Dear friend of KLCC,

Every weekday before sunrise, I walk into the KLCC newsroom, pour a cup of coffee, and share trusted news and local voices with our community. 

Some mornings I’ve opened with Nathan Wilk and Rebecca Hansen-White’s reporting on the crisis in local health care access. Other days, it’s Brian Bull’s continuing coverage of groundwater contamination near the former J.H. Baxter site. And often, I get to share a lighter moment--like the rise of the “googly eyes bandit” in Bend, or a celebration of Oregon’s creative scene.

Today, I’m reaching out not just as your local morning host, but as someone who believes deeply in what public media stands for—and what’s at risk.

A drastic change in circumstances

Congress has voted to eliminate all federal funding for public radio and television. KLCC lost more than $300,000 in annual cash funding--a budget crunch we’ll face again next year, and the next. Over five years, the combined impact of that cut--along with the added costs of shared services like satellite distribution, national program access, music licensing, emergency alert systems, and digital infrastructure--could easily exceed $2 million.

The future is in our hands

These federal dollars can only be offset by local support—from listeners who believe in KLCC’s mission and the essential role we play in our civic life. If you’ve ever relied on KLCC to help you make sense of the day… to connect you with your community… to offer clarity, perspective, or even comfort--we need you now.

• A powerful way you can help is by becoming a monthly sustaining member. Monthly gifts provide steady, reliable funding that KLCC can count on--not just to meet this moment, but to plan boldly for the future.
• When you become a sustainer, you’re not just giving once. You’re building something--with us, and for everyone in western and central Oregon who depends on public radio.

For many of us, the day starts with Morning Edition. For others, it begins with our digital coverage at KLCC.org or the KLCC Extra! in their inbox. However you connect, I want you to know how much we value your trust.

We’ve built this together. Let’s keep it strong.

With deep gratitude,

Read more:

• How bipartisan support for public media unraveled in the Trump era
• Ways To Take Action