The State of Community Radio Stations
by Dorothee, Membership Coordinator

Ursula Ruedenberg, the Pacifica Affiliates Network Manager, joined us for a captivating interview during the Drive. She began by explaining what Pacifica is and its unique relationship with KMUD before addressing the pressing question: What will happen to funding for community radio under the next administration?

Ursula emphasized, “We are the voices of the First Amendment. I think now is the time to ask people to get behind that idea because I think it is going to be challenged. We have this bill in Congress that says if you’re accused of funding a terrorist organization, you could lose your non-profit status. None of us really know what that means.”

In conversation with Behr, Chanin, and Simon, inspiring stories of community radio stations worldwide were also shared, highlighting how some governments recognize and value community radio as an essential part of the democratic process.

You can listen to the whole interview here.

What an honor it was to have our talented local musicians join KMUD for this fundraiser! Hernán and Jaime, past and present members of Makenu—the legendary local cumbia band that brought unforgettable energy to our last two Block Parties—graced the studio with a special set featuring tango, milonga, samba, and Rock Nacional. Watch “Trabajar“, an original tango by Hernán on KMUD’s YouTube

If you’re not familiar with the rich diversity of Latin music, this show is a perfect introduction! Hernán and Jaime shared their incredible talent and even offered insights into the genres they performed. Don’t miss out—listen to the entire show here  or from the archives to immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Latin music.
If you are on social media, find them at @hernanrostan and @makenucumbia

Julia Butterfly fundraiser for Sanctuary Forest
by Dorothee, Membership Coordinator

On Digital Divide last week, coinciding with the day of the earthquake, Anna Rogers and Julia Butterfly shared reflections on the 25th anniversary of Julia’s descent from Luna, the iconic redwood she lived in to protect. They discussed the incredible journey since that historic event, including how Sanctuary Forest has been safeguarding Luna ever since.

If you missed the interview, you can listen to the full conversation here.

Julia Butterfly, who has rarely appeared publicly in recent years, will be  speaking at a special celebration this Saturday at the Scotia Lodge to mark this milestone. While the dinner portion of the event is sold out, a limited number of tickets are still available for the party starting at 7 PM. Don’t miss the chance to see Julia Butterfly and enjoy live performances by two local bands: Wolftree from SoHum and Jenny & David and the Sweet Soul Band from NoHum.

For more info and to buy your tickets, click  here and support Sanctuary Forest

You can listen to Digital Divide with Penny every other Thursday from 3 to 5PM, and to the Sanctuary Forest show every 5th Thursday from 7 to 8PM.

Earthquake in the News
by Lauren Schmitt, News Director

What a way to start December! I hope everyone managed to stay safe during the recent M7 earthquake and the subsequent tsunami warning. While we didn’t experience a major tsunami, our region did see oscillations in water levels around Humboldt Bay, indicating that a small-scale tsunami did occur.

Since the event, we’ve been conducting after-action reviews with local officials to assess how our region performed during what was essentially a large-scale tsunami drill. One significant observation was the traffic congestion along Highway 101, which runs through large stretches of the tsunami hazard zone.

To help our community better prepare for the next “big one,” KMUD News has created a Tsunami Resource Guide: Maps & Information for community members to plan and stay safe. Remember, when the Earth starts to shake, it’s critical for those in tsunami hazard zones to move to higher ground immediately. A large earthquake can trigger a tsunami within 10 minutes or less.

The recent earthquake was approximately 30–60 miles offshore (distance estimates have varied as new data is processed), which provided extra time for evacuation. However, a closer offshore earthquake could mean only minutes to act. Emergency personnel will do their best to share information, but it’s essential for everyone to prepare in advance and know how to respond since communications may be disrupted during a disaster.

At KMUD, we are committed to staying on the air during emergencies like the one we experienced last Thursday. Thanks to our dedicated team and supporters like you, we were broadcasting within three minutes, delivering up-to-the-minute information. Our coverage included insights from local experts, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Eureka, and updates from Humboldt and Mendocino County Sheriffs.

To continue providing critical, reliable coverage during crises—from wildfires to tsunamis—we rely on your support. Please consider becoming a sustaining monthly donor to KMUD News. Your contributions ensure that we can maintain and improve our emergency response capabilities, keeping our community informed when it matters most.

Listen to our full coverage: 

Earthquake Expert Discusses 200 Aftershocks and What Comes Next After M7 Earthquake

Shelter Cove Reflects on the M7 Earthquake: A Community near the Epicenter

News Emergency Update: Over 15,000 Reported Shaking from Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake Offshore Humboldt; Tsunami Warnings Lifted

Thank You, Lori Dengler!

A big thank you to Lori Dengler, Emeritus Professor of Geology at Cal Poly Humboldt, for giving KMUD News a shoutout in her recent Times-Standard article! She wrote:

“Lauren Schmitt at KMUD Radio News is very on top of North Coast happenings, and we were doing a live interview within minutes of the ground quieting down.”

We’re honored to be recognized for our dedication to keeping the community informed during critical moments. You can read her full article, “Ready for the Big One? Thursday’s Quake Shows We Have a Long Way to Go,” here.

Thank you, Lori, for your kind words and for your continued efforts in earthquake preparedness and education!

Homage to Priscilla Hunter
by Dorothee, Membership Coordinator

KMUD News awarded

KMUD is excited to announce that our newsroom was named a recipient of the Press Forward grant, part of an inaugural, historic cohort of more than 200 local newsrooms across the country committed to filling critical information gaps and serving our communities.
Since the early 1980s, KMUD has been at the forefront of independent, community-driven journalism, providing essential news coverage and amplifying the voices of our region. A review panel of national journalism leaders saw how our work is making a difference here at home.

For more info, KMUD News Awarded Prestigious Press Forward Grant to Expand Local Journalism.
Thank you so much, Press Forward!

Bud Rogers, a longtime KMUD programmer, dedicated supporter, local musician, and talented guitar maker, continues to bring his unique voice to the airwaves. “You are my station, my only station, you make me happy when skies are grey”. Watch the short and fun video on KMUD’s YouTube channel.

Tune in to his show, Edge of the Herd, every 3rd Sunday of the month at 1:30 PM—or catch it anytime in the archives—for a thought-provoking stream of consciousness paired with a side of music.

On his upcoming show this Sunday, the 15th, Bud will host an interview with Jack Geisheit to discuss critical topics, including cattle ranching’s impacts on elk populations and State Parks, as well as the use of antibiotics in factory farming. Don’t miss this compelling conversation!

Interviews live from Cannifest in September
by Javi Rodriguez, engineer, programmer, and Board member

We recently uploaded a series of five videos to our YouTube channel, featuring live interviews recorded during Cannifest in September.

• Two of the videos spotlight five local businesswomen in the cannabis industry, as they share their experiences and expertise. The interviews were conducted by Steve Dodge, host of The Cannabis Show. Watch Part 1 and Part 2 here.
• Another two videos, also hosted by Steve Dodge, explore the virtues of cannabis with guests working in the wellness sector. Part 1 and Part 2 here.
• The final video takes a more technical approach, diving into the science of cannabis terpenes. This interview was conducted by James Hardin, host of Forward Humboldt, which airs every second Thursday at 9 a.m.

Insights of the Newsroom
by Lauren Schmitt, News Director

Words of the month: Bombogenesis
by the Word Patrol Collective

Underwriter spotlight:
Heartwood Mountain Sanctuary
by Patricia Tinkler, Traffic and Underwriting Coordinator