WERU Community Radio

WERU Community Radio

WERU Community Radio 89.9 FM - diverse and grassroots radio serving Midcoast, Downeast & Bangor, a voice of many voices!

Serving Midcoast,
Downeast & Central Maine
A Voice of Many Voices
Broadcasting from Solar Powered Studios

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Station News

Big Thanks to the Community that Supports WERU!

Big Thanks to the Community that Supports WERU!

April 29, 2025

Our Spring Membership Drive ran from May 3 May 10, and it was highly successful thanks to you, our loyal listeners! Over $45,000 was raised, far more than the original goal of $27,000! 400 people called in donations or gave online! These funds will help greatly as we navigate the threats to and uncertainty around federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, now and in the future. WERU will continue to be strong because of the amazing support of our community! Thank you!

Click “read more” to see a financial snapshot of WERU in 2025.

Read More …

Protect Public Funding for Community Radio!

Protect Public Funding for Community Radio!

April 17, 2025

The following is an update on the shifting legislative and political landscape in Washington and the potential implications for WERU’s core operational support.

As you are probably aware, our organization receives a significant portion (25%) of its funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which is currently facing escalating challenges at the federal level.

Congress may soon consider a rescissions package that would claw back previously appropriated funding for CPB. While the outcome is still uncertain, the mere possibility has added instability to an already unpredictable budget environment. Meanwhile, the FY 2026 appropriations process—which typically determines CPB’s future funding—is expected to be delayed. Early signals from the Administration indicate that the President’s full budget submission could include steep reductions or even the elimination of CPB funding. Although the President’s budget is only a recommendation, Congress has already indicated that substantial cuts are likely across the overall federal budget, which will impact all appropriations bills.

Further compounding the situation are recent Executive Orders and administrative efforts to undermine CPB’s independence and its ability to distribute funds. As FY26 begins in October, there may be attempts by the U.S. Treasury to withhold already appropriated funds from CPB—an action that, if carried out, could result in immediate disruptions to CPB grantees, including WERU.

This combination of rescission threats, budget uncertainty, and administrative interference places federal support for public media—and by extension, WERU —in a precarious position. We are monitoring developments closely and are in regular contact with CPB and public media stakeholders (like the National Federation of Community Broadcasters) to understand potential impacts and prepare for various scenarios. In short, the financial outlook for our federal partnership is highly uncertain.

We remain committed to our mission and will continue advocating for the essential work that we do for the community, working together. Thank you for your continued support!

Read More …

Americans Who Tell the Truth: Rivera Sun

Americans Who Tell the Truth: Rivera Sun

April 17, 2025

Since 2002, Maine artist Robert Shetterly and Americans Who Tell the Truth have created and presented 280 portraits of Americans they describe as “Models of Courageous Citizenship.” Shetterly’s most recent portrait subject is Rivera Sun, activist and award-winning author of The Dandelion Insurrection and many other books, whose portrait was unveiled at the Bay School in Blue Hill on May 4. She was introduced by her dear friend and previous portrait subject, renowned activist, lawyer, and Penobscot Nation member Sherri Mitchell Weh’na Ha’mu Kwasset. You can listen to Rivera Sun’s inspiring talk on WERU on Tuesday, May 13, 5-5:30pm, and audio from the entire unveiling event here.

Democracy Forum: Constitutional Crisis? Call it what you will, this is not normal…

Democracy Forum: Constitutional Crisis? Call it what you will, this is not normal…

April 10, 2025

Many of us are not yet feeling the heat from the dramatic policy changes coming out of the new federal administration – life goes on. But some of us are getting hurt. And some of us are afraid. Because so many of these federal policies are being promulgated by executive order, without Congress and sometimes in defiance of the courts, some observers are concerned that our country is experiencing a constitutional crisis. It is certainly a moment of disruption. How serious is it? Who might be next? How is this moment outside the norm? How worried should we be?

Tune in at 4pm today for the most recent episode of Democracy Forum from the League of Women Voters of Maine, and listen in the WERU archives here!

Participatory Democracy, encouraging citizens to take an active role in government and politics. Tune in every 3rd Friday of the month at 4pm!

