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The Warm Springs Program

About

The Warm Springs Program is a locally produced news magazine that features information about current events, happenings and news.

Podcasting since 2025 · 55 episodes

Latest episodes

  1. Warm Springs Credit EnterpriseWarm Springs Credit EnterpriseWarm Springs Credit Enterprise – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  2. Warm Springs TelecomWarm Springs TelecomWarm Springs Telecommunications Company – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  3. Warm Springs Composite Products IndustriesWarm Springs Composite Products IndustriesWarm Springs Composite Products – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  4. Warm Springs Power & Water EnterpriseWarm Springs Power & Water EnterpriseWarm Spring Power & Water Enterprise – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  5. Indian Head Casino & Plateau Travel PlazaIndian Head Casino & Plateau Travel PlazaIndian Head Casino & Plateau Travel Plaza Updates – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  6. Warm Springs Economic Development – Construction, GeoVisions, Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort, DaminwaWarm Springs Economic Development – Construction, GeoVisions, Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort, DaminwaWarm Springs Economic Development Overview – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  7. 2026 Warm Springs Back to School BBQ – Family Resource Fair2026 Warm Springs Back to School BBQ – Family Resource Fair2026 Back to School BBQ Family Resource Fair – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  8. Warm Springs Power & Water Enterprise – Power Pathway ProjectWarm Springs Power & Water Enterprise – Power Pathway ProjectWS Power and Water Power Pathways Project w GM Cathy Ehli – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  9. Madras High School & Bridges High School AdminMadras High School & Bridges High School AdminJefferson County School District 509J High School Administrators – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  10. Back To School 2026 – Warm Springs K-8 AcademyBack To School 2026 – Warm Springs K-8 AcademyWarm Springs K8 Hendersen Bennett & Capps – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  11. Warm Springs Community Health WHAT THE HEALTH Podcast – "CHR’s"Warm Springs Community Health WHAT THE HEALTH Podcast – "CHR’s"What the Health Community Health CHRs – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  12. Warm Springs Community Health Podcast WHAT THE HEALTH – "WIC"Warm Springs Community Health Podcast WHAT THE HEALTH – "WIC"What the Health Community Health WIC program – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  13. Warm Springs Community Health Podcast WHAT THE HEALTH – "MCH"Warm Springs Community Health Podcast WHAT THE HEALTH – "MCH"What the Health Community Health MCH program – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  14. Willamette Falls National Heritage Site EffortWillamette Falls National Heritage Site EffortWillamette Falls National Heritage Site – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  15. Brothers & Sisters in Progress – Reentry ProgramBrothers & Sisters in Progress – Reentry ProgramAntonio Becerra Brothers & Sisters in Progress – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  16. CTWS Bench Fire Communication and ImpactsCTWS Bench Fire Communication and ImpactsFollowing a summer marked by severe wildfires across Central Oregon, community leaders on the Warm Springs Reservation are reflecting on emergency response efforts and recovery needs after the destructive Bench Fire. The Bench Fire destroyed eight homes, including six on the reservation and two on tribally owned land off the reservation, along with five outbuildings such as hay barns and storage sheds. Multiple families were displaced, losing all of their belongings in the blaze. Andrew Hofstetter, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, served as a direct liaison at the Incident Command Post during the crisis. Working alongside interagency teams such as the Southwest Complex Team 4, Hofstetter helped coordinate communication between tribal leadership and emergency responders dispatched from across the nation. Centralized communication proved essential due to the fire’s rapid shifts and complex management logistics. Daily morning briefings allowed tribal leadership and response teams to synchronize updates in real time. Hofstetter and his team translated these reports into public broadcasts on local radio station KWSO 91.9 FM and across social media platforms to keep residents updated throughout the emergency. The fire highlighted the unpredictable nature of wildland blazes. During a Level 3 evacuation order, flames jumped a primary road, forcing an unexpected closure along a major evacuation route. Hofstetter noted that such sudden shifts demonstrate the need for constant situational awareness during natural disasters. He urged residents to utilize digital tools like the free Watch Duty application to monitor fire activity while camping, hiking, or gathering huckleberries on tribal land. Despite the significant property loss, relief efforts quickly emerged from both local community members and donors as far away as New York. Monetary contributions, bottled water, and essential supplies have arrived to support impacted families as they begin to rebuild. As wildfire season continues, tribal officials advise community members to remain cautious and vigilant across the region. You can list to KWSO’s Podcast Version of our interview with CTWS Governmental Affairs Director Andrew Hofstetter:
