The Human Beat

Roger Rocka speaks with Kenny Hansen, longtime Astoria police officer, about his work with houseless people and Clatsop Community Action. Roger also revisits past interviews with houseless Astorians.

A discussion with Clatsop Community College President Jarrod Hogue and Board Chair Ed Johnson about the issues the college is facing, the adjustments they’re making, and their hopes for the college’s future. 

Roger Rocka interviews representatives with the North Coast Food Web to explore what the Food Web is, how it works, who does it, how someone can become involved and what the plans are for this year as the organization faces federal funding challenges.    

Roger Rocka speaks with Teresa Patterson and Bruce Williams, representatives of Indivisible on Oregon’s North Coast.

Roger Rocka speaks with Dan Turner, the board chair of the Cathlamet Public Library.

Roger speaks with two women experiencing homelessness on the streets of downtown Astoria– Mama Rain and her 33 year old daughter Shana – in the week after Christmas.

The Clatsop County Animal Shelter is overwhelmed right now with more dogs and cats than it can hold. But a non-profit, Clatsop Animal Assistance, is fostering some of the animals and helping all of them with its scores of volunteers. Roger talks with Executive Director of Clatsop Animal Assistance Lily Tollefsen.

Introducing new KMUN station manager Mari Bergeron: We talk about her history in Clatsop County, her family, her departure for school and work and international travel, her return home and of course, her initial impressions, hopes and plans for KMUN.

Part 2 of Roger Rocka speaking with Willis Van Dusen about Astoria history and his own transition from protesting citizen to Council member and long-time Astoria mayor. 

In this first part of a two-part series, Willis Van Dusen talks Astoria history and his own transition from protesting citizen to Council member and long-time Astoria mayor. Part two will air October 13.

Roger Rocka revisits a 2011 interview with the late Duncan Law, whose scientific discoveries at the OSU Seafood Lab in Astoria boosted the Oregon fishing industry and made hatcheries viable on the Columbia River.

Astoria’s population has hovered around 10,000 for a very long time. But it grew to 25 thousand during WW II. I wondered where all those thousands of extra people lived so I headed to the Clatsop County Historical Society at the Heritage Museum. I talked with Liisa Penner and Julie Burpee to learn about that,...

Part 2 of Roger Rocka’s conversation with Paul Benoit

Part One of Roger Rocka’s conversation with Paul Benoit

Roger Rocka speaks with Jeff Burright, who is leading development of the Offshore Wind Roadmap.

Through the magic of radio, we take you back to a Sunday evening in 1983 – high atop the Gunderson Building in downtown Astoria – when KMUN began it’s very first broadcast. Then, hear from Paxton Hoag, Doug Sweet, Susie McLerie, Carol Newman and Rebecca Rubens.

Our country is struggling over issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. It’s a struggle that recurs throughout our history. Here’s a look back at a Human Beat interview from 2011, the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders.  

We’re talking today with Steve Forrester, former editor and publisher of The Astorian and the former president and CEO of the family company, EO Media Group with its two dozen newspapers and magazines across Oregon and Washington. As of November 1, EO Media Group was sold to the larger Carpenter Media Group, which operates more...

A discussion of the continuing overload at the Clatsop County Animal Shelter with Justin Dersham, Clatsop County Animal Control Supervisor and Lily Tollefsen, Clatsop Animal Assistance.

Astoria Chief of Police Stacy Kelly and Communications Center Manager Jeremy Hipes discuss the years-long effort to fully staff the 911 center, and how its larger staff now includes 2 dogs from the Animal Shelter.

Roger Rocka speaks with North Coast Land Conservancy Executive Director Katie Voelke. 

Roger presents a panel on the Clatsop County Comprehensive Plan revisions.

Roger Rocka speaks with Liisa Penner and Julie Burpee at the Clatsop County Historical Society.  

Part two of a  program about the Habitat Conservation Plan in Oregon State Forests.    

Roger Rocka speaks with Oregon Department of Forestry division Chief Michael Wilson about the State Habitat Conservation Plan.