The Human Beat

The Human Beat – May 08, 2023

We discuss the Columbia Inn, which is being converted to provide housing for people who are homeless, particularly those especially at risk. We talk about when it will open, what it will be like, how it will be operated and managed, etc. The guests are: Monica Steele, Assistant Clatsop County Manager Viviana Matthews, Executive Director,…

The Human Beat – April 10, 2023

To celebrate Women’s History month in March, the American Association of University Women in Clatsop County held a dinner at the Golden Star Restaurant to “Honor the Honorables.”   Judge Paula Brownhill was the first female judge in Clatsop County. She was later joined by Judge Cindy Matayas and Judge Dawn McIntosh to form the…

The Human Beat – March 13th, 2023

A discussion with Carrie Cantrell in Portland and Anna Kaufman in Astoria about clean water, community watersheds and how they are affected by forest practices in Oregon. Carrie and Anna are working with North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection.   They are collecting stories from people in Clatsop and Tillamook counties about personal experiences with…

The Human Beat July 2022

The Clatsop County Circuit Court includes two specialty courts – one for mental health treatment, one for drug addiction.  Both help people to work their way out of a life in the criminal justice system.  It’s a group effort involving probation officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys and treatment providers.  Listen in to portions of a drug…

The Human Beat September 12th 2022

It’s Pledge Drive on KMUN, that short period each summer when we ask for your support for this community driven radio station. We don’t interrupt KMUN programs with commercials and we depend on our listeners to help make ends meet. The Human Beat is one of several public affairs programs on KMUN, where you get a deeper understanding…

The Human Beat June 13th 2022

To honor Juneteenth I want to revisit a 2020 conversation with four friends about race and justice, and where things stand for people who look like them.  All are black. We’ll hear from Denise Reed, Bereniece Jones-Centeno, Amber Hope Duffy and Charles Withers. Oregon is still mostly white, and I started by asking what it…

The Human Beat May 9th 2022

This morning we’re talking with a local person who is homeless. This will be the first in what I hope will be a series of discussions to help us better understand the individuals among the human beings we may tend to lump together as, “The Homeless.” I went to Lifeboat Services downtown, which houses both…

The Human Beat March14 2022

Welcome to the Human Beat!  I’m Roger Rocka.   The City of Astoria is engaged in a process intended to provide some affordable housing downtown, in the area bounded by Duane, Exchange, 11th and 12th streets.  Some additional units would be used by Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare to provide housing and treatment for their clients.   The City is engaged in exclusive…

The Human Beat Febuary 14 2022

The United States is facing a national blood crisis, brought on by complications from the pandemic. A significant portion of hospital blood needs for patients is not being met.  Doctors are forced to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who has to wait until more becomes available. The American Red Cross is…

The Human Beat January 10 2022

On the north side of Commercial Street in Astoria – between 10th and 11th streets – is a building housing the Beacon Clubhouse and Filling Empty Bellies. The two organizations are filling gaps in the community – meeting vital needs – but they serve and attract homeless people and that has caused concern from some neighbors….

The Human Beat December 13 2021

Welcome to the Human Beat!  I’m Roger Rocka. Clatsop Community Action is a non-profit agency that has been providing services to low-income residents of the county for over 30 years.  CCA tries to help people meet their critical needs like shelter and food.  Their clients include people who are homeless. The executive director of Clatsop…

The Human Beat, August 09 2021

Finally, two weeks ago, the overture began and Astoria’s Cascadia Chamber Opera Company emerged from the long pandemic shutdown. The new season began with a performance at the Performing Arts Center of the comic opera, The Old Maid and the Thief. I talked with opera Artistic Director Bereniece Jones-Centeno about how things went.  

The Human Beat, June 14 2021

He is Oregon’s all-time winningest high school baseball coach. He has five state titles and seven state championship game appearances. 18 league titles, including 5-for-5 with Astoria High School. In 30 years of coaching, his teams never missed the playoffs. He took the Astoria baseball team to the state championship game four times and won…