Host, Weekend Edition
John Notarianni
John Notarianni is the host of “Weekend Edition” at Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Before joining OPB, John worked as a radio producer, reporter and host at WDET in Detroit and WYPR in Baltimore, and had stints at WBEZ in Chicago and WUOM in Ann Arbor.
Along the way he’s worked as the Michigan editorial director for an urban development news startup, served as business development director for several Detroit-based social entrepreneurial companies, founded a brass band that toured Europe and honed his craft cocktail skills.
John graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in English and Global Media Studies.
Recent Articles
Last Call At Widmer Brothers: What An Iconic Pub's Closure Means For Craft Beer In Portland
After 22 years in business, Widmer Brothers Brewing closed their North Portland taproom this week. So what does it mean for Widmer — and for Portland’s vibrant craft beer scene?
local | Environment | News
Federal Plan Could Reclassify Hanford Nuclear Waste — And Leave It In The Ground
A new proposal from the Trump administration could dramatically change the way the government cleans up radioactive tank waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington.
Animals | local | News | Science
Murder Stats: Mapping The Influx Of Roosting Crows In Portland
Thousands of crows flock to Portland's park blocks each winter, darkening the sky at dusk and roosting overnight in the city's trees. Much about the crows' habits is unknown.
local | News
OPB Reporters' Picks: Their Most Memorable Stories Of 2018
As 2018 came to a close, OPB "Weekend Edition" host John Notarianni spoke with several OPB reporters about the stories that stuck with them this year, whether they were moved, inspired or shocked.
local | News
Remembering A Holocaust Survivor And His Unlikely Confidant
Alter Wiener was a Holocaust survivor, who was killed earlier this month crossing a street in Hillsboro. He had developed a close friendship with a Lake Oswego teen in pushing for education reform.
local | Transportation | News | Books
How Portland Public Transit Compares To Other US Cities
Portland is often celebrated as a transit-friendly city, but how does it stack up against the transportation systems in other U.S. cities? A new book points out what's working and what's not.
Business | Entertainment | NW Life | Books | Arts | local
Dark Horse Entertainment's Founder On The Future Of Comic Books
Oregon-based Dark Horse Entertainment recently announced a major global partnership with a Chinese investment firm to finance new film production and expand into Asian markets.
Environment | Nation | News | Politics | Forestry | local
The US Farm Bill Looks To Fight Wildfire
The House Agriculture Committee announced a tentative deal Nov. 29 on the massive federal farm bill. Final negotiations over the legislation have focused not on farms but on forests.
local | Entertainment | News | Recreation | NW Life
West Coast Pumpkin Regatta Features Boats Carved Out Of Giant Gourds
Every year, gourd enthusiasts gather for the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, where participants racing across the Tualatin Lake of the Commons in kayaks made of — yes — giant, hollowed pumpkins.
Environment | News | local | Land | Agriculture | Science
This Oregon Farmer Grows Seeds To Restore Land Scorched By Wildfires
Once wildfires are finally extinguished across the west, another threat lingers: the burned landscapes provide an opportunity for invasive species to thrive, forcing out essential native plants.
local | Technology | Business | News
Trump's Tariffs Hit Oregon's Semiconductor Industry
A new round of tariffs on Chinese goods has caught the attention of Oregon’s high-tech chip industry. Several products related to semiconductor production are on the list.
local | Music | Entertainment | NW Life
Pickathon At 20: The Local Festival With The Global Audience
Now in its 20th year, the Portland-area's Pickathon music festival has risen from ramshackle beginnings to being a major event. But maintaining it's charm without breaking the bank in an era of mega-festivals hasn't been easy.
Agriculture | local | Environment | News
How A Botched Experiment Sent GMO Grass Creeping Across Oregon
In 2003, a botched experiment by agribusiness giants Scotts Miracle-Gro and Monsanto unleashed a mutant strain of creeping bent grass across Oregon.
local | Entertainment | Arts
Gus Van Sant's New Film Tells The Story Of Iconoclastic Portland Cartoonist
The new film by filmmaker Gus Van Sant is a look at the life of irreverent Portland cartoonist John Callahan, his struggles as a quadriplegic and his recovery from alcoholism.
local | Business | News
Bend Is Now Home To The Last Blockbuster Video Store In America
At its peak, Blockbuster Video had more than 9,000 stores. But starting next week, there will be only one left in America — and it's in Bend.
local | Arts
'Leave No Trace' Director Debra Granik On Shooting A True Oregon Film
The story of a father and daughter who spent years living camped out in Portland's Forest Park is the basis of a new film called "Leave No Trace."
Agriculture | local | Environment | News
Wyden: Legalizing Hemp A Big Opportunity For Oregon
Lawmakers are working together to push the Hemp Legalization Act of 2018, to legalize and clearly define hemp as an agricultural commodity and remove it from the list of controlled substances.
local | Economy | News
A 1-Bedroom In Oregon Is Now Unaffordable For The Average Worker
The average cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment is now beyond the means of the average full-time Oregon worker, according to a new report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
local | World | Business | News | Politics
The Last Time Oregon's Christmas Tree Farmers Faced Down A Trade War
Talk of new tariffs are worrying a range of agricultural businesses across the Northwest. But this isn’t the first time local farmers have been in the crossfire over an international trade dispute.
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