March 23, 2025 • 30 mins
The Red Cross Cascades Region continues to be busy helping survivors of disasters. Abby's Closet is available to help students during prom season. A new survey finds why people in the Northwest are buying EVs. The REAL ID deadline is approaching, do you need one? This is Colon Cancer Awareness Month and doctors want you to know it's one of the most preventable cancers.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to Local Voices. I'm brad Ford.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This week, the Red Cross Cascades Region has been busy
helping people suffering disasters across the country. Prom season will
soon be here. In Abbey's closet is here to help.
We'll find out why people in the Northwest are buying
evs and do you need real id? The Red Cross
Cascades Region has been busy responding to disasters. Besides regularly
(00:30):
helping families following individual disasters like a house fire, they
went cross country last year to help with hurricane and
flooding devastation, and this year with the California wildfires. Joining
us on Local Voices is Rebecca Marshall with the Red
Cross Cascades Region. Rebecca, I'll get right to it. Does
the Red Cross need financial donations always?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
You know, as long as our work continues, we need
financial donations. We are one hundred percent reliance on donors
to do the work that we're doing. And I love
that you touched on just how much we have been doing.
If I went back and looked, we have our volunteers
have deployed out either supporting disasters here or in the
southeast or in California. Six hundred times in the past
(01:12):
eight months. Wow, can you imagine. So they get the
call and they go down and they help support Hurricane Helene,
Hurricane Milton. I was on Hurricane Helene for a couple
of weeks and down in Los Angeles, which is just heartbreaking.
And I think that the double whammy with Los Angeles
is just the human impact of that disaster. As you know,
(01:32):
tens of thousands of buildings damage, are destroyed, people's lives changed,
and also a lot of Red Crossers that live down there.
We think about one hundred or more were also affected,
either losing their own homes but still showing up to
work in our shelters.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Wow, that is amazing. Giving Day is coming up March
twenty sixth. What is Giving Day?
Speaker 4 (01:53):
That's right?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Well, Giving Day is sort of the accumulation of Red
Cross Months. So Red Cross Month has been here for
about eighty years now, was first designated by FDR, so
it goes back that far. And it really is a
chance to reflect on the work that we're doing, to
honor the volunteers that step up to do the work,
and think about the people that we have helped, and
thank the donors, and so that sort of Bore the
(02:16):
day Giving day out on the twenty sixth, and we
just want to remind people that this is a day
if you could make a contribution to help us keep
our work going. Oftentimes, on that day, donations are matched
by businesses and organizations, so you get more bang for
the buck, and this money goes to do what we
do right feeding people in shelters, giving them those medications
and eyeglasses, and our volunteers work for free, but we
(02:38):
have to get them there, right We have to fly
them there, We have to feed them as well, and
all these things you know, they cost money and we'd
love to ask.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
For that help.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
What's the best way to make the donation on the website?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Yeah, right now red Cross dot org slash Giving Day.
Red Cross dot org slash Giving Day will take you
right to where you want to go. If you just
go to red Cross dot org you'll find it if
you want to go right there, that's the best way
to go. And you know, don't think you have to
go there and make a giant donation. Every little bit helps.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Really sure.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
So the Morrison Bridge is reminding us about the Red
Cross right now is tell us about that.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
If you're driving around Portland, you're like, hey, it's red. Yeah,
the Morrison Bridge is lit red as a reminder, as
just a market the Red Cross month in total, but
also as a reminder for folks if they can help
us with our mission to do so. And you know,
I don't want to feel bad when I throw stats
at you all all the time, but we're responding to
two times as many disasters, big ones as we did
(03:33):
a decade ago. And so you think about that, when
you're done hearing about one disaster, we're still doing casework
and helping people on that disaster when the next one hits.
So I said, Helene, there's Milton, there's the wildfires, there's
the Kentucky floods.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Right, we had our own.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Snowstorm down in Bedford. So boom, boom boom. It just
keeps happening.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
What's the latest on the efforts in California to help
the victims of the wildfires.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Red Cross is still working down there.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Still are we still have people in some shelters down
there as well. What an example of partnership down there
in Los Angeles? Because it was such a giant impact
and you might think, oh, people have donated money, air
they're fine, but it really is so big, all the
homes that were lost. So we are still down there
doing I say casework. That means we actually meet with people,
we cross reference their address, we try to get them
(04:21):
what they need to get back on their feet. And
that could look different in all kinds of different ways,
but we are very active and we are still there.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
Now.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Now, what about the work in the southeastern US where
the hurricanes hit last year? Are you still there?
Speaker 3 (04:35):
We're still there. And when I say we're still there,
sometimes you hear the shelters have closed down, but we're
still in contact with that person. We're walking them every
step of the way until we know that they're on
their next chapter. So we're still on seven different disasters
right now, doing casework and recovery seven.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
So we're not done.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Now, during the month of March, the Red Cross is
also offering a one C testing that's for what diabetes
and pre diabetes.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
It's really exciting because you know, if you turn on
the TV, you hear, you know, my A one C
levels or this and that. Maybe ten years ago we
didn't know what that even was, but it is. It
is a thing that people are noticing more and more.
In fact, they think that one in ten people actually
have diabetes or pre diabetes and don't even know about it.
So we already do testing for blood pressure and hemoglobin
and pulse rates and things like that. Well, this will
(05:23):
be another test that we're doing in the month of March.
And it basically what would happen is you'd give the blood,
you'd get tested on the app or in an email.
They would say, hey, Brad, you're in great shape, or
hey Rebecca, your levels are high. We recommend that you
go see a doctor for a follow up. You don't
have to fast, So it's just a regular donation for
the people who donate, right, and you'll get that information.
(05:45):
And I'm doing it this month because I'm curious myself.
My father had diabetes and I thought maybe I should
do this myself.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Well, let's talk about blood donations. Red Cross is always
in need of blood donors. Tell us about the process.
How do we sign up, and what's it like giving blood?
Speaker 1 (05:59):
What do you do? What do you do?
Speaker 6 (06:00):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Well, you know, and it all ties together. By the way,
we talk about disasters. Every time you hear of a
weather related disaster. Blood donation sites, mobile blood drives are canceled, right,
and so that hits us pretty hard, right, and the
need for blood is constant as we know. The process
is very very simple. You can either do a pre
evaluation online and go in, or you can also you
(06:24):
can also just go in and sit down with a
screener for about ten minutes and they'll find out that
you know, they'll check your hemoglobin, they'll make sure you're
healthy and you're good to go. They ask you some
standard questions and then beyond that, you go in. You
sit down, little prick. You know, no one's a big
fan of the little pricky prick, but it doesn't hurt
that bad at all. And it takes about ten minutes
(06:46):
in the chair, get a little snacks on your out
the door. So the entire process about forty five minutes
to an hour, and it really you feel great after.
You really feel like you've done something.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Help somebody else.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Right, Yes, and they test vigorously, says all the blood.
