Latest news with #WTVP
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
On the Record: Federal funding cuts threaten 1/3 of WTVP budget
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Local PBS affiliate stations like WTVP are sounding the alarm for their future after the Trump administration formally requested Congress to claw back funding for the next two years. WTVP President and CEO Jenn Gordon joined 'On the Record' and said the cuts will have a devastating impact on her station, which has just recovered from a financial situation of its own. 'So we're looking at an impact of about a third of our annual funding being immediately cut, if this rescission package goes through. So a lot is at stake here. More than 1.3 million people have already contacted Congress to voice their support [for public media],' she said. Gordon emphasized that public media differs from commercial media in that it's a private-public partnership. 'We're nonprofit organizations that rely in part on federal support to offer commercial-free programming to everyone. It was set up originally to receive some taxpayer dollars to get the ball rolling, but then also all of our local stations, we do quite a bit of fundraising to supplement that,' said Gordon. That federal funding could disappear in less than two months. The Trump administration, on Tuesday, sent Congress a rescission package, formally requesting the return of $1.1 billion already allocated for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. That starts a countdown of 45 days for Congress to respond. If passed, Gordon said local stations like WTVP stand to lose nearly a third of their annual funding. 'This isn't just about national programming,' Gordon warned. 'Smaller stations will feel the cut even more sharply. At WTVP, we'd have to immediately shift into emergency fundraising mode to try to close the gap. It could slow or stop local and educational programming, and delay production for new shows.' The rescission package comes on the heels of another blow to public media. President Trump issued an executive order on May 1 to shut down PBS and NPR, citing bias and irrelevance. Both organizations have filed lawsuits in response, arguing the order is a violation of the First Amendment. Gordon said the ripple effects from the loss of funding will be felt everywhere, from fewer children's programs to potential job impacts at the local level. 'Some of that federal funding goes to actually producing programs. So you're going to see a shortening of production timelines. And then additionally, at the local level, it's going to immediately need us to move into a grassroots fundraising mode to try and make up for that difference,' she said. So, how can you help? Gordon said to call or send a message to your lawmakers voicing your support for public media. You can also visit 'It takes five minutes and could make a real difference,' she said. On June 3, PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger echoed Gordon's sentiments in a statement. 'The proposed rescissions would have a devastating impact on PBS member stations and the essential role they play in communities, particularly smaller and rural stations that rely on federal funding for a larger portion of their budgets,' she said. 'Without PBS member stations, Americans will lose unique local programming and emergency services in times of crisis. There's nothing more American than PBS, and we are proud to highlight real issues, individuals, and places that would otherwise be overlooked by commercial media.' PBS was created in by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 1969 to provide Americans with a non-commercial space for news, educational programming, and inspirational content. There are approximately 350 stations across the country. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
31st annual '40 under 40′ recognizes young Peoria-area leaders
EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — 40 people under the age of 40 were celebrated for their efforts in the workplace and in the central Illinois community Tuesday night. The event was held at the Par-A-Dice Hotel in East Peoria, and recipients ranged from business owners to government officials to nonprofit leaders. Peoria's public broadcast station WTVP hosted the event, highlighting the successes of the recipients while giving them a chance to mingle with other movers and shakers from central Illinois. One of the recipients, Pierre Anyansi, is a network security engineer for Advanced Medical Transport, and he appreciated the recognition. 'You work to make the place you live a better place and to have the community recognize you just for doing your normal day is an honor and a privilege,' he said. Anyansi is from Chicago and went to school in Jamaica, describing Peoria as 'a home away from home.' He hopes the event can get people to be more involved in the community. WTVP's CEO Jenn Gordon said the station is 'proud' to continue the annual event. 'It is a privilege to tell their stories and inspire future leaders to invest in central Illinois with the same passion, sacrifice, and commitment displayed by these 40 leaders under 40,' she said. Here is the full list of recipients: Pierre Anyansi, Network Security Engineer, Advanced Medical Transport Alexander Bousky, Section Manager, Caterpillar Brett Brooks, Founder, Bee Squared Films Nickolas Connor, Firefighter, City of Peoria Raquel Dagit, Commercial Talent Development Manager, Caterpillar Everley Davis, Assistant Curator and Community Engagement Coordinator, PeoriaRiverfront Museum Adam Donahoe, Senior Manager, RSM US LLP Marissa Draney, Principal, Peoria Academy Mariama Ford, Director of Human Resources and Finance, Central Illinois FRIENDS Ryan Foster, Founder, Budded Mattah Baylee Gambetti, Designated Managing Broker, RE/MAX Traders Unlimited Ben Getz, Director of Internal Audit, RLI Insurance Company Jona Hall, Founder and CEO, Illuminate: Lighting the Way Against Trafficking &Abuse Michelle Hayes, Director of Foster Care, Children's Home Association of Illinois Reagan Leslie, Principal Designer, Leslie Tyler Design & Build Francie Hinrichsen, Founder, Founding Females Ronnie Hudson II, Systems Engineering Team Lead, Caterpillar Danielle Jepson, Account Executive, Adams Outdoor