Podcasts about Willamette Week

Local cannabis business owners are taking issue with a new Oregon labor law. Forest Park faces the threat of a devastating wildfire. And there's conflict over the future of the Multnomah Safe Rest Village. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's Friday news roundup are Willamette Week reporter and author Brianna Wheeler and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Plus, we have a bonus conversation with Heather Barnes of Rose City Comic Con. Discussed in Today's Episode: The City and a Nonprofit Argue Over What Success Looks Like at a Tiny Pod Village [Willamette Week] Is Portland Ready for a Catastrophic Wildfire in Forest Park? [Oregonian

Painted without any approval on a public wall in 1982, the so-called "Art Fills the Void" banana mural has become a beloved icon in the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood. But after nearly 40 years, the banana is now under threat. Today, executive producer John Notarianni talks with Willamette Week arts and culture reporter Rachel Saslow about that giant banana, Portland's long history of street art, and where to see some of the city's best murals right now. Join City Cast Portland at the 503 Day Block Party, Saturday, May 3, at downtown Portland's Ankeny Alley!! Details and RSVP here. 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 April 28th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Clackamas County Masters Gardeners Association Rose City Comic Con Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eastmoreland and Westmoreland are often overshadowed by neighboring Sellwood, but there's a lot to love in this idyllic corner of Portland. Today, Willamette Week culture reporter Rachel Saslow joins executive producer John Notariani to talk about "The Morelands," aka Eastmoreland and Westmoreland. We learn about must-dos and fun spots to visit, plus why the neighborhood has its own dedicated crying room. Discussed in today's episode: Reed College Canyon  Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden Stars Antiques Silly Daisy Oodles Kids Saburo's Sushi Monty's Red Sauce Moreland Theater Bible Club Kay's Bar Westmoreland Park Gigantic Brewing Company Join City Cast Portland at the 503 Day Block Party, Saturday, May 3, at downtown Portland's Ankeny Alley!! Details and RSVP here. 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 April 14th episode: Prolonlife.com/city - Use this link for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's an effort underway to revise the city's subjective noise code. Oregon legalized recreational marijuana, but black markets are still thriving. And lawmakers are considering allowing police to gather DNA from suspects before they're convicted – plus using drones to investigate crimes. Executive producer John Notarianni joins Willamette Week reporter and author Brianna Wheeler and our very own senior producer, Giulia Fiaoni, on today's Friday News Roundup.  Discussed in Today's Episode: Plans To Revise Portland Noise Control Gain Unanimous Committee Support [KGW] Oregon Has Spent $46 Million Fighting Black Market Cannabis. Officials Can't Tell if It's Working [Investigate West] Bill Would Empower Oregon Police To Use Drones To Respond to 911 Calls and Chase Suspects. Opponents Are Worried [Oregonian] Oregon Bill Would Mandate Police Swab Felony Suspects' DNA Upon Arrest, Not Conviction, Joining More Than 30 Other States [Oregonian] Join City Cast Portland at the 503 Day Block Party, Saturday, May 3, at downtown Portland's Ankeny Alley!! Details and RSVP here. 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. Please see below for tomorrow's sponsor show notes: Learn more about the sponsors of this April 11th episode: OMSI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the past five years, the number of illegal massage parlors in Portland has tripled from an estimated 36 to at least 114 different locations. According to state regulators and nonprofits, these parlors engage in illicit operations, including trafficking and abusing undocumented women. Today, we're revisiting a conversation with Eliza Aronson, who investigated the issue for Willamette Week. She spoke to neighbors, local law enforcement, even the workers themselves, and she's sharing with us what she learned. This episode might not be suitable for younger listeners. Though there is no explicit language in this conversation, there is mention of sex and human trafficking.  This episode first aired on December 10, 2024. Join City Cast Portland at the 503 Day Block Party, Saturday, May 3, at downtown Portland's Ankeny Alley!! Details and RSVP here. 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 April 10 episode: OMSI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Indigenous tribes in what is now the northeastern U.S. and Canada have played lacrosse for millennia. Similar stick-and-ball games were played by tribes across the Southeast and Great Lakes region. But according to NCAA data, less than 1% of college lacrosse players are American Indian or Alaskan Native, and more than 80% are white. Pacific Northwest Native Lacrosse is trying to change that. As reported in Willamette Week, the organization recruits Indigenous lacrosse players from across the PNW to participate in tournaments, youth camps and clinics. JD Elquist is the founder of PNWNL. Bilįį Blackhorn is a senior at South Eugene High School who’s played lacrosse for 10 years, including with PNWNL. They join us to talk about the importance of emphasizing the sport’s Indigenous roots.

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. Discussed in Today's Episode: A $7 Million Loan From Prosper Portland to an Athletic Wear Campus in Old Town Flouts the Agency's Risk Guidelines [Willamette Week] New Housing Committee Takes on Portland's Affordability Crisis [Portland Mercury] New Council Committee Grapples With Portland's Slipping Climate Goals [Portland Mercury] Oregon House and Senate Republicans Want To Do Away With Statewide Wildfire Risk Map [KGW8] 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 February 21st episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Treefort Music Fest Portland Jazz Festival Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Willamette Week's City Hall reporter Sophie Peel and our own executive producer, John Notarianni, for this week's Friday news roundup. Discussed in Today's Episode: After Confusion, City Administrator Tells Staffers They Can Speak Directly With Councilors [Willamette Week] District 2 City Councilors Are Frustrated by What They See as Top-Heavy Administration [Willamette Week] Portland Eyes Cuts to Homeless Camp, Graffiti Removal To Pay for Proposed Increase to City Council Budgets [Oregonian

