Public radio stations across North Carolina — especially in rural and coastal areas — are facing devastating cuts under the newly enacted Rescissions Act of 2025. That includes WRVS in Elizabeth City, which may lose up to 70% of its funding. What’s at stake? No local tornado warnings. No emergency alerts. No hometown voices spinning music, sharing stories, or reporting on issues right around the corner.
In this episode of Shoresides, host Nicholas Merino talks with **A. Rima Dael**, CEO of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, about how these cuts could dismantle critical public safety infrastructure and silence voices that matter most locally. Dael, a veteran of NPR and community radio, argues that public media is more than entertainment — it’s culture, connection, and sometimes life-saving service.
We also explore how local stations are racing to adapt: new fundraising strategies, partnerships, emergency alert backups, and what listeners and communities can do to help preserve their signal.
