Virgina pubcasting in danger of losing funding

The Virginia House Appropriations Committee wants to cut all contributions by the commonwealth to public broadcasting stations. The Senate Finance Committee and Gov. Tim Kaine requested cuts of 10 percent. A. Curtis Monk, head of Community Idea Stations, which runs PBS and NPR stations in Richmond and other cities, warned that if the budget zeros out funding there may have to be reductions in local productions, early childhood programs and local news reporting. Said D.J. Crotteau, station manager of PBS' WHTJ: “At cuts of this level, you’re looking at core services. There’s no way that services would not be affected.”