Station News

The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has awarded Valley Public Radio with three 2021 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for Excellence in Writing, News Documentary, and  Feature Reporting. 

The first broadcast of NPR's All Things Considered took place on May 3, 1971. That day more than 20,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., to protest against the Vietnam War. NPR journalists covered the day's events, producing a 24-minute sound portrait of what was happening which was inducted in 2017 into the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress for its place in US audio heritage.

Last weekend the Radio Television News Association of Southern California  awarded Valley Public Radio eight honors at the organization's 71st annual Golden Mike Awards. The station received the most awards of any radio station in the Division B category, which is reserved for small market stations. The station's honors include best continuing coverage for reporting on the Creek Fire, best investigative reporting, and best public affairs program for Valley Edition, all in the Division B category.

Embrace your inner "public radio nerd" with our all-new Public Radio Nerd hoodie. This high quality, locally-printed navy hooded sweatshirt will let everyone know you're a proud public radio nerd. The sweatshirt displays both the Valley Public Radio and NPR logos. This new hoodie is exclusively available to members who donate $20 a month or more during our spring fund drive. But hurry, as this hoodie is available in very limited quantities, unisex sizes M, L and XL.

Valley Public Radio listeners will now be able to hear the hit podcast Throughline as a new weekly radio broadcast on KVPR, airing Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m beginning Thursday March 4, 2021. NPR’s history show provides the story and perspectives often missing from history textbooks to help you understand events in the news and ideas dominating our national conversations today.

Valley Public Radio has launched a new weekly podcast dedicated to bringing local listeners up-to-date information about the COVID-19 pandemic. On each episode of COVID-19 This Week: San Joaquin Valley, host Kathleen Schock and health reporter Kerry Klein will explore the latest developments in vaccine distribution, new variants of the virus, and the impact to essential workers and communities in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare Counties.

Valley Public Radio listeners will notice a new voice on the airwaves, reporter Soreath Hok. Her coverage of local government, politics and other local news can be heard on Valley Edition, KVPR.org and within local news breaks in Morning Edition and All Things Considered. She has worked in radio, television and digital media for the last 16 years both in the San Joaquin Valley and in Sacramento. 

For 2021, the Fresno Philharmonic is presenting a series of online performances in their Digital Masterworks Series. Each concert will premier on YouTube, and will later be broadcast on Valley Public Radio on the 2nd Tuesday following each YouTube premier. Join host David Aus and conductor Rei Hotoda for this series of special broadcasts. 

2021 Fresno Philharmonic Digital Masterworks Broadcast Schedule on KVPR FM89:

This February, Valley Public Radio honors Black History Month with a series of broadcast specials providing fresh insights into African American history and the challenges of today. Hear historical profiles, music, and frank discussions about race, policing, and the fight for equality amid a system and society imbued with systemic racism. The broadcasts can be heard Thursday nights at 7:00 PM in the month of February.

Valley Public Radio’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. This is the seventh consecutive year that Valley Public Radio has earned this top distinction from the organization. The designation was awarded December 23, 2020 in a letter from Charity Navigator. 

Join Valley Public Radio for a special online fundraiser Saturday February 6, 2021 featuring a discussion with NPR's White House correspondent Tamara Keith. The virtual event will take place at 6:00 p.m. PST and will be moderated by Valley Public Radio's Kathleen Schock, host of Valley Edition. Tickets for this online event are $20 and proceeds will benefit Valley Public Radio. We'll hear insights from Keith on her time covering the Trump administration, the transition and the start of the Biden administration. 

Valley Public Radio is pleased to offer a new season of Carnegie Hall Live as we start the new year. The 13 week series will consist of 7 concerts recorded during the abbreviated 19-20 season, supplemented by 6 concerts from the archives. The broadcasts will air on KVPR FM 89 Wednesday nights from 8:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. beginning Wednesday January 6, 2021 and will continue through Wednesday March 31, 2021. These performances feature some of the classical music world’s most esteemed artists in a wide range of styles, from early music to recitals to orchestral programs. 

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. This year, our lineup features familiar favorites like A Christmas Carol and Hanukkah Lights, as well as new programs like A Chanticleer Christmas and Hygge Holiday. Plus join us for broadcasts of everything from 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, and New Year’s Day live from Vienna.

With its sprawling territory, climatic and cultural extremes, and teeming and diverse population, California is tough to cover. Yet, for the last 25 years, The California Report has knit together this vast and varied state, bringing you news stories and culture that define California’s role in American life.

NPR White House correspondent Tamara Keith will participate in a special virtual event Monday October 26th as part of Fresno State's President's Lecture Series.  The event will be moderated by Valley Public Radio's Joe Moore, and is sponsored by the station, as well as The Fresno Bee, KSEE24, and Valley PBS.

Keith, who grew up in Hanford, is also co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast and is a member of the “Politics Monday” team on PBS NewsHour. She will offer her insights on the November election, covering the Trump White House and other major stories for NPR. 

Valley Public Radio will participate in a new pilot program announced today by Microsoft that will help support local journalism in the Fresno area.

New programs are coming to Valley Public Radio’s lineup beginning September 14th. The changes make for a consistent news/talk lineup throughout the station’s weekday schedule, and the reintroduction of talk programming to the FM89 schedule. As a part of this change, the station is also moving midday classical music programming that is currently airing on weekdays to the station’s all-new digital channel KVPR Classical, which airs music programming 24/7.

Valley Public Radio, in partnership with the Fresno Philharmonic and the Philip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concert series will air a new special series celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest composers of all time. The program will feature archival performances drawn from both institution’s recorded concerts, and will be hosted by Valley Public Radio’s David Aus, with Fresno Philharmonic Music Director Rei Hotoda and special guests providing discussion and commentary.