Thanks for nothin’, S.D. Legislature

Jazz Nightly to Leave SDPB Radio Schedule

South Dakota Public Broadcasting today announced that its nightly radio program, “Jazz Nightly with Jim Clark,” will be leaving the air in early June. Jim Clark, known to listeners as “Uncle Jimmo,” will be leaving his hosting duties on June 8.

SDPB Radio will continue airing jazz programming on weeknights. “Jazz Nightly” presently airs from 8 to 11pm (7-10 MT) on weeknights.

“Our commitment to jazz programming remains strong. We are in a situation where we have to come up with a more cost-efficient way to provide that programming,” explained Joe Tlustos, Director of SDPB Radio.

Jim Clark has hosted “Jazz Nightly” since 2001. SDPB Radio first aired jazz programming beginning in March of 1956 when Sonja Stewart presented “Something Cool,” and has had some jazz programming on the air since then.

“This unfortunate change to our schedule was precipitated by cuts passed during the recently concluded legislative session,” said Julie Andersen, Executive Director of SDPB. “We were required to eliminate a number of positions at the network and we’re sorry that those budgetary requirements will result in Jim, and a number of other wonderful, dedicated individuals, being laid off effective at the end of the fiscal year.”

Cuts to SDPB by the Legislature amounted to about 16.6 percent of the network’s budget. SDPB also has eliminated the network’s Education & Outreach Department, and made cuts in engineering, television and marketing.