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Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missouri public broadcasters launch emergency drives to offset federal cuts
A protester holds a sign in support of funding for public media during a May 1, 2025, rally at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka as part of a 50501 national day of action (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector). Some Missouri public broadcasters launched emergency fund drives Friday while others warned of cutbacks to programming after Congress voted to eliminate $1.1 billion in federal support for public media nationwide. There are nine radio stations affiliated with National Public Radio and four television stations that are part of the Public Broadcasting Service in Missouri media markets, along with some smaller community radio stations, that receive funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Funding from Congress goes to the corporation, which then distributes money to the stations. Those broadcasters received about $7.6 million in community service grants in federal fiscal year 2024, the most recent completed year, according to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 'This vote weakens one of the most trusted civic institutions in America,' Kyle Felling, general manager of KBIA in Columbia, said in a news release. 'Stripping away already-approved funding puts the work we do every day at risk — reporting trusted facts, delivering emergency alerts, and connecting our community.' KBIA, the NPR station operated by the University of Missouri Journalism School, launched a drive for a 'Resiliency Fund' to raise $500,000. KCUR, the NPR station in the Kansas City market, will run a drive through Monday, and perhaps beyond, to raise $500,000 Community radio station KOPN in Columbia, which is not an NPR affiliate, launched an emergency drive with a goal of $40,000. KCPT, the Kansas City public television station, also launched an emergency drive but did not state a goal on its website. Missouri U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, who handled the rescission bill in the Senate, said on Fox News Friday that he was proud to be the one leading the fight to eliminate public broadcaster funding. 'We got the federal government out of the business of subsidizing NPR and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,' Schmitt said. 'They are woke, biased, and ideologically captured. They don't deserve tax dollars.' Since President Donald Trump sent a request for cuts of $9.4 billion from current spending to Congress in June, the stations have been using their websites and airwaves to seek extra donations and mobilize listeners. The final 216-213 House vote came Friday morning, just after midnight. Every Republican member of the Missouri delegation voted for the cuts except U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison of Springfield, who was absent. The state's two Democratic House members voted against it. The Trump administration's well-telegraphed intent to cut funding for public broadcasting had boosted station fundraising even before the vote, Felling said. An annual May fund drive, he said, raised more than three times the amount it did a year ago. 'After the cuts overnight, I've seen my inbox flooded with messages of support and contributions,' Felling said via email. 'The community recognizes the importance of what we do, the value of independent and trusted reporting.' At KCUR, the emergency fund drive began at 7 a.m. Friday and will continue at least through Monday, Karen Campbell, director of institutional giving and communications, said in an email. Along with the direct cash grant the station lost, it will have to pick up costs previously covered by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, she wrote. The response so far, she said, has been very positive. 'While we are buoyed by this support and the kind words that accompany these gifts, we know that we have a long road ahead,' Campbell wrote. Dylan Martin, executive director of community radio station KOPN in Columbia, said the lost federal funding is about 40% of the station's cash budget. The station has always been lean, he said, with two paid staff currently. In addition to lost cash, there are new costs, he said. 'In addition to grant funds, CPB had negotiated and paid for music licensing fees for broadcast and internet streaming for qualified CPB recipients,' Martin said. 'As a station that broadcasts a significant amount of diverse music, KOPN will have to cover this in addition to the shortfall of grant funds.' At Ozarks Public Broadcasting in Springfield, which combines operations for KSMU radio and KOZK-TV in Springfield, General Manager Rachel Knight went on the air Friday morning to explain the impact. The cut is about $1.3 million total, she said, approximately 10% of the radio station budget and one-third of the television budget. 'Like we've been saying over the last several months as we knew this was looming, these won't be invisible cuts,' Knight told the audience. 'I mean, we operate so efficiently right now that there's nothing easy to cut.' The stations have not launched formal emergency fundraising campaigns, Knight said in an email to The Independent, but the public is calling to give. 