Willamette Wake Up

Brian Van Bergen, Marion County Elections Division, explains how our election system works to ensure the integrity of our voting system. He explains the importance of signature verification, time frame for mailing ballots & when to use drop boxes and how voters can observe the vote counting process.

Policy for the People explores Oregon’s record-breaking kicker, with Oregon Center for Public Policy's Daniel Hauser, which is sending massive tax rebates to the rich, while giving little or nothing to those struggling the most. Then, the importance of having a well-funded Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with Joe Hughes, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, and the long-term erosion of the ag...

Invisible People explores people who are homeless and the community's response to addressing homelessness.  In this episode we hear about the programs and services of Simonka Place - serving women and children - with Director of Ministries, Kathy Smith and Union Gospel Board Member, Jodi Hack.

Salem's Revenue Task Force has been meeting to develop recommendations to the City Council about ways to increase revenue to meet looming budget deficits.  Task force chair Sean Nikas and member Bill Smaldone give an update on the work done to date, some options under consideration  and how the general community can have a voice in the process.

Keeping Oregon Oregon talks with Mary Kyle McCurdy, 1000 Friends of Oregon, who explains the “good, bad, and ugly” legislation affecting  land use planning after the 2024 Oregon legislative session. They discuss expansion of the urban growth boundary, wildfire resilience, transportation and funds that support agricultural programs.

Thoughts and Gifts is a nonprofit organization in Polk County, Oregon whose mission is to celebrate birthdays of under served youth, people with qualifying intellectual/developmental disabilities and senior citizens. Hear about how they do this and about an UnBirthday Party to raise funds to support their mission.

Elephant in the Room explores forest health with Ben Deumling of Zena Forest Products, and how this wood products business is pivoting to address the challenges of a changing climate. Deumling serves on the Oregon Board of Forestry and explains policy initiatives to incentivize forest protections.

Oregon State Representative Tom Andersen (HD 19) reviews the work of the 2024 Legislative Session.  He highlights a bill that makes exceptions to the land use planning system to make way for affordable housing. Then he reviews his legislative priorities, including a bill to make the state pay the City of Salem for its use of the city's public safety services.

Meet Salem's new Deputy Chief Debbie Aguilar. Learn about her journey in law enforcement, what it’s like being a woman in a male dominated profession, how the SPD is recruiting more women, and what her new job entails. 

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month.  Kyle Tarr, Liberty House and Vanessa Nordyke, CASA of Marion County talk about child abuse, how their organizations help disrupt abuse and a car parade to bring awareness to the greater community.

Behind the Business shines a light on the heartbeat of our local economies – our local businesses. In this episode, Emily McNulty, owner of MaMere’s Guest House talks about the challenges and triumphs of owning a small business in Monmouth. 

Conservation Spotlight explores Oregon's state mammal. Jakob Shockey, Executive Director of Project Beaver, shares the history of beavers in the Willamette Valley, their importance to watershed health, and how humans can live with them in harmony. 

Meet Salem's new librarian, Bridget Esqueda, and learn how she became passionate about libraries in her home state of Arizona, the data behind shortening library hours and ways the community can support the library going forward.

Monmouth Monthly chats with Eden Olson and Lindsey Darling - the force behind Lucky Crow Farm and the Eat Crow Supper Club. Eden shares the benefits of a CSA (community sponsored agriculture) and Lindsey explains the Supper Club's return March 28, 2024.

Policy for the People examines two bills that passed the recently adjourned legislative session: one to protect Oregonians from unfair debt collection practices and another that appropriates significant resources to Employment Related Day Care - a state sponsored child care program. Hear the details from Chris Coughlin, Oregon Consumer Justice and Candice Vickers, Family Forward Oregon

Jimmy Jones, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, reviews what's going on to reduce homelessness in Marion & Polk Counties - from recent legislation to the opening of new housing facilities to impacts of Salem's Navigation Center. 

Keeping Oregon Oregon talks with Aaron Nichols of Stoneboat Farm, who is leading the fight to save prime farmland in the area of North Plains, Oregon from development. Nichols' group, Friends of North Plains Smart Growth, oppose legislation (HB 4026A) which, if passed, prevents final land use decisions from being subject to a voter referendum and reviewable exclusively by the Land Conservation and...

Elephant in the Room talks with John Kaufmann, a retired policy analyst with the Oregon Department of Energy, on the current status of the climate crisis. 

City Budget Challenge Series: A look into Keizer with Mayor Cathy Clark and City Manager Adam Brown. They explain how a property tax limitation passed by voters in the mid 1990s plus state mandates challenge local governments to provide basic services. And, the need for a better informed citizenry on how cities operate.

Salem Health Talks explores heart health and education & support services provided by Salem Health's Community Health Education Center (CHEC) with health educator, Alyssa Gaiser.

Behind the Business talks with Seth Halligan, owner of Make it Known Media and Seth David Films. He shares how a life event was the catalyst for starting this business and his love of storytelling, the power of “why” and the struggle with work-life balance. 

City Budget Series explores the City of Stayton with Mayor Brian Quigley, City Manager Julie Hajduk and Finance Director James Brand. This series examines how the property tax system that provides revenue for local governments affects different cities in different ways. Stayton is challenged by, not so much the property tax limitation, but inadequate infrastructure that inhibits its ability to dev...

Holla for Labor shares a conversation between Bill Lucy, president of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, and young people in the movement to inspire and guide them to sustain a movement that makes the change they want to see. 

Conservation Spotlight talks with Todd Anderson, new Small Farms faculty with OSU Extension. Todd explains his new role, his background with a diverse range of crops, and plans to support horticulture-based crops and small to midsize farms. 

Monmouth Monthly talks with Suzanne Dufner with the City of Monmouth about "Love Local", a strategy to incentivize supporting local business with a savings on residents' utility bills.