It can go up to three people, so sometimes your
blood will be just red blood cells and then platelets
and plasma. They really use it very well.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
So if you download the app, can you kind of
speed up the process by getting some stuff done in
advance before you get there.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
You can the rapid pass will make I never plan
ahead myself. For the people that plan ahead well and
make that appointment, if they fill out the rapid pass,
the process is even quicker.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Yeah, if you're like doing it on your lunch break
or something like that, you could just go down there
and donate and then you know, be on your way.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Great.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
So platelet collection is another thing that the Red Cross
does that's a little bit different, kind of the same
as blood, but it takes longer.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Right, The process is different because they take the blood,
they extract the platelets, and they put the blood back in.
It takes about two hours. We like to call it
in meantime because you can't do much of anything but
watch a movie. You do you want to watch, and
you can watch it while you're giving the platelets. Platelets
go mostly to cancer patients. Their shelf life is very short,
and so if you think about the turnaround when you
(07:59):
give platelets, they've got to get tested, they've got to
get to the into a body within like six days,
and that's really a tight turnaround. Because of that, we
are always asking for platelets as well. Processes a little
bit longer. Screening the same, but you can give every
two weeks, which is pretty amazing if you think about it,
up to I believe, twenty four times a year. So
I know people that literally go in at least once
(08:20):
a month and give platelet.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
That's great.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah, it is so important, especially for cancer patients. What
about your need for volunteers. I imagine you're always looking
for volunteers.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Well, if it ties back to what we were just
talking about, yes, because we will put them to work
and we will keep them busy. We have lots to do.
Always looking for volunteers. What I like to say is
there is something for everyone. So you might be listening
and saying, oh, sheltering, I don't want to be in
a shelter. That's not my thing. Well, there are other
things to do. You can work in a warehouse. You
can do distribution of emergency supplies. You can drive our
(08:50):
emergency response vehicles after we give you the training. You
can be a blood ambassador, just work the front desk.
You could do administrative work. So there are all kinds
of things to do and all kinds of hours in
which you can volunteer. So if you have a preset
idea in your mind of what it's like to volunteer
for the Red Cross. Please get a hold of us
because you might not know all the options.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Right exactly and what is the best way to do that.
I'm sure you have information on your website.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Yep, red Cross dot org. If you take anything away
from this red Cross dot org, it's a one stop
shop for everything that you need right that. Even if
you go to Redcross dot org slash Giving Day, you'll
see a tab to volunteer. So, however, you can contribute
to what we're trying to do and what I think
we do really well, I would love that.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
That'd be great, terrific anything else you want to add, you.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Know, just to think about us this month. And I
know that I wish I said this. I think last
time we talked, I wish I could say we're almost
done with disasters, but we're not. And so this month
is a great way for us to ask for that
support financial or otherwise and keep doing the work that
we're doing.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Rebecca, thanks for joining us the local voices. Thanks Rebecca
Marshall with a Red Cross. If you'd like to make
a financial donation, a blood donation or a donation of
your time as a volunteer. Go to Redcross dot org
to find out more.
Speaker 5 (10:11):
Hey, it's K one o three Mornings with Stacey and Mike.
Speaker 7 (10:13):
When we're here because we want to talk about prom season,
the memories you make there, and how sometimes for people
it's tough to make the dream come true. Enter Abby's Closet.
Who is the recipient of our spotlight this month for
K one o three's Helping Hands.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
You can find out more about that at K one
o three dot com. But let's welcome somebody from Abby's Closet.
Who are we talking to?
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Stacey Lent, This is Diana. Welcome Diana. Hi's Stacey and Mike.
Speaker 8 (10:36):
Thank you guys so much for having us on, and
thank you guys for highlighting our efforts.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
We really really appreciate it.
Speaker 9 (10:41):
I was surprised that you didn't show up in a
prom dress, because you know, Mike was going to, but
then he said, I can't because Diana is going to.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
All don't want to be the only one, you know,
that would have been weird.
Speaker 8 (10:51):
Yeah, I mean it's been about twenty years, oh gosh,
twenty one years since I've been a from Let's.
Speaker 7 (10:56):
Talk about form, like I remember my prom. I don't
think Stacy went to hers, but a lot of people
make memories when they go to the prom. It's a
hallmark of high school. My daughter was going to a
school where they didn't have a prom, and she actually
switched schools last year knowing that she wanted to have
a more traditional high school experience. That's how important things
like football games and proms and you know, the whole
thing about high school because that's a moment in your
(11:18):
life you don't get back. And so that's why Abby's
closet is such a big part of that. Without regard
to economic status or size or whatever.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
Yeah, no, you hit the nail on the head there.
Speaker 8 (11:29):
Prom is such a memorable event. It's one of those things.
It's like that touchstone. It's that capstone thing at the
end of the year before you go off and start
the rest of your life. And it's one of those
experiences where we believe every student should have the opportunity
to go and they shouldn't have these barriers to entry there.
So it shouldn't be about like, Okay, can I afford
a dress? Can I go shopping? Can I go buying address?
(11:50):
Are they even the size, the style, where to go shopping.
So that's where Abbey's closet comes into play. Abby and
her mom back in two thousand and four, they were
the ones who had started this. Abby was packing up
for stuff to go to college. She was going to
her closet and then she saw her dress. She saw
her pink prom dress. Not this, but she saw her pink,
beautiful prom dress. And she didn't have a sister to
(12:12):
give it to. She only had three older brothers, and
so she was like, I want to give it to
somebody else so that the dress can dance again, so
that it can go on and be used. And her
and her mom did some research and they couldn't find
a donation place to give it to, and so they decided,
let's start our own. And what started as that one
kink prom dress has now led two over forty thousand
(12:32):
dresses given away in the past twenty years to students
across the call of Oregon and then Southwest Washington.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
We love that so much.
Speaker 9 (12:41):
I mean, we've worked with you guys in the past because,
like we said, and Mike you so eloquently put the
fact that this is a once in a lifetime thing.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
I mean you remember it forever. I wish I would
have went.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
I didn't go.
Speaker 9 (12:55):
I just you know, I was hanging out a wrong
group of people at the time.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
I won't go into that.
Speaker 9 (13:02):
But but making it happen and you and you do
the dress.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
And if they need shoes or whatever.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
We have accessories. We have the Yeah, we have shoes.
We have this year over seven thousand dresses for suons
to pick. I'm ranging from side zero to over twenty plus.
Speaker 7 (13:19):
Diana, you said, it's what twenty one years since your prom?
Speaker 5 (13:22):
What was the theme of your prom? Do you remember?
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Of course it was the same one as everybody. A
night to remember.
Speaker 5 (13:28):
Okay, what's your date?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (13:31):
My date was one. It was my brother's best friend
and one of my good friends. Nice so platonic date, yes,
platonic date. Yees.
Speaker 8 (13:40):
It was a case where I didn't want to go,
very similar to stay. I was like, nah, it's not
my thing. I don't want to go. I will brag.
I was nominated for prom queen, and so they were like, hey,
now you have to go queen. Yes, I didn't win.
Didn't did not win. Another aspect of Abbey's closet that
is really wonderful as we have our special needs giveaway
that is the before and so I don't know how
(14:02):
familiar people are with that aspect of Abbey's Closet. That
for people who go to like the School of the
Blind or Washington School with dev or people who have
some special needs who just need that extra space or
they need the crowds are overwhelming, they can sign up.
