In The NoCo

KUNC just made painful budget cuts. Here’s why – and what it means for the community

By In The NoCo,

Published September 11, 2025 at 5:35 AM MDT

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A photo of glass doors showing two radio station logos. They read "KUNC" and "The Colorado Sound." — Leadership at KUNC and The Colorado Sound announced budget cuts this week that include laying off 10 employees — about a quarter of the organization's staff.

It's a painful moment for the team at KUNC and The Colorado Sound.

In recent months we've talked about how federal cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting could hurt local member stations like KUNC. In July, that became a reality when Congress clawed back more than a billion dollars in money from the public broadcasting system.

And this week, station leaders announced 10 staff members had been laid off from KUNC and The Colorado Sound due to a budget shortfall. That’s about a quarter of the total staff.

Today we're talking to KUNC's President and CEO Tammy Terwelp about the cuts and what they mean for our community in Northern Colorado.

Check out our recent interview with Democratic Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper about the battle over public media funding.

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In The NoCo

KUNC's In The NoCo is a daily slice of stories, news, people and issues. It's a window to the communities along the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The show brings context and insight to the stories of the day, often elevating unheard voices in the process. And because life in Northern Colorado is a balance of work and play, we celebrate the lighter side of things here, too.

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Brad Turner

Brad Turner is an executive producer in KUNC's newsroom. He manages the podcast team that makes In The NoCo, which also airs weekdays in Morning Edition and All Things Considered. His work as a podcaster and journalist has appeared on NPR's Weekend Edition, NPR Music, the PBS Newshour, Colorado Public Radio, MTV Online, the Denver Post, Boulder's Daily Camera, and the Longmont Times-Call.

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Erin O'Toole

As the host of KUNC’s news program and podcast In The NoCo, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. Northern Colorado is such a diverse and growing region, brimming with history, culture, music, education, civic engagement, and amazing outdoor recreation. I love finding the stories and voices that reflect what makes NoCo such an extraordinary place to live.

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