Podcasts about multnomah county

When the Oregon legislative session kicked off last month, state lawmakers had just five weeks to tackle a slate of priorities. One of those was a plan Democratic state and local leaders championed to keep the Portland Trail Blazers’ prospective new owners from moving the beloved basketball team out of Rip City. Lawmakers in Salem moved closer to that goal with the passage of SB 1501 in the final days of the session. The bill received bipartisan support and allows the state to borrow $365 million by issuing bonds to help pay for the costly renovation of the Moda Center, the aging arena that’s home to the Blazers. The public financing plan has several conditions including: the Blazers’ sale to its new ownership group, led by Tom Dundon, gets approved by the NBA; the team agrees to a 20-year Moda Center lease; and the City of Portland and Multnomah County must also pitch in hundreds of millions of dollars for the renovation. Joining us for a discussion about the public financing plan are Oregon Senate President Rob Wagner, who sponsored the bill, and Dewayne Hankins, President of Business Operations for the Portland Trail Blazers.

This is a story about a trail called Nature Trail. At the heart of the story is a simple question: What is nature for? Feel free to click play above to listen to the soundscape of Nature Trail as we ponder this question. Nature Trail was built in the 1960's in the interior of the roughly 5,000-acre nature park that had been dedicated 20 years prior, but received little attention in the way of development. Indeed, the most newsworthy question in those early years seemed to be what should we call it? In 1957, a call for suggestions—perhaps favoring something more showy than the functional, socially adopted name, The Forest Park—yielded many (Skyline, Tualatin, Wildwood, Tualatin Mountain…) but the de-facto name won the day. Officially, “Portland's Forest Park” was favored by one vote over “Skyline Forest Park”. The “Portland's” part never seemed to really catch on.Actually, the biggest changes to the park, to this day, came in response to a 1951 fire that burned over 1200 acres in the center of it. Fifteen emergency access fire lanes were constructed in the early 1950's, broadly perpendicular to the slope of the Tualatin Mountains, like rungs on a ladder. What was nature for in the 1950's? Accessible nature was becoming scarce. The public wanted protections from both development and the threat posed by wildfire. These fire lanes likely became informal points of entry for the park users in the early years. A network of hiking trails was modest: around 10 miles in total, on the southern end in 1960. Today there are over 80 miles of trails.What was nature for in 1960? A refuge to visit and admire via trails and lanes. Today, Nature Trail still harbors subtle clues to its origins There's an old steel pole gate and concrete bollards covered by so much moss they could pass for stumps at the end of Fire Lane 1. It all appears quite out of place in the quiet interior of Forest Park. Nearby there is a meadow-like ridge with a couple weathered picnic tables. Starting in the late 60's and running for about two decades or so, this was the drop zone for thousands of children in a campaign to foster a connection with nature, formalized in 1968. A rare 1968 publication in the Library Use Only stacks of Multnomah County Library holds the key to understanding Nature Trail: Portland's Forest Park Nature Trail was a 32-page interpretive guide authored by Oregon Outdoor Education Councils as informal curriculum for a generation of school children. Fifty-two markers on Nature Trail were keyed to entries in the guide. Midway through the trail was a shelter, bathroom and campfire area. Bus drop off and pickup areas were located on each end. What was nature for in 1968? Nature was a common good. It was a living lab for learning about the interconnectedness of plants, animals and humans, as stated in the booklet introduction:If you are quiet and observant, you may see some of the animals that live here.The forest community is a living area of plants and animals. It has many parts. Some tall plants shade everything on the ground. Under these grow the medium size and the small ground plants. Part of the forest community is the soil and the many organisms that live in the ground. It is the animals that live in the forest. It is the water that comes from the forest. The forest community is many more things. (Portland's Forest Park Nature Trail, 1968)Mind you, this was all designed and implemented a couple years before Earth Day made its debut. A 1970 Oregonian article about Nature Trail noted the large coalition involved— the Park Bureau, Multnomah County schools, U.S. Forest Service, Oregon State Game Commission, Industrial Forestry Association, and others. Much of the trail building for Nature Trail was done by the Neighborhood Youth Corps, employing low-income urban teenagers in public works projects. It all took coordination and vision. Precisely who the masterminded Nature Trail isn't easily discerned, but there is little doubt Thornton T. Munger was a galvanizing force from the late 40's into the 60's, inspiring