has a detailed report on the ways climate change is having an impact on Washington, including flooding on the Chehalis River, salmon die-offs in Puget Sound, and increased frequency of wildfires. In related news, Samantha Wohlfeil at the Inlander looks at a variety of climate-related bills in the Washington legislature, including increasing funds for clean power, and changing building energy efficiency requirements. And Crosscut has a fantastic profile of Tarika Powell, an environmental activist at Seattle’s Sightline Institute who grew up in the segregated South as is now an expert on natural gas issues. And Eugene Weekly profiles an OSU professor who looks at climate impacts on wildfire: “Fire is wild, and there’s very little we can do to control it.”
Spring arts in the Pacific Northwest
Willamette Week’s spring arts guide features all sorts of great music, visual art, and literary stuff coming up in Portland and beyond, including a new book of essays from Mitchell S. Jackson on growing up black in Northeast Portland. The Georgia Straight has a preview of spring arts coming to greater Vancouver. Oregon Arts Watch previews choreographer Minh Tran’s new work, and Seattle Weekly looks at a new homage to Danielle Steele, and queer reimagining of romance novels at Mount Analog.
That’s tonight’s collection of news & arts across Cascadia. –Andrew Engelson