Willamette Wake Up

Learn about a new Urban Renewal Area (URA) proposed for the City of Salem in the North Riverfront area along Front St. Dana DeKlyen with Salem's Planning Division will describe the purpose of a URA, benefits and trade-offs, and a public hearing happening Aug 24th where the public can weigh in. 

Conservation Spotlight continues the conversation from July about the proposed Detroit Dam drawdown from a fish biology perspective, with Greg Taylor from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE). This project, designed to save salmon, could impact drinking water and a recreation-based economy in near-by communities. They talk about how the ACE is trying to mitigate possible problems and how they plan to communicate with the public.

Monmouth Monthly introduces the Crackpots! Elinor Maroney, Ellen Osborn, Sue Mason, and Paula Booth talk about their upcoming art exhibit at Western Oregon University. Hear the artists talk about their combined 150 years of pottery, what's inspired their work, and ways you can pick up some original pieces. 

Policy for the People shares a conversation with Jennifer Sherer of the Economic Policy Institute about the far-reaching benefits of greatly increasing union membership, from a big boost to wages, the narrowing of the racial wage gap, stronger democracy, and more. 

Willamette Block Party talks with Dr. Jumesha Wade for a powerful conversation about grief, rest, and creating space for ourselves in a world that never seems to slow down. They explore how intentional pauses can help us process loss, reconnect with our purpose, and better care for our communities. Plus, upcoming August events hosted by Black leaders across the Willamette Valley.

Keeping Oregon Oregon examines the growing list of threats to Oregon farmland with Nellie McAdams, Oregon Agricultural Trust and board member of 1000 Friends of Oregon. 

Elephant in the Room talks with Kelly Campbell, Columbia River Keeper, about the importance of community access to data about energy used by hyper-scale data centers, and how putting a pause on new developments can help bring the data to light. 

Salem City Councilor Micki Varney will review the process, recent developments, and upcoming Salem City Council meeting concerning AI data centers after the public hearing last week on the Verrus proposal. Councilor Varney addresses the recently passed ban on nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) for data centers, and creation of a task force to determine criteria to be in place when evaluating data centers' benefit to the community. Then, she explains the process for a proposed moratorium on siting new data centers at the upcoming council meeting.

Superintendent Andrea Castenada and Board Director Jennifer Parker talk about creating an overarching policy to guide the district in addressing safety issues in the schools, and the issues and parameters guiding the process. 

Get a sneak peak into the iconic Englewood Forest Festival in Salem and meet some of the participants for 2026. Set in a forested park, the festival features local music & dance performers, artists and conservation groups in one family-friendly setting.  Organizer, Lynn Takata provides an overview and Aislinn Adams, Kathy Kem and Melissa Theve talk about their specific contributions.

Salem City Council met July 27, 2026 to hear from residents about a data center proposed to be built in Salem by Verrus, a data center developer. The development became public while still under a "nondisclosure agreement (NDA)," so still far from being a reality. But city leaders wanted to hear what residents thought earlier in the process rather than later.  Residents were vocal in their opposition.  Here a conversation about the meeting with Willamette Wake Up hosts, Jane Titchenal and Melanie Zermer.

Program host Melanie Zermer reviews her take on pros & cons of a proposed data center coming to Salem Oregon, in light of a public hearing on the issue coming before Salem City Council July 27, 2026.  She explores issues communities grapple with when evaluating benefits and negative impacts of data centers, different kinds of data centers and some specifics about the proposed Verrus project called Oakline at Mill Creek.  

Holla for Labor talks with Joe Kurmaskie, Reborn Bikes and Eva Pigotti, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action about the importance of community giving and another bike fest coming to Salem on September 26. 2026. 

Learn how to stay safe during extreme heat events with Michael Keuler, Environmental Health Resiliency Coordinator. Michael shares information about the negative impacts of extreme heat on our health and ways to prevent, identify & treat heat medical emergencies.

Reverend Robin Lunn, First Congregational Church in Salem Oregon, talked about bringing a justice-rooted resilience hub into the building currently used primarily by the church. She explains the history & purpose of this project, its current vision and hopes for its future. 

Girlypop Politics talks with Kiara Bailey, Student Council President and recent graduate of the Teen Parent Program at Roberts School at Chemeketa. Kiara talks about the importance of representation and the power you have to make change just by being your most authentic self. 

Monmouth Monthly highlights Struts & Frets with the folks behind this theatre group. Hear about their performances in August in Monmouth's Main Street Park, including performances of Twelfth Night.  Struts & Frets Theatre Company is dedicated to producing innovative professional theatre in the  Mid-Willamette Valley through collaborative, artist-driven storytelling.

Conservation Spotlight examines the proposed Detroit Dam "draw down" from a fish biology perspective, with Greg Taylor from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This project, designed to save salmon, could impact drinking water and a recreation-based economy in near-by communities. Taylor reviews the reasons behind the draw down and how the USACE plans to approach the project to mitigate negative impacts to communities. This is part one of a two part conversation.  Part two will air August 19th, 2026.  (The host said Sept, but we decided to air it sooner.)

