Rebecca Ellis

An OPB investigation found Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and his staff sent and received thousands of text messages between 2017 and 2021 that were never available to people requesting city records. Thousands of messages from Portland elected officials and their staff have been erased in violation of city policy that they be kept permanently. Some experts say the city has now opened the door for every single records request for texts that came in during the mayor’s tenure to be re-examined.

Since 1913, Portlanders have voted against changing the commission form of government seven times.

From day one, the council race was dominated by voter concerns over homelessness and crime — two issues that polls show are top of mind for Portland voters.

On this week's show, we dive deep into Portland's new plan to ban homeless camping.

Portland leaders approved a controversial plan Thursday to ban unsanctioned camping in the city as constituents seethe over the region’s unabated homeless crisis.

With constituents seething over the proliferation of homeless tents across the city, a controversial plan to ban unsanctioned homeless camping appears to be gaining momentum among the public.

A state administrative law judge has revoked $77,000 in fines a Portland election official slapped on City Council candidate Rene Gonzalez for accepting a steeply discounted rent on his downtown campaign office.

This November, voters will have a chance to try something new. Portlanders will consider Measure 26-228, a massive overhaul of Portland’s charter, a document akin to the city’s constitution. If the measure passes, the size of the council would swell from five to 12 members, voters would use ranked choice voting to pick their leaders, and the city would be split into four districts, among other momentous changes.

Alongside Commissioner Dan Ryan, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler's office has crafted a series of resolutions that aim to build at least three large city-sanctioned camping sites and ban other homeless camping across Portland. The Portland City Council will hear public comment Wednesday afternoon.

This November, Portland voters will choose between two candidates as far removed from each other as one could find in a Democrat-dominated city: incumbent Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, a longtime advocate for greater police accountability vying for a second term, and Gonzalez, a self-described centrist promising a crackdown on homelessness and crime.