FOX 12 Beyond the Broadcast

LisaLu is an eight-year-old Labrador retriever, and her job is to comfort vulnerable victims and children when they take the stand on the hardest days of their lives. In this episode of Beyond the Broadcast, FOX 12 Anchor Nora Hart and FOX 12 Content Manager Adriane Foley take you behind the scenes of an investigative deep dive into Oregon’s courthouse therapy dogs.

Spencer and Ward break down the aggressive new tactics being deployed, including Portland’s updated Chronic Nuisance Property Code and state laws that allow regulators to post warning placards directly onto storefront doors

Do you know who your child is texting? In this chilling episode of "Beyond the Broadcast," Investigative reporters Ezra Kaplan and Ward Jolles expose the disturbing criminal allegations surrounding an Oregon high school choir teacher accused of orchestrating an elaborate digital catfishing scheme targeting his own students. Prosecutors in Polk County reveal that Ian Imamura allegedly convinced students he was an elite music producer with direct connections to A-list celebrities like Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, and Bruno Mars.

Can restorative justice can truly break the cycle of sexual exploitation in our community Reporter Ezra Kaplan enrolls in Portland's controversial Sex Buyers Accountability and Diversion Program, commonly known as John School – to find out in this eye-opening episode of Beyond the Broadcast.

In this unprecedented look inside the classroom, investigative reporters Spencer Schacht and Ezra Kaplan reveal how the curriculum dismantles dangerous myths about the street-level sex trade, particularly along Portland's notorious 82nd Avenue, and dive into the deep psychological and economic factors driving this complex issue.

When a massive fire engulfed a 116-year-old concrete warehouse on the Portland waterfront, the danger was only just beginning. On this episode of "Beyond the Broadcast," investigative reporters Spencer Schacht and Julia Lopez take you behind the scenes of the dramatic and highly dangerous demolition of Centennial Mills. This structurally unsound landmark had no internal support left, turning it into a looming liability that threatened the active Pearl District neighborhood.

Over 50,000 tires stand between first-time homebuyer Khanh Tran and his recently purchased 1.2-acre property. Over two months, a massive illegal dumping scheme completely swallowed his entire yard. Now, a maze of black rubber cover his land, leaving him with a staggering two-million-dollar recycling bill, and no help from city officials. In this episode of the FOX 12 Oregon podcast Beyond the Broadcast, investigative reporter Spencer Schacht and reporter Vince Ybarra uncover a mind-boggling story out of Southeast Portland that you have to see to believe.

How did an employee inside Nike’s music licensing department siphon MILLIONS of dollars from the corporate giant without anyone noticing for over two years? In this episode of the FOX12 Oregon Podcast "Beyond the Broadcast," investigative reporters Spencer Schacht and Ward Jolles take you behind the headlines of a sophisticated white-collar kickback scheme happening right in Portland's backyard. Former Nike associate John Griffith and his co-conspirator, Brad Mosier, face more than two dozen serious felony counts, including money laundering and a rare grand jury indictment for racketeering. Beyond the counts, Spencer and Ward dig into the unanswered questions of the mysterious involvement of a third unnamed co-conspirator. This episode pulls back the curtain on the complex paper trails, active court cases, and the high-stakes accountability of local corporate giants.

When a police officer is fired, most citizens assume that’s the end of the story. But in Oregon, the reality of law enforcement disciplinary action is far more complicated—and controversial.

In this episode of Beyond the Broadcast, host and investigative reporter Ezra Kaplan sits down with guest reporter Spencer Schacht to unpack the complex, multi-year disciplinary process of Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Nicholas Adler. Initially terminated in 2024 following disturbing allegations of domestic violence, Adler’s firing was quickly overturned by an arbitrator who ordered the department to rehire him.

But the story didn't end there. Discover how the arbitration system works, why it is so difficult to remove officers from the force, and the surprising role that Oregon's state certification board (DPSST) plays.

What is the greatest thrift store find of all time? We might have a new winner.

In this episode of Beyond the Broadcast, investigative reporter Spencer Schacht and reporter Leslie Dominique dive deep into the mind-boggling story of Quinn Brown, a 19-year-old Portland reseller who walked into a Hillsboro Goodwill and walked out with a piece of sports history.

Investigative reporters Spencer Schacht and Ward Jolles break down the disturbing case of Richard Michael Robinson, who is accused of killing his fiancée, Meihong He, in Klickitat County, Washington. Robinson allegedly left a trail of deception after her May 2024 disappearance, moving across state lines before He’s body was discovered in July 2025 inside an unpaid Oregon storage unit that was auctioned for $20. The complex case now spans two jurisdictions—with murder charges in Washington and abuse of a corpse charges in Oregon—as a slow-moving court process continues to reveal new details.

Portland’s controversial Northwest Northrop low-barrier overnight shelter in the Pearl District. Neighbors and businesses say the 200-bed shelter reduced overnight camping, but has brought spillover issues—drug use, trash, public urination, and safety concerns—prompting the adjacent Oro apartment complex to file a lawsuit against the City of Portland.

Adrianne and Nora breadkdown Nora’s “Wellbeing Revolution” feature on pelvic floor therapy—why it’s so rarely discussed, what a first appointment actually looks like, and why “just do kegels” is often the wrong advice. They share how pelvic floor issues can affect everything from pain and bladder control to intimacy, confidence, and mental health, and why therapy can be life-changing for postpartum moms, younger women, and women going through menopause.

