May 1999

MINNESOTA:
KSMM/1530 (Shakopee) has apparently dropped Smooth Jazz and is looking for new ideas. Suggestions can be made by calling 556-LOVE. KSMM's signal can be heard in RealAudio ® at www.ksmm.com. (5/31/99)

IOWA:
FOX affiliate KPTH/44 (Sioux City) is on the air. (5/31/99)

IOWA:
KKMA/99.5 (Le Mars-Sioux City) changed format from Adult Contemporary to Oldies (satellite format). The facts that "Star 102.3" recently began a locally originated AC format and that 104.1 recently dropped Oldies for Classic Rock might have something to do with this change. (5/31/99)

IOWA:
KWMM (Osage) has moved from 103.7 to 98.7 and is now called "Memories 98.7." The format is still Nostalgia from Westwood One with CNN News on the hour. (5/31/99)

MINNESOTA:
KDOG/96.7 (North Mankato) is now calling itself "The Spot at 96-7" and saying that they only play artists like the Goo Goo Dolls and the Dave Matthews Band, "you know, stuff like that." (They still play Ricky Martin, though). (5/31/99)

IOWA:
KKIA/92.9 (Ida Grove) is still running a Country format under these new call letters, using the slogan "The Moose," and not using a satellite format anymore. Their legal ID includes Storm Lake, Sac City, and Cherokee. A number of other stations have also dropped satellite feeds, including KTLB/105.9 (Twin Lakes), KIAQ/96.9 (Clarion), and KKRL/93.7 (Carroll). (5/31/99)

IOWA:
KLSS/106.1 (Mason City) is now calling itself "Star 106." (5/31/99)

MINNESOTA:
Pensacola Christian College, which operates the Rejoice Broadcasting Network via WPCS (Pensacola, FL) and dozens of translators, has applied for a new station on 89.7 in Princeton. Other recent applications are for a new translator on 88.1 in Chanhassen that would relay KFAI/90.3 (Minneapolis) and a new station on 90.3 in Marshall by CSN International. (5/28/99)

WISCONSIN:
WFDL/97.7 (Lomira-Fond du Lac) has received a Construction Permit to upgrade from class A to C3. (5/28/99)

MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Christian Broadcasters has been granted a Construction Permit for a new 1.5kW station on 91.9 in International Falls. MCBI also owns KBHW/99.5 in ITF and plans to begin a Contemporary Christian format on the new station. (5/28/99)

MINNESOTA:
WXXZ/95.3 (Grand Marais) is supposed to be signing on any day now. KBHW/99.5 operates translators in Babbitt, Ely, and Virginia on this frequency, which may have to go off the air if WXXZ's signal is strong in those areas. (5/28/99)

MINNESOTA/IOWA/NEBRASKA:
The FCC has approved Three Eagles Broadcasting's purchase of KATE/KCPI (Albert Lea) and KYTC (Northwood) from David Nolander, and Radio 2000's purchase of KNCY (Nebraska City) and KNCY-FM (Auburn) from Sunrise Broadcasting. (5/28/99)

WISCONSIN:
New to WDJT/58 (Milwaukee) is Anchor/Reporter Chantel Jensen. (5/28/99)

MINNESOTA:
KZY-FM 95-5 (KKZY Bemidji) has begun its regular format: Adult Contemporary. (5/27/99)

MINNESOTA:
WXPT's website is up and running at www.1041thepoint.com. (5/26/99)

MINNESOTA/NEBRASKA/NORTH DAKOTA:
The FCC has approved the following sales: Rochester Public Radio's purchase of KRPR/89.9 (Rochester) from Rochester Community College, Scweitzer Media's purchase of KNDC/1490 (Hettinger) from Hettinger Broadcasting, and VSS Catholic Communications' purchase of KVSS/88.9 (Omaha) from Omaha Community Broadcasting. (5/26/99)

WISCONSIN:
WKFX/97.7 (Barron-Rice Lake) is planning to sign on this summer. WAQE-FM/97.7 (Rice Lake) will move to 99.1 before this happens. Both stations, along with WAQE(AM) and WJMC AM-FM, are owned by TKC, Inc. (5/25/99)

WISCONSIN:
WBAY/2 (Green Bay) welcomes new general assignment reporter Lisa Manna. (5/25/99)

MINNESOTA:
More applications to the FCC indicate that Red River Broadcasting is buying the rest of Tom Lijewski and Cheryl Pfeiffer's stations. KAOD/106.7 (Babbitt), WXXZ/95.3 (Grand Marais), and KBAJ/105.5 (Deer River) are being sold along with WWAX and KZIO in the Duluth market. The applications for the WWAX/KZIO sale were filed a few months ago. (5/24/99)

NORTH DAKOTA:
Three public radio organizations united to create North Dakota Public Radio earlier this year. The network consists of the former Prairie Public Radio network, KCND/90.5 (Bismarck), KDPR/89.9 (Dickinson), KPRJ/91.5 (Jamestown), KMPR/88.9 (Minot), and KPPR/89.5 (Williston); North Dakota State University's KDSU/91.9 (Fargo); and the University of North Dakota's KUND-FM/89.3 (Grand Forks). The network is also heard on 11 translators. Programming includes NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and Classical music fills the rest of the day. The change also meant the elimination of student-produced programming at KDSU, which previously had a format of Jazz and Alternative music. Fargo is also served by Minnesota Public Radio's Classical and News/Information networks. (5/23/99)

NATIONWIDE:
The FCC has extended the comment period on the creation of a new low-power radio service. With the 60-day extension, comments will now be due on August 2, and replies will be due on September 1. (5/22/99)

NEBRASKA:
All Access reported on Friday that KESY/97.7 (Nebraksa City-Omaha) has dropped Light AC for Contemporary Hits as "Channel 97-7." This gives the Omaha market two CHR's, right next to each other on the dial. KESY had been around on 104.5 for some time before 104.5 became "Star" a year or two ago. (5/22/99)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
Radio&Records says that James Ingstad's sale to Triad Broadcasting also includes KKLS/KKMK/KFXS/KOUT (Rapid City) and KBHB/KRCS (Sturgis). (5/21/99)

NORTH DAKOTA/MINNESOTA:
With the FCC scrutinizing James Ingstad's purchase of Mid-States Broadcasting's six Fargo stations, Thomas and James Ingstad have agreed to sell most of their existing Fargo stations to Triad Broadcasting. The FCC had been concerned about the "ownership concentration" that would have resulted from the original sale. The stations being sold to Triad are KQWB AM-FM, KLTA, and KPFX; the Ingstads will apparently keep WDAY-FM. The Mid-States stations being sold to James Ingstad are KFGO AM-FM, KVOX AM-FM, KFGX, and KPHT; the FCC already approved Ingstad's purchase of KMRS/KKOK in Morris. (5/19/99)

WISCONSIN:
The Milwaukee area now has two Rhythmic Oldies stations, since the Westwood One network that WGLB-FM/100.1 (Port Washington) carries has segued from `70s Oldies to "Groovin' Oldies." WGLB's slogan is still "Retro Radio FM 100." Thanks to John Reiger of DX mid-AMerica for the news. (5/18/99)

MINNESOTA:
KKZY/95.5 (Bemidji) is on the air playing nothing but jingles. The station's slogan is "KZY-FM 95-5" and the jingles are the same as sister station WJJY/106.7 (Brainerd). Will KZY have WJJY's format (Adult Contemporary) as well? KKZY is owned by Omni Broadcasting, which also owns KBUN/KBHP in Bemidji. (5/12/99)

MINNESOTA:
Bemidji translators K28DD (KSAX/ABC) and K50AK (WDIO/ABC) appeared to be off the air on Wednesday, May 12. Both are owned by Hubbard Broadcasting. (5/12/99)

WISCONSIN:
A proposal before the FCC would allow WGBM/94.7 (Mishicot-Green Bay) to upgrade from class A to C3. In order for that to happen, a class C1 station on 94.7 in Gulliver, Michigan, would be moved to 102.5 at the same class. (5/12/99)

IOWA:
The FCC has granted KOKX-FM/95.3 and KRNQ/96.3 (Keokuk) permission to put their antennas at 425m above average terrain. KOKX will be 100kW (class C), and KRNQ will be 19kW (C2). My records indicate that KOKX is currently only 3kW, but the station previously had a CP for 100kW at a lower antenna height, which may be on the air. KRNQ is already class C2. (5/8/99)

IOWA:
The FCC has approved the sale of KIKD/106.7 (Lake City) to Carroll Broadcasting, which owns KCIM/KKRL in nearby Carroll. (5/8/99)

WISCONSIN:
Radio/DX Information from Wisconsin reports that the new calls for 106.9 Brookfield-Milwaukee are WMJO. (5/8/99)

NEW TRANSLATORS IN NORTH DAKOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA/WISCONSIN:
The Educational Media Foundation (K-LOVE) has been granted Construction Permits for new translators in Williston (K213CW/90.5 92W) and Mitchell (K220HB/91.9 250W). VCY/America has been granted a CP for W216BL/91.1 in McFarland, WI (120W). (5/6/99)

DEAD TRANSLATORS IN MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA:
The FCC has deleted the licenses for the following translators: K269AJ Tower-Soudan, W280AD Hibbing, K244CG Paynesville, K244CZ Pierz, K257AI Peterson, K292DE Willmar, K280CY Pembina, K240AR Devils Lake, and K232CD Crosby. In South Dakota, Lakota Communications six translators were deleted: K202AU Rapid City, K219BF Rosebud, K213AV Greengrass, K203AR Dupree, K220BN Bridger, and K207BB White Horse (Lakota owns KILI/90.1 in Porcupine). (5/6/99)

MINNESOTA:
KDDG/105.5 (Albany-St. Cloud) has dropped its Hot AC format for Modern Rock/Alternative as "The Edge." The last format began just last fall. The new format is satellite delivered, as were the other three formats the station has had since it signed on in the early `90s (Oldies, Country, Hot AC). Thanks to Brad Savage for posting this information on the message board. (5/5/99)

MINNESOTA:
Word is that Northland Broadcasting (WEBC/KLDJ/KKCB Duluth) has completed the move to its new studios on East Central Entrance. Between Northland, Shockley Communications, and KDNW/KDNI, there are now 11 radio stations with studios on a one-mile stretch of this road. (5/5/99)

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
After four weeks off the air, KBJR/6 (Superior-Duluth) is back on at extremely low power. (5/3/99)

MINNESOTA:
DX-midAMerica reports that KCGN-FM/101.5 (Ortonville) is now fully rebroadcasting KBHL/103.9 (Osakis). KBHL is also rebroadcast on KBHZ/91.9 (Willmar). (5/3/99)