Policy for the People explores the impact of the loss of SNAP benefits on low income Oregonians with Matt Newell-Ching, Oregon Food Bank, and Gerty Ferguson, a single parent from Eugene Oregon. 

Is Salem's drinking water safe?  Where does it come from? What does it take to make it potable?  Lacey Goeres-Priest, water quality supervisor with the City of Salem stopped in to answer those questions and give us the results on the latest report on the safety of drinking the water that serves the cities of Salem & Turner.  The upshot: it's safe!  Listen to the conversation and read the report here: cityofsalem.net/water. 

Willamette Block party explores "community" with a report from Salem's Juneteenth celebration: the overall vibe, efforts to engage with Black residents with a survey, and what "community" means from the perspective of the people who attended. 

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, what kind of country do we want to become? In this bonus episode of Policy for the People, Taifa Butler, President of Demos, talks about the challenges facing American democracy and the need for a "Third Reconstruction." 

Holla for Labor talks with Satoya Bentley of the Ebony Collective Community Development Corp. in Portland about its mission to build, support and sustain an ecosystem that nurtures and empowers African Americans to thrive. 

Hear from leaders in the Black community and people who enjoyed the 2026 Juneteenth celebration in Salem Oregon's Riverfront Park. We focus on the question: what does community mean to you?

Learn more about Salem's history with this report from an archeological dig in June 2026 to find the stories and artifacts from the Indian Manual Training School (1843-1845) which was built on the campus of Willamette University in Salem OR. Hear from Kimberli Fitzgerald, project lead for the City of Salem, and the people & partners putting the story together.

Virginia Green, local Salem historian, turns 100 in July! She talks about SHINE - an online platform she produced to document Salem's (& Marion County's) history (shineonsalem.org). She also hosted three series on KMUZ. From historical sites to the women who lived in Salem to each city in Marion County - this website of 20 years in the making is a gift to this capital city. 
NOTE: This podcast was amended June 29th to include the proclamation she was given by Salem Mayor Julie Hoy.

Conservation Spotlight talks with Lua Siegel with the Luckiamute Valley Charter Schools in Polk County. They explore a program that gives youth hands-on education about growing food and native habitat restoration. 

Monmouth Monthly shares the exciting things going on in Monmouth & Independence Oregon during the month of July, with Andrea from the YMCA of Monmouth-Independence and Amy from the Heritage Museum.

Girlypop Politics provides an update on Edustaff - a third party system used by Salem-Keizer Public Schools to hire & train substitute teachers. They also give an overview of the entire budget passed by the board on June 9th by a vote of 6-1.

Girlypop Politics talks with substitute teacher Ross Swartzendruber about the recent change in the way Salem Keizer Public Schools hires, trains and manages substitute teachers, by using a third party entity called Edustaff - an educational staffing agency based in Wilsonville OR. Since this conversation was recorded, the school board did pass a budget that funded Edustaff for its service.

In this episode of Policy for the People, Policy Analyst Tyler Mac Innis explores the meaning of a recent report by the Oregon Center for Public Policy examining Oregon's economic performance. Oregon's main economic challenge is not the lack of prosperity, but the lack of shared prosperity. 

Willamette Block Party explores Black culture and economic opportunity. For June - a community round-up with local Juneteenth celebrations & their meaning, other community events, and plans for a Black town hall in the fall.

Keeping Oregon Oregon talks with Travis Williams, President & CEO of the Willamette River Preservation Trust, about restoring and preserving special places in Oregon.

Elephant in the Room talks with Lauren Goldberg, Executive Director of Columbia Riverkeeper, on the climate-related challenges to the Columbia River Basin, and opportunities for people to get engaged.

Hear the highlights from a town hall hosted by Congresswoman Andrea Salinas as she fielded constituent's questions, Tue May 26th at Chemeketa Community College.

Holla for Labor explores sickle cell anemia and the annual Dr. Charles Drew Community Blood Drive with Charleta Malone, American Red Cross; Pastor Marcia Taylor, Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation; and, Dr. Kelly Price Noble. 

Find out what it's like owning an electric car with Marc Albert, who's owned all-electric vehicles for over 10 years. Find out the pros, how to get around the "cons", and the earliest electric vehicle on the market. 

Conservation Spotlight prepares us for wildfire season with Alison Green from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office. They discuss what it really takes to be prepared. From creating defensible space and hardening your home to understanding evacuation levels and your level of risk. Get practical advice straight from someone on the front lines.

Meet Kimberli Fitzgerald, Salem Historic Landmarks Commision and the producer of "Salem History Moment" on KMUZ's Willamette Wake Up show. She shares her experience with that project as well as her passion for training guide dogs for the blind. 

Monmouth Monthly talks with Maren Anderson, professor, author and playwright. Maren shares two upcoming events in Monmouth - the Applebox Children's Theatre in the City of Monmouth and the Academic Excellence Showcase happening at Western Oregon University.