City Cast Portland

Portland Public Schools was already staring down a $50 million budget deficit for the next school year. Then, last week, the district announced it will be $10 million short this year, too. Today on City Cast Portland, Oregonian education reporter Julia Silverman is here to check in on the district's current financial straits, what it will take to cover the costs, and why there are still reasons for optimism inside Portland's largest school district.  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 March 5th episode: Discover Newport Neo Home Loans

Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about the city official vowing to keep Portland's ICE facility open, PacifiCorp's liability in a class action lawsuit over the 2020 wildfires topping $1 billion, the recycling company that dumped 17 tons of plastic in a local landfill, and so much more. Plus, we've got event picks to help you make the most of the first week of March. Joining executive producer John Notarianni for this midweek news roundup is our very own senior producer, Giulia Fiaoni. This episode incorrectly attributes Portland Mercury reporter Jeremiah Hayden's article to the Oregonian. We regret this mistake.  Discussed in today's episode: Portland City Administrator Tells Staff ICE Facility Will Remain Open [Portland Mercury] PacifiCorp Wildfire Liabilities in Class Action Suit Surpass $1 Billion, Continue To Soar [Oregonian]   A Recycling Company Improperly Dumped 17 Tons of Plastic in a Landfill. It Has Millions of Dollars in Government Contracts [Oregonian]  Oregon Moves Toward 1-Year Moratorium on Some Data Center Tax Breaks [Oregonian]  Oregon Legislature Passes Bill To Stop Speculative Ticket Sales [Willamette Week]   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 March 4th episode Discover Newport Neo Home Loans

Today on City Cast Portland, we’re looking into the city’s new pilot program hoping to make us all landlords and how Portland might become a haven for polyamorous families. Plus, we’re diving into our mailbag and hearing from you, our listeners, on a few more gluten-free food picks. Joining host Claudia Meza are KBOO news director Althea Billings and City Cast Portland senior producer Giulia Fiaoni. Discussed in today's episode: Portland Advances Antidiscrimination Protections for Polyamorous Families [OPB] Portland Launches Pilot Program To Pay Homeowners To Rent Spare Rooms [KATU] Why Portland Has the Best Gluten-Free Food Scene on Earth [City Cast Portland] Fancy Baby Reopens As Il Corso With Salumi, Pasta, and Italian Wines [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 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 March 3rd episode: Discover Newport Neo Home Loans

Whether you’re settling in for a tasting menu at one of our city's best restaurants during Portland Dining Month or listening to a string ensemble performing candlelit renditions of your favorite '90s hip-hop hits, this is the month when Portland begins to shake off the winter doldrums and come alive. City Cast Portland has picked the month’s top food, entertainment, and community happenings to help you have your best March ever. Plus, a bonus suggestion from our episode archive: Can You Really Eat That? A Forager’s Guide To Portland Plants. If you're new here, welcome! For even more tips on how to make the most of March in Portland, check out the City Cast Portland newsletter’s take on what to do this month. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 2nd episode Discover Newport Neo Home Loans

A lot of cities, including Portland, are trying to figure out how best to revitalize downtown. It's an issue that's especially top of mind for Pittsburgh, who is hosting the NFL Draft in April. To solve the problem of vacant properties and empty storefronts, the city is trying out a new rent abatement program. So, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Pittsburgh podcast host Megan Harris about why their downtown emptied out, whether this program will bring new businesses downtown for the long-term, and other revitalization plans that are in the works. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

Today on City Cast Portland we’re looking into a troubling 911 call from an ICE officer, Gov Kotek’s confusing stance on data centers, and a group that hosts real life seasons of “Survivor” right here in Portland. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week’s Friday news roundup are Stumptown Savings founder, Bryan M. Vance and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed in today's episode: Armed ICE Officer in Portland Called 911 During Confrontation [OPB] Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek: Pace of Data Center Growth ‘Is Not Sustainable’ [Oregonian] This Group Hosts a Real-Life Version of Survivor in Portland [Portland Mercury] 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 February 27th episode: Discover Newport

Today we’re talking with Portland Monthly Managing Editor Margaret Seiler, about her car-free, off-season guide to Hood River and the surrounding area. Even at its quietest, Margaret thinks Hood River has plenty going on for a weekend trip. She’s got a list of places we should check out, including a place that boasts art so bad they don’t allow you to take pictures inside. 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 February 26th episode Discover Newport

Today on the midweek news roundup, we’re talking about our 12-member City Council finding ways to cut down on meetings, a measles outbreak in our state, a city leader walking back a proposal for allowing open carry in City Hall, and why our coastal Dungeness crabbers united against a petition aimed at preventing whale entanglements. Plus, we dive into our mailbag and hear from you, our listeners. Discussed in today's episode: Portland City Council Votes To Reshape its Committee Structure [Portland Mercury] Oregon Health Officials Are Now Calling Measles an ‘Outbreak’ [KOIN] Councilor Smith Walks Back Her Statement Amid Public Outcry [Portland Mercury] City Issues Report Clearing Zenith Energy of Alleged Violations [Portland Mercury] Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Denies Petition to Alter Dungeness Crabbing Rules [KLCC] 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 Love Centerwall, the Executive Director of the Library Foundation, learn more here. Sponsored by Pivot Property Management. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 25th episode: Discover Newport

With the price of everything skyrocketing and many of us still wanting to pop out of town for a quick winter getaway, we're revisiting a conversation with our resident fun expert Eden Dawn, co-author of The Portland Book of Dates. She's sharing some ideas for luxurious, budget-friendly staycations, from a night away at a local winery's villa to a bike ride along a beautiful waterfront. This episode first aired on March 25, 2025 Discussed in today's episode: The Allison Inn & Spa The Society Hotel Bingen The Hoxton Sosta House (Reopening for the season March 1)  Beacon Hill Winery Villa Catalana Cellars Durant Olive Mill at Red Ridge Farms Enchanted Forest (Reopening for the season March 21) Salem's Riverfront Park La Hacienda Real 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 24th episode: Discover Newport

As Portlanders, we can't help but be nostalgic for the past. So when it comes to our restaurant scene, it can be hard to accept how often we have to say goodbye to our most beloved spots. Today Portland Monthly's associate editor of food and drink Alex Frane is joining host Claudia Meza and producer Giulia Fiaoni to remember some of our city's most missed restaurants, along with picks from you, our listeners. 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 February 23rd episode Discover Newport Pivot Portland

Everyone’s talking about AI these days, including Portlanders. And now, more data centers are popping up across the country, thanks in part to the AI revolution. But some cities are stemming the tide, including Madison, Wisconsin, who recently passed a one-year moratorium on new data center construction. City Cast CEO David Plotz feels strongly that this was the wrong choice! He’s sitting down with City Cast Madison podcast host Bianca Martin to weigh the pros and cons of data centers, and debate the economic, ethical, and ecological considerations at the heart of this debate. Plus, David and Bianca share must-know tips for making it in Madison and DC.  We also mentioned this City Cast Madison episode. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

Today, we're talking about how Portland’s housing authority, Home Forward, is taking ages to fill vacant apartments, why the Trump administration is once again investigating Portland Public Schools, and updates on local leaders' attempts to combat federal overreach. Joining host Claudia Meza on today’s Friday news roundup are Stumptown Savings founder Bryan M. Vance and our very own producer Giulia Fiaoni. Discussed in Today's Episode: It Takes Home Forward 185 Days on Average To Fill an Apartment at One of Its Buildings [Willamette Week] US Department of Education Opens Investigation Into PPS’s Center for Black Student Excellence [Willamette Week] US Education Department Opens Civil Rights Probe Into Portland Public Schools' Center for Black Student Excellence [KGW] Portland Protesters and Journalists Are Suing Trump and the DHS. Oregon’s Attorney General Just Stepped In To Help. [Portland Mercury]  ‘A Win for Oregon’: 9th Circuit Dismisses Trump Appeal Over National Guard Deployment [Oregonian]  Temporary Tear Gas Restriction Outside Portland’s ICE Building Extended [Oregonian]  ‘Food Is Political’: A Portland Pizzeria Shared Its Anti-ICE Stance. Then It Was Targeted by a Conservative Social Media Site [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 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 20th episode: Discover Newport Neo Home Loans South by Southwest - use code "citycast10" for a 10% discount on your Innovation Badge

Our city gets a lot of national attention for being the best at certain things. We have the best airport, pizza, vegan food, and protests, according to some publications. And today on City Cast Portland, we have another one to add to that list. According to travel writer Matt Hansen, we have the best gluten-free food in the entire world. And he’s brought the receipts to prove it, along with an expert guide to Portland's best gluten-free dining. 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 February 19th episode: Discover Newport South by Southwest - use code "citycast10" for a 10% discount on your Innovation Badge

