WERU Community Radio

(July 1) On June 12, the U.S. House Representatives voted 214-212 in support of a rescissions package request from the Trump Administration, which now moves on to the senate for approval or rejection by July 18. The rescission would claw back funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, including $1.1 billion in already Congressionally-approved CPB funding. If enacted, this action would instantly destabilize local public and community radio and TV stations nationwide. For WERU this would mean a loss of 25% of our budgeted revenue (for 2025 and 2026) and access to the CPB’s music licensing system. We urge all WERU friends and supporters to contact Senator Susan Collins and Senator Angus King and urge them to oppose the recissions package. Please also thank them for their ongoing support over the years. (Senator Collins, in fact, recently spoke in the Senate in support of local public media.) “Read more” for additional information. Thank you!

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And just when you thought summer couldn’t get any better… Soundings comes along with a full month of extraordinary shows designed to reacquaint you with music you’ve loved in the past – but may not have heard for quite some time. This series will play out in four distinct “genre” episodes – Folk (July 5), Classical (July 12), Country (July 19), and Crooners (July 26) as only Soundings can do it. If you enjoy the quirky choice of music on Soundings, the offbeat commentary, the nostalgia, and the personal stories, just think of Genre Month as “Soundings on Steroids.” It’s finally summer. Swimming, ice cream, sailing, barbeques, and now Genre Month will make this a summer to remember. “Be there. Aloha.” – Eddie

The fifth annual Juneteenth Downeast Commemoration took place in Knowlton Park in Ellsworth on Thursday, June 19, and WERU was there to record the speakers and performances. Listen here to the inspiring speakers and Cipelahq Ehpicik (Thunderbird Women) performance.

While ordinary life goes on for most of us, some Mainers are living in fear. This is not normal.

Listen to the most recent episode of Democracy Forum from the League of Women Voters of Maine 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!

WERU is thrilled to announce that Wabanaki Windows and host Donna Loring have received a 2025 Hometown Media Award in the category of racial justice and civil rights, presented by the Alliance for Community Media Foundation! Wabanaki Windows airs on WERU on the 4th Tuesday of every month from 4 to 5 pm, and also airs on WMPG Community Radio in Portland. Congratulations, Donna, on this recognition and thank you for your many years of excellent programming! “Read more” to see the full press release.

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WERU has once again been nominated for a Down East Best of Maine award, for Best Radio Station in Maine! Now it’s up to us to get out the vote! Voting runs through June 12th and the resulting winners will be published in the September issue of Down East magazine and online. Vote here. And thanks! (Voters will be asked for their email, which is the system’s unique identifier so that it’s just 1 vote per person. You will only receive email from Down East if you opt in for that.)

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 that aired on WERU on Tuesday, May 13, 5-5:30pm here, and audio from the entire unveiling event here.

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.

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