New Wenatchee NW Public Radio Translator Planned For This Year

WENATCHEE, Wash. – A new public radio service will be coming to Wenatchee later this year.

The Federal Communications Commission has granted Northwest Public Radio, a broadcast service of Washington State University, a construction permit for a new translator to serve the Wenatchee Valley. Broadcasting from Burch Mountain at 90.3 FM, the translator will provide Northwest Public Radio’s NPR News service, which includes a full schedule of news, talk and information programming. Projected to be constructed at a cost of about $7,800, the translator is scheduled to begin operation in summer 2005. A fundraising campaign will begin this month.

“Our listeners in Wenatchee have told us that this is a service they want to have, so we’re very pleased to be able to provide it,” said Roger Johnson, station manager.

The following are some of the programs included on Northwest Public Radio’s NPR News service:

• “Talk of the Nation,” hosted by Neal Conan, provides an exchange of ideas and opinions on the issues that dominate the news landscape.
• “The World” brings one-of-a-kind international stories to America, linking global events to the American agenda.
• “Day to Day” is NPR’s newest news magazine. Anchored by Alex Chadwick, it will keep listeners up-to-date with major news stories and features.
• “Marketplace” is an award-winning daily program with a fresh, new way of reporting on business and finance.
• “The Diane Rehm Show” has been described by Newsweek as one of the most interesting talk shows in the country. 
• “BBC World Service” is the global voice of record with an unrivaled network of international correspondents, reporters and producers.
• “Michael Feldman’s Whad’Ya Know?” is a weekly comedy/quiz/interview show that is dynamic, varied, entertaining and filled with useless information.
• “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” is a fast-paced and irreverent look at the news of the world.

The construction of the new translator will not affect programming currently heard on KNWR-FM (90.7). Wenatchee-area listeners will continue to receive all the programs on KNWR as part of Northwest Public Radio’s NPR and Classical Music service. Instead, the new translator will provide the Wenatchee area with a second public radio service.

The full schedule is available on Northwest Public Radio’s Web site (www.nwpr.org).  Click on “Your NPR News Station.”