people to work together, while advancing principles of conservation and education in the nascent Forest Park.Munger's own connection to nature can be traced back to growing up next to an eighteen-acre natural area called Hillhouse Woods in North Adams, Massachusetts, which fostered his lifelong interest in forests. In 1908 he was hired by the US Forest Service, and trained under Gifford Pinchot, who between 1905 and 1910 oversaw a rapid expansion, roughly tripling the number of National Forests and acreage. In his retirement, Munger chaired the Committee of Fifty, convincing city leaders to designate the lands as a nature park. The committee eventually became the Forest Park Conservancy, that to this day provide a Nature Education Program with free public events, organize volunteers, raise money, and conduct community outreach.In 1960, Munger—in collaboration with C. Paul Keyser—wrote a 32 page report entitled The History of Portland's Forest Park. In Part IV A Look Ahead, they write, In a few years nearly a million people will be living within a few miles of the Forest Park. Residences will crowd about it on three sides and industry will dominate its eastern edges. …There will be pressure to widen the roads, to straighten the curves, to pave, to build more roads. This should be resisted, for this “wilderness within a city” is not a place for speeding motorists; here there should be no need for haste. ...Here within city limits will be a continuous forest 7½ miles long. The roads and trails will be under over-arching trees, varying from virgin forest with giants up to 8 feet in diameter, to thrifty second-growth stands of tall Douglas fir.What was nature for in the 1960's and beyond?* To provide facilities that will afford extensive nearby outdoor recreation for the people and attract tourists.* To beautify the environs of Portland.* To provide food, cover, and a sanctuary for wildlife* To provide a site on which youth and other groups may carry on educational projects.* To grow timber which will in time yield an income and provide a demonstration forest.That last point became contentious within a couple decades. Limited timber harvests were being recommended by the committee up until 1975, when the Portland Parks superintendent, facing environmentalist pressure, ruled out selective logging as part of over-all park management. What was nature for in 1975? Forest Park was closer to becoming a quasi-wilderness area, protected from all resource harvesting. (The Forest Park Rock Quarry lease was terminated in 1979.) Fire suppression remained a primary concern, though seasonal manned fire lookouts were by then retired.So when and why did the Nature Trail program dissolve? It's not clear when, and I can only speculate on why. For starters, interior access roads around the park were closed to motor vehicles sometime in the 1980's. Therefore, any bus passage would have been met with more friction. The built elements of Nature Trail would have been approaching their expected lifespan: numbered posts would be weathered and broken, the shelter roof would have by then become what we now call a “living roof”: an ecosystem of duff, mosses and seedlings. Beyond that, the environmentalist awakening of the 1970s met a formidable obstacle with the Reagan administration of the 1980s. So where are we now? What is nature for in 2026? In the pendulum swing of US politics we are lurching back to the 80's mindset. Environmental protections are being systematically dismantled by the current administration in naked collusion with the fossil fuel industry. “Drill baby drill,” is one of the president's most cherished rally cries.When I think back to my childhood in primary school, my most vivid memories are of when either someone visited the classroom, or the class took a field trip someplace. I distinctly remember going to a site to hunt for fossils. I vividly remember Outdoor School; basically an overnight camp experience for sixth graders. Perhaps that's what really replaced Nature Trail: the significant expansion of its objectives with Outdoor School.The first large scale implementation of Outdoor School in Oregon occurred in 1966, serving 500 students. The program grew steadily for decades, but faced budget pressures over the years as schools cut extracurricular spending. In 2016, Ballot Measure 99 saved and expanded it, setting aside Oregon Lottery funds to provide Outdoor School for every one of Oregon's 50,000 fifth and sixth graders, passing with over 67% of the vote. While other states have more modest programs or aspirations, this guaranteed entitlement is unique to Oregon. Perhaps more than any point in the last 50 years, US leaders have adopted an aggressively extractive attitude toward nature. For Oregonians, the 67% vote for Measure 99 was its own kind of answer to the question Nature Trail was asking back in 1968. May in Forest Park is peak birdsong time. My score is electric piano centered—I love the deep tones of this one. It's naive and minimal as per usual.Thanks for reading and listening. Nature Trail is available on all music streaming services today, March 13th, 2026. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chadcrouch.substack.com/subscribe

