Portland, Explained

How Well Do You Know Our Local Mascots?

Portland Fire, the city’s WNBA team, revealed their new mascot this week after much fanfare.

The Portland Area’s Local Income Taxes, Explained

Here’s a reminder on all our local taxes due today: The Portland Arts Tax, Metro Supportive Housing Services, and Multnomah County Preschool for All Tax.

How Weird Is Portland's Warm Sunny Weather?

The dry, warm winter continues. Outdoor guide and lifelong Oregonian Norther Emily talked to City Cast Portland podcast host Claudia Meza recently about climate change and Portland’s weird weather.

City Cast Portland staffFeb 4, 2026

Portland's Water Comes From a Rain Forest

Clean and plentiful tap water is one of those creature comforts we usually never think about. But where does Portland’s water come from? For the city and surrounding communities, the main answer is a specially designated watershed, created by federal law in 1904.

Oregon Hunger, Explained

This fall, during the government shutdown, the Trump administration took the unprecedented step of temporarily cutting off federal food benefits. But even before that, a growing number of Oregonians were struggling to put food on the table. And going forward, Oregon is facing the impacts of President Trump’s cuts to the Supplemental Food Assistance Program. Rachael Lucille Jackson-Davis of the Oregon Food Bank talked to the City Cast Portland podcast about what hunger looks like right now:

City Cast Portland staffDec 16, 2025

Portland's Atmospheric River May Cause Flooding

Portland is getting a ton of rain right now. We’re in the midst of a weather phenomenon called an atmospheric river.

When Will the Snow Start on Mt. Hood?

Ski resorts like Timberline and Mt. Hood Meadows have yet to announce their opening days, so snowboarders and skiers are eyeing the forecasts. (Last year, those resorts opened before Thanksgiving.) Anyone looking to snowshoe or cross-country ski is obviously out of luck, too, as snow remains elusive. I called the National Weather Service's Portland office yesterday to understand what's happening. Meteorologist Adam Batz answered my questions. Spoiler: With the weather, there are no guarantees:

Why the Portland Airport Is Called PDX

Even an alien invader might notice that Portland regularly favors the nickname PDX — our airport abbreviation. That’s clear enough. But what’s the deal with the name?

Portland Is Gloomy in Fall, So Why Do We Still Set Our Clocks Back!?

November means a double wallop of darkness: rainy days and the arrival of dusk at 3 p.m. — or at least really long shadows by mid-afternoon. Only a quarter of Americans want to keep changing the clocks. And a clear majority (at least among people who care) want to keep daylight saving time year round. So why do we in Portland, Oregon, persist in falling back? And why are we stuck with 4:30 p.m. sunsets next month?

What's the Deal With 311, Portland's Nonemergency Line?

Where should you report potholes, dangerous intersections, graffiti, and other problems that need fixing? There is a one-stop shop for figuring out where to get help on these issues and more: 311 — a nonemergency number that can direct you to city and county resources. John Dutt, a longtime supervisor for the city’s 311 program, spoke with the City Cast Portland podcast about the way he and the city’s 311 operators can lend a hand:

City Cast Portland staffOct 28, 2025

A Portland Judge Blocked Troop Deployments (Twice). Now What Happens?

A Trump-appointed judge halted the President’s plans to send National Guard troops to Portland. She had to rule twice over the weekend: first to block the Oregon National Guard's deployment, then to stop California and Texas National Guard troops from coming. “The President’s determination was simply untethered to the facts,” wrote U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut Saturday.

Why Does Trump Keeping Insulting Portland?