 

Public Affairs Program: We Are Queer

Public Affairs Program: We Are Queer

December 1, 2024

We Are Queer, hosted by Olivia Paruk, is a monthly half hour show discussing being LGBTQ+ in Maine and beyond! We Are Queer, highlights the touching experiences from Maine’s diverse LGBTQ+ community that builds empathy and understanding in our greater community. If you have feedback for the show or want to get in touch email info@weru.org with WERQ in the subject line.

Episode 1 – Pepin: Discovery of Self
Episode 2 – Father Douglas: God Does Not Create Junk
Episode 3 – Bo Dennis: Finding Queer Joy Through Farming
Episode 4 – OutMaine: Looking Out for Our Queer Children
Episode 5 – Lori: Art Can Change Hearts and Minds
Episode 6 – Benjamin: Live and Let Live

You can also listen to all the episodes wherever you get podcasts!

Public Affairs Program: What’s the Word on Maine Street

Public Affairs Program: What’s the Word on Maine Street

November 15, 2024

What’s the Word on Maine Street, hosted by Sarah Pebworth, is a weekly short feature every Saturday at 9:30am looking at local word and literary arts events and offerings!

You can listen to all the episodes in the WERU archives!

Check out WERU’s App!

Check out WERU’s App!

April 14, 2023

Have you heard about the WERU mobile phone app? Available on iOS and Android! We’re always trying to improve this service, and two new features under the menu icon are pretty cool. One is called “station news,” which you can select to get articles about the latest goings on at WERU. The other is labelled “your voice,” which gives you the ability to record a station identification or tell us why you listen to WERU, both of which could be broadcast on the station. So, if you want to add your voice to the “Voice of Many Voices,” use this feature and we’ll give it a listen, and you never know, you might hear yourself over the airwaves or on the internet. That’s the every-improving WERU app for your phone or other mobile device, available for free at your favorite app store. Check it out!

Featured Artist of the Week

“Morning Maine” Featured Artist of the Week:  THE WEIGHT BAND

“Morning Maine” Featured Artist of the Week: THE WEIGHT BAND

The Weight Band is our “Featured Artist of the Week”!  Tune in each weekday morning at 7:45 AM (ET) to hear our volunteer disc jockey play at least one song from the group and then give you a chance to win a FREE pair of guest list passes to see them perform live on Friday, June 13th at 7:30 PM in Strand Theatre at 345 Main Street in Rockland)! 

 

Wabanaki Land Acknowledgement

WERU Community Radio acknowledges that the radio station exists in the place we now call Maine, which is home to the sovereign Wabanaki people. We are very grateful to be here and honor the ancestral and contemporary Wabanaki peoples indigenous to these places in the Dawnland.

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Upcoming Events

  • All Roads Music Festival – May 16 & 17

    Belfast – The 10th Annual All Roads Music Festival returns to beautiful Belfast, Maine on May 16 + 17! Learn more.

  • Casey Neill – June 14

    Blue Hill – WERU benefit concert on Saturday, June 14 with critically acclaimed indie folk singer-songwriter Casey Neill, at Barncastle in Blue Hill. Tickets  

News Headlines

Top Albums of the Week

Top Albums 5/6/2025

1 ALISON KRAUSS AND UNION STATION Arcadia

2 ASHLEIGH FLYNN AND THE RIVETERS Good Morning, Sunshine
3 CRAIG FINN Always Been

Previous Weeks

WERU Receives Support From

FCC Compliance Documentation

  • 2023 EEO Report
  • Public Inspection File

For assistance accessing our FCC Public Inspection File, persons with disabilities or special needs may contact Matt Murphy (matt@weru.org), WERU General Manager.

Meetings of the WERU Board of Directors take place on the third Monday of each month at 4:00 p.m., unless the meeting falls on a holiday. Meetings are open for public observation and there is a fifteen-minute public comment period at the beginning of each meeting. Most meetings are held online. For more information please call 469-6600 or email info@weru.org.

Find Us

Community Radio WERU FM
P.O. Box 170
1186 Acadia Highway
East Orland, Maine 04431
89.9 FM Midcoast, Downeast and Bangor

Contact Us

Office: (207) 469-6600
Studio: (207) 469-0500
Email: info@weru.org

Connect with Us

WERU Community Radio © 1988–2025 Salt Pond Community Broadcasting • Sitemap

FCC Public Inspection File for WERU • For more information, contact Matt Murphy, General Manager.