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first Black woman ever confirmed to the highest court in the land, and a consistent and clear voice of dissent on it. She's also the author of a memoir, “Lovely One,” which was picked as this year’s choice for the Multnomah County Library “Everybody Reads” program. We talk to Justice Jackson in front of an audience of Portland high school students.

Send a textBeverly Stein retired in 2016 as a Senior Fellow at the National Policy ConsensusCenter (NPCC) in the College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland StateUniversity. At NPCC she served as Director of Oregon Solutions and as Directorof Research and Development. Her focus was on working on projects aimed ataddressing poverty, including staffing the Oregon Business Council Poverty TaskForce.Prior to her work at NPCC, she worked for 10 years at the Public Strategies Group(PSG), headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, serving as President and co-owner.PSG's mission was to work for public purpose organizations across the countrycommitted to innovation, customer-focus and results-based governance.Beverly served as the elected Chair of the Multnomah County Board of CountyCommissioners (Portland, Oregon) and as its Chief Executive from 1993 to 2002.In that position she administered a government with 5000 employees and abillion dollar budget. Multnomah County won the Oregon Quality Award (basedon the Baldrige Criteria) in 1999 and Stein was designated by GoverningMagazine as Local Official of the Year with Portland Mayor Vera Katz in 1996.Beverly was elected three times (1989-1993) to serve in the Oregon House ofRepresentatives, worked as a Legal Aid attorney and in a solo private lawpractice, and has extensive experience as a strategic planner and facilitator fornon-profit and government organizations. She ran for Governor of Oregon in the2002 primary election.Beverly graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1970 with adegree in urban studies. She was awarded her law degree from University ofWisconsin in 1976.A member of the Tillamook County Master Recyclers, Beverly led the effort toban single use plastic bags in Tillamook County. She taught “Facilitating Effectiveand Enjoyable Meetings” at Tillamook Bay Community College in 2019 and“Collaborative Governance” in 2021. Beverly organized the Tillamook DemocracyProject in 2020 to support progressives in local and national elections. She iscurrently the President of the Cape Meares Community Association.https://neighborhoodpartnerships.org/about/about-neighborhood-partnerships/ Subscribe to the Women of the Northwest podcast for inspiring stories and adventures.Find me on my website: jan-johnson.com

Portland is offering homeowners $1,000 to rent out spare rooms for 12 months at no more than $800 a month through PadSplit or the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. Mayor Keith Wilson claims this 'home sharing' program is a fast and cost-effective way to increase housing stock and solve homelessness. However, critics argue that $800 is unaffordable for many homeless individuals, questioning who this program truly benefits. Past efforts, like Multnomah County's 'Housing Multnomah Now,' housed only 311 households, raising concerns about the effectiveness of incentivizing landlords. Asking homeowners to rent rooms cheaply in their own homes poses a greater challenge than renting out vacant units. The program's success remains uncertain, with participation numbers yet to be revealed.

The Columbia River Gorge Commission oversees land use and stewards both economic development and conservation efforts within the National Scenic Area. Robert Liberty served as the Multnomah County appointee to the commission since 2015, and was most recently reappointed in 2023. But he resigned earlier this year with more than a year to go in his term, citing “the gentrification of working lands with luxury homesites for the wealthy” and “the anti-conservation, pro-development interest of some of the Commission members,” among other reasons.

