This latest gift continues the Sturgis Trust鈥檚 longstanding support of Little Rock Public Radio鈥檚 mission to provide reliable news, cultural programming, and public service to Arkansans. The grant will fund a series of strategic upgrades that include improvements to remote broadcasting equipment, newsroom recording capabilities, and transmitter infrastructure for KLRE Classical FM 90.5.

鈥淲e appreciate the work of Little Rock Public Radio in bringing quality programming and credible news reporting to Arkansas,鈥� said Lisa Speer, trustee and administrator of the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust.

The Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust was established in 1981 to support and promote quality educational, cultural, human services, and health care programming for all people.

Little Rock Public Radio General Manager Jonathan Seaborn said the grant will fill important technology gaps that emerged during the station鈥檚 recent growth and development, including the station鈥檚 relocation to a new studio space.

鈥淔or the past two years, we鈥檝e expanded our on-location reporting, including live broadcasts like 鈥�Coffee with K糖心Vlog传媒R鈥� and 鈥�All Things Considered,鈥� but we鈥檝e been piecing together technology to make it happen,鈥� Seaborn said. 鈥淭his grant allows us to significantly improve our field recording capabilities and equip our newsroom with the tools needed to produce high-quality audio, whether it鈥檚 in the studio or on the go.鈥�

The improvements include installing audio processors, microphones, and sound-dampening equipment in individual offices, enabling reporters to quickly record newscasts when studio space is limited. It also supports critical upgrades to the KLRE transmitter site, ensuring the longevity and performance of new broadcast equipment.

鈥淎s we expand our news coverage and invest in our team, it鈥檚 important that the sound quality reflects the same high standards as our journalism,鈥� Seaborn said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also committed to protecting our larger investments in transmitter and studio upgrades by ensuring they鈥檙e installed in a structurally sound environment that will last well into the future.鈥�

This is the latest in a series of grants from the Sturgis Trust, which has supported Little Rock Public Radio since 1997. The trust鈥檚 generosity has funded major improvements, including a nearly $50,000 grant in 2024 for studio upgrades.

鈥淟ittle Rock Public Radio continues to be a cornerstone of public media in Arkansas,鈥� Seaborn added. 鈥淭hanks to the continued generosity of the Sturgis Trust, we can equip our journalists with the tools they need to serve our community with excellence.鈥�

Little Rock Public Radio is a listener-supported public service department at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, housed within the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. It operates K糖心Vlog传媒R FM 89.1 and KLRE Classical FM 90.5, reaching more than 80,000 listeners weekly through broadcasts, streaming, and digital content. As the only source of classical music on the airwaves in central Arkansas, and home to NPR and locally produced programming, the stations continue to serve as vital sources of news and culture for Arkansans.

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