'Our phones have stayed busy this morning and web pledges are coming in fast,' Knight said. 'We're hearing frustration and disappointment from our audience in Congress' decision to defund public media. They want to see our services continue and are stepping up with additional support.' St. Louis Public Radio, operating with the call letters KWMU, will lose about $575,000 — about 6% of its annual revenue — and face the same increased costs for pooled programming and services previously provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the station said in a news release. 'Public media has always served as a pillar of democracy, with broad support that transcends party lines,' interim General Manager Jess Luther said in the release. 'Our elected leaders' decision to rescind this funding dangerously diminishes the free flow of information, especially to communities that have few other sources of news and emergency alerts. When we say this is dangerous, we mean it literally.' In addition to KOZK in Springfield, the PBS stations in Missouri are KMOS in Warrensburg, KCPT in Kansas City and KETC in St. Louis. KMOS is an important resource for a region where 70% of the audience is rural and 17% have no internet access, General Manager Josh Tomlinson said. 'First and foremost, while the federal funding for public media is gone KMOS is not,' he said. The federal funding represents about 40% of the station budget, he said. 'I can't rule out the loss of programming or other services but we are not taking a panicked approach. Instead we are looking at everything strategically,' he said. 'The community's response has been remarkable. We have heard from hundreds of viewers who have offered support and many more have contacted lawmakers on our behalf.' For KCPT, the loss is about 13% of the station budget, according to an online statement about its emergency fund drive. 'For nearly 60 years, Kansas City PBS has been a trusted source of education, culture, and connection,' Kliff Kuehl, president and CEO of Kansas City PBS said in the online statement. 'This loss of funding is a significant challenge, but we have always been powered by the people we serve and we will continue to inform, inspire and connect.' In a message to viewers on its website, KETC President and CEO Amy Shaw thanked viewers for donations and advocating for the station with messages to Congress. The cut is about $1.8 million, she said, about 13% of the budget. 'This was not the outcome we hoped for and fought for,' Shaw said. 'However, Nine PBS's commitment to serve the St. Louis region remains stronger than ever.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Jersey lawmakers eye hiking nicotine taxes to boost revenue
Top New Jersey Senate Democrats want to raise taxes on cigarettes and e-cigarette fluid sales to raise revenue for the fiscal year that begins July 1. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) Some state budget provisions are beginning to come into relief days ahead of a deadline to pass a spending bill before the new fiscal year begins on July 1. Top-ranking legislators in the Senate introduced tax proposals pitched as part of Murphy's budget plan that would raise levies on cigarettes and the fluid used in vaping devices. 'Hopefully, some of this revenue will be applied to smoking cessation programs,' Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Middlesex), the chamber's health chairman and a sponsor of one of the bills, told the New Jersey Monitor. A bill sponsored by Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), the chamber's budget chair, would nudge New Jersey's cigarette per-pack tax up from $2.70 to $3, while Vitale's bill would triple tax rates on electronic cigarette fluid sales at both wholesale and retail levels. Gov. Phil Murphy pitched both proposals in the budget plan he unveiled in February. They were among a raft of proposed tax increases meant to generate $1.2 billion in additional revenue as New Jersey faces tightening fiscal conditions, a deficit, and uncertainty over the future of its federal funding. In February budget documents, administration officials urged lawmakers to boost cigarette tax revenue as smoking wanes and is supplanted by newer nicotine delivery mechanisms. Absent the increase, the tax on cigarettes was expected to generate $365.3 million in the coming fiscal year, down from an estimated $374 million in the current one. With the higher rate, that tax would generate $406.3 million, according to treasury documents. The increase would allow some money from New Jersey's cigarette tax, about $10.7 million, to flow into the state's general fund. The first $391.5 million in cigarette tax revenue is dedicated to an off-budget fund that pays for smoking cessation and other health care programs, and some additional funds must be used to pay down bonds issued against cigarette tax revenue. Opponents warned raising the tax would harm convenience stores, gas stations, and other retailers that carry tobacco products. The changes would push smokers to cross state lines to purchase cigarettes in Pennsylvania, which charges a $2.60-per-pack cigarette tax, said Eric Blomgren, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline, C-Store, and Automotive Association. 