Home Forward, the housing authority for Portland and Multnomah County, is the largest provider of affordable housing in the state. Reporting from Willamette Week has found that the agency has an unusually high vacancy rate and takes, on average, half a year to fill vacant units at some of its properties. The lack of rental revenue from empty units is making it difficult for the agency to pay off its debts. Sophie Peel is a reporter for Willamette Week covering Portland City Hall and neighborhoods. She joins us with more details about her investigation into Home Forward.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals revived claims against a former Multnomah County prosecutor, ruling that prosecutorial immunity does not apply when a prosecutor personally swears to alleged false statements in a warrant affidavit, allowing the case involving Joey Gibson and Russel Schultz to return to district court. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/ninth-circuit-revives-claims-against-prosecutor-who-personally-swore-to-warrant-affidavit-containing-alleged-false-statements/ #CourtRuling #NinthCircuit #ProsecutorialImmunity #FourthAmendment #PacificNorthwest

Bunco Kelley was out of prison, Mysterious Billy Smith was at loose ends, and Jumbo Riley was looking for something to do ... somehow, they ended up at a table at Erickson's Saloon with the Jost brothers, talking about getting back into the shanghaiing business. Alas, it was not to be ... (Portland, Multnomah County; 1907) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1906c.jost-brothers-the-last-shanghaiers-552.html)

Oregon's Sailors' Boardinghouse Commission seemed completely uninterested in any enforcement activity other than ordering Larry Sullivan's competitors to leave the business. Naturally, those competitors fought back as best they could. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1906b.mysterious-billy-part2of2-551.html)

After Jim Turk's death, former pro prizefighter Larry Sullivan virtually owned the shanghaiing business in Portland ... but there was one competitor he couldn't seem to shake: 'Mysterious Billy' Smith, boxing's Welterweight Champion of the World -- whose 'day job' was crimping sailors. (East Portland, Multnomah County; 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1906a.mysterious-billy-smith-shanghaier-550.html)

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 have tips for how to quickly find your groove — and all the ways you can make Portland really feel like home. 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 voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 26th episode: Beaumont Jewelry The Ascent by Christopher Walker Flatbike SkillCharter

Portland is finally threatening to evict homeless shelter residents who refuse to engage with services after 120 days. Is anyone surprised this "tough love" comes after years of enabling open-air drug use and building a massive homeless industrial complex? We're diving into Mayor Keith Wilson's new policy that will affect 80-90 people—complete with formal warnings and exceptions for severe mental health cases. Meanwhile, nonprofits are clutching their pearls about "unsheltered houselessness" and claim these folks were "failed by fragmented systems." Really? The same systems that decriminalized hard drugs with Measure 110 and watched overdoses skyrocket? The city created this mess by coddling addiction, and now they're shocked people won't voluntarily get clean. Here's the kicker: Multnomah County is closing two shelters with 210 beds combined due to budget constraints—because when your downtown core is hollowed out and property values tank 50-90%, tax revenue disappears. Who could have predicted that? Do you think four-month deadlines will work when there's been zero accountability for years? Or is this just shuffling the deck chairs while the homeless industrial complex keeps collecting paychecks? Drop your thoughts below, and if you're tired of watching cities enable their own destruction, hit subscribe and share this with someone who needs to see it!

A new forecast from Metro shows that weakness in Multnomah County's economy is slowing collections from the region's homeless services tax—raising fresh questions about how stable funding for homelessness programs really is.In this video, we break down a recent Willamette Week report explaining why revenue from the Supportive Housing Services (SHS) tax is coming in lower than expected, how Multnomah County is lagging behind neighboring counties, and what that could mean for shelters, rent assistance, and other services in the Portland region.Metro says overall revenue is increasing, but much of that growth comes from one-time business tax payments rather than sustained economic strength. With inflation rising and demand for services still high, flat or slowing revenue could force difficult budget decisions in the years ahead.

Portland and Multnomah County have unveiled an updated Homelessness Response System Action Plan aimed at reducing homelessness through clearer goals, improved coordination, and measurable results. In this video, we break down what's new in the plan, including the 12 key performance indicators, how the city and county plan to prevent housing loss, expand shelter and services, and accelerate pathways into permanent housing.

