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 August 19th, 2026.  (The host said Sept, but we decided to air it sooner.)

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.