City Cast Portland

Everyone knows Nike and Tillamook, but countless other popular products and brands got their start in our region —  and many of them have unexpected stories. Today on City Cast Portland, we're sharing a fresh round of our favorite city and state exports: things that got their start here, but have become household names well beyond our fair city. Joining host Claudia Meza on the show are our very o...

Today, we’re talking with Portland Mercury reporter Jeremiah Hayden about the string of protests that happened in town this past weekend, including Saturday’s march, where federal agents shot tear gas and flash bangs into a crowd that included children. We're also looking into responses from local leaders and what exactly they can do about any of this. Discussed in Today's Episode: Hundreds of Stu...

Today we’re continuing our neighborhood guide series with a trip beyond the city limits to Oregon City. This history-rich suburb is full of unique shops, great food, and its own municipal elevator. Our guide is Oregon City resident and Portland-area event planner, Amy Theberge. Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on City Ca...

Whether you’re seeing the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra perform live or dancing in a Mardi Gras Parade on Mississippi Ave., there are plenty of ways to make the most of Portland's most wintry month. City Cast Portland has picked the month’s top food, entertainment, and community happenings to help you have your best February ever. Plus, a bonus suggestion from our episode archive: Portland's Most Roma...

Today, we’re looking into why city leaders are pushing for more penalties against the landlord of the South Portland ICE facility. We’re also hearing about a gap in Portland's police oversight system and the city-commissioned study that recommends we move away from renovating the Keller Auditorium. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week’s Friday news roundup are KBOO news director Althea Billings...

It has not felt like a normal winter in Portland. December was the warmest on record, January has been unusually dry, and people are already noticing plants blooming that usually don’t show up for months. Today we're talking with Norther Emily of Wild Solitude Guiding to determine if this is weird-but-normal weather or a warning sign of bigger changes ahead. Become a member of City Cast Portland t...

Today on City Cast Portland, we have updates on the shooting that left two police officers injured, and more details on the Gresham family detained and sent to a Texas facility by border patrol agents. Plus, we get a firsthand account of what's going on with ICE in Minneapolis. Joining host Claudia Meza on this midweek roundup is our very own senior producer, Giulia Fiaoni, and City Cast Twin Citi...

Next week, Oregon lawmakers are heading into a short, five-week legislative session with a very long to-do list. At the top of it is how to keep the state’s transportation system from falling apart. Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking with Dirk VanderHart, OPB’s state politics and government reporter. He’s going to help us make sense of the options, the legal chaos, and what else lawmakers...

According to recent data, fewer than half of Multnomah County residents were born in Oregon — meaning most Portlanders aren't actually from here. But adjusting to life in our wonderful city can be challenging, and it's hard to know how to start building a community. Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking with two recent transplants and friends of the show, Danielle Mangone and Chris Cary. They...

This week, we’re looking into a shooting that injured two local police officers, and what happened when a former Portland journalist went undercover to investigate the Department of Homeland Security's hiring process for ICE agents. Plus, several local restaurants were long-listed for the James Beard Awards, but the news isn’t as good for the James Beard Public Market, whose opening was delayed un...

It’s easy to forget that peak hiking and camping season is a lot closer than you might think. Even though we're in the depths of winter, January is a good time to start planning for the glorious summer months ahead by securing permits and reservations for state and national parks. Today we're revisiting a conversation executive producer John Notarianni had with Norther Emily of Wild Solitude Guidi...

Today on City Cast Portland we're discussing the latest in the back-and-forth over some nasty texts seen at City Hall, the major new labor contract at OHSU, the plan for Jefferson High School's enrollment woes, and more in our news lightning round. Plus, we dive into our mailbag and hear from you, our listeners, and share a few of our top event picks for the week ahead. Joining executive producer...

The Lloyd Center mall is about to go through some big changes this year, with demolition already partially underway. But the Food Court 5000 retro mall walking group is still hoping the building will be saved. They gather every weekend to strut the endless hallways of the mall with neon leggings and big hair — but their future is uncertain without the Lloyd Center. Today on City Cast Portland, hos...

This week we’re looking into the long and contentious vote for a new City Council president, a recent report showing how well our county's homeless shelter system is working, and the dizzying story of the man who rode a horse to a Portland ICE protest — and all the lies that unfolded. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week’s Friday news roundup are Oregonian City Hall reporter Shane Dixon Kavanaug...

Last year, our city might have set a record for new Italian restaurants. If you want to try them but are overwhelmed by all the options, we've got an expert guide on which ones are actually worth the visit. Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking with Oregonian restaurant critic Michael Russell about his favorites and what to order — plus, which ones are maybe not yet worth the hype. Discussed...

Today, we’re looking into all the latest updates surrounding the border patrol shooting of two people in East Portland, and we’re also hearing from you, our listeners, about the incident. Joining host Claudia Meza on this midweek news roundup is our very own senior producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Discussed in Today's Episode: Man Shot by Border Patrol in Portland Released From Hospital, Charged With Assa...

Last year, Portland leaders took big swings at addressing homelessness in our city. But even so, homelessness has continued to rise. As the new year begins, the big question is what happens next — especially with the threat of major federal funding cuts. Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking with Oregonian homelessness and mental health reporter Lillian Mongeau Hughes. She’s giving us an upda...

For more than a decade, Oregon pursued one of the most ambitious education goals in the country: that every student who entered kindergarten in 2012 would graduate by 2025. To see how that promise played out, OPB followed 25 students for 13 years, from their first days of school to the brink of adulthood. Today on City Cast Portland, OPB’s Rob Manning and Elizabeth Miller join host Claudia Meza to...

Two people were shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent in East Portland yesterday. On a special breaking news episode, host Claudia Meza and executive producer John Notarianni break down what we know so far. Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voice...

First, an update on yesterday's breaking news about the two people shot by federal immigration agents in Portland. Then we’re talking about National Guard troops in Oregon finally being told to go home, Governor Tina Kotek’s push to repeal a transportation package she supported, and TriMet’s plan to cut bus lines in response to their budget crisis. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week’s Friday n...

The new year is the perfect time to explore where you live a little deeper. Today we’re revisiting a conversation with Eden Dawn, author of The Portland Book of Dates and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni, looking at our city through that newcomer’s gaze. Think of it as an unofficial guide of sorts on how to be a local tourist. This episode first aired on June 26, 2023 Locations men...

Today we're talking about some of the new state laws going into effect this year, a city councilor’s push to ban foie gras, the closing of a beloved North Portland gastropub, and more. We also dive into our mailbag and hear from you, our listeners. Joining host Claudia Meza on this midweek roundup is our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed in today's episode: New Year, New Rule...

For bars and restaurants, January is usually the quietest month of the year. That makes it a great time to visit some of Portland's new food spots. Today, Portland Monthly associate editor of food and drink Alex Frane is here with five recently opened restaurants and bars that you should put on your must-visit list. From farm-to-table French food to rotisserie chicken at a 70s-themed bar, Alex is...

Nobody understands a city’s pulse quite like a City Cast host — and that makes them the best predictors for 2026’s biggest local stories. City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza joins CEO David Plotz and the other 12 hosts from across the network to talk about the big changes coming to our cities, from political shifts to data centers. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 5th episode ⁠Cat Ad...

Whether you’re hitting the slopes to go snowboarding on Mount Hood or staying inside to watch a Studio Ghibli film with themed snacks, there are plenty of ways to enjoy January in Portland — both indoors and out. City Cast Portland has picked the best of the month’s food, entertainment, and community happenings to help you kick off the new year in style. Plus, a bonus suggestion from our episode a...