Civic Leaders Call For Cooling Off in JPR Dispute

Local civic leaders are calling for a cooling-off period in a dispute over control of the Jefferson Public Radio network that serves Southern Oregon and parts of Northern California. The Mail Tribune reports Thursday that Medford Mayor Gary Wheeler, Ashland Mayor John Stromberg, and others fear the showdown could spin out of control.

     Jefferson Public Radio is heard on a vast network of stations, some owned by Southern Oregon University and others by the Jefferson Public Radio Foundation. An audit has warned that the foundation's non-radio projects, such as the restoration of an old theater in Medford, could overextend JPR, putting the university at risk.

     The foundation's board is meeting tomorrow to decide whether to accept a proposed settlement between the school and the foundation.