Willamette Wake Up

Policy for the People explains how the federal budget bill, as passed by the House, would shrink Oregon revenue collections. 

The Salem Keizer NAACP is hosting Juneteenth on June 19th.  Hear about the event with Ashley Dunn, Vice President of SK NAACP; and Allie Saunders, Community Engagement Coordinator.  Also, a bit about the history of the event and the organization, and how you can get involved.

Oregon Black Pioneers teams up with Willamette Heritage Center for the third annual "In Freedom's Footsteps," a community history walk on Juneteenth exploring the Hiram Gorman family. Mariah Rocker and Kylie Pine explain the origins of the event and how to participate this year.   

Oregon State Representative Tom Andersen was in the studio to update listeners on legislative matters - with 3 weeks left to go.

Salem Health brought a unique opportunity to see and experience their robotic surgery technology on May 30, when the Thoracic Oncology Mobile Experience (TOME) truck came to the hospital campus. Take a tour of Salem Hospital's new cancer screening tool, the Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy system, and the da Vinci 5 Robotic Surgical system.

Elephant in the Room talks with Travis Williams of the Willamette River Preservation Trust about this nonprofit organization's mission to acquire remnants of intact ecosystems along the Willamette River to preserve in perpetuity.

Holla for Labor talks with Graham Trainor, president of Oregon AFL-CIO about the rise in popularity of labor unionizing efforts and labor's response to federal initiatives poised to weaken democracy. 

Salem's Safe Parking program offers a safe place for people who live in their cars to park overnight. Program participants also get case management, showers, laundries and mechanic services.  With loss of City of Salem funds, the program is in jeopardy.  DJ Vincent, Church at the Park, explains how the program works and what the general community can do to ensure the program continues.

Conservation Spotlight continues its "Meet the Farmer" series with the family-run Steenson Hazelnut orchard in Salem about how they use biodynamic farming practices to work with nature, not against it.

Monmouth Monthly celebrates Public Works with the city's engineer David Karr and wastewater specialist Darin Dornbusch. They share projects they've been working on, from rapid flashing beams across Highway 99 to the Sewer Camera Trailer. 

With federal cuts to safety net programs in local communities, Jimmy Jones, director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, sent a letter to elected officials and community partners about what federal cuts could mean to impoverished families in Marion & Polk counties. He reviews the impact of services provided by this organization in recent times and how the Trump administration is looking at ways to reduce funds and reshape policies that currently guide how local communities can use federal funds to assist people out of poverty.

Braver Angels is a national organization with local alliances, formed to bring people together with differing beliefs and a hope to build understanding and find common ground.  This month Braver Angels presents a conversation between Dimitra Giannakoulias (State Alliance Co-chair) and Zachary Elwood (People Who Read People podcast host) about how contempt destroys democracy and how to combat polarization.

Keeping Oregon Oregon has a mid-legislative session conversation with Oregon State Representative Ed Diehl of HD 17 on proposed legislation regarding land use planning and agriculture. 

Elephant in the Room talks with Susan Smith, retired Willamette University environmental law professor, about the Trump administration's actions to roll back climate research, climate awareness, and environmental protection; and the legal and political tools that citizens and policymakers have to fight back.

Hear a conversation with Salem-Keizer School Board candidates from Zones 1 & 3. They answer questions and talk with each other about their values & beliefs and how that reflects decisions they would make as a school board director. This is a unique format that allows candidates to interact ... just like in real life!  Zone 1: Lisa Harnisch & Anthony Mitchell.  Zone 3: Angelo Baca & Jennifer Parker.

Rep. Tom Andersen updates listeners on what's been happening at the State Capitol in April and what is yet to be done. 

Hear a conversation with Salem-Keizer School Board candidates from Zones 5 & 7. They answer questions and talk with each other about their values & beliefs and how that reflects decisions they would make as a school board director. This is a unique format that allows candidates to interact ... just like in real life!  Zone 5: Karina Guzman Ortiz & Jason Krocker.  Zone 7: Mel Fuller & Jerimiah Radka.

 Don McIntosh, Northwest Labor Press, talks with Juan Carlos Ordoñez, Oregon Center for Public Policy on the state of labor in Oregon.  This special episode of Policy for the People was produced for International Workers Day, May 1st.

Election Coverage: Three people are running to represent Northeast Salem residents in Ward 6 in the May 20, 2025 election: Deanne Garcia, Logan Lor & Mai Vang.  Hear what shaped their values & beliefs, thoughts on Salem's budget crisis, and priorities for NE Salem in a conversation recorded on April 25th.

There's an election May 20. Be informed with an overview of the Polk County Fair Ground levy, with Polk County Fair Board chair, Tim Ray. Hear the needs driving the ask of voters and what it will cost. 