'For each individual that does so, there are two losses. One is to the retailer who not only lost that sale, but also the cup of coffee, snack, or other purchase that customer would have also bought,' he said. 'The other is to the state, which in an effort to squeeze $3.00 from a pack instead loses the $2.70 it was already getting, plus another roughly 77 cents in lost sales tax.' Excise taxes like those that New Jersey levies on nicotine products have dual roles. In addition to the revenue they generate, they are meant to deter taxpayers from certain activities, like smoking and drinking. Vitale, a longtime supporter of higher excise taxes on nicotine products, cautioned New Jersey might see limited success on that second prong. 'I think that the revenue's required, and it serves, at some level, as a disincentive to smoke, but the actual data doesn't support it as much as I thought it did,' Vitale said. 'The people who have an addiction have an addiction. Whether it's $2.70 a pack or $3 a pack, they're going to continue to smoke unless there's an alternative for them.' The nicotine taxes are among a range of revenue raisers Murphy has proposed for the next fiscal year. Legislators, including Sarlo, have stated opposition to some others, including a proposal to subject recreational activities like laser tag to the state's sales tax. Under Vitale's proposal, the state's tax on e-cigarette cartridges would rise from 10 cents to 30 cents per milliliter. That increase would add about 56 cents to a four-pack of Juul cartridges and roughly $1.44 to a four-pack of Vuse Alto cartridges. New Jersey's tax on e-cigarette cartridges can be applied to wholesalers or retailers, depending on the flow of goods. The bill would separately raise the tax rate on bottled vaping fluid to 30% of retail price, from 10%. It would also require distributors and retailers to take inventory of their stock of vaping fluid, report it to the state, and pay the additional tax within a month of the bill becoming law. Blomgren argued the state should enforce its existing ban on flavored vaping products before seeking to boost revenue by raising tax rates. Last year, Attorney General Matt Platkin fined 19 stores for selling illegal flavored vapes. In January, he sent warnings to nearly 11,000 businesses warning of a ban that had by then been on the books for five years. 'It is doubtful that many of the people selling an illegal product are paying the state the proper tax on vape products. In fact, one of our members recently purchased an illegal flavored product from a competitor, and found they did not even charge them sales tax,' Blomgren said. Murphy and lawmakers must pass and sign an annual spending bill before July 1 to avert a government shutdown. An earlier version of this story quoted Sen. Vitale saying lawmakers are mulling a tax hike on nicotine pouches. A Senate Democrats spokesman said that is not under consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Take it from this retired Kansas judge: An independent bench reinforces justice
A statue representing justice stands at the Kansas Judicial Center, where the Kansas Supreme Court is located, on Feb. 4, 2022. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) This session, the Kansas Legislature voted to send Senate Concurrent Resolution 1611 to voters. This proposed constitutional amendment creates the direct partisan political election of Kansas Supreme Court justices. Such elections would be the death knell of an independent judiciary. I was fortunate to serve as a trial district court judge for two and a half decades. I was faced with making difficult decisions, but also very unpopular ones. The majority of the Legislature sadly confuses the court of law with the court of public opinion. Partisan election of judges conflicts with the very essence of the role of the judiciary. A judge has no constituency. A judge must not be influenced by popular opinion. A judge must not be beholden to a political party or a financial campaign contributor. Surely we can all agree we want our judiciary to be fair, impartial and insulated from outside influence. This distinction of judicial office from legislative and executive positions is recognized by the Kansas Code of Judicial Conduct, canon 4. It addresses political activity by a judicial candidate that is inconsistent with the independence, integrity or impartiality of the judiciary. Rule 4.1 (A)(6) states '(A) judge or judicial candidate shall not, in connection with cases, controversies or issues that are likely to come before the court make pledges, promises, or commitments that are inconsistent with the impartial performance of the adjudicative duties of the court.' A judge has no constituency. A judge must not be influenced by popular opinion. A judge must not be beholden to a political party or a financial campaign contributor. – Steven Becker This means no pledges, promises or commitments on gun control, abortion, Medicaid expansion or legalization of cannabis. The Kansas Code of Judicial Conduct explains further the importance of keeping our judiciary above the fray of political campaigns and rhetoric. 