Station News

Groundbreaking personal history project StoryCorps will visit California’s San Joaquin Valley in 2020, as one of 10 stops on its annual nationwide tour, in partnership with Valley Public Radio. The StoryCorps MobileBooth – an Airstream trailer converted into a mobile recording studio will be in Fresno from February 12, 2020 through March 20, 2020, located the Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC) in downtown Fresno.

Valley Public Radio is pleased to announce that Kathleen Schock has joined the FM89 team as the new host of the station's news magazine program Valley Edition. The program airs Friday mornings at 9:00 AM with a rebroadcast at 7:00 PM, and is also available as a podcast.

A Fresno native, Kathleen has a bachelor’s in international relations from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree in journalism from UC Berkeley, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Fresno State.

After 15 years as the beloved co-host of WNYC Studios’ Radiolab and an illustrious five-decade career in print, television, and radio journalism, Robert Krulwich announced today that he will retire from the show in January 2020. Radiolab will release a special tribute episode in late January.

Robert announced the news in a heartfelt letter, which you can read here. 

Philosophy Talk co-founder/host and Stanford University Professor Ken Taylor has passed away at age 65.  

The producers of the program shared the news with listeners today with this note:

The Philosophy Talk team is deeply saddened by Ken Taylor's unexpected and untimely passing. Ken was the show's co-founder, longtime co-host, chief cheerleader, and guiding light. We already miss him but are grateful for the legacy that he's left for us—his philosophical wisdom, deep insight... and booming charismatic radio voice on each of our 500 episodes to date.

From the spoken word to classical music and jazz, help celebrate the holiday season with an eclectic blend of holiday specials from Valley Public Radio. You’ll hear timeless classics like A Christmas Carol and a complete broadcast of Handel’s Messiah, to contemporary favorites like David Sedaris reading from his Santaland Diaries on Tinsel Tales, and Pink Martini’s “A Holiday In Pink” radio special. There’s also special Hanukkah programming, Paul Winter’s annual Winter Solstice Concert, and New Year’s Day live from Vienna.

Valley Public Radio will offer live special coverage of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump in the U.S. House of Representatives. The coverage from NPR begins Wednesday November 13, 2019 at 7:00 AM, with a hearing before the House Intelligence Committee. Further coverage will air on Friday November 15 at 6:00 AM as hearings continue.

If you're a fan of radio storytelling programs like The Moth Radio Hour, you won't want to miss a special storyteller's showcase event in Bakersfield Saturday December 7th. The Beale Memorial Library, in association with Bakersfield Toastmasters Clubs and Valley Public Radio will present  "Miles to Go Before I Sleep" an evening of true stories, told before a live audience.

For the sixth year in a row, the independent nonprofit rating service Charity Navigator has awarded Valley Public Radio its highest honor - four stars. The rating is based on the station's stewardship of donor funds, financial health, ethics and transparency policies. 

Michael Thatcher, President and CEO of Charity Navigator wrote the following:

Thanks for your help in raising the needed funds to make the backup generator project a reality. As of 7/29/19 we have raised the money necessary to complete this project. Work will begin on the installation soon. Thanks for your generous support of Valley Public Radio. 

- Joe Moore
President and General Manager
Valley Public Radio

California State Senator Melissa Hurtado has named Valley Public Radio as Nonprofit of the Year for Senate District 14. Station President and General Manager Joe Moore and Finance Director Shirin Assemi visited the state capitol Wednesday to accept the honor as part of California Nonprofit Day. The station was one of 200 nonprofits honored as part of the celebration. 

From an earlier press release: 

CLOVIS, CA – Valley Public Radio is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2019 California Nonprofit of the Year by Senator Melissa Hurtado for Senate District 14.

Start off your day on a different beat. NPR’s Morning Edition has launched brand new theme music for the first time in 40 years. Don’t sleep on our fresh sound, tune in to hear the show every weekday morning from 3:00 AM till 9:00 AM on FM89 and KVPR.org.

Now hear the acclaimed sounds of one of America’s finest orchestras on Valley Public Radio, Thursday nights at 8:00 PM. The Los Angeles Philharmonic broadcasts begin Thursday June 6th  2019, with a month’s worth of highlights from the prior season, followed by the launch of the all-new 2018-2019 broadcast season from Walt Disney Hall beginning Thursday night June 27th.

The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has awarded Valley Public Radio a 2019 Regional Edward R.

J. Martin Temple, an influential Fresno architect, musician and community leader passed away on February 6, 2019 at age 84. Temple played a critical role in the establishment of Valley Public Radio, and served as president of the White Ash Broadcasting Board of Directors when KVPR debuted on the Fresno airwaves in October of 1978.

Station co-founder Von Johnson says Temple’s leadership helped bring KVPR to life.

Scott Dean, Valley Public Radio's longtime broadcast engineer has died, at age 73. Dean spent over two decades as the station's chief engineer before retiring in late 2018. In addition to his work at Valley Public Radio, he worked as a contract engineer for a number of other local stations including the Univision radio group. 

Are you searching for the NPR and your favorite public radio programs while making the drive between the Bay Area and Southern California on I-5? Valley Public Radio's two frequencies are there for you to help make the long drive easier. Tune to our Bakersfield-based NPR station FM 89.1 in Kern County from the Grapevine north to around the Kern/Kings County Line. Between Lost Hills and Kettleman City, you can switch to our Fresno-based NPR signal FM 89.3 which will be your public radio station all the way to north of Los Banos.

Valley Public Radio's news department has received two more honors for its outstanding work at the 69th annual Golden Mike Awards. The ceremony was held in Los Angeles on Saturday January 19, 2019.

Many of you know me as Valley Public Radio’s Director of Program Content, and host of Valley Edition.  It’s been a great honor to serve you over the past eight years, helping to build the station’s local news department, deploying major advances in technology, and helping to better connect with our listeners.