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Good morning, Northwest.

A new analysis shows the difference in instructional time between Oregon school districts can be as great as eight weeks.

OPB education reporter Elizabeth Miller explores what that means for students and parents to lead off today’s newsletter.

Also this morning, why scientists led by a Washington professor are moving forward with a national assessment of nature even after President Trump nixed it.

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

— Bradley W. Parks

Enormous variation in school instructional time for Oregon students, according to new data tool

From parents at the local level to the state’s top elected official, Oregon has long been known as a state with a short school year. Recent research backs that up.

Now, a new data tool from Stand For Children, a national nonprofit based in Portland, offers details on just how short Oregon’s school year is — and how broad the variation is from district to district.

The analysis suggests students in some Oregon districts get the equivalent of eight fewer weeks of school than kids in other parts of the state. (Elizabeth Miller)

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3 things to know

• A federal court in Eugene held oral arguments yesterday in a case over the ability of ICE officers to detain people near schools, churches and hospitals.(Nathan Wilk)
• Former legislative spokesperson Jonathan Lockwood and Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair are vying for the Republican vote in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District in the May 19 primary. (Mia Maldonado)
• Some families caring for children with disabilities are suing Washington, arguing the state has failed to provide services promised under Medicaid. (Jake Goldstein-Street)

Northwest headlines

• An Oregonian raised concerns about her company’s contracts with ICE. Then she lost her job (Jude Joffe-Block)
• Eugene petitioners begin push to get new climate tax on November ballot (Nathan Wilk)
• Trump canceled the National Nature Assessment first announced in Seattle. Scientists will publish it anyway (Bellamy Pailthorp)
• Gov. Ferguson fills seat on Washington campaign watchdog panel as recall effort looms (Jerry Cornfield)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

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

• Patrick Radden Keefe discusses his new book ‘London Falling’ at Lincoln High School in Portland

A slew of new Bigfoot sightings, on-screen and off-Broadway

Bigfoot won’t stop popping up everywhere: off-Broadway, in the critically acclaimed “Bigfoot! A New Musical” and as a new smartphone emoji.

Dozens of Bigfoot-themed festivals have taken off in small communities across the country over the past decade, from the West Virginia to Minnesota, New York to Alaska.

Half a dozen Bigfoot-themed low-budget horror movies are scheduled for a 2026 release, with such titles as “The Last Footprint” and “Slash Squatch.”

And a wave of alleged Bigfoot sightings in northeast Ohio recently made national news.

Sasquatch has always captured people’s attention and imagination, but what’s so different about this moment? (Neda Ulaby)

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/23/instructional-time-oregon-schools-first-look/