'A judge plays a role different from that of a legislator or executive branch official. Rather than making decisions based upon the expressed views or preferences of the electorate, a judge makes decisions based upon the law and the facts of every case. In furtherance of this interest, judges and judicial candidates, must, to the greatest extent possible, be free and appear to be free from political influence and political pressure. … Public confidence in the independence and impartiality of the judiciary is eroded if judges or judicial candidates are perceived to be subject to political influence.' I suggest the ethical veil distinguishing a judicial candidate from a candidate for legislative or executive office is extremely important but extremely thin. While serving as a district court judge, I applied twice for a vacancy on the Kansas Court of Appeals. At the time, the selection process was the merit-based system that we currently have for selecting our Supreme Court justices. My efforts were unsuccessful. After going through the interview process and an aggressive background investigation, I willingly admit that candidates better than I were chosen to be considered for appointment by the governor. The merit-based selection system works and has worked for more than 50 years. The only reason a change to our state constitution is being sought is because the Kansas Supreme Court issued opinions that conflict with the court of public opinion — or the opinion of lawmakers in Topeka. If court decisions are to align with public opinions, I suggest that our public schools would still be segregated. The independence of our judiciary, free from outside political and ideological influence, is a bedrock to our democracy. An independent judiciary is vital to our government's balance of power with checks and balances. Steve Becker served as Reno County district judge for 26 years and served as state representative for the 104th District for three terms. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
This is what democracy looks like in Kansas: The courage to protest
Kansans rally at the Statehouse in Topeka as part of the 50501 national day of action on May 1, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) On an April afternoon in a small Midwest town, I stood on the side of a busy street with around 500 of my neighbors and community members to protest the current administration and to defend democracy. I'm not going to lie. I was afraid. Even knowing we would be peacefully protesting in a public space where we are allowed by law to congregate and express our opinions, it felt dangerous. The reality of today is that people are being snatched off the streets and judges are being arrested. Plus, I live in a small blue dot in the middle of a large swath of red. I deleted screen shots of funny memes and current facts from my phone. I wrote a phone number in sharpie on my upper arm in case I needed to contact someone with my one phone call. I researched Articles 90 and 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and printed out small messages to explain to any police or military presence that they will only be charged with disobeying any lawful orders and providing the GI Rights Hotline number in case of need. I disabled the location on my phone and logged out of all my social media. I made sure facial recognition and thumbprint were both turned off and couldn't be used to open my phone against my will. I removed my dangly earrings and necklace. I took a deep breath and I walked out the door. When I got to the city park, I found our allowed protest area neatly marked off with ribbon and volunteers writing signs on posterboard for those of us who forgot to bring a sign. I chose a sign that said 'Freedom From Fear' and found a spot between the curb and sidewalk with my neighbors. For the next two hours we held our signs high and waived at passing cars as they honked and cheered. It felt so empowering to be out in the world and with community members who feel the need to protect our democracy just like I do. I saw a professor I recognized from the nearby university. I saw knitting and crafting friends. I met new people. We were university students and working families and retirees and young parents with babies and toddlers. Someone handed me an American flag to waive along with my 'Freedom From Fear' sign. A veteran in a chair nearby along the line had a sign that read, 'Hands off our democracy!' Several versions of 'No Kings' or 'America does not have a king!' showed up in the signs. So did 'Resist Fascism,' 'Hands off my books,' and, 'No one voted for Elon Musk.' I chanted 'Flush the orange turd!' along with the grade-school young ladies every time they walked up and down the line on the sidewalk with a parent and a homemade sign. Every time someone chanted, 'Show me what democracy looks like!' I shouted back, 'This is what democracy looks like!' as loud as I could along with hundreds of neighbors and community members. Standing along that line I realized I am not alone. A whole lot of other people fear for our democracy and do not like the actions taken in our names. We are afraid and we are also willing to stand up for our democracy despite that fear. And I started to believe that most of us feel that way. None of us are in this alone. Hundreds of cars drove by to cheer us on and honk. One drove by flipping us off. Another drove by shouting but no one could tell if they were shouting with us or against us. One large truck gunned the engine and spewed a black cloud along the street. But the rest? Hundreds and hundreds of people agreed with us. And the smiles of relief as they drove by were worth the fear. I was relieved too. I recently heard U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Delaware, say that no one needs to be a hero as long as we all have a little courage, that seeing someone be courageous helps others have courage too. That day we had enough courage to walk out the door. I have faith that next time it will be easier. And next time? Next time I hope you'll join us. Tamara Moots lives and works in Manhattan. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma public media weighs potential loss of federal dollars