  17. CTWS Bench Wildfire Evacuation & Donation ResponseCTWS Bench Wildfire Evacuation & Donation ResponseThe Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs is transitioning from an emergency wildfire response to longer-term recovery following the Bench Fire and its impacts across the reservation.  The Bench and Beachcomb fires both began on July 23, 2026, after a lightning storm moved through the Warm Springs Reservation. The fires merged on July 25th, prompting evacuation levels for the most populated areas of the community. Caroline Cruz, Chief Operations Officer for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, helped coordinate the Tribe’s response during the evacuation period. Working under the direction of the Emergency Manager, Cruz helped establish evacuation sites and coordinate volunteers, food, shelter and other resources. With some areas of the reservation under Level 3 evacuation orders, the Tribe established multiple locations to provide shelter for community members. The old school cafeteria was used for families, while other facilities provided accommodations for people with mobility issues and elders. Motel rooms were also secured for evacuees. At the height of the response, the Tribe was providing approximately 300 meals a day, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cruz said many people chose to return home once they determined they were outside the immediate fire area, but the Tribe continued providing meals and other assistance. The emergency response also grew into a large donation and distribution effort. Cruz said she has documented 219 individuals, organizations, agencies and departments that contributed donations or assistance, although she believes the actual number is significantly higher. Donations came from across Oregon, other states and tribal communities. Items included bottled water, non-perishable food, household cleaning supplies, emergency kits, N95 masks, pet food, clothing, diapers and hay for livestock. Financial assistance, including $5,000 in gift cards from the Klamath Tribes, was used to help residents in areas most affected by the fire, including communities that experienced extended power outages. Cruz said the response demonstrated the strength of relationships built between Warm Springs and surrounding communities, as well as tribal and government partners. Donation collection efforts were organized in Portland, Bend and Redmond, while volunteers from Madras, Prineville, Bend, Redmond and other communities came to Warm Springs to help. The Tribe is now working to transition the distribution operation to Emergency Management while reorganizing space at the old elementary school. Cruz said the community still has significant needs, but the immediate challenge is managing the large volume of donations already received. The Tribe is also beginning to plan how wildfire recovery funds will be distributed. Cruz said damage assessments are underway and will help determine how assistance is allocated. The assessment will include burned homes and structures, fences, agricultural impacts and potentially smoke damage. Cruz estimates the wildfire caused damages that could reach into the millions of dollars. She said the recovery fund, which is over $300,000, will not cover all losses, but the Tribe will work to distribute the available resources as fairly as possible. She also noted that the fire destroyed grassland needed for livestock grazing, creating a significant need for hay and other livestock supplies through the winter. As Warm Springs moves forward, Cruz said the focus will shift from immediate emergency response to organizing recovery efforts, while continuing to make sure donated resources reach community members who need them most. Donated clothing items, in all sizes, will be available to community members, this Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the Thursday Market that takes place weekly on Thursdays 10:30am – 2pm at the Campus Pavilion. Below is the link to our interview with Caroline Cruz, CTWS Chief Operations Officer.
  18. Gardening with John Brunoe – Warm Springs OSU Extension ServiceGardening with John Brunoe – Warm Springs OSU Extension Service
  19. CTWS 2026 Tribal Energy FairCTWS 2026 Tribal Energy Fair2026 Tribal Energy Fair – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast
  20. Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs ResortKah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs ResortKahneeta Renovations – KWSO Warm Springs Program Podcast

KWSO is community radio for Warm Springs, supported by listeners like you. Help keep local news, culture and language on the air for everyone.

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