Rolando Hernandez

1 month ago | opb.org | Rolando Hernandez

Leah Sottile's latest book explores American New Age. The book puts a spotlight on the history of U.S. spiritualism and highlights the innerworkings of groups such as Love Has Won, I AM and Church Universal and Triumphant. Courtesy of Grand Central PublishingOregon journalist and OPB’s “Hush” Podcast Host Leah Sottile has made a name for herself investigating extremism and fringe movements in the West.

1 month ago | opb.org | Rolando Hernandez

Salem-Keizer Public Schools Superintendent Andrea Castañeda sits at her desk at the district's central office in Northeast Salem, Ore., on Aug. 18, 2023. Some of Oregon’s largest school districts are facing cuts this year, including Portland Public Schools, Eugene 4J School District and the . However, Oregon’s second-largest school district, Salem-Keizer Public Schools, is looking to spend more.

1 month ago | opb.org | Rolando Hernandez

Prairie High School in the Battle Ground School District is headed to a statewide tournament this weekend. But it’s not for a traditional sport like soccer, baseball or football — it’s for esports. Esports, like many other sports, have players compete as individuals or in a team in a video game against others. Prairie High School took home first prize in a statewide championship last fall in “Overwatch 2,” a team-based hero shooter game.

1 month ago | heraldandnews.com | Rolando Hernandez

On May 2, 2000, the U.S. government lifted restrictions on GPS, making it more accurate and useful for the general public. That day is now known as Blue Switch Day and while these lifted restrictions allowed us to have more accurate mapping from place to place, what the government was not expecting was the birth of a new hobby with Oregon origins: geocaching. kAmv6@4249:?8 :D 2? @FE5@@C 24E:G:EJ H96C6 A2CE:4:A2?ED 9:56 4@?E2:?6CD[ <?@H?

1 month ago | opb.org | Rolando Hernandez

Late last month, the National Science Foundation, a U.S. federal agency that supports scientific research, terminated more than 400 grants that related to misinformation, disinformation and diversity, equity and inclusion. A from the Trump administration would also cut the NSF budget in half. Kate Starbird is the co-founder of the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public. She joins us to share more about the broader impacts of these cuts.