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Good morning, Northwest.

A survey of families of Silver Rail Elementary School students suggests the vast majority want their children to return to the building.

OPB’s Riley Martinez unpacks the poll results plus what families say would ease the transition back to classes after a teenage shooter killed four people at the Bend school.

Also this morning, OPB explains what happens to your ballot after you drop it off.

Here’s your First Look at Wednesday’s news.

— Bradley W. Parks

Top story

In wake of Bend school shooting, 86% of families want to return to Silver Rail Elementary, survey says

Two weeks after three students and a teacher were fatally shot at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, more than 86% of families want their children to return to the school, according to a survey from Bend-La Pine Schools.

The survey results come after classes resumed for thousands of students in the district last Wednesday. Silver Rail will remain closed at least through Nov. 6.

The district polled Silver Rail families this week as it considers next steps for the school. Survey results showed families want more support for childcare, food, family leave, children’s mental health and community activities for kids. (Riley Martinez)

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3 things to know

1. Here’s what we know about where Oregon’s top candidates for governor stand on the changes coming to Medicaid. (Amelia Templeton)
2. With a week to go before Election Day, Oregon voter turnout is slightly higher than the last midterm election. So far, about 23% of eligible ballots have been received, according to the secretary of state. (Bryce Dole)
3. What actually happens to your ballot after you drop it off? OPB takes you through the vote-by-mail process, step-by-step. (Julia Reihs)

Northwest headlines

• Portland’s village-style shelters don’t respond well to complaints, city survey finds (Alex Zielinski)
• Election officials in Southwest Washington say operations are running smoothly despite challenges (Erik Neumann)
• Portland coffee influencer Morgan Eckroth releases first book (Crystal Ligori)
• Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to a quarter of its workforce (Monica Nickelsburg, KUOW)
• Salmon don’t know Otis hatchery closed last year so ODFW staff also return for annual harvest (Quinton Smith, Lincoln Chronicle)
• Southern Oregon University launches $100 million fundraising campaign amid budget cuts (Jane Vaughan, JPR)
• Morant, Lillard lead unbeaten Trail Blazers past Lakers 136-129 despite Doncic’s 41 (Greg Beacham, AP)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• How poor ocean conditions can harm threatened marbled murrelets
• What might prevent another school shooting? An Oregon group shares its thoughts

One more look

Northwest research trial tests whether a little spit swapping can solve chronic bad breath

Breathe into your hand and give that air a sniff. If it makes your nose crinkle, you might have halitosis. Up to half of adults suffer from chronic bad breath, although estimates vary.

Now researchers at the University of Washington are testing a new treatment to cure chronic halitosis: oral bacterial transplants.

There are many causes of bad breath, but a vast majority of cases stem from bacteria living on the tongue or concealed in the deep, dark corners of gums and teeth. Every human mouth is filthy with bacteria, but not everyone has halitosis.

The UW team believes the discrepancy happens when a person’s oral microbiome gets out of whack, and the proportion of bacteria that produce the bad odors is too high. (Jes Burns)

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/10/28/opbs-first-look-returning-to-silver-rail/