Connect Newsletter

QCD: Formerly Known as the Charitable IRA Rollover

By Sandi Billings
graphic showing steps in making a QCD
“Qualified Charitable Distribution” is now standard terminology for donations made directly though your retirement account. Previously called “Charitable IRA Rollovers” by some, Qualified Charitable Distributions, or QCDs, remain powerful tools for making tax-wise contributions to your  favorite non-profits, including to NWPB. If you meet the age Read More

What’s With The Radio Silence Treatment?

By Hannah Snyder
You’re listening and suddenly, there’s several minutes of silence. How frustrating! Then, there’s double audio. What’s going on? Let’s answer those questions about NWPB and learn why things are different right now, temporarily. Please, know that we are not satisfied with the quality of our broadcasts and are working every day to resolve these issues.   On Read More

Gardening During The Pandemic: It’s A Win-Win-Win

By Hannah Snyder
Summer's bounty starts with spring planting. CREDIT: S. Billings
The COVID-19 pandemic has everyone looking for ways to entertain and calm themselves at home and find joy in the stay-home-stay-safe pattern of life. Gardening provides entertainment, relaxation, and satisfaction every day. It’s prime gardening time right now, so use this article as your motivation to get gardening - it’s not too late to start! Read More

Teacher Appreciation Week

By Jordan Eby
As the world has shifted, so has education. Teachers and schools have risen to the occasion to deliver lessons and learning from afar. They have moved classes online, and some schools are checking out computers to families as needed–like in Troy, Idaho. Some educators are pre-recording their lectures, others create work packets for students at… Read More

Sue Knows How to Say “Thank You” (and so does WSU)

By Sandi Billings
Sue & Pepper
For nearly 25 years, Sue has represented WSU’s public media to thousands of donor-members as a key part of the two-person Member Relations staff. Her role is key to everything Northwest Public Broadcasting does, and she performs functions that are essential, routine, and jam-packed with activity: daily check and credit card processing, member record updates.… Read More

Magic In The Making: Food And Love

By Hannah Snyder
red and yellow potatoes in the shape of a heart.
Potatoes were once considered aphrodisiacs. Photo Credit: Hannah Whisenant When you think of aphrodisiacs, what images come to mind? An oyster on the half shell? A glass of wine? A chocolate-dipped strawberry? Let’s release the performance pressure valve right now: there really is no magical food ingredient for a romantic dinner. So don’t feel the… Read More

A Popular Way to Donate May Save You Money

By Sandi Billings
Black cat rolling over
Are you required to take a minimum distribution from your IRA? Would you benefit from a lower income on your tax filing? If you answer “YES” to both of these, consider making your donation to Northwest Public Broadcasting through a charitable IRA qualified charitable distribution. Giving this way means donating all or part of your… Read More

NWPB Staff New Year’s Resolutions

By Jordan Eby
New Years postcard from 1909
As we enter a new year, there are two fairly frequent occurrences: 1. The inner argument about whether or not to leave holiday decorations up through January. 2. Setting New Year’s resolutions. The staff of Northwest Public Broadcasting is no exception when it comes to the latter annual tradition and share the goals they have… Read More

Celebrate Thanksgiving With NWPB

By Gillian Coldsnow
Giving Thanks
Special programs examine different aspects of the quintessential American holiday this month: scientific, culinary, musical and literary. Meantime, how’s your holiday prep going? If you don’t know what to do or where to start, here’s a guide to keep you on track for the perfect Thanksgiving meal. Bring on the turkey and pie! The Pulse:… Read More

August 2019 Outages Explained

By Hannah Snyder
Computers, switches, and broadcast equipment
Photo Credit: Hannah Whisenant. Only a very small piece of the NWPB system for audio delivery. If you were listening the first week of August, you may have heard the audio dropouts that were plaguing Northwest Public Broadcasting. Here is a recap of what happened. At the bottom of this recap is a list of… Read More

July 2019: New Program Schedule

By Gillian Coldsnow
New program schedules take effect July 1, 2019. These are the programs joining the lineup: Newshour brings global news to NWPB at 1 PM weekdays. BBC Newshour: The BBC World Service’s flagship program comes to weekday afternoons, live from London with the latest news, and conversations with newsmakers, eyewitnesses, correspondents and analysts. PRI’s The World… Read More

Black History Month 2019: Fridays in February

By Gillian Coldsnow
Friday, February 22, 7 PM, NPR News service
Celebrate Black History Month every Friday  on the NPR News service. We pay tribute to the struggle of generations of African Americans with special programs: Friday, February 1, 7 PM, NPR News service: The Freed People In one of the most fascinating chapters of American history, Congress established The Freedmen’s Bureau as the Civil War drew… Read More

NWPB TV Station, KTNW, Is Getting An Upgrade

By Tom Hungate
Plan to Rescan
On November 14, KTNW, the PBS station for the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla will switch to a new transmitter and antenna. Viewers who watch the station using cable or satellite will not see a change. However, KTNW will be broadcasting on a new frequency which will require people who watch free using an antenna to rescan their TV to be able to see the channel. Read More

Apple Rescuer, Gentle Composer: Gerald Finzi

By Gigi Yellen
Baxter's Pearmain (Credit: National Fruit Collection); Gerald Finzi, reprinted by kind permission of Boosey & Hawkes
Consider this year’s apples: Born from the seeds of an earlier generation’s trees, the fruit you hold in your hand this fall will allow you “to shake hands with a good friend over the centuries.” That’s how the composer and antiquarian Gerald Finzi put it. As your apples ripen, with the sweet strains of classical music… Read More

Leonard Bernstein: How ‘Noise That Keeps People Awake At Night’ Helped Ignite A Brilliant Career

By Steve Reeder
Black and white photo, Gazebo with musicians
The first known photograph of Leonard Bernstein (left) as a conductor, taken at a summer camp on 1937. CREDIT: Library of Congress, Music Division “Moynik!” (“Music!”), the young Leonard Bernstein would exclaim, even before his second birthday. He was clearly fascinated by the sounds emanating from his parents’ Victrola at home in Lawrence, Massachusetts and… Read More

Goodbye And Good Luck, Jessie Jacobs!

By Anjuli Dodhia
This month, we say goodbye to our Music Director, Jessie Jacobs. You’ve heard Jessie on-air Friday afternoons on NWPB, and her contributions and dedication behind the scenes have made NWPB into a vital music resource for listeners and communities across the region. Jessie Jacobs sat down with Anjuli Dodhia to reflect back on her time with NWPB. Read More

Joshua Johnson’s Welcome Space For Discourse

By Gillian Coldsnow
Photo Credit: Stephen Voss
1A host Joshua Johnson had big shoes to fill: his show was the replacement for the Diane Rehm Show, which built a very loyal following over its 37-year run. But it didn't take long for him to go from “Joshua who?” to a very recognizable and popular host, at turns enthusiastic, expressive, and self-deprecating - and a bastion of "relentless civility." Read More

The Great American Read Is In Full Swing

By Kanale Rhoden
Vote for The Great American Read
The Great American Read is in full swing. Since it's premiere in May, PBS has received over 1,000,000 votes. NWPB is doing its role to get the word out there. We have a dedicated page on our website, nwpb.org/GAR, where you can: watch the premiere episode, vote for your favorite book and look over the list to discover new books you can read over the summer. Join us in Read More
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