Lakeland PBS, Only TV Station In North-Central MN, Facing $1M In Federal Cuts

With upcoming cuts to PBS, there could be big changes how our neighbors to the west are getting their news and information.

Lakeland PBS is the only television station directly serving north-central Minnesota in the Bemidji and Brainerd-area.

They expect to lose more than $1 million due to federal cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

“Our signature service is Lakeland News. It’s the only televised newscast in this central Minnesota region, and we’ve been producing that for 27 years now covering all these stories that we can through all of these small communities in that entire region,” said Jeff Hanks, general manager of Lakeland PBS.

Hanks said local members have been giving more money to Lakeland PBS since the news of the cuts, but it doesn’t make up for the money they expect to lose.

Hanks said “all things are on the table” to keep the station running.