Willamette Wake Up

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 Sept. 16th, 2026.

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. 

Wastewater Collection and Treatment: How does it work? Why should we care? What changes are coming down the pike? Join us as we explore these issues with Sage Barnard-Davidson and Rob Layne, with the City of Salem. 

The Fair Housing Council of Oregon shares its findings on barriers and challenges for people with intellectual & developmental disabilities to secure and maintain housing, with Gina Rizk, Education & Outreach Coordinator.

Policy for the People talks with Kathy Lara of the Oregon Center for Public Policy about the latest data on worker organizing in Oregon, why unions continue to matter for wages and workplace standards, and the barriers workers still face when trying to organize. 

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 businesses preserve knowledge and plan for sustainable success. 

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 estate broker and editor of the Hillsboro Herald. Dirk has followed closely the rise of data centers in Hillsboro. In this episode of Policy for the People, Dirk shares what he’s learned about the data center boom.