One month after Portland police officer Ronald Frashour fatally shot Aaron Campbell, the Portland City Council is still struggling with growing community anger over the unarmed man's death. Demonstrations, a high profile visit by Rev. Jesse Jackson - as well as an upcoming March 14 visit by national civil rights activist Rev.

The appointment of Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler as state treasurer last Tuesday churned county and state political waters this week. Wheeler, appointed by Governor Kulongoski to fill the vacancy created by State Treasurer Ben Westlund's death, is now better positioned to advance up the ladder of statewide offices. At the county level, meanwhile, his departure has set off a scramble for his and County Commissioner Jeff Cogen's seat - Cogen throwing his hat in the ring to be the county's top executive. What will Wheeler's departure mean for residents of Oregon's most populous county? Jo Ann and Dave look at what's ahead for the candidates and county residents.

Counting Heads: What's right and what's wrong with the 2010 census

This fall, Portlanders will decide whether to continue their experiment with voter-owned elections. The question becomes more relevant in the wake of Citzens United vs. Federal Elections Commission, a recent Supreme Court ruling that removed bans on corporate campaign spending. This week, Jo Ann and Dave talk with Common Cause Oregon's Janice Thompson about the upcoming referendum on voter-owned elections and what else needs to be done to fix our ailing electoral process.

Should the Portland Police be subject to random drug testing?

Jo Ann and Dave discuss the City of Portland's proposal to require random drug-testing of Portland police officers.

The conversation doesn't end when the program does. You can join in additional discussion of the week's issue on our blog at kboo.fm/voicesfromtheedge  (click on the "blog" tab). You'll find additional information, important links, comments from other listeners and commentary from Jo Ann and Dave. Have a question for our guests, but can't call in during the program? Post your questions on line so we can make them a part of the Voices discussion.


This week Dave hosted open lines.  Callers discussed various topics; from police issues to the TSA, to things they give thanks for.

The conversation doesn't end when the program does. You can join in additional discussion of the week's issue on our blog at kboo.fm/voicesfromtheedge  (click on the "blog" tab). You'll find additional information, important links, comments from other listeners and commentary from Jo Ann and Dave. Have a question for our guests, but can't call in during the program? Post your questions on line so we can make them a part of the Voices discussion.


Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson

The arrest of Mohamed Osman Mohamud is raising troubling legal, political, social and moral questions. This week, Dave and Jo Ann examined the fallout of this incident and how we can move toward real - rather than politically expedient - solutions.

Open Lines:  Callers share what's on their minds about Portland Police and politics.

The conversation doesn't end when the program does. You can join in additional discussion of the week's issue on our blog at kboo.fm/voicesfromtheedge  (click on the "blog" tab). You'll find additional information, important links, comments from other listeners and commentary from Jo Ann and Dave. Have a question for our guests, but can't call in during the program? Post your questions on line so we can make them a part of the Voices discussion.


Hosts:  Jo Ann Bowman, Dave Mazza
Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson

It's that time of year, when Jo Ann and Dave review which of our public figures deserve a gift in their stocking and which deserve a lump of coal, such as Senator John McCain for his blind opposition to "don't ask, don't tell"; Governor-elect John Kitzhaber for stonewalling single-payer health care advocates once again;  and even closer to home, Portland Police Chief Reese and his public position on participatory democracy.

Listeners called in and shared their holiday list of candidates.

Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action, and a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice.

Jo Ann and Dave discussed the Portland Police Association's tentative contract agreement with the City of Portland, which will be presented at general meetings scheduled January 5th and 6th, 2011.

Listeners called in to share their views.

Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action, and a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice.

It's lawmakers and lawmen! First, Dave & Jo Anne talked with State Senator Jackie Dingfelder about the challenges facing the legislature and governor. Then they took a look at Police Chief Mike Reese's comments on the rash of recent officer-involved shoots.  As always, listeners called in and shared their views.

Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action, and a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice.

Should the city of Portland re-join the Joint Terrorism Task Force?

Listeners called in and shared their views.

Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action, and a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice.

Veteran journalist Reese Erlich discussed his experience by actually talking (imagine!) to some of the people vilified by our government as terrorists.  His new book is Conversations with Terrorists: Middle East Leaders on Politics, Violence and Empire.

Rethinking psychiatry: a conversation with Robert Whitaker about a more compassionate mental health system

Our treatment of those in emotional distress manifests itself everyday. Too many Oregonians struggling with mental health issues can be found heavily medicated and warehoused. Or, they are turned out onto the streets to become the victims of crime or institutional violence as in the case of James Chasse. This is an issue that goes beyond public policy reform. It is one that calls for a fundamental reexamination of the "broken brain" model of psychiatry upon which those policies are based.

Jo Ann and Dave talked about the Metro Council seat, the federal public media funding, Joint Terrorism Task Force, and other current Portland Topics.   Open Lines with KBOO listeners.

True Crime: Fact and Fiction about Oregon's Crime Rate

Kevin Mannix promised voters in 1994 that his Ballot Measure 11 establishing minimum mandatory sentences would create certainty in Oregon's criminal justice system. While the measure tripled the state's prison population over 20 years, a new report by the state Criminal Justice Commission finds that Measure 11 not only failed to deliver certainty, it has cost the state billions of dollars while it shifting sentencing power from the hands of judges to those of district attorneys - a shift many see as dangerous.