They can email and go at Abby's Closet dot org
and ask for more information.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
That in the great opportunity for those students.
Speaker 7 (14:23):
If you want to keep track of ways to do
all this in the schedule, you can also go to
our blog at kleethree dot com and the Stacey like
helping hand section.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
It's over on the left hand side.
Speaker 7 (14:31):
One time, Stacy, we should we should get you dressed
up with Abby's Closet and have you crash a prom somewhere.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Just crash it because I've never been. Will we be
my platonic date?
Speaker 5 (14:43):
Yeah, I'll go with you. Sure, I would pay to
see that. I would love to see that.
Speaker 9 (14:47):
So, Diana, you know, we were talking about girls needing
dresses and a lot of times this is a group
event like you see on Instagram every year around this
time in somebody's backyard, there's like twelve.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Girls and they're all lined up in their.
Speaker 9 (15:02):
Dresses, and you don't want to be the one girl
that like, you know, you're wearing one that your mom
wore it's three years ago.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
Yeah, so this is awesome. Yeah, this is really great.
Speaker 8 (15:12):
We have, like we said, over seven thousand dresses and
they arranged in all different styles and this is not
just reuse dresses. These are new dresses as well. That
we have donations coming in. We have wonderful people. We
have twenty seven different donation drop off sites around the
Portland metro area, also going all the way down to Eugene,
so people across organ really come and help and they
(15:32):
provide these dresses. Lots of times people will buy multiple
dresses because they don't know which one they want to wear.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
They wear one.
Speaker 8 (15:38):
They have all these dresses in their closet spring cleaning,
get it out, come donate to Abby's closet. We will
gladly take those dresses. So we have a large variety
of new, slightly used, short, long, everything.
Speaker 7 (15:51):
All right, so what have we learned here? We've learned
that Stacy Lynn didn't go to the prom and needs to.
We learned that you were robbed of your homecoming queen
a down or your prom queen crown.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
We won't go into that.
Speaker 7 (16:01):
But what we've also learned is that there is a
resource out there for people who want to go to
the prom, who want to have the memory, who don't
want to be excluded, who don't want to feel left
out of something that is a passage of my childhood.
Adolescents high school, Abby's Closet is, there has been there.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
Donations are coming in.
Speaker 7 (16:20):
You go in, get yourself set up with address accessories,
free of charge, completely regardless of your size, regardless of
your socioeconomic status, who you are. If you're a living,
breathing person who has to go to the prom, Abby's
Closet is for you.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
One can be there.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
Ones like, yeah, you need to be a peace school student.
Speaker 5 (16:37):
There is one slight caveat.
Speaker 7 (16:39):
You can't be a fifty five year old male who
wants to get into address.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
You can't do that.
Speaker 7 (16:43):
That's not what it's there for. It's there for high
school students. And you have to be well and you
have to register.
Speaker 8 (16:48):
Yes, exactly, and then just the if you guys, just
have two more minutes here. I just want to quickly
touch on. We also have our scholarship program. This year,
we are giving away nine five hundred dollars with the scholarships.
Those recipients have been word so it's not just about address.
I mean, obviously we love dresses, but it's about more
than address. We have our scholarship program. We also have
(17:08):
our Student Advisory Board where we have seventeen students from
across the state who also help and advise us and help.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
With the dress drives. So there's a lot of.
Speaker 8 (17:16):
Opportunities here for students to get involved with Amy's closet.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Besides address.
Speaker 9 (17:21):
That is awesome news about the scholarships. My son is
getting ready to go to u OFO in the fall
and it is full on.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
We got deadlines like every week. Okay, did you apply
for this scholarship?
Speaker 9 (17:33):
You know, every little bit helps, So that's wonderful news
that you do that as well.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Yep.
Speaker 8 (17:38):
And it's not just your traditional universities. We offer ones
for the traditional university college. We also offer for community college,
and we also have a specific one for trade school.
So no matter what path you're taking after high school,
we want to support it.
Speaker 7 (17:52):
Okay, Dan what is the number one thing that we
can urge our crew, our team, our tribe to do,
our listeners to do for you.
Speaker 8 (18:00):
If you're a student, register go to Avis Closet dot
org and register. If you are an adult and you
want to help with Abby's Closet, you can sign up
good to Abby's Closet dot org. We have volunteer opportunities
for students or for parents who want to help at
the event, and we also have volunteer opportunities just throughout
the year.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
Okay, donations are part of this.
Speaker 4 (18:21):
Maybe, donations are definitely welcome.
Speaker 8 (18:23):
Yes, we are always looking for donations, drop off sites
for people to come and help pick up donations, all
of it.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Okay, man, what a great organization.
Speaker 7 (18:32):
You know, we've been doing helping vents for a couple
of years now, maybe I don't know, three years, I
don't know. But each month we meet somebody new like
Abby's Closet, and we put the spotlight best we can
on what's happening there, and it just reminds you that
with all the turmoil going on in the.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
World today, you have to look to the people that
are helping. That's what mister Rogers taught us.
Speaker 7 (18:49):
And I think that you are serving as a great
example of inspirational behavior, selfless behavior to help those who
need a hand up get that hand up, and that's
why we're having to support you.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
So it's great.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
Well, thank you so much.
Speaker 8 (19:01):
There is one last thing we already have given out
or we are in the president of giving out fourteen
hundred dresses this year through our Sharing the Love program,
so for students who can't make it to the organ
convention center. We understand that it's a bit of a
drive for those students who are out in Pendleton, for
people who are down farther south by a couple hours,
we have an opportunity where they can apply for the
(19:21):
Sharing a Love program that has closed this year, but
we have given out now and have assigned out fourteen
one hundred dresses.
Speaker 9 (19:28):
That is such a great spokesperson for Abby's Closet, and
we want to say, you know, please tell Abby.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
I know she can be here because she's not feeling well.
Speaker 9 (19:35):
Today and you know she's got little, little little ones,
but please tell her we hope she feels better. But
thank you for being such an advocate for what a
wonderful program. Abbey's Closet is.
Speaker 8 (19:47):
Thank you both so much. Thanks for taking the time
to meet with us. We appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
More Agan has more than one hundred and seven thousand
registered the electric vehicles or hybrids in the state, and
that number is growing. PEMCO wanted to to find out
why people are buying evs. Jennifer Hotton from PEMCO joins
us on Local Voices to discuss their survey.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Jennifer, what did the survey ask?
Speaker 10 (20:09):
The survey asked our drivers how they feel about electric
vehicles and about how they feel about driverless vehicles.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
What did the survey find about evs?
Speaker 11 (20:23):
It found something very interesting that saving money drives more
interest in evs than environmental concerns. So when we pick
it apart, overall, fifty six percent of people are picking
evs for financial reasons, either to save money on gas
or to save money using federal and state tax credits.
(20:45):
Over thirty eight percent who are prioritizing our reduction in emissions.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
So basically, people are trying to save money with evs.
They're not as concerned about reducing pollution exactly.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Now.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
PEMCO previously conducted this survey. What did it find in
twenty twenty one and how is it different from this survey.
