City Cast Portland logo
July 16, 2026

Is the County’s Deflection Program Working? Plus, Last-Minute Summer Outdoor Adventures and Missed Connections

City Cast Portland

Is the County’s Deflection Program Working? Plus, Last-Minute Summer Outdoor Adventures and Missed Connections

00:00:00
View all City Cast Portland episodes

We're checking in on how our county's drug deflection program is faring. Plus, we've got ideas for last-minute outdoor summer adventures and we’re also digging into the best of Portland’s missed connections. Joining host Claudia Meza are Willamette Week reporter and author, Brianna Wheeler, and Norther Emily, a wilderness skills educator, writer, and the founder of Wild Solitude Guiding.

Discussed in today's episode:

Meet the Portland teen whose $3 ‘one in a billion’ Goodwill find could soon sell for $250K [Oregonian]

After Anemic Early Results, Multnomah County Updated Its Program to Divert Drug Users Into Treatment. Is It Working? [Willamette Week]

Recreation.Gov /Last Minute Camping Alerts /Camping This Weekend

Missed Connection Portland [Instagram]

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.

We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast Portland swag.

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 15th episode:

⁠SAIF

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Portland

Stay connected to City Cast Portland and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
August 28

PPS Could Close Up to 20 Schools, Safer Portland Hires a Trump Lawyer, and Home Forward's Ex-CEO Scandal Deepens

We’re talking about why the state is leading an ethics investigation into the travel spending of Home Forward's previous leader. Plus, th...

City Cast Portland podcast episode art
August 27

Why a Third of Portland's Shelter Beds Are Vanishing. Plus, Oregon's Shadiest Sheriff, and a Burlesque Tribute to Dolly Parton

We’re talking about why Portland area leaders are undoing a homeless shelter system they just developed — as well as the surprising and h...

City Cast Portland podcast episode art
August 26

A Secretive Push To Privatize Oregon Liquor, City Council Candidate’s Embarrassing Website Mix-up, and Portland’s Pettiest Gripes

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about why there’s a secretive effort to privatize Oregon liquor sales and what it would mean f...

City Cast Portland podcast episode art
August 25

Are Home Kitchens the New Food Carts? Plus, Portland Fire’s New Mascot and the Rise of  Portland’s Tabletop Gaming

We're talking about Portland metro’s growing home-based food scene, from donuts to birria to supper clubs — as well as the rise of Portla...

City Cast Portland podcast episode art
August 24

Mayor Wilson Snubs Progressive Council, Elephants Deli Won't Return to Goose Hollow, and Portland Bridges for Cats

We're talking about two Portlanders going all out for their cats, Mayor Keith Wilson picking favorites in the upcoming City Council elect...

City Cast Portland podcast episode art
August 23

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Portland Made Its River Cool

Have you ever swam in the Willamette? Kayaked? Tiki toured? There are tons of opportunities to get in the river, yet lots of locals still...

City Cast Portland podcast episode art
August 21

Why a Portland Cop is Suing a 76-Year-Old Woman. Plus, the Portlanders Using the Most Water and Another Wild City Audit

We’re talking about the police officer suing an elderly woman for falling off her steps, the Portlanders being accused of using the most...

City Cast Portland podcast episode art
August 20

Wildfire-Safe Camping Spots, Portland's Shrinking Population, and Mailbag

We're talking about why our city is getting older, not figuratively but quite literally. We also have updates on the Grasshopper Wildfire...

City Cast Portland podcast episode art
August 19

Why Portland's Chain Restaurants Are Cooler Than Most Cities

Today on City Cast Portland we're rating local chains: which are our favorites, our guilty pleasures, and even the specific Portland loca...

City Cast Portland podcast episode art
August 18

The State HR Director Who 'Rolled the Dice,' Saving the Sea Star, and 6 Ways to Finish Summer Strong

Today we're talking about what happened when the state's human resources director violated their own policies, and how a Northwest tribe...

City Cast Portland podcast episode art