Oregon Crossroads

With the uptick of cases and the announcement of the Governor's new COVID "Pause" we are reminded of the need for REAL leadership in Oregon. We have great news on vaccines, and I talk about the real situation in Oregon's hospitals.

After 7 continuous months, violence and riots are continuing in Portland. What can we do about it? Well, it's not that complicated. But it is going to require leadership - leadership we don't currently have.

Distance learning has been challenging for kids, parents, and school districts alike. But we are learning a lot, and much of it is what not to do. Our kids deserve a great education during COVID, and it needs to work for them and their parents. It needs to be flexible.  I had just a few thoughts on how to make it work better. 

Here is what we know about COVID and kids. Children aren't very susceptible to the harsh effects of the virus - however, they can be transmitters. I also touch on the vaccine, and why we shouldn't "victim" blame those who get the COVID.

The past week has been devastating. These fires have forced nearly 10% of our population to evacuate their homes. My prayers are with everyone affected.   This was filmed yesterday, but I am just getting around to posting it. I discuss the short term actions we can take to keep these fires from being so devastating. We need to manage our forest properly. I break down the reasons why, currently, we aren't doing that.

Massachusetts went from one of the worst public K-12 education systems in the county to one of the best. What can we learn from them about giving our kids the education they deserve? With school starting back up, in whatever capacity, it seemed fitting to talk about how we can improve the schooling for our kids. Happy Labor Day weekend!

There is a lot of scientific research going on into a variety of different treatments for COVID-19 - vaccines, plasma treatments, etc. But there is a little known, and very cheap, steroid that is working best right now to keep people alive and breathing if they have a serious case. As we look forward to the future, it is likely we will never "get rid" of this virus completely - at least in the short term. So what can we do personally to help prevent serious complications? I lay out the one big thing in this episode.

It is really sad to see what is going on in Portland. Violence and destruction must stop and people and property need to be safe to walk the streets again. There are a lot of things we must do in the long term to make sure everyone feels safe, but we must get the rioting and looting under control in our major cities. (this episode was completed with the help of my dogs

COVID numbers still look good in Oregon. But what is next? With school starting soon and developments in treatments, there is still a lot going on with COVID. Many families are struggling to figure out what to do with schools being closed. We know kids are very unlikely to get sick from the virus, and initial research is telling us they are less likely to be vectors of transmission. But the research still isn't robust. Our policymakers need to be keeping their eye on these studies as they develop

Any bad actors can tarnish the reputation of the whole. Whether it is doctors, teachers, or cops, one bad apple can bring the whole organization down. We need to make sure we are holding each other accountable, not coming to their defense for the sole reason that "they are one of us."

When we focus on our responsibilities to one another, we do a lot better exercising our rights. One cannot go without the other. In a time with so much turmoil, a lot of people are asserting their rights. Everyone has the rights given to us in our Constitution, but each one of us has the responsibility to use those rights in a way that doesn't tear down others. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qznsP7av65Y

Most of you know me from my conversations about the pandemic, medicine, and science. I am stepping a little bit outside of that space today to talk about the recent national conversation about policing and racial issues. These topics always carry a lot of emotion, but I think we have more common ground than our national leaders and conversation would make it seem. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Zfe63Soy7UI

It has been a while since I last spoke on COVID-19. But I have been watching the uptick in cases closely. Overall, we are still doing well. But we need to make sure we are taking the precautions necessary.

The Coronavirus situation in Oregon continues to improve. What are the next steps? What can we expect in the coming months? Will there be a second wave? Dr. Bud Peirce breaks it down on this episode of Oregon Crossroads. Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/xbs7jplI3B0

Dr. Bud Pierce breaks down the biology of the Coronavirus and gives an update on how we are doing in Oregon. We have existed with viruses and microorganisms for all of human history. There is so much we do not know about viruses in general, but especially this one. Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/zHs8OzG_fsw

All things considered, Oregon is in good shape when it comes to the number of infections and numbers of deaths compared to many parts of the nation. Social distancing measures and stay at home orders seem to be working. How long will these lockdowns last? I am not sure, but if our data in the curve is any indication, I hope it can be soon. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fX7_kmmap3w

Reid Sund is running to be Ward 7's representative on the city council.   I got to sit down with him and talk about how his position as the Finance Director at Salem Health influenced his thinking about our community's response to the Coronavirus, and about what he sees are the big issues in Salem.    I have been very impressed with Reid's vision, his leadership style, and his concern for his community. He's a family man, young, and passionate - I am proud to support him.   Watch the podcast here: https://youtu.be/fu6Vny31rkk

This morning, news broke that Oregon is considering releasing some inmates early from prison because of the Coronavirus. There will undoubtedly be very strong opinions on both sides, but this discussion reminds me when I sat down with Steve Doell, the current President of Crime Victims United, a victim advocacy group here in Oregon. He talked to me about his journey to becoming an advocate for crime victims and last year's decision from the state legislature to roll back the death penalty in Oregon. Whatever the Governor decides to do, my hope is that the perspective of victims are considered. Read more about the situation here: https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2020/04/gov-kate-brown-considering-early-release-of-oregon-prisoners-amid-coronavirus-spread.html Watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/zBjIBSjLNmk

Dr. Bud Pierce talks about new developments in the Coronavirus crisis, including new testing methods, how we are doing in our local area, and what we can expect in the coming weeks.

Dr. Bud Pierce gives an update about the coronavirus from home. Featuring dog barks and a background feature from his son Michael.