Speaker 11 (21:08):
In twenty twenty one, We found significantly more people who
were prioritizing the emissions reduction. It went from fifty four
percent down to thirty eight percent.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
What did the survey find would increase a person's likelihood
to buy an EV?
Speaker 11 (21:27):
People are more likely to buy an EV if they
can get longer range or more charging stations. That range
anxiety is a real problem for about thirty one percent
of people, and it will keep them from buying an
EV anytime soon.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Now, did vehicle owners have an opinion on how long
it'll take evs to become more prominent?
Speaker 11 (21:53):
They absolutely have an opinion. So seventy one percent of
people believe full EV adoption is at least five to
fifteen or more years away, and half of people doubt
that it will ever reach one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Now you mentioned the survey also asked about driverless vehicles?
Speaker 1 (22:13):
What did it find?
Speaker 11 (22:15):
It found that sixty six percent of people don't trust
driverless car technology, and that's up ten percent since twenty
twenty one. Sixty three percent of people doubt that those
driverless cars will improve road safety, and sixty six percent
don't believe that it will actually help with a traffic reduction.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
Jennifer, anything else you'd like to add.
Speaker 11 (22:40):
We just want people to be safe on the roads,
whether they're driving an EV or a gas vehicle.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Jennifer, thanks for joining us on Local Voices.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
It's Jennifer Hotton with Pemco Insurance with details in their
survey on white people in the Northwest are buying evs
or hybrids and how they feel about driverless or autonomous
vehicles boring unions. You need to fly after May seventh
and don't have a passport, We'll need a real ID
driver's license. Making an application for real ID license is
(23:10):
becoming more difficult in some rural parts of Oregon because
field offices are temporarily closing. Chris Krabb with the DMV
joins us on Local Voices. Chris, what's causing the closures?
Speaker 12 (23:21):
Yeah, Unfortunately, staffing shortages are routine for us, and they
have been for a while as we deal with the
structural revenue issue that's facing transportation agencies across the state,
so DMV faces increased work clothes. Meanwhile, our staffing hasn't
kept pace with the state's population growth, so basically our
(23:42):
number of budget of positions has remained the same in
the last twenty five years, but our population has grown
by nearly one million people, and almost all of those
people have to use DMV services at some point, and
so we really have a we have a structural issue
there that we have to work with. When we have
planned and unplanned absences in our offices that cause us
(24:02):
to drop below our minimum staffing level, we have to
send relief from another office nearby to continue operating, and
often that relief is unavailable because the surrounding offices are
also below minimum staffing levels. And so sometimes when you
see that we've closed an office, it isn't because the
person in that office couldn't work. It's because a larger
(24:24):
office needs more help to address the crowds. And the
Federal real ID deadline has definitely intensified the traffic and
wait times at most of our locations, so we're also
dealing with that.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
At the same time, o DOT has a funding issue,
in part because revenue from the fuel tanks is declining.
DMV charges fees for licenses, titles, and other things. Where
does that money go the general fund?
Speaker 12 (24:47):
It goes to the general funds. Yeah, so we're in
the same boat with odot in that you know we have.
We've got declining gas taxes, high inflation, and then restrictions
on available funding. We Governor Cotech has proposed a budget
that would address this and provide more funding, and if
it proved, the DMV would be able to invest in
(25:12):
a lot more. We have about roughly eighty million per
buyennium and that would help us fill every counter and
provide backups to account for staff on leaf and we
would also be able to expand our hours and our
days of service in the offices where those have been
greatly reduced or where customer volume demands it. So we
are very confidently optimistic that the legislature will pass a
(25:36):
budget that increases our ability to serve Oregonians. But it
is that's a big serious issue that we think.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Have you seen an increase in customers at DMV offices,
especially with the real ID deadline approaching?
Speaker 12 (25:49):
Yeah? Absolutely. Our field offices are packed right now. We're
seeing levels more than double what we would normally see
at this time of year, and most of those are
for real idea pointment, so things are very busy. We
have added a significant number of real ID appointments to
help people out. We even have DMB staff from our
(26:09):
headquarters in Salem. They're actually voluntarily deploying to offices to
help with other tasks like taking photos or checking the numbers,
just to kind of help alleviate the crowds. But we
are still warning customers that they may experience longer lines
and wait times than normal. There are a couple of
things that people can do, and two of the most
(26:30):
important and obvious are First, make sure you don't already
have a real ID. So an Oregon real ID has
a star in the upper right corner. Some people had
gotten one the last time they renewed and they just
don't even realize it. So first thing to do is
check that. And then second, we want people to know
that you don't need a real ID if you have
a passport or another type of alternative that TSA will accept,
(26:54):
or if you're not planning anytime soon. So May seventh
is the real ID enforcement eight. That's when they'll start
requiring people to have a real ID or real ID
compliance credential. But if you're not flying until Thanksgiving or
next year, you don't have to have it. By May seventh,
we'll be issuing these long into the future, so you
could wait until August or September to get their real IDs.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
So the issue with temporary field office closures is happening
because those offices are staffed at minimum levels and if,
for example, somebody goes out sick, they're just dround enough
people to keep the office open exactly.
Speaker 12 (27:30):
That's it's why that's happening. And also, say you have
a smaller office like Lapine and you have you know,
maybe one or two people that staff that, but then
Benz has two people call out, We're going to have
so many more customers at Bend that we might pull
the people from the Lapine office to go help out
(27:51):
in Benz, which would therefore close the Lapine office. So
every day it's just kind of a seeing what's out
there and making it work.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Chris, anything else you'd like to add, I.
Speaker 12 (28:03):
Don't think so, Just that we really, we really want
people to be prepared for the real ID deadline, not
necessarily have it, but to know about it. So the
last thing any of us want is for someone to
go to the airport and be caught off guard, and
they can learn more at Oregon dot gov slash real ID.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Thanks Chris, that's Chris crab with the Oregon DMV and
the rush to get real ID driver's licenses for people
who will need to fly after May seventh. Health experts
are sounding the alarm over a rise in colon cancer
among younger patients.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
One in five.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
People diagnosed with colon cancer is under the age fifty five.
Over the last couple of decades, the number of cases
and people under fifty has doubled.
Speaker 6 (28:43):
Colon cancer's second leading cause of cancer death in the
United States, behind lung cancer. Lots of people getting colon
cancer around one hundred and fifty thousand people per year
in the United States.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Kaiser Propidente Colon and Rectal surgeon doctor David Parson says
screenings are a critical prevention tool.
Speaker 6 (29:01):
So if we do screening and we take out polyps
from people's colons, we can prevent colon cancer.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Colon cancer is one of the few preventable human cancers.
Speaker 6 (29:10):
Even if you have a cancer, if you're doing diligence screening,
we can detect the cancers earlier and treat many people
for cure. So screening helps with outcomes significantly.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
March is colon Cancer Awareness month, and Parson says it's
a good time to take stock of your risk factors,
which are impacted by family history and lifestyle choices.
