City Cast Portland

The Portland Mercury’s Spring Arts Guide focuses on the alliances that artists and arts organizations are forging throughout the city. Between the rising cost of living and the craziness of our national politics, Portland’s creative communities are finding a need to rely on one another more than ever for survival — even when they’re competing. Portland Mercury culture editor Suzette Smith walks us...

Our country has a terrible history of providing proper care for people suffering from severe mental illness, and civil commitment (court-ordered involuntary treatment) is especially controversial. Today we’re talking with KOIN investigative reporter Elise Haas about new legislation that aims to reform our state’s civil commitment process and expand mental health treatment facilities.  If you or an...

As much as we love our Portland, this city inspires some questionable beliefs and habits in all of us, like our irrational hatred of umbrellas — try explaining that to literally anyone from somewhere else. Today, we’re tapping into our comedy scene to discuss some of the most toxic Portland personality traits. Helping us share some submissions from our city’s funniest people is comedian Jay Flewel...

Dysentery, the nasty stomach infection made popular by the 1970s computer game “The Oregon Trail,” is on the rise here in Portland. Experts say one way to address the spread could be to invest in greater access to public toilets. Today, we’re revisiting a conversation senior producer Giulia Fiaoni had with our executive producer, John Notarianni, about The Portland Loo. It’s a new kind of public r...

More news and finger-pointing regarding our county’s shocking budget shortfall in homeless services, the financial woes threatening the foreclosure of the Ritz-Carlton’s downtown tower, and the latest moves from the team hoping to bring professional baseball to our city. Oregonian City Hall reporter Shane Dixon Kavanaugh and executive producer John Notarianni join host Claudia Meza for the Friday...

A surprising number of the plants sprouting in your yard, on the sidewalk, and even between the cracks in parking lots are actually edible. But how edible? And what can you make with it? Today, we’re talking about urban foraging with Norther Emily of Wild Solitude Guiding. She’s giving us tips on how to safely snack on what’s growing all around us. Upcoming foraging classes: Seasonal Forest Foragi...

Portland City Administrator Michael Jordan released his recommendations on how to address the city’s massive budget deficit by eliminating over two hundred jobs and cutting programs that fund services like road maintenance and community centers. Host Claudia Meza and executive producer John Notarianni dig through the numbers on the midweek news roundup. Plus, we’re sharing some notes and recommend...

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson campaigned on a promise to end unsheltered homelessness in the city, but how are his policies affecting the people working with Portland’s homeless population every day? Today, we’re checking in with Scott Kerman, executive director of the long-standing Old Town nonprofit Blanchet House, which provides addiction recovery and homeless services. He’s giving us an on-the-g...

Portland’s got dive bars, tiki bars, cocktail bars, wine bars — the list goes on. But there’s something special about a true neighborhood bar. They’re hard to pin down but also very apparent when you’re in one. Today we’re talking with Portland Monthly associate editor Alex Frane about what defines a neighborhood bar and where to find some of Portland’s best.  Mentioned in today’s episode: Dots Ca...

Today we’re discussing suggested changes to our police accountability board causing tension at City Hall, Multnomah County’s massive homeless services budget shortfall, and the ongoing train heists targeting Nike sneakers. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week’s Friday news roundup are KBOO news director Althea Billings and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed in Today’s Ep...

March is when Portland begins to come to life. Whether you’re taking a class to help map out your garden or admiring the city’s iconic cherry blossoms, there’s no shortage of things to do this month. The City Cast Portland team is here to narrow down your March plans to the must-dos — including how to score a literal truckload of free mulch! Plus, a bonus suggestion from our episode archive: Why Y...

A recent survey showed Portland has nearly 5,000 bakeries, making it the second-best city in the U.S. for easy access to fresh-baked treats. So today on City Cast Portland we’re talking through some of our area’s best bakeries. Joining me is food writer, chef, and host of the “Food Friends” podcast, Sonya Sanford. She’s sharing her picks for places you need to try right now, whether you're looking...