It's Dry January, when many folks take a break from drinking alcohol and, in some cases, disappear from their local bars and restaurants during a time of year when business is already painfully slow. What does this mean for our small businesses — and for our growing nonalcoholic beverage industry? Today, we're talking with Willamette Week arts and culture reporter Rachel Saslow about our city's growing interest in sobriety. 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 your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textThis week the Portland-based duo, Wonderly stopped by to discuss their latest album Wolves/ We also talked about the Low Bar Chorale, A new German Opera, and so much more.********Wolves is the culmination of a creative partnership that dates back to 2016. Brunberg and Landsverk debuted Wonderly with a self-titled 2017 collection; the unit continued with the post-pandemic release Story We Tell in 2022 and the covers collection Appropriate 'til Death in 2023. Their film scores have been featured on the soundtracks for the independent films Last Ferry, At the Video Store and other independent features, while their music has been heard as the aforementioned theme song of the New York Times' podcast The Daily and writer Cheryl Strayed's Dear Sugar, as well as on Brunberg's award-winning podcast Roam Schooled.Jim Brunberg was a touring song and dance man for 12 years with the hugely successful rock/harmony/acoustic duo (and sometimes quintet) Box Set, touring with acts ranging from Dave Matthews to Huey Lewis, through the 90s. In 2000, Jim opened a recording studio, turning to the recording and composing world to satisfy his constant hunger for music. He produced and engineered dozens of records for many artists (Storm Large, Kristin Hersh, John Wesley Harding, and countless Portland-based bands) and released a few solo albums before converting the studios into a world-class music venue (Mississippi Studios). This spawned a few larger venues (Revolution Hall and Polaris Hall) where Jim personally built the stages, much of the seating and decor of a family of venues he still co-owns with his business partner Kevin Cradock. Currently, Jim is writing and recording/producing a tragic/comic German Opera, working with some of the classical musicians he has met over the past several years (mostly Oregon Symphony players). The work, "Das Blut" is a satirical, full-fledged production, entirely in German, that takes aim at the rise of a tyrant. It is a nuanced, but completely insurgent take on empathy, power, where our demons come from, and what they eat for dinner. He plans to debut this work, along with a new batch of songs, in 2025.Ben Landsverk is an American composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, based in Portland, OR, whose work focuses on social change through music. Hailed as a “prominent Portland composer” (Bloomberg Magazine) and “a unique musical talent” (Willamette Week), he is best known for his work as one half of the duo Wonderly, with musical partner Jim Brunberg. An active session musician, Landsverk has worked with such musical luminaries as Father John Misty, Pink Martini, Smokey Robinson, Van Dyke Parks, Storm Large, and Ruby Friedman Orchestra. From 2003-2015, he was a collaborator and music director with avant-garde performance artist Holcombe Waller and performed at such festivals as Under The Radar (NYC), Festival de Teatro de Curitiba (Brazil), Queer Zagreb (Croatia), Brooklyn Academy of Music (NYC), and Centre Pompidou (Metz and Paris, France).  Landsverk is the founder and director of Portland's Low Bar Chorale and of Voices Unlimited, Portland's flagship choir for people with neurodiversity. He spent over 20 years as a professional choral director and singer, specializing in medieval, renaissance, and baroque music. Landsverk is currently working on his first solo album, scheduled for release in early 2025. *******If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at Dauna@bettertopodcast.comFollow us on SocSupport the show

Today's episode proved the point of this whole "2024 Passion Projects" exercise. Ray Gill Jr. (Portland Mercury, Willamette Week) nominated a movie I was maybe going get to? And it ended up a favorite of the year. In "My Old Ass," Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza play the same character at different ages, connected in time by a mushroom trip. Ray and I dig into how director Megan Park plays with our allegiances, champions youth, and turns a possibly sappy premise into a deeply affecting call for self-reflection.

Willamette Springs Memory Care, a senior living facility in Corvallis, was under 'enhanced supervision' by the state, but continued to operate. As reported in Willamette Week, within the past two years the facility has been cited with upwards of 50 instances of abuse. In September, the Oregon Department of Human Services considered removing the facility's license. However, last month the facility passed its latest inspection, removing admission restrictions and regulatory oversight. Lucas Manfield covers health care for WW. He joins us to share more on the facility and the regulatory power the state has.

In the past five years, the number of illegal massage parlors in Portland has tripled from an estimated 36 to at least 114 different locations. According to state regulators and nonprofits, these parlors engage in illicit operations, including trafficking and abusing undocumented women. Today, we're talking with Eliza Aronson who investigated the issue for Willamette Week. She spoke to neighbors, local law enforcement, even the workers themselves, and she's sharing with us what she learned. This episode might not be suitable for younger listeners. Though there is no explicit language in this conversation, there is mention of sex and human trafficking.  By focusing on the stories and issues shaping our neighborhoods, City Cast Portland bridges gaps and connects the dots in Portland. Become a member to support local journalism that connects.  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 December 10th episode: Salishan Coastal Lodge - Book your stay at salishan.com with code CITYCAST to save 20% Habitat for Humanity Portland Region ReStores Meals on Wheels People Profile Theatre Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about the ongoing racism football players from an East Portland high school are facing, the proposed updates to Oregon's Bottle Bill that downtown retail stores are sending to the Legislature, and a look into how prepared Portland is for incoming winter weather storms. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's Friday news roundup are Willamette Week cannabis reporter and author Brianna Wheeler and our very own producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Discussed in Today's Episode: An East Portland School Grapples With Racism and Ineffective State Response [Portland Mercury] Portland Retailers and Mayor Ted Wheeler Want to Fix a Hole in Oregon's Bottle Bill [Willamette Week] Is Oregon Preparing Enough for Winter Weather? [Portland Monthly] 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 December 6th episode: Forrit Credit Union BetterHelp - get 10% off at betterhelp.com/CITYCAST Our Just Future Salishan Coastal Lodge - Book your stay at salishan.com with code CITYCAST to save 20% Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Portland’s historic charter reform resulted in nearly 100 candidates running for a seat on the expanded city council and 19 Portlanders running for mayor. For those running for office, Portland’s Small Donor Election program promises to match funding to donations and provide their campaigns with taxpayer dollars. Exactly 52 candidates qualified for the program this election cycle. But reporting from Willamette Week shows some of the “creative” ways candidates met the threshold to receive funds, from mutual donations between candidates to hiring nonprofit organizations to collect donations for them. Sophie Peel is a reporter for WW and has been following this election closely. She joins us to share more on the role the Small Donor Program played this election and how it compares to other cities with similar programs such as Seattle.

Portland Public Schools started enforcing strict policies for cellphone-free campuses in response to concerns over teachers struggling to hold students' attention. But is it working? Today, we're talking with Willamette Week arts and culture reporter Rachel Saslow. She visited one of the high schools with an active phone ban and has an inside look at how everyone is adjusting to their new reality. Previous episodes mentioned: Why a Portland Restaurant Closed for Smelling Like Food [City Cast Portland

