MINNEAPOLIS — The 45-station Minnesota Public Radio network is taking a major hit from the loss of government funding. The network’s parent company said 25 to 40 employees will be laid off in the coming two weeks. The layoffs from a payroll of 500. The company said that programming reductions were still being assessed. MPR stations, supplemented by 41 signal-relay translators, claim to reach more than 1 million listeners a week. The parent company also produces digital streaming services and podcasts. MPR is an advertising-free noncommercial enterprise that relies on federal and state funding and listener and philanthropic donations. The network is the major unit of Minneapolis-based American Public Media. The company has a $117 million budget this year. The pending cuts are a result of:
> President Trump’s $1.1 billion cut in funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which was on his media enemies list and is now shutting down. CPB produced radio and television programming for noncommercial stations nationwide.
> A $2 million cut in state funding by the Minnesota Legislature from the biennial state cultural heritage and legacy fund. The MPR allocation had been $4 million.
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Roycie Eppler, an American Public Media senior officer: “While we are fortunate among public media organizations to be in a relatively strong financial position, these are significant cuts. We will be implementing cost savings including some reductions in employee benefits and a strategic reduction in force in the coming weeks. We are working through details with care and respect and will continue to keep our team updated.”