Ten local officials are among leaders across the U.S. that have signed a letter to Congress calling for continued funding of public media. WNIN’s John Gibson has details:
The letter circulated by the Alliance for Rural Public Media gathered about 220 signatures.
34 officials from Indiana signed on, including Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry; Vanderburgh County Commissioners Mike Goebel and Amy Canterbury; Evansville City Councilors Mary Allen and Ben Trockman; City Clerk Laura Windhorst; Police Chief Philip Smith; Sheriff Noah Robinson; State Senator Vaneta Becker; and State Representative Alex Burton.
The letter calls on the U.S. Senate to reject a move by President Trump to rescind federal funding for public media, like WNIN.
The deadline for the Senate vote is July 18th.
Sheriff Noah Robinson says he’s seen firsthand how public radio keeps communities “informed, connected, and engaged, especially during emergencies and times of crisis.”
Robinson also says public media’s reporting is “unbiased” and that its local programming is a “vital public safety resource and a trusted voice for citizens.”
More: State funding cuts will shut down Indiana Public Broadcasting News at the end of 2025.