Today, Hunter is joined by Oregon Criminal Defense and Victim's Rights lawyer Rachel Philips. Over the past three years, Rachel has been outspoken about retaliation that women attorneys faced from members of the Oregon Public Defense Commission. She joins the show to discuss her efforts to bring that retaliation to light and to discuss her candidacy for a seat on the bench in Multnomah County.   Guests: Rachel Philips, Criminal Defense Lawyer, Victim's Rights Lawyer, Candidate for Judicial Position 38, Multnomah County, Oregon   Resources: Links to the Judicial Race: League of women voters candidate forum:  https://youtu.be/goGR8mEDSy8?si=dx9UqPhHSI5BdzwM League of women voters interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTjwwMLP_JE LWV candidate statements : https://www.vote411.org/plan-your-vote  (If it doesn't pull it up, plug in my office address and it will by the race. My campaign website:   https://rachelphilipsforjudge.com/ Campaign Twitter:   https://x.com/Rachel4Judge Campaign Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelforjudge/ Oregonian article: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2024/10/surprise-open-seat-for-multnomah-county-judge-draws-pack-of-contenders.html?outputType=amp Willamette Week article: https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/09/12/the-window-opens-and-shuts-quickly-for-unusual-judicial-vacancy-in-multnomah-county/ Multnomah Bar Association Candidate Statements:  https://www.mbabar.org/about/mba-news/candidate-statements---circuit-court-judge-position-38/ Also, here's the Oregonian's endorsement of the DA (not a surprise): https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2024/10/editorial-endorsement-november-2024-elect-jeff-auxier-to-multnomah-county-bench.html   And my answers to their questions: https://www.oregonlive.com/editors/2024/10/rachel-philips-multnomah-county-judge-position-38.html   Also Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Philips   And the Multnomah Bar Association candidate statements: https://mbabar.org/judicialcandidates https://www.portlandmercury.com/election-guide-2024/2024/10/16/47453705/your-mercury-2024-election-cheat-sheet   Folder with Report and Statements https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QbvIppKcTDpSpLiQD4nFhA0IxLfVajiV?usp=sharing   Media coverage of defense crisis and investigation into OPDS, I tried to keep it mainly chronological, from oldest to most recent: https://www.oregoncapitalinsider.com/news/state-public-defense-office-out-of-money/article_b7e0e664-dae4-59fc-b846-23c86f14e8ae.html https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2021/07/as-state-public-defense-office-emerges-from-nearly-4-million-deficit-attorneys-raise-other-concerns-about-mismanagement.html https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2021/08/11/35853142/women-defense-attorneys-accuse-oregons-public-defense-agency-of-retaliation-and-pay-inequity https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2021/08/aclu-calls-for-investigation-after-female-attorneys-raise-retaliation-pay-concerns-at-state-public-defenders-office.html This mentions Tara Herivel not being paid her negotitated rate: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2022/03/states-embattled-public-defense-office-signed-contracts-worth-400000-to-hire-consultants-including-former-state-rep-jennifer-williamson.html Tara's guest column: https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2022/03/opinion-oregons-public-defense-crisis-rooted-in-longstanding-failures.html https://www.opb.org/article/2022/12/09/oregon-criminal-justice-system-publid-defender-shortage-crisis/ https://www.opb.org/article/2022/08/16/day-after-firing-public-defense-commissioners-oregons-chief-justice-appoints-new-members/   Here is Oregon ACLU landing page with timeline and their letters and actions: https://www.aclu-or.org/en/campaigns/fighting-gender-based-discrimination-public-defense-system#:~:text=Timeline-,August%202021,J.D.%2C%20to%20begin%20the%20investigation. https://x.com/rachelbusygrl/status/1681469783194357762  - has opinion in Tara's case that she won against OPDS https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2023/07/ousted-oregon-public-defense-leader-to-get-380000-to-settle-whisteblower-claims.html?utm_campaign=theoregonian_sf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter https://www.opb.org/article/2023/07/18/former-head-oregon-public-defense-singer-settles-with-state-for-380000k/ https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/02/report-shows-some-female-public-defenders-in-oregon-earned-less-than-male-counterparts-with-lots-of-caveats.html  https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2024/08/15/report-finds-top-lawyer-at-state-public-defense-agency-retaliated-against-two-female-attorneys/#:~:text=The%20report%20was%20commissioned%20by,represent%20every%20indigent%20criminal%20defendant. https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2024/02/07/long-awaited-investigation-into-gender-disparities-in-public-defender-pay-finds-considerable-inconsistency/ https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2024/09/no-discipline-for-oregon-public-defense-agency-leader-accused-of-retaliating-against-women-lawyers.html Rachel's letter to the editor in 2023: https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2023/05/readers-respond-public-defense-system-needs-accountability.html https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/10/20/aclu-demands-firing-of-state-public-defense-agencys-top-lawyer/ https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2024/10/aclu-demands-dismissal-of-top-lawyer-at-oregon-public-defense-agency.html?outputType=amp       Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

The push to help cannabis workers unionize, the investigation into Commissioner Rene Gonzalez's campaign finance law violation, and why regional leaders are upset with three city commissioners: Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's news roundup are Willamette Week cannabis reporter and author, Brianna Wheeler, and our very own producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Stories discussed this week: Measure 119 Will Ask Oregon Whether To Give Cannabis Workers an Easier Route To Unionize [OPB] Portland Mayoral Candidate Rene Gonzalez Broke Law by Using Taxpayer Money To Edit Wikipedia Page, Auditor Finds [Oregonian]  City's Sudden Plan to Exit Homelessness Compact Riles Governor, County Chair and Metro President [Willamette Week] Multnomah County chair garners lowest approval rating for a local elected official in recent memory [Oregonian

