With its proposed fiscal year 2004 budget the Bush administration not only rejects pleas for DTV transition funding for public TV, but recommends suspending the Commerce Department's ongoing Public Telecommunications Facilities Program. APTS, PBS, CPB and NPR issued a joint statement saying the cutbacks would "deeply" threaten public service. [Link to administration's proposed budget on OMB website.]

Residents of Olsburg, Kan., are surprised to have their own public radio station, though their rural town is already "pretty famous" for its Swedish supper the first weekend in December.

Maryland's Gazette explores the political leanings of Marc Steiner, talk show host and executive v.p. of programming at WYPR-FM in Baltimore. Steiner led a group last year that bought WYPR from its former owner, Johns Hopkins University.