Speaker 6 (29:30):
Things like smoking, excessive alcohol intake, ob city, and excessive
intake of red meat and processed foods can all increase
your risk of getting colon cancer and other types of cancer.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
He says those at average risk can start with the
home task, but if your doctor determines you're at high risk,
you need a colonoscopy. Thanks for listening to Local Voices,
I'm brad Board. You can hear past episodes on the
iHeartRadio app under the podcast tab. Local Voices is a
public affairs pre presentation from iHeartRadio
Welcome to Local Voices. I'm brad Ford.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This week, the Red Cross Cascades Region has been busy
helping people suffering disasters across the country. Prom season will
soon be here. In Abbey's closet is here to help.
We'll find out why people in the Northwest are buying
evs and do you need real id? The Red Cross
Cascades Region has been busy responding to disasters. Besides regularly
(00:30):
helping families following individual disasters like a house fire, they
went cross country last year to help with hurricane and
flooding devastation, and this year with the California wildfires. Joining
us on Local Voices is Rebecca Marshall with the Red
Cross Cascades Region. Rebecca, I'll get right to it. Does
the Red Cross need financial donations always?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
You know, as long as our work continues, we need
financial donations. We are one hundred percent reliance on donors
to do the work that we're doing. And I love
that you touched on just how much we have been doing.
If I went back and looked, we have our volunteers
have deployed out either supporting disasters here or in the
southeast or in California. Six hundred times in the past
(01:12):
eight months. Wow, can you imagine. So they get the
call and they go down and they help support Hurricane Helene,
Hurricane Milton. I was on Hurricane Helene for a couple
of weeks and down in Los Angeles, which is just heartbreaking.
And I think that the double whammy with Los Angeles
is just the human impact of that disaster. As you know,
(01:32):
tens of thousands of buildings damage, are destroyed, people's lives changed,
and also a lot of Red Crossers that live down there.
We think about one hundred or more were also affected,
either losing their own homes but still showing up to
work in our shelters.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Wow, that is amazing. Giving Day is coming up March
twenty sixth. What is Giving Day?
Speaker 4 (01:53):
That's right?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Well, Giving Day is sort of the accumulation of Red
Cross Months. So Red Cross Month has been here for
about eighty years now, was first designated by FDR, so
it goes back that far. And it really is a
chance to reflect on the work that we're doing, to
honor the volunteers that step up to do the work,
and think about the people that we have helped, and
thank the donors, and so that sort of Bore the
(02:16):
day Giving day out on the twenty sixth, and we
just want to remind people that this is a day
if you could make a contribution to help us keep
our work going. Oftentimes, on that day, donations are matched
by businesses and organizations, so you get more bang for
the buck, and this money goes to do what we
do right feeding people in shelters, giving them those medications
and eyeglasses, and our volunteers work for free, but we
(02:38):
have to get them there, right We have to fly
them there, We have to feed them as well, and
all these things you know, they cost money and we'd
love to ask.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
For that help.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
What's the best way to make the donation on the website?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Yeah, right now red Cross dot org slash Giving Day.
Red Cross dot org slash Giving Day will take you
right to where you want to go. If you just
go to red Cross dot org you'll find it if
you want to go right there, that's the best way
to go. And you know, don't think you have to
go there and make a giant donation. Every little bit helps.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Really sure.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
So the Morrison Bridge is reminding us about the Red
Cross right now is tell us about that.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
If you're driving around Portland, you're like, hey, it's red. Yeah,
the Morrison Bridge is lit red as a reminder, as
just a market the Red Cross month in total, but
also as a reminder for folks if they can help
us with our mission to do so. And you know,
I don't want to feel bad when I throw stats
at you all all the time, but we're responding to
two times as many disasters, big ones as we did
(03:33):
a decade ago. And so you think about that, when
you're done hearing about one disaster, we're still doing casework
and helping people on that disaster when the next one hits.
So I said, Helene, there's Milton, there's the wildfires, there's
the Kentucky floods.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Right, we had our own.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Snowstorm down in Bedford. So boom, boom boom. It just
keeps happening.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
What's the latest on the efforts in California to help
the victims of the wildfires.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Red Cross is still working down there.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Still are we still have people in some shelters down
there as well. What an example of partnership down there
in Los Angeles? Because it was such a giant impact
and you might think, oh, people have donated money, air
they're fine, but it really is so big, all the
homes that were lost. So we are still down there
doing I say casework. That means we actually meet with people,
we cross reference their address, we try to get them
(04:21):
what they need to get back on their feet. And
that could look different in all kinds of different ways,
but we are very active and we are still there.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
Now.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Now, what about the work in the southeastern US where
the hurricanes hit last year? Are you still there?
Speaker 3 (04:35):
We're still there. And when I say we're still there,
sometimes you hear the shelters have closed down, but we're
still in contact with that person. We're walking them every
step of the way until we know that they're on
their next chapter. So we're still on seven different disasters
right now, doing casework and recovery seven.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
So we're not done.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Now, during the month of March, the Red Cross is
also offering a one C testing that's for what diabetes
and pre diabetes.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
It's really exciting because you know, if you turn on
the TV, you hear, you know, my A one C
levels or this and that. Maybe ten years ago we
didn't know what that even was, but it is. It
is a thing that people are noticing more and more.
In fact, they think that one in ten people actually
have diabetes or pre diabetes and don't even know about it.
So we already do testing for blood pressure and hemoglobin
and pulse rates and things like that. Well, this will
(05:23):
be another test that we're doing in the month of March.
And it basically what would happen is you'd give the blood,
you'd get tested on the app or in an email.
They would say, hey, Brad, you're in great shape, or
hey Rebecca, your levels are high. We recommend that you
go see a doctor for a follow up. You don't
have to fast, So it's just a regular donation for
the people who donate, right, and you'll get that information.
(05:45):
And I'm doing it this month because I'm curious myself.
My father had diabetes and I thought maybe I should
do this myself.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Well, let's talk about blood donations. Red Cross is always
in need of blood donors. Tell us about the process.
How do we sign up, and what's it like giving blood?
Speaker 1 (05:59):
What do you do? What do you do?
Speaker 6 (06:00):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Well, you know, and it all ties together. By the way,
we talk about disasters. Every time you hear of a
weather related disaster. Blood donation sites, mobile blood drives are canceled, right,
and so that hits us pretty hard, right, and the
need for blood is constant as we know. The process
is very very simple. You can either do a pre
evaluation online and go in, or you can also you
(06:24):
can also just go in and sit down with a
screener for about ten minutes and they'll find out that
you know, they'll check your hemoglobin, they'll make sure you're
healthy and you're good to go. They ask you some
standard questions and then beyond that, you go in. You
sit down, little prick. You know, no one's a big
fan of the little pricky prick, but it doesn't hurt
that bad at all. And it takes about ten minutes
(06:46):
in the chair, get a little snacks on your out
the door. So the entire process about forty five minutes
to an hour, and it really you feel great after.
You really feel like you've done something.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Help somebody else.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Right, Yes, and they test vigorously, says all the blood.
It can go up to three people, so sometimes your
blood will be just red blood cells and then platelets
and plasma. They really use it very well.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
So if you download the app, can you kind of
speed up the process by getting some stuff done in
advance before you get there.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
You can the rapid pass will make I never plan
ahead myself. For the people that plan ahead well and
make that appointment, if they fill out the rapid pass,
the process is even quicker.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Yeah, if you're like doing it on your lunch break
or something like that, you could just go down there
and donate and then you know, be on your way.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Great.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
So platelet collection is another thing that the Red Cross
does that's a little bit different, kind of the same
as blood, but it takes longer.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Right, The process is different because they take the blood,
they extract the platelets, and they put the blood back in.