Sandwiches are versatile — you can eat them anywhere at any time of day and it always feels right. There are so many places in our city that make top-notch sandwiches, but when you really want one, it's easy for your mind to go blank. Today, we're talking with Willamette Week and Portland Mercury food writer Andrea Damewood about where to get the best sandwiches in town. Plus we're hearing from you, our sandwich loving listeners!  Sandwiches to check out: Fernando's Alegria Meat Cheese Bread Grand Central Bakery Picone's Quality Deli Ben & Esther's Taste Tickler Dimo's Apizza Dos Hermanos Cafe Laurelhurst Market The Baker's Mark Sammich Goose Hollow Inn Elmer's Snappy's Mémoire Cà Phê Bernstein's Bagels Maplewood Coffee and Tea Two of Us Street Disco An Xuyen Bakery The House of Bánh Mì Güero Super Torta Beto's Taqueria *Correction for today's episode, the City Archives open house is happening on Saturday from 2-5pm, not on Sunday! 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 10th episode: Paint Care Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST BetterHelp - get 10% off at betterhelp.com/CITYCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2006, caring, life-loving Susan Walters was attacked in her own home by a complete stranger. Expecting to relax after a long shift in the ER, Susan instead fought for her life, drawing on years of nursing and self-defense training. Would it be enough to save her and unravel the mystery behind this assault?Self Defense Videos:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVpxP3ZZtAchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V4vEyhWDZ0Tea of the Day: Grand Yunnan Imperial Theme Music by Brad FrankSources:Who the Bleep Did I Marry? (Season 2, Episode 14) “No Bigger Gamble.” Episode aired Jan 21, 2012, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2177409/?ref_=ttep_ep13All That is Interesting, “A Hitman Tried To Kill Susan Kuhnhausen: So She Killed Him Instead.” By Kara Goldfarb, Published March 30, 2018,Updated February 23, 2022, https://allthatsinteresting.com/susan-kuhnhausen“A Hit Man Came to Kill Susan Kuhnhausen. She Survived. He Didn't.” Willamette Week by By Beth Slovic August 16, 2016, https://www.wweek.com/news/2016/08/17/a-hit-man-came-to-kill-susan-kuhnhausen-she-survived-he-didnt/Oregon Live: The Oregonian, Woman who fatally strangled hitman in 2006 grows anxious as ex-husband nears prison release date by Aimee Green, Updated: Apr. 09, 2014, Published: Apr. 09, 2014 https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2014/04/woman_who_fatally_strangled_hi.htmlFace To Face with her HITMAN - Susan Kuhnhausen - Emma Kenny, https://youtu.be/-wV_ByXpRbkAnderson Live, Susan Walters Recounts Killing Her Hitman: 'It Was Horrible'.” Clip from April 19th, 2012, https://youtu.be/gztpsgY4jGkAnderson Live, Susan Walters Comes Face-to-Face with Her Hitman.” Clip from April 19th, 2012, https://youtu.be/Vy74imo9-Mo“Oregon woman kills hitman hired by her husband.” WAVE, Published: Sep. 10, 2007 at 5:50 PM, Updated: Sep. 17, 2007,  https://www.wave3.com/story/7051831/oregon-woman-kills-hitman-hired-by-her-husband/

Portland voters will decide 12 city council races and choose a new mayor this November. Willamette Week’s Sophie Peel found that some of the candidates running agreed to swap campaign donations in order to qualify for the city’s system of matching funds. That practice violated campaign finance law, according to attorneys and experts quoted in the stories, although the secretary of state’s office had declined to weigh in without having done its own full investigation. After inquiries, Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade has now directed the Elections Division to open an investigation. We talk with Peel about what she found and why it matters as Election Day approaches.

We're wrapping up our series on the biggest issues in the fall election, focusing on the thing behind all the campaign slogans and policy proposals: we're talking about the vibes of this election. How does Portland feel right now? How are these candidates embodying their idea of what Portland's about? And how can we expect them to carry themselves in office? Host Claudia Meza is talking with Willamette Week reporter and author Brianna Wheeler about the energy candidates are bringing to the race, and how we can expect to see that energy show up in the policies they propose. 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 September 12th episode: D'Amore Law Group Energy Trust of Oregon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on City Cast Portland, we're continuing our series breaking down some of the big issues that could shape Portland's fall election — and the candidates who are driving the conversation. Today, we're focusing on housing. Willamette Week reporter Sophie Peel joins executive producer John Notarianni to help sort it all out.  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 September 5th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Rose City Comic Con Pacific Northwest Seniorcare City Club of Portland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about the grand opening of PDX's stunning new airport terminal, the water tiger art that's caused a ton of controversy at City Hall, and free meals coming for every student at Portland Public Schools. Joining executive producer John Notarianni are Willamette Week reporter Sophie Peel and our very own producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Discussed in Today's Episode: ‘Just in Awe': PDX Main Airport Terminal Reopens with Trees and 9-Acre Wood-Beamed Ceiling [Oregonian] Records Offer Insight Into How Bobby Lee Directed a City Agency To Spend $60,000 in Taxpayer Dollars on a Pet Project [Willamette Week] Breakfast, Lunch Will Be Free to All Students at Many More Oregon Schools This Year [Oregonian

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about city commissioner and mayoral candidate Rene Gonzalez using thousands of taxpayer dollars to spruce up his Wikipedia page, the epic battle between wake boats and dragon boats on the Willamette River, and a recovery home coming under fire for sprouting up unannounced in a residential neighborhood. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's Friday news roundup are Willamette Week reporter Brianna Wheeler and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed in Today's Episode: Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez Spent Thousands in City Funds to Polish Wikipedia Page [Oregonian

For the first time since Portland City Council passed a new prohibited camping ordinance in early May, police on Friday arrested a homeless person for refusing to move or take an offer of shelter. However, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office declined to book the person in jail, KGW reported. Willamette Week was first to report on the arrest Monday. Portland ostensibly began enforcement of the new ordinance at the beginning of July, but this arrest marked the first time that the more drastic consequences of the ordinance have come to bear. According to a statement from the Portland Police Bureau, officers arrested a man identified as Alasdair Macdonald around 9:15 a.m. on Friday for unlawful camping near Northeast 28th Avenue and Alberta Street. Both police and city outreach workers had spoken with Macdonald "several times" prior, PPB said, and he refused to accept shelter or any other services.

Portlanders are electing a brand-new, expanded City Council this fall, and the candidates are flooding in: More than 70 people are intending to run for one of the 12 open seats. So this month, we're going district by district, talking with reporters who either live in the neighborhood or are covering that race closely. Today, host Claudia Meza is looking at who's running in District 4. Willamette Week reporter Sophie Peel is here to help us make sense of the crowded field. 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 sponsor of this July 30th episode: Chefs for Seniors Rose City Comic Con PaintCare Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live Nation wants to develop a 3,500 capacity venue in Portland’s central eastside. The company, which also owns Ticketmaster, controls an estimated 60% of concert venues across the country and also serves as one of the nation’s biggest artist management companies. Earlier this summer, the Department of Justice sued Live Nation, seeking to break up their “monopoly and restore competition for the benefit of fans and artists.” We hear from reporter Katie Thornton, who wrote about Live Nation’s quest to enter Portland for The Guardian. We also hear from Willamette Week reporter Anthony Effinger, who wrote about an alternate effort from local music promoter Monqui Presents to open a mid-sized venue at  the Lloyd Center.

Although the City of Portland passed a fireworks ban in March of 2022, Portland Fire & Rescue is preparing for a potential increase in fires started by personal fireworks this Fourth of July. Reporting by Willamette Week found that although the number of fires caused by fireworks dipped during the year the ban was enacted, the number of fireworks-related fires increased by 33% in 2023 compared with 2022. The fire department continues to urge people to obey the ban and celebrate the holiday in alternative ways. Rick Graves, a firefighter and spokesperson for Portland Fire & Rescue joins us to share more about the risks of using personal fireworks on the Fourth of July.

