Culture shock does not even begin to describe !!
Most upsetting is my loss of the radio stations --KGO, KNBR, KQED
I am able to access these on my I Phone 6 via I Heart Radio..but is inconvenient.
Is there such a "radio" that plugs into electric outlet that I could just listen to in my house (i have wifi access)
Any idea? or references I could investigate?

I listen to NPR radio, many of the same shows as KQED, on my computer:

http://www.npr.org ("Live Radio" upper right-hand corner)

I can't help with tech things, but you are in Yakima right? Yes, culture shock to the extreme, coming from the bay area! I have lived in Yakima a few times, and things are definitely limited there. Get to Seattle often, that will help

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/produc...-audio-adapter

You need a Bluetooth adapter to plug into an existing radio with an Aux jack, such as the one I link to above. I have that one and it works very well. You would "tune " to the app on your phone.

If you don't already have a radio with an Aux jack, get a Bluetooth speaker to use with your phone.

Oh dear, culture shock hardly covers it

The lack of your favorite radio stations will be the least of your culture shock!

For excellent jazz (older to newer styles) and excellent news programming listen to KNKX from Tacoma (it used to be KPLU) at 88.5 fm, or its broadcasts on the web at http://knkx.org/ (use the button on thee right top of that webpage)... its an NPR station with great northwest news coverage

It's a great northwest station. When Pacific Lutheran University sold it to the UW's NPR station lots of people went wild, raised millions of dollars in donations, and succeeded in buying it and keeping its format.

The biggest saving grace of Yakima is its very easy and quick access to the Cascades for hiking and skiing and sightseeing. And it's nice having nearby "The Gorge", the outdoor amphitheater concert venue near Moses Lake

elbewa--LOL, so true about the saving grace of Yakima! In high school, we loved being able to drive 45 minutes or less to go ski. I am pretty sure that was the best part about the area, next to the wonderful produce in the summer.

I'd say access to Washington wine country would be Yakima's biggest asset. Oh, and mms is so right about the produce!