It takes about two hours. We like to call it
in meantime because you can't do much of anything but
watch a movie. You do you want to watch, and
you can watch it while you're giving the platelets. Platelets
go mostly to cancer patients. Their shelf life is very short,
and so if you think about the turnaround when you
(07:59):
give platelets, they've got to get tested, they've got to
get to the into a body within like six days,
and that's really a tight turnaround. Because of that, we
are always asking for platelets as well. Processes a little
bit longer. Screening the same, but you can give every
two weeks, which is pretty amazing if you think about it,
up to I believe, twenty four times a year. So
I know people that literally go in at least once
(08:20):
a month and give platelet.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
That's great.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah, it is so important, especially for cancer patients. What
about your need for volunteers. I imagine you're always looking
for volunteers.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Well, if it ties back to what we were just
talking about, yes, because we will put them to work
and we will keep them busy. We have lots to do.
Always looking for volunteers. What I like to say is
there is something for everyone. So you might be listening
and saying, oh, sheltering, I don't want to be in
a shelter. That's not my thing. Well, there are other
things to do. You can work in a warehouse. You
can do distribution of emergency supplies. You can drive our
(08:50):
emergency response vehicles after we give you the training. You
can be a blood ambassador, just work the front desk.
You could do administrative work. So there are all kinds
of things to do and all kinds of hours in
which you can volunteer. So if you have a preset
idea in your mind of what it's like to volunteer
for the Red Cross. Please get a hold of us
because you might not know all the options.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Right exactly and what is the best way to do that.
I'm sure you have information on your website.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Yep, red Cross dot org. If you take anything away
from this red Cross dot org, it's a one stop
shop for everything that you need right that. Even if
you go to Redcross dot org slash Giving Day, you'll
see a tab to volunteer. So, however, you can contribute
to what we're trying to do and what I think
we do really well, I would love that.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
That'd be great, terrific anything else you want to add, you.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Know, just to think about us this month. And I
know that I wish I said this. I think last
time we talked, I wish I could say we're almost
done with disasters, but we're not. And so this month
is a great way for us to ask for that
support financial or otherwise and keep doing the work that
we're doing.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Rebecca, thanks for joining us the local voices. Thanks Rebecca
Marshall with a Red Cross. If you'd like to make
a financial donation, a blood donation or a donation of
your time as a volunteer. Go to Redcross dot org
to find out more.
Speaker 5 (10:11):
Hey, it's K one o three Mornings with Stacey and Mike.
Speaker 7 (10:13):
When we're here because we want to talk about prom season,
the memories you make there, and how sometimes for people
it's tough to make the dream come true. Enter Abby's Closet.
Who is the recipient of our spotlight this month for
K one o three's Helping Hands.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
You can find out more about that at K one
o three dot com. But let's welcome somebody from Abby's Closet.
Who are we talking to?
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Stacey Lent, This is Diana. Welcome Diana. Hi's Stacey and Mike.
Speaker 8 (10:36):
Thank you guys so much for having us on, and
thank you guys for highlighting our efforts.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
We really really appreciate it.
Speaker 9 (10:41):
I was surprised that you didn't show up in a
prom dress, because you know, Mike was going to, but
then he said, I can't because Diana is going to.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
All don't want to be the only one, you know,
that would have been weird.
Speaker 8 (10:51):
Yeah, I mean it's been about twenty years, oh gosh,
twenty one years since I've been a from Let's.
Speaker 7 (10:56):
Talk about form, like I remember my prom. I don't
think Stacy went to hers, but a lot of people
make memories when they go to the prom. It's a
hallmark of high school. My daughter was going to a
school where they didn't have a prom, and she actually
switched schools last year knowing that she wanted to have
a more traditional high school experience. That's how important things
like football games and proms and you know, the whole
thing about high school because that's a moment in your
(11:18):
life you don't get back. And so that's why Abby's
closet is such a big part of that. Without regard
to economic status or size or whatever.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
Yeah, no, you hit the nail on the head there.
Speaker 8 (11:29):
Prom is such a memorable event. It's one of those things.
It's like that touchstone. It's that capstone thing at the
end of the year before you go off and start
the rest of your life. And it's one of those
experiences where we believe every student should have the opportunity
to go and they shouldn't have these barriers to entry there.
So it shouldn't be about like, Okay, can I afford
a dress? Can I go shopping? Can I go buying address?
(11:50):
Are they even the size, the style, where to go shopping.
So that's where Abbey's closet comes into play. Abby and
her mom back in two thousand and four, they were
the ones who had started this. Abby was packing up
for stuff to go to college. She was going to
her closet and then she saw her dress. She saw
her pink prom dress. Not this, but she saw her pink,
beautiful prom dress. And she didn't have a sister to
(12:12):
give it to. She only had three older brothers, and
so she was like, I want to give it to
somebody else so that the dress can dance again, so
that it can go on and be used. And her
and her mom did some research and they couldn't find
a donation place to give it to, and so they decided,
let's start our own. And what started as that one
kink prom dress has now led two over forty thousand
(12:32):
dresses given away in the past twenty years to students
across the call of Oregon and then Southwest Washington.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
We love that so much.
Speaker 9 (12:41):
I mean, we've worked with you guys in the past because,
like we said, and Mike you so eloquently put the
fact that this is a once in a lifetime thing.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
I mean you remember it forever. I wish I would
have went.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
I didn't go.
Speaker 9 (12:55):
I just you know, I was hanging out a wrong
group of people at the time.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
I won't go into that.
Speaker 9 (13:02):
But but making it happen and you and you do
the dress.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
And if they need shoes or whatever.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
We have accessories. We have the Yeah, we have shoes.
We have this year over seven thousand dresses for suons
to pick. I'm ranging from side zero to over twenty plus.
Speaker 7 (13:19):
Diana, you said, it's what twenty one years since your prom?
Speaker 5 (13:22):
What was the theme of your prom? Do you remember?
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Of course it was the same one as everybody. A
night to remember.
Speaker 5 (13:28):
Okay, what's your date?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (13:31):
My date was one. It was my brother's best friend
and one of my good friends. Nice so platonic date, yes,
platonic date. Yees.
Speaker 8 (13:40):
It was a case where I didn't want to go,
very similar to stay. I was like, nah, it's not
my thing. I don't want to go. I will brag.
I was nominated for prom queen, and so they were like, hey,
now you have to go queen. Yes, I didn't win.
Didn't did not win. Another aspect of Abbey's closet that
is really wonderful as we have our special needs giveaway
that is the before and so I don't know how
(14:02):
familiar people are with that aspect of Abbey's Closet. That
for people who go to like the School of the
Blind or Washington School with dev or people who have
some special needs who just need that extra space or
they need the crowds are overwhelming, they can sign up.
They can email and go at Abby's Closet dot org
and ask for more information.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
That in the great opportunity for those students.