Former Oregon Gov. Neil Goldschmidt, one of the state’s most powerful figures before revelations that he had sexually abused a teen, died Wednesday at the age of 83. Goldschmidt’s abuse was hidden for nearly 30 years until it was broken by Nigel Jaquiss at Willamette Week after a long, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation. Jaquiss joins us to reflect on that reporting, and on Goldschmidt’s legacy.

“The Motorcycle Boy Reigns” as our kick arrives at “Rumble Fish” (1983). It's not set on the highway, but perhaps no movie in this kick uses the idea of the motorcycle rebel to such cool, elusive effect as Francis Ford Coppola's dreamlike crime drama, starring a young Mickey Rourke. Ray Gill Jr. (Portland Mercury, Willamette Week) is here to explain why “Rumble Fish” is his favorite film, why Matt Dillon used to scare him, and why insanity is intoxicating, plus primo tales of growing up in a video store.

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about Portland Public Schools' new superintendent pick, the city's foreclosing on abandoned buildings, and the demise of two local media empires. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's Friday roundup are Willamette Week reporter and author Brianna Wheeler and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed on Today's Episode: Portland Public Schools Picks New Superintendent After 6 Month Search [Oregonian]  City of Portland Moves to Foreclose on Local Eyesore, Old Gordon's Fireplace Shop [KOIN] Bob Pamplin Sells His Newspapers to Mississippi Firm [Willamette Week]   What's Next After Oregon Newspapers' Black Monday? [Oregonian

The Pamplin Media Group announced Monday that the Portland Tribune and more than two dozen of its other local newspapers in Oregon had been sold to Mississippi-based Carpenter Media Group. As reported in Willamette Week, Ross Island Sand & Gravel, part of R.B. Pamplin Corp., has been under fire for its failure to refill the cavernous hole it dug while mining the Willamette River bottom from 1926 to 2001. The R.B. Pamplin Corp., which has a variety of business holdings,  had been struggling financially for some time. On the same day, EO Media Group, which runs 15 family-owned newspapers from Enterprise to Astoria, announced it would be cutting staff and looking into new ownership. We discuss these developments and their possible implications with Brent Walth, a long time investigative reporter who now teaches journalism and runs the Catalyst program at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism

Happy 503 Day, everyone! Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about some of the Portland Bureau of Transportation's planned greenway additions, what the upcoming federal reclassification of cannabis would mean to our local industry, and the participatory budgeting campaign currently gathering signatures. Plus, we reveal our new unofficial city slogan! Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's Friday news roundup are Willamette Week's Potlander column author, Brianna Wheeler, and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed on Today's Episode: Federal Cannabis Reclassification Could Bring Pharmaceutical Companies to Oregon's Marijuana Industry [OPB] What Would You Do With $15 Million of City Money? Petition Would Give Portlanders a Say [Portland Mercury] News Release: Biking in Portland Grows by 5%, as PBOT Announces New Greenways and Retrofits Opening This Year [Portland.gov]  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 your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When one of the city’s vehicles are in need of repair, they may find themselves at Kerby Garage, a two-story city-owned facility in North Portland. But while the facility is responsible for servicing more than 2,000 city vehicles such as snowplows, dump trucks and excavators, the building has been labeled in city reports as in “very poor condition.” Some of the many problems with the building include no automated smoke detectors, frequent garage door issues and no air conditioning. Willamette Week reporter Sophie Peel has been covering this issue. She joins us to share more on what workers are facing and potential plans to address conditions at the facility in the future.

The task force that investigates online child exploitation in Oregon has long been understaffed, leading to a serious backlog of tips to follow up on. But as reported in Willamette Week, state lawmakers recently approved an extra $2.7 million for the team, allowing it to nearly quadruple in size. The money will also support community outreach efforts and training for local law enforcement to aid in their investigations. Michael Slauson is chief counsel for the Criminal Justice Division at the Oregon Department of Justice, which oversees the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. He joins us to talk about the work the task force does and what this new funding could mean.

Oregon’s Bottle Bill, which offers cash refunds for empty bottles and cans, was a landmark piece of legislation when it first passed in 1971. Since then, it’s served as a model for similar bills in other states and led to some of the highest recycling rates in the nation. The bill was originally intended to discourage littering, but the cash refunds it offers have increasingly become a lifeline for low-income Oregonians and people experiencing homelessness. As extensively reported in Willamette Week, critics now say the bill is fueling open-air drug markets outside return sites. We’ll get an overview of the Bottle Bill from Eric Chambers, vice president of strategy and outreach for the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative. We’re also joined by RJ DeMello, chair of the St. Johns Neighborhood Association; Ken Thrasher, former CEO of Fred Meyer and board chair of the Northwest Community Conservancy; and Kris Brown, manager of The People’s Depot, a Portland redemption center run by can collectors. They share their perspectives on how the Bottle Bill does – or doesn’t – interact with the state’s growing opioid and homelessness crises.  

Early last month, local Vietnamese restaurant chain Pho Gabo closed its Northeast location for good after a neighbor repeatedly complained to the city about food odor. How could this happen? Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking with Willamette Week arts and culture reporter Rachel Saslow, who broke the story. Saslow lays out what happened and updates us on where things landed. Mentioned in the Episode: Portland Location of Pho Gabo Closes After 18-Month Battle With Neighbor [Willamette Week] Restaurant Association Calls City Odor Code “Unfair” and “Unbelievable” [Willamette Week] Support Eddie Dong & Phở Gabo Get Back to Grillin' [GoFundMe] Become a founding 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 your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about the city and county's joint plan to halve homelessness by 2025, never-ending utility rate hikes, and Portland Public Schools' decision on how to make up for lost class time after the teachers strike and severe winter weather. Joining host Claudia Meza on our Friday news round-up are Willamette Week's "Potlander" column author Brianna Wheeler and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Stories Discussed in Today's Episode: Multnomah County, Portland Leaders Vow To Shelter 2,700 More People by End of 2025 [Oregonian

Voters in the Portland metro region passed a tax in 2020 to fund homeless services. But Multnomah County is far behind in spending the hundreds of millions of dollars that tax has generated. Clackamas and Washington counties also have unspent tax money. Now, the Metro regional government wants to divert some of those dollars to build more affordable housing. We'll talk with Willamette Week reporter Nigel Jaquiss who’s been following the developments.

