Cincinnati Public Radio rallies community as Congress eyes budget slash

Cincinnati Public Radio and its Community Advisory Board will host a public rally in early July in response to proposed federal funding cuts that could significantly impact the operations of the organization’s radio stations.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a rescission package that would eliminate funding for public media. The legislation now moves to the U.S. Senate, where it needs only 50 votes to pass. If Congress approves the measure, Cincinnati Public Radio could lose about $450,000 annually – a cut that would affect classical music programming, news coverage, educational outreach and emergency communications.

Cincinnati Public Radio operates local NPR affiliates 91.7 WVXU in Cincinnati, 88.5 WMUB in Oxford as well as WGUC, the region’s classical music station.

In response, the nonprofit radio broadcaster will hold “Voices for Public Radio” from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, at the Scripps Family Center for Public Media in Evanston. The free, public event will include information about the proposed cuts, ways to contact lawmakers, and live music from Jake Speed and the Freddies, Cincy Jazz Train, indie artist Allison Phillips and violinist Jade McClellan.

Organizers encourage supporters of public radio to attend and learn how to take action.