Rural and tribal public radio stations brace for funding cuts

Jamie Roberts was at home in Wrangell, Alaska, in November 2023, when she heard what sounded like a jet overhead. Her first thought was that an Alaska Airlines flight was about to crash — but this was no plane. It was the roar of mud, rocks and trees barreling down the mountain, smashing through homes and swallowing the island’s only highway.

The landslide Roberts observed killed six Wrangell residents and severed access to power, internet and roadways for weeks. Throughout the crisis, she and others in the community relied on the local radio station, KSTK, for emergency information, rescue coordination, updates from local officials and advice on accessing essential services. “Radio was critical,” Roberts said. “It was our lifeline.”

Click here to read more.