UFOs in Oregon? Plus, More Trouble for Zenith and City Campaign Finance Controversy
Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about the federal government investigating several companies in our Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub (CEI Hub), reported UFO sightings in Eugene skies, and the drama surrounding Portland’s public campaign finance management. Joining host Claudia Meza on this year’s final Friday news roundup are City Cast’s director of digital strategy, Bryan M. Vance, and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni.
Discussed in Today’s Episode:
- Feds Launch Special Air Monitoring at Portland Fuel Storage Terminal [Oregonian🔒]
- State Slaps Zenith Energy With $372K Fine, Requests City Revisit Land-Use Approval [Oregonian🔒]
- ‘You Are Cleared to Maneuver ... To Avoid the UFO’: Pilots Report Unidentified Lights Over Oregon [Oregonian🔒]
- Portland Public Campaign Finance Deputy Slams Program Head in Searing Resignation; Director Fires Back [Oregonian🔒]
Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.
Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448.
Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
Learn more about the sponsors of this December 20th episode:
- Salishan Coastal Lodge - Book your stay at salishan.com with code CITYCAST to save 20%
- OMSI
- United Way of the Columbia Willamette
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Portland and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast Portland
Just how good are the sidewalks in Portland? The state of a city’s sidewalks can be a good indicator of how healthy that city is — and pe...

Why Portland’s Affordability Is Tanking, and the Moda Center Deal Is Getting Rockier. Plus, 911 Operator Response Times Improve!
We're talking about improved wait times for emergency calls, what happened at the big Moda Center renovation business summit, and why it’...

Land Back in Northeast Portland, Grocery Digital Price Tag Fears, and Some Truly Portland Missed Connections
A Portland church is giving its land back to a local indigenous organization, and why consumer advocates are concerned about digital pric...

Portland’s Best Neighborhood Bars
We’re revisiting a conversation about the essential neighborhood bars holding our city together. These community hubs are our third space...

Portland's Unwanted Roommate Grant, County Contractor Blew Millions, and Your Pettiest Gripes Judged
A homeless services provider on the verge of shutting down could owe Multnomah County millions of dollars, and Mayor Keith Wilson’s home-...

A Park for a Portland Legend, Tracking Your Councilor's Travel Spending, and Downtown’s Pop-Up Program
We're talking about a new downtown park honoring a local icon, the deep dive a city reporter made into our City Councilors’ travel expens...

OHSU's Messy CEO Firing, Wildfire Emergency Declared, and Portland Home to Best Bar in America
We're talking about big leadership changes coming to our major health providers, Gov. Tina Kotek declaring a wildfire emergency, and the...

Oregon State Hospital Scandal, the Bottle Bill Is Unraveling, and an Unusual CSA
We're talking about why Oregon is now considered to have the worst state hospital in the nation, and why our leader’s best laid plans for...

Moda Center's Funding Fight Continues, PCC’s Ethics Scandal, and Listeners Weigh In
We're talking about the latest concerning public funding for the Moda Center, as well as the state ethics investigation into former PCC p...

How To Fix Portland’s Worst Traffic Jam, the Council Impasse That Could Cost 100 Jobs, and Why’s Oregon So Old?
Today, we're talking about ideas to bring down the state’s median age, why Portland City Council can’t seem to agree on how to fund about...

