Fourteen Oregonians died last month in five murder-suicides and one attempted murder suicide. Why this sudden outbreak now of men using guns to murder their spouses, ex-spouses and themselves when domestic violence homicides in Oregon have been on the decline? In 1997, 22 domestic violence homicides took place in Multnomah County alone. In recent years, the state average has been eight murder-suicides a year. Is it the economic climate, a lack of social services, or deep-rooted cultural issues?

This week on Voices from the Edge, Jo Ann and Dave talk with Jennifer Warren, LCSW, a counselor with Portland's Men's Resource Center/Women's Counseling Center since 1998. She specializes in domestic violence intervention and recovery, and has worked extensively with men and women arrested for domestic violence. Join us in this discussion about what's behind domestic violence murder-suicides, how the problem is being addressed and what needs to be done to stop the violence.

The conversation doesn't end when the program does. You can join in additional discussion of the week's issue on our blog at kboo.fm/voicesfromtheedge (click on the "blog" tab). You'll find additional information, important links, comments from other listeners and commentary from Jo Ann and Dave. Have a question for our guests, but can't call in during the program? Post your questions on line so we can make them a part of the Voices discussion.

Building new community journalism

Like their national counterparts, our local media is in a tailspin. The Oregonian is cutting more than 60 reporters from its newsroom. Television and radio news has been reduced to weather reports and traffic accidents. Developments on the internet hold promise, but right now is more opinion and little solid local reporting. How can our democratic institutions thrive if our citizens can't found out what is happening in their community.

This week on Voices from the Edge, Jo Ann and Dave talked with people who think the answer is for us to "make the media." Abraham Hyatt is former managing editor of the Oregon Business Journal and creator of Digital Journalism Portland. Cornelius Swart is publisher of The Sentinal and a member of the Portland Media Lab, a non-profit media thinktank. Hyatt, Swart and other concerned journalists are organizers of the WeMakeTheMedia Conference taking place November 21, where journalists and concerned citizens will take the first steps toward building a new kind of community journalism.

The conversation doesn't end when the program does. You can join in additional discussion of the week's issue on our blog at kboo.fm/voicesfromtheedge (click on the "blog" tab). You'll find additional information, important links, comments from other listeners and commentary from Jo Ann and Dave. Have a question for our guests, but can't call in during the program? Post your questions on line so we can make them a part of the Voices discussion.

The list of city residents who've become victims at the hands of the Portland police continues to grow, leading Oregonian columnist Anna Griffin to observe the news stories about these incidents "makes the Rose City's finest look like thugs with badges." In the meantime, Chief Rosie Sizer's finding on the death of James Chasse - and her failure to punish the offending officers - suggests police accountability remains little more than a joke in our city. Why can't Portland hold its police force accountable? Should the mayor take back the police commissioner duties from Commissioner Saltzman? Where's the city auditor's Independent Police Review division in all this?

Jo Ann and Dave talk with Jason Renaud of the Mental health Association of Portland. Renuad's organization and other community groups are calling for the voluntary resignations of officers Kyle Nice, Christopher Humphreys and Bret Burton for the roll they played in the death of James Chasse, a mentally ill Portland who died in police custody. Dave and Jo Ann also look at how current contract negotiations between the city and the Portland Police Association affect efforts to create more accountability within the police bureau.

The conversation doesn't end when the program does. You can join in additional discussion of the week's issue on our blog at kboo.fm/voicesfromtheedge (click on the "blog" tab). You'll find additional information, important links, comments from other listeners and commentary from Jo Ann and Dave. Have a question for our guests, but can't call in during the program? Post your questions on line so we can make them a part of the Voices discussion.

On September 14,  Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) unveiled a long-awaited health care plan that he believes will extend coverage to uninsured Americans and secure the support of both major parties. So far, the 233 page bill has drawn sharp criticism from all sides. What does the Baucus bill actually propose and how will it affect insured and uninsured Americans?

 Jo Ann and Dave look at the details of the bill, the implications for those most at risk under our current health care system, and what Baucus' efforts to win Republican support means for the effor to pass health care legislation this year.

 The conversation doesn't end when the program does. You can join in additional discussion of the week's issue on our blog at kboo.fm/voicesfromtheedge (click on the "blog" tab). You'll find additional information, important links, comments from other listeners and commentary from Jo Ann and Dave. Have a question for our guests, but can't call in during the program? Post your questions on line so we can make them a part of the Voices discussion.