Speaker 7 (14:23):
If you want to keep track of ways to do
all this in the schedule, you can also go to
our blog at kleethree dot com and the Stacey like
helping hand section.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
It's over on the left hand side.
Speaker 7 (14:31):
One time, Stacy, we should we should get you dressed
up with Abby's Closet and have you crash a prom somewhere.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Just crash it because I've never been. Will we be
my platonic date?
Speaker 5 (14:43):
Yeah, I'll go with you. Sure, I would pay to
see that. I would love to see that.
Speaker 9 (14:47):
So, Diana, you know, we were talking about girls needing
dresses and a lot of times this is a group
event like you see on Instagram every year around this
time in somebody's backyard, there's like twelve.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Girls and they're all lined up in their.
Speaker 9 (15:02):
Dresses, and you don't want to be the one girl
that like, you know, you're wearing one that your mom
wore it's three years ago.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
Yeah, so this is awesome. Yeah, this is really great.
Speaker 8 (15:12):
We have, like we said, over seven thousand dresses and
they arranged in all different styles and this is not
just reuse dresses. These are new dresses as well. That
we have donations coming in. We have wonderful people. We
have twenty seven different donation drop off sites around the
Portland metro area, also going all the way down to Eugene,
so people across organ really come and help and they
(15:32):
provide these dresses. Lots of times people will buy multiple
dresses because they don't know which one they want to wear.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
They wear one.
Speaker 8 (15:38):
They have all these dresses in their closet spring cleaning,
get it out, come donate to Abby's closet. We will
gladly take those dresses. So we have a large variety
of new, slightly used, short, long, everything.
Speaker 7 (15:51):
All right, so what have we learned here? We've learned
that Stacy Lynn didn't go to the prom and needs to.
We learned that you were robbed of your homecoming queen
a down or your prom queen crown.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
We won't go into that.
Speaker 7 (16:01):
But what we've also learned is that there is a
resource out there for people who want to go to
the prom, who want to have the memory, who don't
want to be excluded, who don't want to feel left
out of something that is a passage of my childhood.
Adolescents high school, Abby's Closet is, there has been there.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
Donations are coming in.
Speaker 7 (16:20):
You go in, get yourself set up with address accessories,
free of charge, completely regardless of your size, regardless of
your socioeconomic status, who you are. If you're a living,
breathing person who has to go to the prom, Abby's
Closet is for you.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
One can be there.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
Ones like, yeah, you need to be a peace school student.
Speaker 5 (16:37):
There is one slight caveat.
Speaker 7 (16:39):
You can't be a fifty five year old male who
wants to get into address.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
You can't do that.
Speaker 7 (16:43):
That's not what it's there for. It's there for high
school students. And you have to be well and you
have to register.
Speaker 8 (16:48):
Yes, exactly, and then just the if you guys, just
have two more minutes here. I just want to quickly
touch on. We also have our scholarship program. This year,
we are giving away nine five hundred dollars with the scholarships.
Those recipients have been word so it's not just about address.
I mean, obviously we love dresses, but it's about more
than address. We have our scholarship program. We also have
(17:08):
our Student Advisory Board where we have seventeen students from
across the state who also help and advise us and help.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
With the dress drives. So there's a lot of.
Speaker 8 (17:16):
Opportunities here for students to get involved with Amy's closet.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Besides address.
Speaker 9 (17:21):
That is awesome news about the scholarships. My son is
getting ready to go to u OFO in the fall
and it is full on.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
We got deadlines like every week. Okay, did you apply
for this scholarship?
Speaker 9 (17:33):
You know, every little bit helps, So that's wonderful news
that you do that as well.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Yep.
Speaker 8 (17:38):
And it's not just your traditional universities. We offer ones
for the traditional university college. We also offer for community college,
and we also have a specific one for trade school.
So no matter what path you're taking after high school,
we want to support it.
Speaker 7 (17:52):
Okay, Dan what is the number one thing that we
can urge our crew, our team, our tribe to do,
our listeners to do for you.
Speaker 8 (18:00):
If you're a student, register go to Avis Closet dot
org and register. If you are an adult and you
want to help with Abby's Closet, you can sign up
good to Abby's Closet dot org. We have volunteer opportunities
for students or for parents who want to help at
the event, and we also have volunteer opportunities just throughout
the year.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
Okay, donations are part of this.
Speaker 4 (18:21):
Maybe, donations are definitely welcome.
Speaker 8 (18:23):
Yes, we are always looking for donations, drop off sites
for people to come and help pick up donations, all
of it.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Okay, man, what a great organization.
Speaker 7 (18:32):
You know, we've been doing helping vents for a couple
of years now, maybe I don't know, three years, I
don't know. But each month we meet somebody new like
Abby's Closet, and we put the spotlight best we can
on what's happening there, and it just reminds you that
with all the turmoil going on in the.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
World today, you have to look to the people that
are helping. That's what mister Rogers taught us.
Speaker 7 (18:49):
And I think that you are serving as a great
example of inspirational behavior, selfless behavior to help those who
need a hand up get that hand up, and that's
why we're having to support you.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
So it's great.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
Well, thank you so much.
Speaker 8 (19:01):
There is one last thing we already have given out
or we are in the president of giving out fourteen
hundred dresses this year through our Sharing the Love program,
so for students who can't make it to the organ
convention center. We understand that it's a bit of a
drive for those students who are out in Pendleton, for
people who are down farther south by a couple hours,
we have an opportunity where they can apply for the
(19:21):
Sharing a Love program that has closed this year, but
we have given out now and have assigned out fourteen
one hundred dresses.
Speaker 9 (19:28):
That is such a great spokesperson for Abby's Closet, and
we want to say, you know, please tell Abby.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
I know she can be here because she's not feeling well.
Speaker 9 (19:35):
Today and you know she's got little, little little ones,
but please tell her we hope she feels better. But
thank you for being such an advocate for what a
wonderful program. Abbey's Closet is.
Speaker 8 (19:47):
Thank you both so much. Thanks for taking the time
to meet with us. We appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
More Agan has more than one hundred and seven thousand
registered the electric vehicles or hybrids in the state, and
that number is growing. PEMCO wanted to to find out
why people are buying evs. Jennifer Hotton from PEMCO joins
us on Local Voices to discuss their survey.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Jennifer, what did the survey ask?
Speaker 10 (20:09):
The survey asked our drivers how they feel about electric
vehicles and about how they feel about driverless vehicles.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
What did the survey find about evs?
Speaker 11 (20:23):
It found something very interesting that saving money drives more
interest in evs than environmental concerns. So when we pick
it apart, overall, fifty six percent of people are picking
evs for financial reasons, either to save money on gas
or to save money using federal and state tax credits.
(20:45):
Over thirty eight percent who are prioritizing our reduction in emissions.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
So basically, people are trying to save money with evs.
They're not as concerned about reducing pollution exactly.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Now.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
PEMCO previously conducted this survey. What did it find in
twenty twenty one and how is it different from this survey.
Speaker 11 (21:08):
In twenty twenty one, We found significantly more people who
were prioritizing the emissions reduction. It went from fifty four
percent down to thirty eight percent.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
What did the survey find would increase a person's likelihood
to buy an EV?