A protester holds a sign in support of federal funding for public media during a May 1, rally at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka as part of a 50501 national day of action. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) With the possibility of federal cuts to funding for public media looming, Oklahoma's media outlets are working to fight the cuts and secure revenue. President Donald Trump asked Congress to rescind, or take back, funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps to fund public radio and television across the country. Also known as CPB, it is a nonprofit entity authorized by Congress. The corporation serves as the steward of federal funding for public television, radio and related mobile and online services. Rescission of the funding would require approval from both the House and Senate. NPR and three Colorado public radio stations have sued the Trump administration in response to his request for rescission. Two of Oklahoma's public radio stations, KOSU and KGOU, are weighing how to balance their budgets if federal funds are pulled back. Dick Pryor, general manager of KGOU, said around 7% of the station's funding comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which most recently was more than $166,000. KGOU's other revenue comes from University of Oklahoma Outreach, individual donations and business sponsorships, he said. 'In addition to the direct funding that we receive from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, they also provide what's called interconnection services which allows us to get programming from NPR and shared programming among ourselves, including emergency notifications and they pay for and manage music licensing for stations,' Pryor said. The cost to replace these funds and services is potentially around $295,000, he said. 'One thing we don't know is how much money might we be able to raise through donations from individuals that rally behind us and want to contribute,' Pryor said. Without Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding, KGOU will have to work to reduce the cost of its programming and potentially suspend some services it provides, he said. Rural media often receives more funding through the corporation, Pryor said, so a loss of funding could be 'especially catastrophic' for those stations. At KOSU, Executive Director Rachel Hubbard has put out a series of newsletters warning of the potential effects of funding loss for the NPR member station and urging Oklahomans to contact their federal lawmakers. Rescission of funding would mean a loss of 11% of the station's budget, or a $311,000 deficit, Hubbard wrote. Like KGOU, the station would incur 'significant new costs' to pay for music rights and emergency communication infrastructure that are currently paid for with federal money. KOSU is actively searching for new funding sources, according to an article on the station's website. 'The loss would not cause the station to go away, but it would drastically cripple KOSU's ability to provide essential services, including Oklahoma news and emergency alerts for rural Oklahoma,' the article reads. 'Fundraising would also be necessary to close a budgetary gap that, if left unfilled, would undoubtedly result in a loss of services or programming.' For the 2024 budget year, 15% of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority's budget came from Corporation for Public Broadcasting, said Garrett King, board president of the Friends of OETA, a nonprofit that raises funds and supports the station. He said it would be a 'a tragic disservice to the public' to rescind funding and asked that Oklahoma's congressional delegation stand against efforts to do so. 'Without CPB funding to local PBS stations, OETA would not be able to operate,' King said in a statement on behalf of the Friends of OETA. 'The CPB support to public television stations like OETA constitutes an indispensable 'third leg of the stool' of the federal, state, and charitable investment that keeps the station carrying out its public safety and educational work for all Oklahomans in each of our 77 counties.' OETA's network of transmitters provides the only statewide transmission infrastructure for the Warning, Alert and Response Network system, which provides 'life-saving warnings and alerts' from emergency services and U.S. armed forces during internet and cell service outages, King said. Those impact rural Oklahomans most. 'Reasonable people can agree that a frank and productive conversation can and should be had about the best way to steward and utilize the $1.60 per American per year that the taxpayers invest in the CPB,' King said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