This week, we're discussing our official new city administrator, the reason the state's new gas tax is now on hold, the latest local government declaring an emergency over Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, and much more in our news lightning round. Joining executive producer John Notarianni on this midweek round-up is our very own senior producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Discussed in Today's Episode: City Council Hires Raymond Lee As Next City Administrator [Willamette Week] Local Homelessness Prevention Could See $21 Million Funding Bump [Portland Mercury] Oregon Tax Opponents Turn in 'Nearly 200,000′ Signatures [OPB] Ethics Commission Investigates Progressive Portland City Councilors Over August Retreat [Oregonian] Multnomah County Declares Emergency in Response to ICE Enforcement [Fox12] Bring Erik Téllez Home to His Family [GoFundMe] 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 voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. If you enjoyed this interview with Janessa White, the Director & General Manager of Simply Eloped, learn more here.  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 17th episode: Portland Spirit PaintCare Aura Frames - Use code CITYCAST for $35 off PGE

Last week, President Trump attacked Somali immigrants in the nation during a Cabinet meeting, calling them “garbage” and saying that he didn’t want them in the U.S. Meanwhile, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is ramping up its activity in the Minneapolis metro area in Minnesota. That state is home to nearly 80,000 people of Somali descent, the largest such population in the nation.  In Oregon, there are roughly 12 to 15,000 people of Somali descent, most of whom live in Multnomah County, according to a 2016 county report. Musse Olol emigrated from Somalia to Oregon in 1981 and is the executive director of the Somali American Council of Oregon, which he co-founded in 2011. He says fear has gripped Somalis living in the Portland metro area, even among naturalized U.S. citizens such as himself. He joins us to share his perspective and the heightened tension within the local Somali community.

A new report from Central City Concern highlights concerns around the “housing first” model the Homeless Services Department uses for prioritizing who gets housing. The nonprofit notes that affordable housing providers have faced a number of challenges that are unsustainable and is pushing to add another model to the mix: engaged social housing. Andy Mendenhall is the CEO and president of Central City Concern. He joins us to share more on this report. Multnomah County Commissioner Shannon Singleton also joins us to share her response.

He might have accomplished it, too, but he lost friends when he tried to claim water rights to Bull Run, and when his primary investors went bankrupt in a bank panic, he was forced to give up the scheme and leave town. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1502d.lafe-pence-guild-lake-scheme.327.html)

It was a remarkable start to an even more remarkable career — the more so as Bethenia was over 30 years old when she launched it. It was also not a “second act” career, but a fourth — she'd been a wife, then a teacher, then a hat-shop entrepreneur, and now a physician. She had seen much of the world, and conquered more than most. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1880s, 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/2504b1008c.bethenia-owens-adair-oregons-prometheus-697.084.html)

On this episode of the America's Work Force Union Podcast, we were joined by Jackie Tate, President, and Imogen Fox, Bargaining Team Member, Steward, with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 88, representing Multnomah County employees in Portland, Ore They discussed the union's current contract negotiations, key workplace challenges such as staffing, wages and trauma support, as well as the growing role and concerns surrounding artificial intelligence in the public sector. On this episode of the America's Work Force Union Podcast, Merrilee Logue, Executive Director of the National Labor Office at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and David Yoder, Senior Vice President of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program (FEP) discussed FEP's commitment to the federal workforce, the details of the current open enrollment period and what the premium adjustments mean for members in the coming year.

Portland is a city full of engaged and concerned citizens; it's not uncommon to talk with your neighbor about a growing pothole on your street or what actually goes in the recycling bin. But sometimes some issues seem far too complicated to resolve, and you just don't know where to start. Today, senior producer Giulia Fiaoni is talking with John Dutt, a longtime supervisor for the City of Portland's 311 program. He's here to talk about the seemingly magic number you call to help you address nearly any type of issue within Multnomah County. 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 voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 28th episode: PBOT Cascadia Getaways DUER - Mention code CCPDX for 15% off MUBI- try it for free for 30 days Visit Walla Walla

The sailor wanted to quit, but the captain didn't want him to; so he deposited a $60 'blood money' bonus with the British consul, as a reward if shanghaier Jim Turk could swindle him back aboard. Unfortunately, they killed him in the attempt. This kicked off a three-act courtroom drama oddly reminiscent of a Three Stooges episode. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1880s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1903e.frederick-kalashua-shanghaied-541.html)

JR Ujifusa is a Multnomah County senior deputy district attorney and heads its Human Trafficking Team. He’s also the chair of the National Advisory Committee on the Sex Trafficking of Children & Youth. His team and other partners working to eliminate trafficking and support survivors are trying to locate anyone who was trafficked on the now defunct Backpage(dot)com, which was one of the largest online prostitution sites in the world. The DA’s office wants to let survivors know there is money available to them in the form of restitution from the successful prosecution of those who profited from that trafficking. Ujifusa joins us to share more about that effort, and the progress that’s been made more broadly since he began working in this area in 2008.