Advertising Alexandra Kaiser, Funeral Prearrangement Specialist, Funeral Directors Life Alicia Kamischke, Project Management Officer/SLED Market Lead, Prairie Engineers Kerry Klesath, Special Education Association of Peoria County, Director Devon Knobloch, Vice President – Commercial Banking Officer, Fortress Bank Brett Kolditz, Assistant Attorney General, Illinois Attorney General's Office Kimberly Ku, Clinical Oncologist and Hematologist, Illinois Cancercare Alexandria Lavin, President, The Yellow Bear Foundation Lisa Martin, CFO, Midwest Food Bank Michaura Pittman, Counselor, Manual High School Claudia Plumer, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, University of Illinois College ofMedicine Peoria – Pediatric Resource Center Nicole Rau, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois College of Medicine Liridon Rrushaj, Director of Venture Investing, OSF Ventures Joshua Schnauber, Transportation Manager, Caterpillar Maxwell Schneider, Real Estate Broker, Keller Williams Premier Realty Adam Shaw, Director of Finance, Greater Peoria Sanitary District Jami Truelove, President/CEO, Heart of Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters Pat Venditte, Account Executive, Pearl Technology Christi Walker, Bookkeeper, Walker Excavating Judy Wang, Owner, Judy's Family Cafe Michael 'JoJo' Winters, Jr., Skilled Trades Coordinator, Dream Center Peoria Michelle Wolfe, Teacher of the Deaf, Charter Oak Primary School Charlie Zimmerman, Principal, Metamora Township High School Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WTVP recognizing 2024's '40 Leaders Under Forty'
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Recognizing central Illinois leaders in fields as wide-ranging as business, government, and public affairs. WTVP will hold a ceremony presenting this year's '40 Leaders Under Forty' awards. Forty leaders will be awarded for their contributions to the community. Michael Eckhardt from WTVP stopped by WMBD This Morning to talk about the ceremony and some of the leaders being awarded. The '40 Leaders Under Forty' event will be on March 18 at the Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino in East Peoria. Tickets are $75 each and can be ordered from at time of writing, less than a dozen tickets are still available. Love WMBD This Morning? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our Daily Newsletter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kelly backs out of Peoria mayoral forum due to conflict with St. Patrick's Day
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — An upcoming mayoral forum with Mayor Rita Ali and At-Large Councilman John Kelly has been canceled. The forum, which was to be recorded at the studios of WTVP-TV next week, was canceled after Kelly, citing an unspecified conflict, backed out of the March 17, said the station in a news release. Grayeb signals possible end to his mayoral hopes But when reached for comment, Kelly said he chose not to go because it was St. Patrick's Day. When asked why he committed originally, he said, 'I was going back and forth on it.' He said he would use the holiday to hit a number of places in Downtown for his campaign as well as take part in the parade. 'It's always a big day for me anyway,' he said. He did say he would consider another date but the station, in the news release, said that 'given the proximity to Election Day on April 1 and several previously scheduled events at WTVP's studio, the forum cannot be rescheduled.' Robert Parks of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria, which was one of the sponsors, said Kelly had 'reconfirmed his intentions to appear,' on Saturday but then, on Monday, said he would not be participating. 'It's disappointing,' she said. 'When candidates don't make time to talk to wide swaths of voters simultaneously, everyone loses.' The event was to be sponsored by WTVP, WCBU-FM, the league and NAACP Peoria Branch. Both candidates came out of the February primary and are vying for the mayoral gavel in the city's April 1 election. Ali, if she loses, will be off the council, while Kelly will retain his at-large spot as he previously won reelection for that seat on the Horseshoe. Both were previously involved in an earlier forum in January. The primary election forum can still be viewed on and YouTube and Facebook pages of all presenting sponsors. Additionally, Kelly said, there is a debate scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at Peoria High School. And, he said, there is a candidate's forum on March 26 with the Kiwanis Club. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Second Peoria mayoral debate at WTVP canceled after Kelly backs out, asks for new date
WTVP-TV has canceled its scheduled debate between Peoria mayoral candidates Rita Ali and John Kelly that was slated for March 17. Kelly pulled out of the debate, telling the Journal Star he had a problem with it falling on St. Patrick's Day. He said in a statement he has many other events to attend as a candidate that day. Kelly said he informed WTVP on Sunday, March 9 that he would not be available for the scheduled debate. "I have simply asked WTVP that if they want to host an unprecedented second debate to please find another date," Kelly said. "Again, I am open to a second WTVP debate on another date." Ali to the Journal Star on Tuesday she had no comment about Kelly backing out of the debate. More: Grayeb endorses Ali for Peoria mayor, accuses Kelly of running a 'dirty' campaign WTVP said in a statement that the debate cannot be rescheduled because of its close proximity to the April 1 general election day. WTVP also said that Kelly confirmed his participation in the event as recently as Saturday, March 8, but then informed Roberta Parks of the Peoria League of Women Voters on Monday, March 10, that he would be backing out. 'It's disappointing,' Parks said in a statement. 'When candidates don't make time to talk to wide swaths of voters simultaneously, everyone loses.' Kelly and Ali are still scheduled to meet in a debate on Thursday night that will be moderated by WEEK-TV 25 and 90.7 FM. More: Peoria's city manager Patrick Urich could be getting another raise This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria mayoral debate at WTVP canceled after John Kelly backs out