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about the Portland Bureau of Transportation plan to boost parking and registration enforcement. Plus, there's a controversy over a hip-hop showcase severing ties with its longtime home, and Portland Public Schools is gearing up for $30 million in budget cuts. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's Friday news roundup are Willamette Week's “Potlander” column author Brianna Wheeler and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Stories Discussed in Today's Episode: The Thesis Ends Hip-Hop Showcase at Kelly's Olympian, Citing Political Dispute [Willamette Week] Wynne: The Thesis [YouTube] To Fix $32M Budget Deficit, PBOT Proposes Increased Enforcement on Parking, Expired Vehicle Registrations [KGW] Portland Public Schools Outlines Plans For $30 Million in Cuts, Sparking Backlash [Oregonian] 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 sponsor of this episode: Bon Coeur Home + Wellness (Use promo code "LOVE15" for 15% off) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the past year, Portland neurosurgeon Darrell Brett hasn’t been charging his patients for his services, but only as a result of disciplinary action. In an in-depth investigation conducted by the Oregon Medical Board that began in 2017, Brett was found to have grossly overcharged his patients for surgical procedures, overprescribed painkillers and referred his patients to a specimen testing company he owned. Lucas Manfield is a reporter for Willamette Week. He joins us to share more about this specific case and how it reflects failures in the system of oversight and regulation by the state medical board and other agencies.  

Since Oregon voted a decade ago to legalize recreational cannabis, the industry has gone through cycles of boom and bust. Recently, large harvests have oversupplied the market, causing a drop in prices, and illegal cannabis farming continues to negatively impact Oregon's legal market. Meanwhile, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency is considering rescheduling the drug, which could change the cannabis market on a federal level. Today we're talking with Willamette Week's “Potlander” column author Brianna Wheeler about how all these factors are affecting Oregon's industry. Events mentioned in today's show: OMSI Studio Ghibli Film Festival Portland Folk Festival Oregon Cider Week  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 your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Graphic design may be our passion, but everybody needs a break too! While Did I Do That? is off for a few weeks between seasons, enjoy a few episodes of our sister podcast Fontroversy, produced by one of Sean's classes in Spring 2023. If you missed episode 1, no worries—unlike the glut of superhero cinematic universe movies out there, there's nothing there you need to know to enjoy to this one! If you want to revisit it, though, you can find it here!When a typeface ripped from the funny pages starts to get contentious, surprise guest expert Whitney McPhie (currently serving as Interim Creative Director at Willamette Week) intervenes to school Lena and Sean on what Comic Sans can really do.IMPORTANT EDITORIAL CORRECTION: Gentle Giants Dog Food does NOT, in fact, use Comic Sans on its packaging—it instead uses a DaFont-style Disney-inspired sans paired with, of all things, Bank Gothic Sean apologies for this truly shameful oversight, although in their defense, attempting to look at any one specific type block on the package without being immediately distracted is basically impossible.Segment Producer: Whitney McPhieResearchers: Ashley Heeke, Sophia StokerStory Editors: Anna Stanton, Hannah JosephSound Editing & Mix: Orion CortezThis episode was recorded Tuesday, May 30, 2023, and originally published Thursday, August 3, 2023.---PRODUCTION CREDITSFontroversy was created by the students of DES 399 Public Design Communication in the Spring of 2019 as part of Portland State University's Graphic Design program in Portland, Oregon. You can learn more about PSUGD at psu.gd. You can learn more about the PSU School of Art+Design at pdx.edu/art-design.Host: Lena HallShow Logo: Robert DittySocial Media Coordinator: Ashley HeekeProducer: Sean SchumacherEditorial Assistance by: Orion CortezMusic: “How Can Things Be” by HoliznaFor more about Fontroversy, visit fontroversy.com or follow @fontroversy.psugd on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on our weekly news roundup we're talking about the legislative hearings on Measure 110, Gov. Tina Kotek forgiving uncollected traffic fines, and the federal civil rights lawsuit filed against Portland and Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Host Claudia Meza is joined by Willamette Week's “Dive” podcast host and Potlander column author Brianna Wheeler and our executive producer, John Notarianni. Stories discussed in today's episode: Legislative Hearing on Measure 110 Draws Enormous Outpouring of Public Comment [Willamette Week] Oregon Governor Forgives Uncollected Traffic Fines and Fees [OPB] How To Check Your Eligibility for License Reinstatement Displaced Albina Descendants' Suit Against City of Portland, Legacy Hospital Can Proceed, Judge Rules [Oregonian

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about what's happened in the immediate aftermath of the Portland teachers strike, how a wonky city land deal might displace 35 families, and why the Burnside Bridge is getting torn down. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's news round-up are Willamette Week city hall reporter Sophie Peel and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Stories Discussed in Today's Episode: City Commissioner Dan Ryan made a generous offer for a mobile home park. Now the deal is in jeopardy. [Willamette Week] Portland schools abuzz as classes resume after historic strike [OPB] Portland's Burnside Bridge to close for 5 years during seismic rebuild, starting in 2027 [OPB] Burnside Bridge Earthquake Simulation [Youtube]  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 sponsor of this episode: Hasan Minhaj at the Arlene Schnitzer Hall on March 7, 2024  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about why Portland Public Schools teachers are now on strike for the first time ever, how the city will start enforcing the camping ban, and why you won't be buying liquor at the grocery store anytime soon. Joining lead producer John Notarianni on this week's news roundup are Willamette Week's “Dive” podcast host and "Potlander" column writer Brianna Wheeler and our very own audio producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Stories discussed in today's episode: Portland Public Schools Strike: What You Need to Know [Oregonian] Camp SCRAP Portland Will Begin Enforcing Camping Ban in Two Weeks [OPB] Portland Camping Restrictions Map Oregon Grocers Decide Not to Seek Privatized Liquor Sales in 2024 [Willamette Week] See Brianna Wheeler in Conversation with City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 7 pm at Powell's City of Books 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 sponsor of this episode: Chelsea Handler at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Nov. 2 & 3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recently released audit took aim at the operation of Metro’s two solid waste transfer stations. Located in Northwest Portland and Oregon City, the facilities process about 40% of the garbage generated by 1.7 million customers in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington County. They also accept hazardous household items like paint thinner, batteries and used propane tanks.  Willamette Week earlier reported on the audit which found “gaps” and “weaknesses” that reveal a “lack of basic management practices” and raise concerns around safety and financial risks for the agency. For example, only 3% of employees at the transfer stations completed annual radiation safety training, and fewer than half completed asbestos awareness training. The audit also found overpayment to a contractor supplying diesel for Metro’s garbage trucks. Joining us is Metro Auditor Brian Evans to talk about the audit and recommendations it made to Metro officials.

When Tom Swearingen wrote his first poem to remember a friend who had died, he didn’t consider himself a poet. But the small group of friends and family he read it to told him to keep writing. He did, and he says because he long enjoyed Western music, art and literature, including the cowboy poetry of Baxter Black, that was the style that fit. Within 10 years, Swearingen had published a collection of poetry which was named the 2020 Cowboy Poetry Book of the year by the International Western Music Association. The group also named him best male poet in 2019 and 2022. He also got Willamette Week’s nod in its “Best of” edition this year. Swearingen, like other cowboy poets, is particularly busy in the summer months with performances at rodeos and other events. We listen back to a conversation about his work and read some of his poetry.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, July 11th, 2023. Fight Laugh Feast Conference - Ark Encounter This year, our Fight Laugh Feast Conference is at the Ark Encounter in Kentucky on The Politics of Six Day Creation. The politics of six day creation is the difference between a fixed standard of justice and a careening standard of justice, the difference between the corrosive relativism that creates mobs and anarchy and the freedom of objectivity, truth, and due process. The politics of six day creation establishes the authority and sufficiency of God’s Word for all of life: from what is a man or a woman, when does human life begin, and how is human society best organized? Come hear Ken Ham, Pastor Doug Wilson, Dr. Ben Merkle, Dr. Gordon Wilson, me and more, and of course a live CrossPolitic show! Mark your calendars for October 11th-14th, as we fight, laugh, and feast, with beer & psalms, our amazing lineup of speakers, our Rowdy Christian Merch, and a Sabbath Feast to wrap up the occasion. Maybe an infant baptism while we’re at it! Visit fightlaughfeast.com for more information! https://www.theblaze.com/news/ban-on-transgender-surgery-for-tennessee-children-goes-into-effect Tennessee's ban on transgender surgery for kids goes into effect immediately, federal appeals court rules Tennessee can implement its ban on transgender surgery and related medical interventions for minors as a case challenging the law works its way through the court, a divided federal appeals court panel ruled Saturday. Tennessee's 44th House District Representative William Lamberth (R) wrote on Twitter Saturday: "I am thankful to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals for confirming what Tennesseans already know: Children cannot give consent to experimental medical procedures or drugs that destroy their healthy bodies," The Tennessee law now in effect, at least temporarily, prohibits surgical procedures and administration of hormones or puberty blockers for the purpose of gender transition, as Reason explains. Judge Thapar joined Sutton, concluding that the lower court had wrongly stopped the law's implementation. Judge White delivered a separate opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part. The ban, originally set to take effect July 1, will now take effect immediately. The ban was held up when a lower court sided with the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee. ACLU-TN argued that the law interfered with parental rights and was unconstitutional, as The Hill reported. This is the first federal court to allow such a ban, with other courts unanimously blocking similar bans in Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Indiana, and Kentucky, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee. ACLU-TN brought the suit on behalf of Samantha and Brian Williams of Nashville and their 15-year-old daughter, as well as two other anonymous families and Dr. Susan N. Lac. https://dailycaller.com/2023/07/09/portland-distribute-foil-straws-snorting-kits-paraphernalia-drug-addicts/ City To Distribute Foil, Straws, Snorting Kits To Drug Addicts Health officials in Portland, Oregon announced last week they will begin handing out tin foil, straws and snorting kits to drug addicts throughout the city. As part of its “Harm Reduction Program,” the Multnomah County Health Department announced Friday that drug paraphernalia will be offered to those using fentanyl and other hard drugs, KOIN 6 reported. The rise of fentanyl has decreased the need for needle-focused “harm reduction” services, Department spokeswoman Sarah Dean told the Willamette Week. Since fentanyl is smoked rather than injected, clinic visits have dropped 60% since 2019, Dean said. The program is backed by Multnomah County’s Public Health Director, Jessica Guernsey, who says, “The new part of the program is that we’re adding supplies for people who smoke drugs.” Others are not happy with the move. “This misguided approach also results in greater risk to public safety for those who simply want to enjoy our city without walking through a cloud of toxic smoke,” Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said. “Our community would benefit more from the County using its funding to urgently increase treatment and sobering facilities rather than actively enabling this deadly epidemic.” Dean countered the mayor’s statement by claiming providing drug paraphernalia does not increase drug use but encourages addicts to visit clinics where they can get access to fentanyl test strips and the overdose antidote, Narcan, KOIN 6 reported. The Oregon Legislative Assembly recently passed a bill decriminalizing the distribution of “drug paraphernalia” for harm reduction purposes, according to the Willamette Week. Similar programs have been launched in Washington and California. In New York City, vending machines with smoking kits and bubble pipes have recently been installed, the outlet reported. The Oregon bill to decriminalize distribution of drug paraphernalia sits on Governor Tina Kotek’s desk awaiting signature before going into law, the New York Post reported. https://hotair.com/karen-townsend/2023/07/09/the-winner-of-miss-netherlands-2023-is-a-man-n563401 The winner of Miss Netherlands 2023 is a man Transgender activism marches on. The newly crowned Miss Universe Netherlands is a man. The runner-up is a woman. Rikkie Valerie Kollé was crowned Miss Universe Netherlands 2023 on Saturday. Rikkie is 22 years old, a Dutch-Moluccan model and actress in Leusden. He will represent the Netherlands at the 2023 Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador. The first runner-up is Nathalie Mogbelzada, 26, from Amsterdam. The reigning Miss Universe, R’Bonney Gabriel of Houston, Texas, was a special guest at the pageant. He makes history as the first transgender woman to win the national title. In 2018, Angele Ponce, Miss Universe Spain, was the first transgender to participate in the Miss Universe pageant. The question of having a transgender competitor in the Miss Universe pageant goes back to 2012. That is when Trump owned it and he overturned a decision by the Miss Universe organization to disqualify a Canadian model. Jenna Talackova was not being allowed to compete because “she was not a naturally born female.” Trump bowed to the laws of Canada and allowed Jenna to compete. The LGBTQ community applauded Trump. Now he’s running against a very socially conservative Republican, Ron DeSantis, among others, and Trump has flipped on the issue. The Miss America pageant is also having its share of problems. Ever since former Fox anchor Gretchen Carlson came out as super woke and joined the organization, internal battles have leaked into the press. One big issue is that when Carlson joined the organization in 2018, she made the decision to ban the swimsuit segment. Now a former Miss America, Caressa Cameron, says that the pageant feels like a Ted Talk. There is a new docuseries on A&E that exposes scandals, misogyny, and racism in the Miss America competitions. Now in world news: https://www.foxnews.com/us/us-centcom-says-killed-isis-leader-syria-airstrike-no-civilian-casualties US CENTCOM says it killed ISIS leader in Syria airstrike, no civilian casualties U.S. forces killed ISIS leader Usamah al-Muhajir in an airstrike in eastern Syria on