Willamette Wake Up

Girlypop Politics talks with Angelo Arredondo Baca, with the Marion County Democrats and Oregon Community Table on Postsecondary Education and Training, about what it looks like to be a young person in local leadership and how Salem Keizer students are rising to the challenge. 

In this bonus edition of Policy for the People, Oregon economist Joe Cortwright challenges the myth that Oregon has a "bad business climate." 

Willamette Block Party talks with Janique Crenshaw of Janique Crenshaw Illustration. She shares her journey surrounding art, community involvement, creating accessible art workshops, and designing innovative community spaces within the Willamette Valley. 

Keeping Oregon Oregon talks with Mary Kyle McCurdy, 1000 Friends of Oregon, about the good, the bad, and the questionable land use-related bills debated at the 2026 legislative session. 

Elephant in the Room talks with Lauren Anderson of Oregon Wild about federal efforts to open up national forests to more logging. 

Holla for Labor explores data centers: what they are, how they're sited, and community concerns related to data centers' use of power and water. Saul Cortes, program host of a tech show on KMUZ radio, shares what he's learned from his personal research. 

Monmouth Monthly talks with Heather and Matt Matz, the force behind Monmouth Celebration of Cultures, to talk about how they support cultural events in Monmouth. Learn how to get involved and the dates for upcoming events like Pride, Asian American Pacific Islanders, and Juneteenth. 

Girlypop Politics talks with CM Hall, of Emerge Oregon, about the value women bring to the policy-making table and how Emerge Oregon recruits & prepares women to run for elected office. 

Conservation Spotlight talks with Kevin Porter & Mike Wilson with the Polk Soil & Water Conservation District about the role the district plays in residents' lives, unique issues in Polk County and how the community can get involved. 

Families who are homeless are less visible than individuals we see in public spaces, but have a long term social impact leading to generational homelessness. Learn about a program through Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action that serves families and the unique issues they face, through Family First Resource Center and Arches Nest. 

Policy for the People talks with Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read about the efforts of the Trump administration to make it harder to vote - through the SAVE Act, how the state is responding, and the impact of money in politics. 

Elephant in the Room talks with Elise Graneck, Portland State University, on plastic pollution. Granek shares research that explains what happens to discarded plastic in our coastal environment.

Girlypop Politics talks with Crissy Oyervides, with Youth Era, about the recent closure of The Salem Drop and the impact it's had on the hundreds of youths who attended. Youth Era is a Eugene based non profit that works to create and sustain community spaces for youths ages 14-25, staffed with trained support professionals.

Willamette Block Party highlights key community events in the Willamette Valley & explores local groups like Black Mid-Valley that support Black identity, business, and culture. Then: a tribute to the late Gregg Simpson, Jr., a passionate community leader and activist. Plus, meet Glitter Gloria, who shares her journey from construction to founding Exit Bliss, a consultancy focused on helping b...

Salem Police Chief, Trevor Womack, is retiring in May 2026. He'll share his thoughts on the state of public safety in Salem, the department's accomplishments & challenges under his leadership, and his hopes for Salem's future. 

This report captures excerpts from some presenters and rally goers at Salem Oregon's No Kings Rally from March 28, 2026 organized by Salem Region Indivisible.

Holla for Labor explores how collective action & collaboration with community can be an effective tool in resisting current federal administration's policies, with Petee Talley, highest ranking Black woman to serve in the AFL-CIO. 

Health, Thought & Transformation talks with JD Edwards, head conditioning coach at the Oregon Department of Public Safety & Standards Training, about how fitness training promotes resilience, longevity and performance among public safety professionals. 

Salem City Councilors Paul Tigan (Ward 1) and Shane Matthews (Ward 3) explore the city's budget process and "themes" for fiscal year 2026-27. They share the values they embody when examining city policy and funding city services, and how the general community can participate. The budget process, while already underway, begins in earnest in April. 

Conservation Spotlight talks with Milan Davis, Urban Forester with the City of Salem, about the city’s proactive management of urban ash trees in the face of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Hear the strategies, partnerships, and work already being done to protect valuable urban trees from disease. 

Dave Duncan, program host of NW Tech Show on KMUZ radio, explains the purpose and value of a "maker space," and how the one in Salem is providing an open space for people to be creative and share ideas.

Pull Up a Chair, talks with Jerry Schierling, retired educator in the Salem Keizer School district, about book he wrote called "Bindle Stiffs".  A bindle stiff was a term from the late 19th century to describe someone who traveled the country carrying their belongings in a bundle or pack.

Jane Titchenal is the newest member of the KMUZ Willamette Wake Up team.  Find out how she got interested in local politics, what she hopes to accomplish with her segment, and why she named it "Girlypop Politics."

Oregon is one of the nation’s top destinations for data centers, attracted by the state’s cheap power and favorable climate. Despite the state being an ideal location for data centers, Oregon and communities like Hillsboro in Washington County have been doling out massive tax subsidies to the corporate owners of data centers. That has been a very foolish thing to do, says Dirk Knudsen, a real esta...

Jimmy Jones and Ashley Hamilton, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, talk about shifting the narrative on homelessness, coordination with other agencies to offer more than one path into shelter & housing, and what gives them hope to make "homelessness" a brief rather than long term experience.