Willamette Wake Up

With the uncertainty of federal funding of Medicaid (Oregon Health Plan), Dr. Sara Kennedy, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette, explains what's at stake for reproductive & preventive healthcare services for the Mid Willamette Valley, if Planned Parenthood was no longer in Salem. Also discussed: crises pregnancy "clinics" and the increase of life threatening illness when abortion is not accessible.

Hear about Salem’s Operations Levy on the May ballot and what services are at stake for the residents of Salem. Leaders of the Salem Livability Levy Coalition PAC - David Levy, Karen Bolliger and Carol Snyder - talk about how passage of the levy would affect the city library, Center 50+ and parks & recreation services & programs.

Meet Salem's new Fire Chief Dave Gerboth. Find out how the city plans to shift ambulance operations from a private company to the city, new collaborations to create better service for residents, and how he's responding to Salem's budget challenges.

Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, or PCUN, is Oregon's Farm Workers Union. Executive Director, Reyna Lopez, talks about the challenges farm workers face in growing our food, and a bill in the Oregon legislature to create a space to discuss them. HB 2548 would create an Agricultural Workforce Labor Standards Board to bring together farmers, workers and oversight agencies to identify issues and propose solutions.

Conservation Spotlight launches its new miniseries called Meet the Farmer where they hear from growers in the Willamette Valley who are implementing conservation practices and navigating the challenges of farming. Amanda Stevens with Nottinghamshire Farms grows organic produce and flowers in Saint Paul. Learn more about the daily lives and philosophies of the farmers that bring us our food and crops. 

Independence Mayor Kate Schwarzler and City Manager Kenna West talk about the city's budget and how they're engaging the community in shaping it. They discuss the history of the $750,000 budget gap and options the city will share with residents to create a balanced budget. Current ideas include selling undeveloped park land and combining the local museum and library in one space.

Monmouth Monthly talks with Roxanne Beltz, Monmouth Business Association (MBA), about ways it's making Monmouth even more fun. The MBA offers a space for small businesses to talk with each other, and organizes community events to bring the community to the downtown businesses in Monmouth and Independence.  

Policy for the People talks with Ira Cuello-Martinez of PCUN, Oregon’s Farmworker Union, about the tough working conditions that farmworkers in Oregon endure, and why the creation of a Workforce Standards Board for farmworkers – something currently under discussion in the Oregon Legislature – could be a real game changer. Then, David Madland of the Center for American Progress explains the benefits of Workforce Standards Boards and why there’s been a resurgence of interest in this policy.

Salem Area State Representative Tom Andersen gives a civics lesson on how a bill becomes a law, then talks about legislation he's sponsoring or following, including the public defender system, civil commitment process and a way for the City of Salem to be reimbursed by the state for city services it uses.

Keeping Oregon Oregon talks with Alice Morrison, Friends of Family Farmers, about the organization and their 2025 legislative priorities. Bills which would ensure the ability for Oregon farmers to have access to meat inspection, water availability and food distribution.