At Jake Silverman's trial, 11 jurors wanted him to hang, but couldn't convince the lone holdout to change his vote. So voters changed the law and made Oregon the only state in the country where you could be convicted on a 10-2 vote. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1993) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1809e.1812.silverman-verdict.html)

Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez has filed charges against 33 of the 37 people arrested by Portland Police officers in protests in 2025. That’s a much higher percentage than is predecessor, Mike Schmidt, who announced early on in his tenure that he wouldn’t be charging for certain types of behavior at protests. Portland Police have arrested 40 people outside the ICE facility since June. It’s unclear how many arrests federal officers have made. We talk to DA Vasquez about his approach to the challenges of this moment.

THIS TIME OF year, the burden of all the serious arguments and disagreements left over from Thanksgiving dinner melt deliciously into a far more congenial controversy, which plays out at every ice-cream shop in the land: Do you prefer a cake cone, waffle cone, or a sugar cone? If you're partial to the wafer-like texture and subtle flavor of the cake cone, especially after it's become slightly soggy with melted ice cream, you're certainly not alone. And the bold cookie flavor and crunch of a sugar cone has many fans too — although most Americans, given a choice, go for the generous size and luxuriant crispness of a waffle cone, sometimes dipped in chocolate. No matter what your preference, though — unless it's hand-rolled using homemade dough — your favorite cone is the great-great-grandchild of the first mass-produced ice cream cone that dropped out of a brand-new machine invented and fabricated in Portland, Oregon, circa 1912 — the brainchild of a creamery executive named Frederick A. Bruckman, in collaboration with his boss, George Weatherly... (Portland, Multnomah County; 1910s, 1920s). (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/2507b.ice-cream-cone-inventors-703.521.html)

East Portland's White Eagle Saloon has a colorful past. Over the years, it's been local headquarters for the Polish Resistance, a rough watering hole for sailors and dock workers, and Portland's hottest blues and rock-and-roll hot spot. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1900s, 1910s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1703c.white-eagle-shanghai-spot-435.html)

The most famous con artist of the Old West started in Portland, then traveled throughout the state working the “marks” with his signature swindle. Fifteen years later, an Oregonian shot him in a gun fight in Skagway. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1880s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1705d.soapy-smiths-oregon-story-445.html)

On Wednesday, the Oregon Department of Forestry announced that the emerald ash borer has now been found in the Hazelwood neighborhood in East Portland and five other new sites in the north Willamette Valley. In addition to Portland, the highly invasive and destructive beetle has now been found near other urban areas in the region, including Beaverton, Banks and Oregon City. The Oregon Department of Agriculture said that the discovery of EAB in Portland has now put all of Multnomah County into the EAB quarantine zone, which also includes Washington, Yamhill, Marion and Clackamas counties.     Native to Asia, EAB was first detected in Oregon in 2022 at an elementary school in Forest Grove. Considered to be the most destructive forest pest in North America, EAB has killed over 100 million ash trees nationwide since its arrival in the U.S. more than 20 years ago.  Joining us to discuss the spread of EAB and how the public can help efforts to contain it are Cody Holthouse, manager of ODA’s  Insect Pest Prevention and Management Program and City of Portland Forester Jenn Cairo.

Frontier Oregon's favorite game of chance was a “banking” game that's little played today. That's because the only way to make money as a faro banker is to cheat ... and cheat they did. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1880s, 1890s, 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1312c-faro-crooked-gamblers-dream-game.html)

The cities of Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village are rethinking what fire service might look like in East Multnomah County. For decades, Gresham’s fire department has contracted with the other cities to provide service. But the cities have grown, and funds for firefighters have not kept up. Now, the cities are considering a new option: a fire district. Instead of Gresham having primary control of services, the municipalities would work together to offer fire support for the area. Holly Bartholomew is an OPB reporter covering Portland’s suburban communities as a Report for America Corps member. She joins us with more on how the cities plan to move forward.