The election is May 20th. Be informed with an overview of the Dallas Police bond with Dallas city councilor, Larry Briggs and Friends of Dallas PD PAC, Rod Dunham. They discuss the need for a facility, cost to residents and why now is the time. 

Holla for Labor talks with Sherman Henry, the director of the Labor Institute for Advancing Black Strategists. They explore pathways for workers in the south to find ways to be more engaged with their workplace.

Braver Angels encourages people with opposing political views to have conversations that help identify common ground. In this episode, we examine how people can be stereotyped by the way they look. We hear Mile's story: how his upbringing shaped his beliefs, what it means to be conservative, and his experience being Black in Oregon. 

Conservation Spotlight talks with the staff of the Luckiamute Watershed Council (LWC). The LWC's mission is engage and assist landowners and communities in the voluntary protection, restoration and enhancement of the Luckiamute and Ash Creek watersheds. Listen in to find out how you can get involved and make an impact in watershed health.

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month.  Monmouth Monthly shines the light on Melody Barrett & Sharon Oberst, volunteers for the Monmouth Arts and Culture Commission; and Dena Jones, volunteer for the Monmouth Public Library. Find out how these volunteers support their community, and other ways the city engages volunteers.

Policy for the People talks with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden about the Trump administration’s “budget blueprint” and how it would impact Oregonians. Then, they talk with the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, about "Federal Tax Policy: What Should It Accomplish?”

Sable House in Dallas Oregon serves victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Rochelle Juarez, executive director, talks about this type of violence and how Sable House has been assisting survivors with shelter, advocacy, and connections to social & legal services since 1993.

State Rep. Tom Andersen (House District 19) discussed legislative process, a typical day at the Capitol, and specific legislation affecting people in the mid-Willamette Valley and Oregon.

Qingming is a Chinese festival that honors the ancestors.  It's celebrated in Salem & Keizer due to the Chinese influence in the area during the late 1800s / early 1900s.  Salem current-day resident Myron Lee and Russ Low, grandson of Hop Lee (a beloved early Salem citizen) share stories about Chinese influence in Salem and the meaning of Qingming.

Vanessa Nordyke, Executive Director of Marion CASA, talks about how the agency helps kids in foster care and how cuts in the federal budget affect their ability to advocate for kids in foster care.

Keeping Oregon Oregon talks with Mike McCarthy, Farmer Emeritus in the Hood River Valley, regarding the loss of Oregon farmland and the impacts on farmers and their ability to continue to farm.

Elephant in the Room talks with State Senator Jeff Golden about SB 1187, a bill to set up a Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program, financed by the fossil fuel industry, to help communities get protective upgrades for homes, businesses, and electrical transmission lines. 

Holla for Labor talks with Mamie Pratt, Chair of the Women's Committee, International Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, about women in labor.

The Center for Hope & Safety, providing assistance to survivors and victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, has a new executive director. Meet Ashley Carson Cottingham: hear her story and her vision as she takes the helm of this organization that has served the community for over 50 years. 

With the uncertainty of federal funding of Medicaid (Oregon Health Plan), Dr. Sara Kennedy, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette, explains what's at stake for reproductive & preventive healthcare services for the Mid Willamette Valley, if Planned Parenthood was no longer in Salem. Also discussed: crises pregnancy "clinics" and the increase of life threatening illness when abortion is not accessible.

Hear about Salem’s Operations Levy on the May ballot and what services are at stake for the residents of Salem. Leaders of the Salem Livability Levy Coalition PAC - David Levy, Karen Bolliger and Carol Snyder - talk about how passage of the levy would affect the city library, Center 50+ and parks & recreation services & programs.

Meet Salem's new Fire Chief Dave Gerboth. Find out how the city plans to shift ambulance operations from a private company to the city, new collaborations to create better service for residents, and how he's responding to Salem's budget challenges.

Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, or PCUN, is Oregon's Farm Workers Union. Executive Director, Reyna Lopez, talks about the challenges farm workers face in growing our food, and a bill in the Oregon legislature to create a space to discuss them. HB 2548 would create an Agricultural Workforce Labor Standards Board to bring together farmers, workers and oversight agencies to identify issues and propose solutions.

Conservation Spotlight launches its new miniseries called Meet the Farmer where they hear from growers in the Willamette Valley who are implementing conservation practices and navigating the challenges of farming. Amanda Stevens with Nottinghamshire Farms grows organic produce and flowers in Saint Paul. Learn more about the daily lives and philosophies of the farmers that bring us our food and crops. 

Independence Mayor Kate Schwarzler and City Manager Kenna West talk about the city's budget and how they're engaging the community in shaping it. They discuss the history of the $750,000 budget gap and options the city will share with residents to create a balanced budget. Current ideas include selling undeveloped park land and combining the local museum and library in one space.