Earlier this week, we discussed ideas for bringing people back to our city center — including promoting Portland's nightlife. Many cities across the U.S. have hired night-time economy directors, or “night mayors,” to manage and boost late-night scenes, and it’s paying off. Today, we're revisiting a conversation host Claudia Meza had with Philadelphia's Night Time Economy Director, Raheem Manning, about how he keeps Philly running all night long and whether Portland could benefit from this type of leadership.  This episode originally aired on March 24, 2025. 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 18th episode: Discover Newport South by Southwest - use code "citycast10" for a 10% discount on your Innovation Badge

Despite countless efforts by city and state leaders, downtown foot traffic is nowhere near pre-pandemic levels. Today, we’re talking with two local leaders who represent our central city: District 4 Councilor Olivia Clark and District 3 Councilor Steve Novick. We’re talking through the mayor’s ambitious new plans for downtown, what’s already in the works, some crazy ideas that just might work, and why it’s so important we continue to invest in our urban core. Thank you to today’s sponsor, Pivot Property Management. 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 February 17th episode: Discover Newport Neo Home Loans Pivot Portland South by Southwest - use code "citycast10" for a 10% discount on your Innovation Badge

All eyes have been on the Twin Cities lately, including Portlanders’. Operation Metro Surge is reportedly ending in Minnesota, with the withdrawal of immigration agents expected over the next week. Over the last two months, though, residents of the Twin Cities have organized a range of local collective action efforts including protests, mutual aid, and monitoring ICE — and they’ve done it quickly. In this inaugural episode of “Your City Could Be Better,” City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Twin Cities podcast host Sean McPherson about how his community self-organized, why these networks have been so successful, and what other cities can take away from Minnesotans’ response to Operation Metro Surge. Plus, we have a D.C. vs. Twin Cities face-off on local cultural norms. We also mentioned this episode of City Cast Twin Cities. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

Today, we’re looking into far-right activist Ammon Bundy's stance against ICE agents, the millions of unspent housing dollars the city uncovered, and big changes coming to 82nd Avenue. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week’s Friday news roundup are Oregonian City Hall reporter Shane Dixon Kavanaugh and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed in Today's Episode: Ammon Bundy Is Fed Up With Federal Overreach Again. This Time, It’s About ICE [Oregonian] Bundyville Podcast Portland’s Pile of Unspent Housing Dollars Surges to $106M, Top Bureaucrat Says [Oregonian]  One of Portland’s Busiest Streets May Get a Dramatic Overhaul. Not Everyone Is On Board [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 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 13th episode: Portland Art Museum D'Amore Law Pivot Portland South by Southwest - use code "citycast10" for a 10% discount on your Innovation Badge

With Valentine’s Day just days away, it's a good time to remember just how complicated dating can feel in Portland. Today, comedian Jay Flewelling joins us to talk about the state of love in Portland: what’s broken, what’s funny, and what might actually work. He’s also bringing dating horror stories from Mack Lee and Aleah Liebenau, co-hosts of Heart Throb, a comedy show that turns Portland dating chaos into a good time. Catch Heart Throb: The Dream Date Show on Saturday, Feb. 14 at Kickstand Comedy. 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 February 12th episode Portland Art Museum D'Amore Law Pivot Portland

Today, we have updates on major local stories, including the millions more in unspent dollars found in our city’s Housing Bureau, the return of the Gresham family taken by federal agents to a Texas ICE facility, and the uncertain future of the Trail Blazers and the Moda Center. Joining host Claudia Meza on this midweek roundup is our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed in Today's Episode: Portland’s Pile of Unspent Housing Dollars Surges to $106M, Top Bureaucrat Says [Oregonian] Oregon Family Returns Home After Three-Week ICE Detention in Texas [KGW] I Hope I’m Wrong, but This Is Why I Fear the Trail Blazers Could Be As Good As Gone [Oregonian]  Moda Center Funding Bill Introduced in Salem With Few Specifics, Broad Support From Top Democrats [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 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 11th episode: Portland Art Museum D'Amore Law Pivot Portland

Portland has no shortage of award-winning cocktail lounges and dive bars, but there's still something extra special about a neighborhood bar. They're your community hub, therapist office, and place to make friends: they're an essential piece of our city's cultural fabric. So today, producers John Notarianni and Giulia Fiaoni are joining host Claudia Meza to discuss our favorite neighborhood bars, why we keep going back, and share a few listener recommendations. Mentioned in Today's Episode: LaVerne's The Old Gold Mosaic Taphouse Lucky Horseshoe Lounge Prost! Wilder Dear Sandy   Dream House Tulip Shop Tavern Side Eye   Le Bistro   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 February 10th episode: Portland Art Museum D'Amore Law Pivot Portland