His teachers may not have appreciated Mel Blanc's humor and talents, but Portland radio listeners sure did — and later, so did generations of Bugs Bunny fans. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1910s, 1920s, 1930s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1112c-voice-of-looney-toons-mel-blanc.html)

After hours of public briefings, discussions and a public listening session, Multnomah County Commissioners decided last week to pause a controversial move to change Preschool for All’s funding stream. Commissioners were meant to vote this week on an ordinance that would have adjusted the program’s income tax threshold based on inflation, something the governor asked them to do. Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson joins us to discuss the current state of the county’s ambitious plan to achieve universal preschool, and gives us an update on drug treatment and deflection a year after the state ended its drug decriminalization experiment.

The hunt for the man who called himself Dan Cooper started just hours after he disappeared into the night sky with a bag of $20 bills tied to his waist. Did he get away? Did anyone find him? The search continues to this day. (Part 3 of 4 parts) (Portland, Multnomah County; 1970s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1306c-db-cooper-part-3-the-hunt.html)

College Football Playoff to place more value on strength of schedule and another metric blah blah blah. Daily Buzz: Mariners swept by Phillies, Titans like Cam Ward's fire, 13-yo facing felonies for Multnomah County chase. Subtext: Rob Manfred ready to realign, Alexa on Matt Leinart, Luke Andersen, & Jeff Rust. One for the Road: Are we landing on the moon again next year?!

After demanding four parachutes and a knapsack of $20 bills, the legendary anonymous skyjacker disappeared into the night sky over southwest Washington with $200,000 — touching off a massive manhunt. (Part 2 of 4 parts) (Columbia River, Multnomah County; 1970s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1306b-db-cooper-part-2-the-getaway.html)

History's only unsolved hijacking drama started at Portland International Airport when a nondescript man calling himself 'Dan Cooper' stepped aboard a Boeing 727 bound for Seattle. (Part 1 of a 4-part series) (Portland, Multnomah County; 1970s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1306a-db-cooper-part-1-the-skyjacking.html)

At the scene of a notorious double-murder of young lovers Larry Peyton and Beverly Allan, police paid little attention to Edward W. Edwards and soon eliminated him as a suspect. But if they'd dug a little bit deeper ... (Portland, Multnomah County; 1950s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1305a-peyton-allan-murders-manwiththehook.html)

Today we're talking about why the director for Multnomah County's Preschool for All abruptly resigned, Mayor Keith Wilson's executive order to comply with the Trump administration's mandates on diversity, equity, and inclusion, the Portland Pickles' lawsuit against Disney, and so much more. Joining host Claudia Meza on this midweek roundup is executive producer John Notarianni.  Discussed in Today's Episode:   Portland Violated Former Commissioner Rene Gonzalez's Constitutional Rights, Judge Finds [OPB] Preschool for All Director Resigns After Being Tied to Preschool Accused of ‘Wasteful' Spending [Oregonian] ‘Underwhelming': Portland City Councilor Slams Mayor for Complying With Trump's DEI Policy [KOIN]  How Disney May Have Just Gotten Itself out of a Trademark Infringement Portland Pickle [Oregonian] 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 voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 6th episode: Rose City Comic Con PaintCare Oregon Coast Visitors Association OMSI Biketown PDX - Use code CITYCAST25 for a free unlock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Multnomah County won’t renew its contract with Rockwood Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit based in Gresham, according to reporting by Willamette Week. The county stated it had stopped funding the homeless service provider after the organization double-counted costs and charged for rooms that were closed for repairs, according to Willamette Week. Rockwood CDC disputed the allegations and stated Multnomah County owed it $1.1 million in overdue payments. Anthony Effinger is a Willamette Week reporter. He’s been covering the issue and joins us with details.

