NPR deserves federal funding

I spent the evening of Sept. 11, 2001, listening to National Public Radio (NPR). The television was repeatedly showing airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center and repeating the same information over and over. Meanwhile, NPR was sharing new information when it existed, interviewing notable individuals, and allowing average Americans to call in to say what this event meant to them. NPR allowed me to feel connected with other Americans.

On NPR, I know that reporters have done their homework. The news stories go deeper than on commercial radio and television. NPR has reporters around the world. Further, shows such as “Whad'Ya Know?,”“Car Talk” and “This American Life” entertain me.

So, I was not happy when I read that the House had voted to permanently remove all federal funding from NPR. The March 29 Gazette story indicated the significant negative effects the defunding would have on our wonderful Iowa Public Radio stations, and even greater effects on NPR stations elsewhere.

The U.S. Senate is our only hope for preserving federal funding for local NPR stations. Tell Senators Charles Grassley and Tom Harkin to preserve the funding that keeps high-quality news and entertainment freely available to all Americans.

Suzette Astley

Mount Vernon