The Portland City Council will vote today on Merritt Paulson's MLS proposal; most observers see this as the final hurdle for the Rose City's expansion hopes.

Soccer America reports that the deal is one vote short of approval.

The Willamette Week has a couple of articles on the details surrounding the money, with a mostly skeptical take, and a piece on what to watch for.

Without another solid bid as a back up, MLS must be clenching pretty hard right about now. I'm pulling for Portland, so I hope the vote goes Paulson's way.

These guys are why Portland makes sense for MLS: