Legislative Matters hosts introduce listeners to their legislative delegation and the committees on which they serve. Tune in every Monday during the legislative session to find out what your elected representatives are doing. Here's a link to the legislative website so you can follow legislation, committees, and legislative members of interest to you: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/

On the Polk County Report, hear from newly-elected State Sen. Deborah Patterson, D-Salem. Patterson represents Senate District 10, which includes Monmouth and Independence and a large part of Salem. She is also chair of the Senate Committee on Health Care for the 2021 Legislative Session.

Gary Daily, a psychologist with a school district and private practice, discusses his experience moving from person-to-person sessions to a telehealth practice.

Bill Smaldone, professor of history at Willamette University, talks about growing fascism in the United States. He compares the social and political elements in Germany after WW I that nurtured the rise of the Nazi party and compared that to the modern-day United States. He makes a case for even distribution of wealth and civil rights for all as two components needed to quell growing fascist ideas in this country.

Monday, January 11, 2021, the City of Salem's Council unanimously passed a resolution denouncing white supremacy and institutional racism.  Council Tom Andersen, the motion maker, talks about what led up to the resolution, its purpose, and his hopes for how it can affect real change. A brief clip from the meeting follows the interview to hear two BIPOC members of the public speak to the resolution, followed by comments by four council members. (BIPOC - Black Indigenous People of Color)

Sara Webb, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, on the purpose and method of the 2021 Point in Time count in Marion and Polk Counties. The Federal Housing and Urban Development agency must require the PIT Count to monitor and provide resources to communities to combat homelessness.

Kendra Tibbot and Lindsay Bigelow explain Kindness Closet's mission - a nonprofit organization encouraging and inspiring changes to better the local community, focusing on houseless people.

In light of calls to either impeach or invoke the 25th amendment to remove Donald Trump from office 13 days before the inauguration, Dr. Ed Dover explains its process and the likelihood either would happen. Dr. Ed Dover is a professor emeritus of political science at Western Oregon University.

Ola, the owner of Flourish Spices and African Foods, talks about her Salem business and her spirit to this community. This interview with Sarah Evans is part of a new series called RJOC's Corner, highlighting the engagement of communities of color in the mid-Willamette Valley.

Dr. Reginal Richardson, newly elected NAACP president in the Salem-Keizer branch, talks about his background, history of the organization, and vision for the next two years.  This program is called "R-JOC's Corner" and is a new program on Willamette Wake Up. It highlights a local organization of color and a BIPOC business (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) and offers ways for people to create racial justice and equity.