'Very disappointed': Ozarks Public Broadcasting programs to be affected by PBS & NPR cuts

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The United States Senate approved a $9 billion rescissions package that will cut funding towards public broadcasting and foreign aid spending.

$1 billion from that package will be used to cut funding of NPR and PBS, which GOP lawmakers argue have been pushing left-leaning agendas.

Ozarks First spoke to Rachel Knight, general manager of Ozark Public Broadcasting, at Missouri State University. She says they were surprised by the news of the cuts.

"We're very disappointed in the Senate vote," says Knight. "You know, the way this has been framed is cutting public funding for PBS and NPR. But the funding that was cut, $1.1 billion, 70% of that goes to local stations like Ozarks Public Television and KSMU Radio. So really what's happening is money is being taken out of local communities and the local stations that are running them."

According to Knight, the money they won't be receiving this fiscal year is about 10% of KSMU Radio's budget and about a third of Ozarks public television's budget, which is a significant portion of what they use to operate.

Knight says their viewers and listeners will also feel the impact of these cuts.

"There will be less programming and fewer services," Knight said. "So, things that people count on and things that people love are very much at risk of going away."

Ben Verstraete is a recent Missouri State University graduate who's been working with the station for years. He says he's concerned for the future.

"There's a lot of worry just in terms of not only, you know, me continuing to have a job, but other people continuing to have a job and continuing to be able to produce the coverage we produce here," Verstraete says.

He believes funding for public media is important, as it provides people a way to stay informed free of charge.

"It's really important, I think, to have news outlets that aren't necessarily always worried about the bottom line," he said.

Roseanne Bentley, who helped found Ozarks Public Television, passed away on Monday before the cuts were approved. She was 89 years old.