The Pamplin family name has been significant in Portland for many decades. They’ve been credited for helping build much of what is now our city infrastructure, but also blamed for some of Portland’s ongoing environmental issues and been caught mismanaging pensions. Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking with Oregon Journalism Project reporter Nigel Jaquiss who’s been following the heir of the...

Today we’re revisiting a conversation with one of the city’s experts on East Portland: former state legislator and former Portland commissioner Randy Leonard. He lived in East Portland from the ‘80s until not long ago. Leonard is here to talk about the history of the area, the political consequences that led to its lack of infrastructure, and how these issues might come into play in the next coupl...

Today on City Cast Portland, we are talking about the first meeting of the city’s new housing committee, an eyebrow raising $7 million the city is lending to a startup, and why Republican state legislators want to do away with a statewide wildfire hazard map. Host Claudia Meza is joined by Willamette Week reporter and author Brianna Wheeler along with our very own senior producer, Giulia Fiaoni. D...

Today we’re revisiting a conversation about the cultural norms surrounding tipping. Now that seemingly every business interaction feels like it ends with a tip screen, we asked ourselves: What are the new rules of tipping in Portland? And have we just reached a tipping point with tipping? Helping host Claudia Meza dig into this are City Cast director of digital strategy Bryan M. Vance and our very...

Federal workforce layoffs, funding freezes, and internet beef between two Pacific Northwest mountains are on the table for today’s midweek roundup. There’s also news from OHSU about a new early-detection test for pancreatic cancer and comments from our listener mailbag. Joining host Claudia Meza on this midweek roundup is our very own senior producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Discussed in Today’s Episode: ...

There are so many options to soak and steam in spas around Portland that picking just the right one can be overwhelming. Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking with Oregonian life and culture reporter, and self-proclaimed spa expert, Lizzy Acker. She has a look inside our area’s best saunas and soaking pools — from clothing-optional hideaways to outdoor escapes.  Become a member of City Cast P...

Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about the closing of Sizzle Pie’s original East Burnside location and how it relates to parent company Sortis Holdings’ economic woes. We also discuss the tense drama that’s been unfolding within the Old Town Chinatown Community Association surrounding a proposed skatepark. Finally, some surprising heroes are behind the recent decrease in Portland car the...

Portland’s Piedmont residents are surrounded by some of our city’s best neighborhood business districts, but can they claim them as their own? We’re continuing our neighborhood guide series with a trip through the restaurants, parks, and bikeways of this neighborhood straddling North and Northeast Portland. Today we’re talking with longtime Piedmont resident and BikePortland publisher and editor J...

Portland is famous for its music, coffee, craft beer, and a little sneaker brand called Nike — but our city and state’s influence goes far beyond that. Today on City Cast Portland, producers John Notarianni and Giulia Fiaoni join host Claudia Meza to talk about some of the best and most surprising Oregon products and brands.  Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sig...

It’s easy to forget that peak hiking and camping season is a lot closer than you might think. But February is a good time to start planning for the glorious summer months ahead by securing outdoor permits and reservations. Today on City Cast Portland, Norther Emily of Wild Solitude Guiding is here to prepare you for the season: how to set goals for what you want to accomplish outdoors, what permit...

It’s been over 100 years since sea otters lived on the Oregon coast. Overhunting by early 19th century fur traders decimated otter populations. But just last month, the Siletz Tribe received a $1.56 million federal grant to further the efforts to reintroduce otters into our region’s marine ecosystem. Today we’re revisiting a conversation with science journalist Erin Ross about why we should all be...

Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about tense exchanges between city staffers and our new City Council, the federal investigation into possible antisemitism at Portland State University, and a proposal lawmakers are considering to fund much-needed wildfire resources. Plus, why one local utility company is trying to avoid paying millions in damages. Host Claudia Meza is joined by Willamett...

OPB’s Lillian Karabaic recently traveled all over our state using only public transportation. In 14 days, she rode 38 buses and three trains over 1,700 miles, collecting stories from fellow travelers. Today, we’re asking Karabiac what she learned about some of Oregon’s farthest-flung communities. Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like...