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The Oregon Shakespeare Festival will resume its first in-person production since closing in March 2020. On July 1, OSF will open the musical, “Fannie,” which recounts the life of civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. It will be performed in the outdoor Allen Elizabethan Theatre. Artistic director Nataki Garrett tells us more about the musical and about what theater goers can expect this summer.

Cone snails are deadly sea predators; their venom can kill fish and even humans. But chemical biologist Mandë Holford says that powerful venom can actually be used for good — to treat human diseases.

Reported acts of racism, violence and hate crimes directed at members of the Asian American Pacific Islander community have increased significantly during the pandemic. Last month, eight people, including six Asian-American women, were shot and killed in Atlanta, Georgia. The attacks have had a profound impact on mental health for many in the AAPI community.

In an effort to model decolonization among churches, the Wallowa United Methodist Church was returned to the Nez Perce tribe by the Oregon-Idaho Conference of The United Methodist Church. Instead of selling the property, church leaders saw an opportunity to strengthen their relationship with the Nez Perce Tribe. Reverend Dr. Allen Buck is a pastor at Great Spirit United Methodist Church and a member of the Cherokee Nation. Shannon Wheeler is the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee Chairman. They join us to talk about what the return of the church means for their communities.

On Friday, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown officially put fifteen counties into what’s known as the “extreme risk” category. That means a return to stricter capacity limits on places like movie theaters and gyms — and a complete ban on indoor dining. It affects counties where some of the biggest cities in the state are located, including Portland, Eugene, Salem, Bend, and Medford.

Artwork from more than 100 students is featured in a virtual art show hosted by the Clackamas Education Service District. The art pieces represent students from school districts throughout Clackamas County. The works illustrate the students' feelings and emotions as they navigate the pandemic. Bonnie Kayser is an art educator at Clackamas High School and curated pieces from her students. Hannah Olson is a sophomore at Clackamas High School and has art in the show.

Back in 2015, Chicago's Englewood neighborhood was lined with blocks of houses tagged for demolition. Before they were torn down, artist Amanda Williams used color to bring them back to life.

Klamath County commissioners were recently awarded a major grant to help provide for the county's estimated 259 residents experiencing homelessness. The money was allocated by Oregon lawmakers last fall, and the grant is administered by the Oregon Community Foundation. Klamath County commissioners closed a deal last week to buy a property with a motel and RV park, which will eventually provide shelter for some of those 259 people.

Use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is paused while regulators investigate rare blood clots found in six women between the ages of 18 and 48, one of whom died. The pause has affected vaccination efforts for some Oregon health providers and county officials. Kim Toevs is the communicable disease director for Multnomah County. Sarah Poe is the director for the Malheur County Health Department. And Laura Byerly is the medical director of the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center. They join us to tell us how the pause is affecting those they serve.

After eight people, including six Asian American women, were killed in Atlanta, five Asian American restaurant and food cart owners in Portland gathered together to talk about the violence and how to move forward.