Unlike some other counties in Oregon and across the country, Multnomah County has remained committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts. However, a recent audit found that the county has some work to do on its DEI initiatives.  Across the county Asian employees are less likely to be supervisors, Black or African American employees are less likely to pass the trial service period and are more likely to be fired, and LGBTQIA employees are more likely to quit. Multnomah County Auditor Jennifer McGuirk joins us to discuss the audit findings.

Someone killed Oliver Kermit Smith with a massive dynamite bomb planted under his car seat ... and police soon figured out who. But did Smith's wife really put the killer up to the job, like a real-life version of Nicole Kidman's character in 'To Die For'? (Portland, Multnomah County; 1950s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1811d.kermit-smith-murder-car-bomb-523.html)

In this episode of the Great Trials Podcast, hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Tom D'Amore from the D'Amore Law Group about the significant case of Nelson vs. TMT Development Company and Cornerstone Security Group Remember to rate and review GTP on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite platform. --- Case Details: An Oregon state court jury awarded $21.25 million, including $1.25 million in punitive damages, to the family of a man killed by a private security guard during an altercation in a Lowe's parking lot. The Multnomah County jury found property manager TMT Development Corp, property owner Hayden Meadows and three representatives of Cornerstone Security Group liable for the 2021 death of Freddy Nelson Jr. Former Cornerstone security guard Logan Gimbel, currently serving a life sentence after a second degree murder conviction over the incident, shot Nelson through the windshield of his pickup truck after ordering Nelson to leave the Lowe's lot, where he claimed he had an arrangement with a store employee to pick up and remove excess wooden palates. (SOURCE) --- Guest Bio: Tom D'Amore Tom D'Amore is a trial lawyer dedicated to preserving the civil justice system. Tom has earned a reputation among insurance companies, corporations, and opposing counsel as a skilled, experienced, aggressive, and ethical personal injury attorney. Tom is an experienced and board-certified civil trial attorney with the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Tom was selected by Super Lawyers and his peers as one of the Top 50 lawyers in Oregon. Tom and D'Amore Law Group are AV Preeminent rated for the highest ethical standards and professional ability by Martindale-Hubbell. In 2016, Tom was awarded the Arthur H. Bryant Public Justice Award by the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA). An attorney for more than 30 years — and a former CPA with a Big 8 accounting firm —Tom is licensed to practice law in Oregon, Washington, and California. He founded D'Amore Law Group in 1994 with the mission of securing justice for injured people, victims of wrongful death, and their families. Tom is actively engaged in the plaintiff's trial bar. Tom is a national Board of Governor, past Executive Committee member, and past Budget and Audit Chair of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) in Washington, D.C. Tom is Past President of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and an Eagle member of the Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ). (READ FULL BIO) --- LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:

The saloon owners won in court, but the temperance ladies absolutely destroyed them in the court of public opinion. Delighted, the preachers and patriarchs who fancied themselves their leaders geared up for victory in the upcoming election ... and seriously overplayed their hand. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1870s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1902d.temperance-wars-4of4-536.html)

Angry, surly saloonkeeper Walter Moffett attracted a large, hostile crowd with his harassment of a group of ladies holding a prayer service outside his bar. When the crowd rioted and trashed his saloon, he got the Portland police chief — also a saloon owner — to arrest them for instigating it. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1870s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1902c.temperance-wars-3of4-535.html)

Very few of Portland's saloonkeepers threw firecrackers at the ladies of the Women's Temperance Prayer League and called them 'damn whores' when they came by to hold prayer services at their bars. But, as the old song goes, there's one in every crowd ... and it's usually Walter Moffett of the Webfoot Saloon. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1870s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1902b.temperance-wars-2of4-534.html)

Inspired by the successes of temperance activists back east, a group of Portland ladies decided to take their message of abstinance out of the churches and into the streets. They may have been surprised by the reaction they got. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1870s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1902a.temperance-wars-1of4-533.html)

Half a century of winning labor disputes left the waterfront employers feeling overconfident. When the Portland longshoremen walked out, they expected it would be a repeat of earlier victories for them ... it wasn't. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1930s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1304a-1934-dock-strike-paralyzed-oregon.html)