Speaker 11 (21:27):
People are more likely to buy an EV if they
can get longer range or more charging stations. That range
anxiety is a real problem for about thirty one percent
of people, and it will keep them from buying an
EV anytime soon.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Now, did vehicle owners have an opinion on how long
it'll take evs to become more prominent?
Speaker 11 (21:53):
They absolutely have an opinion. So seventy one percent of
people believe full EV adoption is at least five to
fifteen or more years away, and half of people doubt
that it will ever reach one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Now you mentioned the survey also asked about driverless vehicles?
Speaker 1 (22:13):
What did it find?
Speaker 11 (22:15):
It found that sixty six percent of people don't trust
driverless car technology, and that's up ten percent since twenty
twenty one. Sixty three percent of people doubt that those
driverless cars will improve road safety, and sixty six percent
don't believe that it will actually help with a traffic reduction.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
Jennifer, anything else you'd like to add.
Speaker 11 (22:40):
We just want people to be safe on the roads,
whether they're driving an EV or a gas vehicle.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Jennifer, thanks for joining us on Local Voices.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
It's Jennifer Hotton with Pemco Insurance with details in their
survey on white people in the Northwest are buying evs
or hybrids and how they feel about driverless or autonomous
vehicles boring unions. You need to fly after May seventh
and don't have a passport, We'll need a real ID
driver's license. Making an application for real ID license is
(23:10):
becoming more difficult in some rural parts of Oregon because
field offices are temporarily closing. Chris Krabb with the DMV
joins us on Local Voices. Chris, what's causing the closures?
Speaker 12 (23:21):
Yeah, Unfortunately, staffing shortages are routine for us, and they
have been for a while as we deal with the
structural revenue issue that's facing transportation agencies across the state,
so DMV faces increased work clothes. Meanwhile, our staffing hasn't
kept pace with the state's population growth, so basically our
(23:42):
number of budget of positions has remained the same in
the last twenty five years, but our population has grown
by nearly one million people, and almost all of those
people have to use DMV services at some point, and
so we really have a we have a structural issue
there that we have to work with. When we have
planned and unplanned absences in our offices that cause us
(24:02):
to drop below our minimum staffing level, we have to
send relief from another office nearby to continue operating, and
often that relief is unavailable because the surrounding offices are
also below minimum staffing levels. And so sometimes when you
see that we've closed an office, it isn't because the
person in that office couldn't work. It's because a larger
(24:24):
office needs more help to address the crowds. And the
Federal real ID deadline has definitely intensified the traffic and
wait times at most of our locations, so we're also
dealing with that.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
At the same time, o DOT has a funding issue,
in part because revenue from the fuel tanks is declining.
DMV charges fees for licenses, titles, and other things. Where
does that money go the general fund?
Speaker 12 (24:47):
It goes to the general funds. Yeah, so we're in
the same boat with odot in that you know we have.
We've got declining gas taxes, high inflation, and then restrictions
on available funding. We Governor Cotech has proposed a budget
that would address this and provide more funding, and if
it proved, the DMV would be able to invest in
(25:12):
a lot more. We have about roughly eighty million per
buyennium and that would help us fill every counter and
provide backups to account for staff on leaf and we
would also be able to expand our hours and our
days of service in the offices where those have been
greatly reduced or where customer volume demands it. So we
are very confidently optimistic that the legislature will pass a
(25:36):
budget that increases our ability to serve Oregonians. But it
is that's a big serious issue that we think.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Have you seen an increase in customers at DMV offices,
especially with the real ID deadline approaching?
Speaker 12 (25:49):
Yeah? Absolutely. Our field offices are packed right now. We're
seeing levels more than double what we would normally see
at this time of year, and most of those are
for real idea pointment, so things are very busy. We
have added a significant number of real ID appointments to
help people out. We even have DMB staff from our
(26:09):
headquarters in Salem. They're actually voluntarily deploying to offices to
help with other tasks like taking photos or checking the numbers,
just to kind of help alleviate the crowds. But we
are still warning customers that they may experience longer lines
and wait times than normal. There are a couple of
things that people can do, and two of the most
(26:30):
important and obvious are First, make sure you don't already
have a real ID. So an Oregon real ID has
a star in the upper right corner. Some people had
gotten one the last time they renewed and they just
don't even realize it. So first thing to do is
check that. And then second, we want people to know
that you don't need a real ID if you have
a passport or another type of alternative that TSA will accept,
(26:54):
or if you're not planning anytime soon. So May seventh
is the real ID enforcement eight. That's when they'll start
requiring people to have a real ID or real ID
compliance credential. But if you're not flying until Thanksgiving or
next year, you don't have to have it. By May seventh,
we'll be issuing these long into the future, so you
could wait until August or September to get their real IDs.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
So the issue with temporary field office closures is happening
because those offices are staffed at minimum levels and if,
for example, somebody goes out sick, they're just dround enough
people to keep the office open exactly.
Speaker 12 (27:30):
That's it's why that's happening. And also, say you have
a smaller office like Lapine and you have you know,
maybe one or two people that staff that, but then
Benz has two people call out, We're going to have
so many more customers at Bend that we might pull
the people from the Lapine office to go help out
(27:51):
in Benz, which would therefore close the Lapine office. So
every day it's just kind of a seeing what's out
there and making it work.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Chris, anything else you'd like to add, I.
Speaker 12 (28:03):
Don't think so, Just that we really, we really want
people to be prepared for the real ID deadline, not
necessarily have it, but to know about it. So the
last thing any of us want is for someone to
go to the airport and be caught off guard, and
they can learn more at Oregon dot gov slash real ID.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Thanks Chris, that's Chris crab with the Oregon DMV and
the rush to get real ID driver's licenses for people
who will need to fly after May seventh. Health experts
are sounding the alarm over a rise in colon cancer
among younger patients.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
One in five.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
People diagnosed with colon cancer is under the age fifty five.
Over the last couple of decades, the number of cases
and people under fifty has doubled.
Speaker 6 (28:43):
Colon cancer's second leading cause of cancer death in the
United States, behind lung cancer. Lots of people getting colon
cancer around one hundred and fifty thousand people per year
in the United States.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Kaiser Propidente Colon and Rectal surgeon doctor David Parson says
screenings are a critical prevention tool.
Speaker 6 (29:01):
So if we do screening and we take out polyps
from people's colons, we can prevent colon cancer.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Colon cancer is one of the few preventable human cancers.
Speaker 6 (29:10):
Even if you have a cancer, if you're doing diligence screening,
we can detect the cancers earlier and treat many people
for cure. So screening helps with outcomes significantly.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
March is colon Cancer Awareness month, and Parson says it's
a good time to take stock of your risk factors,
which are impacted by family history and lifestyle choices.
Speaker 6 (29:30):
Things like smoking, excessive alcohol intake, ob city, and excessive
intake of red meat and processed foods can all increase
your risk of getting colon cancer and other types of cancer.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
He says those at average risk can start with the
home task, but if your doctor determines you're at high risk,
you need a colonoscopy. Thanks for listening to Local Voices,
I'm brad Board. You can hear past episodes on the
iHeartRadio app under the podcast tab. Local Voices is a
public affairs pre presentation from iHeartRadio
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