Friday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a Sunday statement. Al-Muhajir was killed by the same MQ-9 reaper drones that had been harassed by Russian aircraft in the region. The two incidents occurred the same day, the U.S. says, with the drones carrying out the strike after the interaction with Russian craft. "We have made it clear that we remain committed to the defeat of ISIS throughout the region," said CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Kurilla. "ISIS remains a threat, not only to the region but well beyond." CENTCOM clarified that there were no indications that any civilians were killed in the strike, but the U.S. and allies were assessing reports of a civilian injury. The U.S. and allied forces in the region have carried out a consistent campaign against remaining ISIS leaders operating in Syria. The U.S. killed the head of the organization, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in a 2019 raid. Since then, ISIS forces have operated as cells. The MQ-9 drones used in the attack had earlier interactions with Russian SU-35 fighter jets throughout last week. The Russian craft have repeatedly flown into the path of the drones, forcing them to take evasive action to avoid a collision. "Russian military aircraft engaged in unsafe and unprofessional behavior Thursday, 9:30 a.m. local time, while interacting with U.S. MQ-9 drones carrying out our D-ISIS mission in Syria," said Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commander, 9th AF and CFACC for CENTCOM. "Russian aircraft dropped flares in front of the drones and flew dangerously close, endangering the safety of all aircraft involved." "This is the second instance of dangerous behaviors by Russian pilots within the past 24 hours, with the first happening Wednesday at approximately 10:40 a.m. local time," he added. The U.S. military has also urged Russian forces in Syria to "cease this reckless behavior and adhere to the standards of behavior expected of a professional air force, so we can resume our focus on the enduring defeat of ISIS," he said. The U.S. maintains a force of about 900 troops deployed in Syria. They primarily work with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in their struggle against Islamic State militants. Now in entertainment… https://thepostmillennial.com/cnn-discourages-viewers-from-watching-anti-pedophile-movie-sound-of-freedom?utm_campaign=64487 CNN discourages viewers from watching anti-pedophile movie, Sound of Freedom In a clip from CNN, network host Abby Phillip brought on an author named Mike Rothschild to talk about the new and popular anti-child sex trafficking film, Sound of Freedom. Rothschild charged the film is created out of a "moral panic" and "QAnon concepts." Sound of Freedom is based on the adventures of Tim Ballard, who started an organization known as Operation Underground Railroad (OUR). OUR's mission is to save children from human trafficking. Rothschild wrote a book titled, "The Storm is Upon Us," which details many QAnon conspiracy theories such as the idea that the Democratic Party elites are part of a cabal of Satanic worshippers that drink the blood of children. Rothschild targeted said the film is "being marketed to either specific QAnon believers or to people who believe all of the same tenets as QAnon, but claim they don't know what it is." https://rumble.com/v2yw470-cnn-encourages-viewers-not-to-see-anti-pedophile-movie-sound-of-freedom.html - Play Video CNN has had its own problems with employees being involved in child sex crimes. One former producer at the network, John Griffin, was sentenced to 19 years in prison. Griffin coerced a woman online to bring her nine-year-old daughter to Vermont to engage in illicit acts. The story depicted in the film is of Ballard, played by Caviezel, rescuing children. After much strife with working in the US government, he bumps up against bureaucracy in his position as an agent. He had to quit his job to rescue the kids in the film and did so in reality as well. This was the beginning of OUR as a non-government organization. The movie focuses on Ballard's mission to save the two children and reunite a family torn apart by child sex trafficking. At the end of the movie, Caviezel appears on screen with a special message to share and urges people to "pay it forward" and donate to allow others to see the film. Caviezel says, "Steve Jobs once said, 'The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller.' Abraham Lincoln credited Harriet Stowe when she wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin. This powerful story inspired millions to rise up and fight against slavery. I think we can make Sound of Freedom the Uncle Tom's Cabin of modern-day slavery." "Sound of Freedom is a hero's tale, but I'm not talking about the character I play. It's the heroic brother and sister in this film that work to save each other." Caviezel added, "Together, we have a chance to make these two kids, and the countless children that they represent, the most powerful people in the world by telling their story in a way only the cinema can do." Before we wrap up today’s show, let’s talk about on this day in history! On this day in history, July 11th: 138 Antoninus Pius succeeds Hadrian as Emperor of Rome 1302 Battle of the Golden Spurs (Guldensporenslag in Dutch) near Kortrijk (cor-tray), Belgium: Flemish coalition defeat the French army of Philip IV 1405 Chinese fleet commander Zheng He sets sail on his first major expedition, to the Spice Islands, leading 208 vessels, including 62 treasure ships with 27,800 sailors 1533 Pope Clement VII excommunicates England's King Henry VIII On 11th July 1533, the Pope declared that Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne Boleyn was null and void, as was the annulment declared by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in May 1533, and he restored Catherine of Aragon to her “royal state”. He ordered the wayward king to abandon the newly crowned and pregnant Anne Boleyn and return to Catherine of Aragon. If the king refused then the Pope would issue the bull of excommunication that he had drawn up. He’d give Henry until September to sort himself out, but if he didn’t heed the Pope’s warning then he’d be excommunicated, the most severe punishment that the Church could inflict. Of course, Henry took absolutely no notice of the Pope, but he escaped excommunication until 17th December 1538 when Pope Paul III excommunicated him following his break with Rome, his persecution of those who did not accept his supremacy, the dissolution of the monasteries and Henry’s desecration of religious shrines including that of Thomas Becket. 1576 English explorer Martin Frobisher sights Greenland 1740 Jews are expelled from Little Russia by order of Tsarina Anne 1781 Thomas Hutchins designated Geographer of US By the age of 30, the remarkable Thomas Hutchins (1730?-1789) was an experienced frontiersman, a veteran of the French and Indian War, and a skilled Indian agent. He was best known, however, as a formidable surveyor, cartographer, and geographer. A native of New Jersey, the particular combination of skills made Hutchins the perfect candidate for surveying the vast western regions of the British North American empire. In 1766, he was officially assigned to duty as an engineer in the British army, gradually becoming the most respected surveyor and map maker in the colonies. From 1764 through 1768, he took part in expeditions spanning the west from the northern reaches of the Mississippi Valley to New Orleans, and in 1770, was transferred from the Illinois territory to Pensacola, where he was charged with reorganizing the provincial defenses and mapping. 1798 US Marine Corps established by an act of Congress 1801 French astronomer Jean-Louis Pons discovers his 1st comet 1882 British fleet bombards Alexandria, Egypt 1906 The Gillette-Brown murder inspires Theodore Dreiser's "An American Tragedy" 1960 "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is first published by J. B. Lippincott & Co. 1984 Government orders air bags or seat belts would be required in cars by 1989 1988 Mike Tyson hires Donald Trump as an advisor