Spencer Schact and Ward Jolles break down the rise of “illicit massage businesses” in Oregon—storefronts that can appear legitimate but are often tied to commercial sex, trafficking, and organized crime. They explain how these networks recruit and control vulnerable women through debt bondage, why cases are difficult to investigate and prosecute, and what warning signs can help identify suspicious locations. The episode also covers the policy fight over how communities and lawmakers can respond, plus how viewers can report concerns safely without intervening directly.

Butane torches—sold widely in everyday stores—are being linked to a growing number of explosions, structure fires, and severe burn injuries in Oregon, including burns so deep they can lead to amputations. Investigative reporter Spencer Schacht explains doctors at the Legacy Oregon Burn Center are seeing many cases connected to people using torches to smoke drugs; the biggest danger is the torch’s locking mechanism that can keep the flame on, especially if someone passes out from fentanyl while it’s still burning. The episode (hosted by investigative reporter Ward Jolles with guest Spencer Schacht) highlights proposed solutions: harm-reduction education now, and potential legislation next session to redesign/ban “flame-locking” mechanisms.

FOX12 reporter Ezra Kaplan and photographer/editor Frank Frenzel discuss their recent story in Rowena following a wildfire, where Team Rubicon volunteers helped residents by cutting down dangerous “hazard trees” that need to be cleared before the rebuilding process can begin. Frank and Ezra reflect on the human impact of returning months after the disaster—how complex, expensive, and emotionally heavy rebuilding is—and why Team Rubicon’s free labor provided real, tangible hope for families who otherwise couldn’t move forward.

FOX 12 Investigative Reporter Ezra Kaplan and FOX 12 Reporter Julia Lopez talk about covering a deadly chemical spill in Longview, Washington.

A Northeast Portland woman says that her go-to method for managing chronic pain, stress, and anxiety has been participating in Float Therapy. The process? Sitting alone with your thoughts in a sensory deprivation environment, floating in water so dense that you couldn’t sink even if you tried. In this episode of Beyond the Broadcast, reporter Nora Hart takes the plunge, and talks about what she didn’t expect to experience during her time at Float North. Watch the full Beyond the Broadcast episode exclusively on the FOX 12 Streaming App. Download today on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV.

A married couple trying to navigate the U.S. immigration system through legal channels received a deportation notice earlier this year.
 In early 2024, the couple filed for an I-130 petition for Andres, a common first step toward permanent residency for immigrants married to U.S. citizens.
Two years later, Andres received a notice to appear at a court hearing for deportation. Now the couple is struggling with legal red tape as Andres and Steve’s I-130 petition appointment is scheduled for this spring, ahead of Andres’ deportation hearing set for this summer – leaving the family waiting for answers.

https://www.kptv.com/2026/02/23/three-steps-forward-two-steps-back-washington-couple-shares-years-long-immigration-fight/

Neighbors and residents are shocked and frustrated by the failure of Senate bill 1573 – which aimed to ban the distribution of needles, pipes, and drug paraphernalia in school zones. The widely supported bipartisan bill was killed by Senator Lisa Reynolds, but when pressed for comment by investigative reporter Pete Ferryman and her constituents, Reynolds dodged questions and interview – leaving neighbors frustrated.

In 2025, the city of Portland reported more than 2.1 million micro-mobility trips from rented e-bikes and e-scooters, but as ridership climbs, so has the amount of crashes and fatal accidents from impacts with motorists. In this episode of Beyond the Broadcast reporters Adrian Thomas and Ezra Kaplan look deeper into the data, reveal a tragic story of a mother’s grief, and discuss the question so many are asking: Are e-bikes and e-scooters inherently dangerous?

In the first year of Mayor Keith Wilson’s administration, Portland has opened more than 1,500 new overnight shelter beds to address the homelessness problem in Portland. But according to a recent Multnomah County report, only 16% of people who used shelters in the Portland area ended up in permanent housing solutions, many people are left wondering how effective the City of Portland’s overnight shelters are, and what this means for the Mayor’s overall goal.
Note: This story and podcast were produced last month, predating a new lawsuit filed in March related to a city overnight shelter.

Flipcause may not be a name that you instantly recognize, but for over 3 thousands non-profits all across the nation the tech company was their money-handling middleman, helping to get funds from donors into the hands of organizations that desperately needed it - that was until Flipcause suddenly declared bankruptcy in late 2025. In a flash, 30 million dollars of donor funds disappeared, leaving non-profits without critical funding to continue operations. In this episode of Beyond the Broadcast reporter Ezra Kaplan brings us inside the story of what happened, and how local donor funded organizations are left wondering "where did all the money go?".

In Nov. 2025, a meat cleaver knife made it all the way through PDX airport security and onto an airplane before being caught by the flight crew. How a simple error in judgement could have been potentially disastrous. FOX 12 reporter Adrian Thomas speaks with reporter Ward Jolles, who brought this story to light in early 2026.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield sat down with FOX 12 Investigates Reporter Ezra Kaplan to discuss how he successfully blocked the Trump administration's push to deploy National Guard troops to Portland.