PeoriaStory

Fighting to save Peoria Public Radio

PEORIA, IL --Wow! About 100 people attended the Save Peoria Public Radio meeting on Jan. 5. In brief, here’s what happened:

1. People were asked to attend the Peoria City Council meeting on Tues. Jan. 8 and comment on the threat to Peoria Public Radio, WCBU-FM, namely Bradley University’s plan to shift the station to Bloomington/Normal’s NPR station at ISU, WGLT-FM. City Council Beth Jensen stated that losing the station would be a bad for Peoria, and should not be allowed to happen.  WCBU broadcasts the City Council meetings. One woman told me she doesn’t have a TV and  depends on the station for news.
2. Audience members were asked to write letters to the editor at the Peoria Journal Star, to the president of Bradley, Gary Roberts, and to Bradley’s Board of Trustees. The Trustees are listed here: https://www.bradley.edu/offices/president/trustees/
3. Bradley president Gary Robert's phone number is 309-677-3167.  Email address is [email protected]

 They are the final decision makers on whether to kick PPR off the campus. The chairman of the board of Trustees is Calvin G. Butler Jr. [email protected] 

3. A committee was organized to meet with Bradley officials and perhaps attend the next meeting of the Trustees, Feb. 7 in Chicago. If the public station is discussed, the meeting must be open to the public, someone stated. Bradley is a private university and not subject to state open meeting laws or the Freedom of Information Act.  It was criticized by many at the meeting for its secretive machinations  involving the station.

Here's a great site on public radio. It's a mystery as to why Bradley U. would not be promoting the station instead of trying to get rid of it.

The audience agreed that we must try to change Bradley's mind on the station or find another Peoria site for it. WGLT is a last resort, and will mean the loss of local news and music coverage, classical music, and services for the visually impaired.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

Hot new band

PEORIA, IL -- This might be fun. From a news release:

Irish Band Connla to Perform Free Concert at Peoria Public Library January 22

            The Friends of Clonmel and Peoria Public Library will host a free concert featuring Connla “the hottest new group out of Northern Ireland, (Chicago Irish American News)”, on Tuesday, January 22 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium.

            Connla is an exciting new band with strong traditional roots but reflecting influences from across the globe. Their sensitive and innovative arrangements of traditional and modern folk songs and tunes have earned them praise across the folk community.  The group is a full mix of musical knowledge, training and performance experience and is formed from close friends and family who have deep roots in the Northern Ireland music scene. 

            Songlines magazine made Connla their “must see act” for the tour of the UK and stated “A band this young shouldn’t be this good”. Their sensitive and innovative arrangements of traditional and modern folk songs and tunes have helped them create a sound which is very identifiable as Connla.

            The concert is free and open to the public. Parking is free. For more information please contact (309) 497-2143.

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Let's Save Peoria Public Radio for Peoria

PEORIA, IL - Here's a news release:

SAVE PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO

For immediate release

A meeting to craft strategy to save Peoria Public Radio from vanishing has been scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 5, at Lakeview Library, 1137 W. Lake Ave., Peoria. Concerned citizens are convening the meeting and the public is invited.

According to news media reports, Bradley University plans to merge Peoria Public Radio, its NPR station, WCBU-FM, with the NPR station in Bloomington/Normal operated by Illinois State University. Peoria likely would lose local news and cultural coverage enjoyed by the city for 48 years.

Peoria Public Radio over the years has received millions of dollars in public support from its listeners, said to number 30,000 today. It broadcasts classical music and local news and national talk shows. It also has a broadcast channel for the visually impaired. It broadcasts the Peoria City Council meetings and local musical concerts.  All of this would be in jeopardy with a merger.

In a secretive procedure, Bradley University officials reportedly have decided to send the station to ISU without any consultation with those who have supported it for years.  There are many unanswered questions about what is going on.

The meeting will seek to find ways to keep Peoria Public Radio in Peoria, perhaps with another local not-for-profit organization, or to persuade Bradley officials to keep this station, which benefits the university as its best local outreach to the region.   

The public is urged to attend this important first step in saving Peoria Public Radio for Peoria.

More information: Elaine Hopkins [email protected] 309-231-5758.

A Facebook page has been posted: https://www.facebook.com/Save-Peoria-Public-Radio-271984940145370/?modal=admin_todo_tour  or search “Save Peoria Public Radio”

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